Well then let's try this for extra credit, shall we?Do some Google mining and tell me how well pre-season games were received in:
- Phoenix
- Nashville
- Atlanta
- Miami
- Raleigh
- San Jose
- Anaheim
- Los Angeles
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Tampa Bay
And any other similar markets. Go show me how these markets were "tested" and how well they did.
Bogus logic here. Pre-season neutral site locations mean absolutely nothing. This is actually the "growing the game"....Gary took it to a whole new level and started awarding...NO!!...not pre-season games....but FRANCHISES to locations that would have been on the "Pre-Season Game Radar".
The NHL's Board of Governors awards expansion franchises, and also approves franchise relocations. Not Gary Bettman. However, let's also simply "pile on" with the assumption that Mr. Bettman was responsible...
From the Sun-Sentinel.com, in an article dated 18 June, 1997:
So let's blame Mr. Bettman for something that more than three-fourths of the NHL's teams wanted. This takes care of the forays into Minnesota (part 2), Atlanta (part 2), Nashville and Columbus.That's because if the league's plan to expand to Nashville by 1998, Atlanta by 1999 and Minneapolis-St. Paul and Columbus, Ohio, by 2000 is ratified next week as expected, next season will be the Panthers' last in the Atlantic Division. After that, they will be part of the new Southeast Division, along with Carolina, Tampa Bay, Washington and - beginning in 1999 - Atlanta.
On June 25, the NHL Board of Governors will meet in New York to vote on the Expansion Committee's recommendations. A three-fourths vote, or 20 teams, is required for admission into the league.
Minnesota North Stars to Dallas? Norm Green was looking to get out of Minnesota, and that was after the previous owners ditched the team and setup an expansion franchise in San Jose in 1991.
Franchises awarded to Miami (Florida Panthers) and Anaheim (Ducks)?
Franchises awarded to Tampa Bay and Ottawa?
Franchise awarded to San Jose?
Timeline
San Jose awarded franchise in late 1990.
Franchises awarded to Ottawa and Tampa Bay in 1991
Franchises awarded to Florida and Anaheim in December, 1992
Norm Green negotiating to move the North Stars out of Minnesota throughout 1992 and announced move to Dallas at beginning of March, 1993
Gary Bettman takes over as Commissioner of NHL 1 February, 1993.
That only leaves Raleigh, Phoenix and Los Angeles on the list. Since the Kings were awarded the Los Angeles expansion franchise in 1966, I don't think Bettman has anything to do with that. Then again, with the "Next 6" expansion, the Flyers are the only team from that expansion that never faced one iota of financial difficulty. Yet I certainly don't see anyone blaming Clarence Campbell for his "failed" expansion, where one of the teams went Tango Uniform after relocating (Seals/Barons), another three had large financial difficulties with one relocating (Blues, Penguins, Stars), one filed bankruptcy just to get rid of their fraudulent owner (Kings), and only one that has been solid (Flyers).
Raleigh? Phoenix? Just point to the owners. Karmanos couldn't survive in Hartford without a new arena, and the State of Connecticut didn't care, so they moved. Shekarow couldn't afford the losses in Winnipeg without a new arena, and the team was sold to the highest bidder. Minnesota almost got the Jets, but the owner/operator of the Phoenix Suns, Colangelo, ended up with the team.
And none of this has anything to do with worrying about a preseason (or during the early 1990's the regular season neutral site games). This is the Business of Hockey forums. Fan support of a game (preseason or regular season) where neither team is the "home" team does not necessarily relate to "growing the game".
For the very last point, I'd suggest looking at the "hockey history" of each market on that list. Each of the listed markets had some semblance of minor league hockey history, save the Florida franchises.