Sp5618
Registered User
- Nov 26, 2004
- 7,191
- 0
arnie said:Aha! You've identified the problem. Except for one thing. If this is true, then at least 10 teams don't belong in the NHL. Of course, you can't make comparisonsbased solely on the Toronto market. They are an exception, the real powerhouse of the NHL money-wise. No one else even comes close. Perhaps it is Toronto, not Pittsburgh that is the anomaly and should get kicked out.
The statement was qualified by..."without NFL-style revenue sharing (read big TV contract)"....then, yes there are several teams that do not belong in the same league.
Refer to both the estimates of NHL franchise values (e.g., Forbes) or to the offer from Bain where it appears there are roughly three tiers of teams. http://www.washtimes.com/upi-breaking/20050525-102642-5648r.htm
Per Forbes, the lowest level was ~$100 MM that applies to about 10 teams. The second group has values somewhere between ~$120-175 MM, if memory serves correctly, and finally the top 9 are in the $220-260 MM range...I am too lazy to look up the exact numbers now, but we have all seen them here before too.
You may be right, that Toronto does not belong in the same league with Pittsburgh, but it does belong in the NHL, at least the original one with its original brethren. It can be argued that several franchises have proven they can survive in the "Toronto-centric" league with these original six (Philly, Colorado, Dallas, LA, St. Louis, Vancouver, NJ, the Isles...) and then it gets a bit sketchy.
Buffalo and Ottawa had horrible mgt/ownership and may yet be able to compete? Pittsburgh needs a new arena or a new market.
So it is possible that we both are right. We need two leagues. I guess I would like to claim the "NHL" brand, since the teams in my version of League One were there first