|
|
Post by KimThePanther on Nov 30, 2004 11:42:11 GMT
If the BNL is about to fold (and it seems like it might) and the teams come over and join the EIHL, I hope the EIHL management are aware that this could potentially be about to happen and have ideas for a 15 member league.
As this thread demonstrates, there are a hell of a lot of different ideas and problems which arise from a big increase in the league's membership and I don't think all of these problems could be addressed over the course of one close season.
This is going to be a interesting few months for ice hockey though hopefully it won't turn into the close season of hell part two.
|
|
Warren
Greg Hadden
Posts: 1,467 
|
Post by Warren on Nov 30, 2004 11:54:38 GMT
I agree MP. It is not up to the EIHL to make the next move. It is dowen to the BNL Team owners. as MP says they have a few options but with time running out and other teams looking at other options....
1. Try and get inot the EIHL.
2. Drop leagues
3. Go Bust
4. Try and make a new league and attract a few teams up a league.
I do agree that the EIHL will reach it's 1 league quota at 10. To have 12 will mean 33 home games, no room for cross over. (assumeing that we don't bunch up schedules or extend the playing time. OR Hike up the ST price.
Then you arrive at what figure will make a 2 league system work? I can see this only being viable if it is 14 teams. It couldn't work otherwise. the Confrence system will make it work with slightly less, but still not easy. The way I see it IF the Elite league welcomes everyone, it will have to split as follows to generate money and to allow teams the right amount games with relvent oposition.
8 Teams - Single League.
9 Teams - Single League
10 Teams - Single League and Confrence work.
11 Teams - Single and Confrence Work
12 Teams - Confrece and 2 Leagues are only options
13 Teams - Confrence and 2 Tier league
14 Teams - Confrence and 2 Tier league
15 Teams - Confrence and 2 tier League
16 Team - Optimum for 2 Confrence and 2 Leagues.
The question arises where are going to find all 16 teams? Who would decide that team A goes into league 1 etc? IF this was to happen we could be in fear of a mini break away leage being formed with the likes of Panthers, Steelers and co just to give them top draw week in week out attendences.
|
|
sunbeam
David Clarke
The Panthers don't do league titles. Not even Carlsberg can manage that!
Posts: 3,862
|
Post by sunbeam on Nov 30, 2004 12:48:41 GMT
Am I missing something or is there not a simple solution to the league-format question? Using Shaggy's idea of 16 teams in the league I'd say,
One league of 16 playing eachother twice home and away. This means 60 games but has the disadvantage of meaning we don't play Sheffield at least 3 times.
However at the end of the season the league is split into 2 tiers of 8 which then form the play-off groups. The top 8 would be split into 2 groups of 4 and play on a round-robin basis like we have done before. The bottom 8 would do the same. It is safe to assume that the 'big' clubs will finish in the top 8 although Nottm and Sheff could be in separate play-off groups admittedly.
That all adds up to 66 games before the play-off weekend. You could even have the 2 play-offs combined into one 3-day play-off weekend at Easter/May Day. I believe BJ came up with that idea a few months ago.
66 games may seem alot but then is that much more than this season's 50 league games, plus CCup and play-off games? And a few guaranteed extra games for all the teams would boost their finances.
What it'd also do is make the league competitive as teams lower down the table fight to make it into the top 8. We all remember a certain night in Newcastle when we were chasing a place in the top 8!! That in itself would boost crowds.
|
|
