Let's also remember that all the 17,000-seat arenas in the world do no good without the fan base to fill them up. And, judging by the numbers, the European fan base just isn't there.
Best attendance figures in European hockey leagues 2003-2004
1. (1) SC Bern (SUI) -- 13.034 -- 79,8%
2. (2) Kölner Haie (GER) -- 12.887 -- 69,6%
3. (3) Hamburg Freezers (GER) -- 11.351 -- 88,9%
4. (4) Frölunda, Göteborg (SWE) -- 10.942 -- 90,8%
5. (5) Jokerit, Helsinki -- (FIN) -- 9.093 -- 66,5%
6. (6) Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (RUS) -- 8.824 -- 97,5%
7. (10) HC Pardubice (CZE) -- 8.200 -- 88,2%
8. (8) Färjestad, Karlstad (SWE) -- 7.839 -- 96,1%
9. (9) TPS Turku (FIN) -- 7.705 -- 65,2%
10. (7) ZSC Lions, Zurich (SUI) -- 7.615 -- 66,2%
11. (11) Djurgarden, Stockholm (SWE) -- 7.404
12. (X) Amur Khabarovsk (RUS) -- 7.100
13. (12) HIFK Helsinki (FIN) -- 6.624
14. (14) Düsseldorf Metro Stars (GER) -- 6.512
15. (19) Frankfurt Lions (GER) -- 6'156
16. (15) HV 71, Jönköping (SWE) -- 6'117
17. (16) Karpat, Oulu (FIN) -- 6'081
18. (13) HC Plzen (CZE) -- 5'881
19. (X) Nürnberg Ice Tigers (GER) -- 5'591
20. (18) HC Lausanne (SUI) -- 5'518
http://www.iihf.com/news/iihfpr3504.htm
Even if you add the so-called 10 percent increase in attendance because of the lockout, you still have only four teams in all of Europe averaging better than 10,000 fans a game. These numbers obviously are woefully short of what would be needed to support a "Super league" and NHL-style salaries.