the next nhl commissioner

[Brodie]

You can look at it as the NBC contract being a joke or you could take the (imo correct) view that the NBA's deal was a gross overpayment. Even then, though, the NHL is never going to be able to command the kind of money that the other leagues get. There's nothing at all wrong with being 4th in a market this big.

 

[MountainHawk]

Bettman will go down as the greatest commissioner the sport has ever seen. During his term it's gone from a regional sport that had was less significant than the MLS is now nationally and has turned it into a national league that is at least in striking distance in passing the NBA in revenue in the next decade or so.

Traditionalists may not like the changes to the sport, but the $ do not lie, most fans do.

 

[Grudy0]

Yet still no big tv deals and 18 teams losing money. Most of the expansions after Ziegler have been failiures and it's probably the beginning of a large scale moving of teams.

Reminder: it's Forbes estimation that 18 teams are losing money. That doesn't necessarily mean it's true.

Florida and Anaheim were expansions under interim Commissioner Stein and chairman of the BoG McNall. Nashville and Minnesota are fairly successful, while Atlanta was not (but more to do with ownership than the choice) and Columbus (the jury is still out). I can't say most of the expansions since Ziegler are failures.

No big TV deals? $200 million per year from a US TV contract is much better than the $100 million they were receiving last year. Now it is time for the public to consume. If the definition of big has to be comparative to what the other three leagues are making, then the definition of ratings must be better than one of the other three leagues. It is the only way to increase the rights fees to be better than one of the other three leagues.

 

[knorthern knight]

Yet still no big tv deals...

The current deal is a major improvement over what they had before. You gotta walk before you can run.

and 18 teams losing money. Most of the expansions after Ziegler have been failiures and it's probably the beginning of a large scale moving of teams.

Gary Bettman's been blamed for a lot of things, but I don't blame the US economic crash on him. Non-Americans who don't follow financial news closely enough don't understand just how badly the economy has crashed in the USA. There are a lot of people living paycheque-to-paycheque, and many who can only dream of having a paycheque. That's a lot of people who simply can't afford NHL tickets anymore.

 

[Hamilton Tigers]

Saint James Balsillie....Timing is perfect, he'll be looking for a new job soon anyways..

Did I hear a RIM shot?

 

[Killion]

Did I hear a RIM shot?

Now that star candidate Kim jong-iL's bought it the BOG's may not have any other viable choices.

..... "My gift to the people is one good shoe for every pair they turn in"