The Positive Legacy Of Gary Bettman

[sawchuk1971]

https://thehockeywriters.com/the-nhl-is-thriving-under-gary-bettman/

this article shows the positive side of bettman's tenure as NHL commissioner...

the business side...

The case against Bettman is in part a reaction to the lockouts on his watch. While a legacy of lockouts is hardly good the NHL is reaping the benefits today. Before the 2004 lockout, there was absolutely no balance in the NHL. If you're a rich team in the NHL, you could throw everything into the kitchen sink at the most free agent.

Take, for example, the Flyers. In 2004 the Flyers were one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference and had their fair share of really decent players. Primeau, LeClair, Recchi, and Roenick were all Flyers at the time. The Flyers had $ 22 million tied up in just three of those players. Why? Because they could. As I mentioned above, the Flyers are owned by Comcast, so their pockets are essentially limitless.

That all changed after the 2004-2005 lockout. A hard salary cap of $ 39 million was instituted for the next season. This meant teams like the Flyers could not drop $ 22 million on three players. The cap did what it was supposed to do. The Penguins became more important, the Blackhawks found new life, and those smaller market teams now had a chance to compete. Even the Phoenix Coyotes found themselves in a Final Conference by 2012.

increased revenues...

Bettman's era has brought some important positive changes to the league . Revenues have been quintupled in size by payrolls followed. The NHL played a series of regular-season games in Europe and Japan, broadening its global appeal. It created the successful Winter Classic, the annual outdoor game played on Jan. 1 which has caught the imagination of the US TV viewing public.It has hit historic ballparks such as Wrigley Field and Fenway Park and has packed 110,000 fans in the freezing cold snow to proudly sport their teams' colors.

Television revenues have grown significantly as a result of the league sponsorship deals. He helped stabilize wobbly franchises in Edmonton, Calgary, and Ottawa through the Canadian currency-assistance program. He enabled Minnesota and Winnipeg to get their franchises back.

Click to read more...

 

[Shawa666]

He still hasn't got that Beeg American TV contract he claimed he would bring in.

 

[Nalens Oga]

I feel like no one really knows the inside agenda and whatnot but that revisionist history over the past decade has given Bettman far more credit than he deserves. If anything, he's managed to make the game even more niche, his strategy to grow it was to basically just throw teams in southern markets and see where it goes. Even the 'increased revenue' thing can be taken apart with context and comparison.

 

[BKIslandersFan]

I feel like no one really knows the inside agenda and whatnot but that revisionist history over the past decade has given Bettman far more credit than he deserves. If anything, he's managed to make the game even more niche, his strategy to grow it was to basically just throw teams in southern markets and see where it goes. Even the 'increased revenue' thing can be taken apart with context and comparison.

That began way before Gary Bettman.

LA Kings, Atlanta Flames, Oakland Seals. Are you going to say that was on Bettman, who was in high school back then?

Seriously, southern expansion is not new or recent. Or even Bettman's idea.

 

[Gnashville]

He still hasn't got that Beeg American TV contract he claimed he would bring in.

As opposed to that huge one the League had when he took over.

I feel like no one really knows the inside agenda and whatnot but that revisionist history over the past decade has given Bettman far more credit than he deserves. If anything, he's managed to make the game even more niche, his strategy to grow it was to basically just throw teams in southern markets and see where it goes. Even the 'increased revenue' thing can be taken apart with context and comparison.

You know the BOG makes decisions on expansion and the individual owners decide where they want to move their team.

 

[BKIslandersFan]

As opposed to that huge one the League had when he took over.

You know the BOG makes decisions on expansion and the individual owners decide where they want to move their team.

Thank you.

Owners hire Bettman. Bettman works for owners. Bettman can't do anything without backing of owners.

 

[mouser]

I feel like no one really knows the inside agenda and whatnot but that revisionist history over the past decade has given Bettman far more credit than he deserves. If anything, he's managed to make the game even more niche, his strategy to grow it was to basically just throw teams in southern markets and see where it goes. Even the 'increased revenue' thing can be taken apart with context and comparison.

Bettman was hired to implement that strategy the owners had already set out on. He didn't invent it himself.

 

[BKIslandersFan]

As for Quebec not getting a team, would it surprise anyone if Habs are the team that opposes the return of Nordiques the most?

 

[lifelonghockeyfan]

The Positive Legacy Of Gary Bettman


This should be a very short forum. I'll agree that Bettman is just an employee of the owners. But Bettman has allowed so many weak franchises to continue by funnelling money endlessly. And weak franchises have the same sway in a vote than a strong or even good owner.

 

[lifelonghockeyfan]

As for Quebec not getting a team, would it surprise anyone if Habs are the team that opposes the return of Nordiques the most?

Way back in when, when the WHA folded, the NHL was being pressured to take merge some WHA teams into the NHL. Most owners didn't want a merge because of the WHA had cost them lots of money in higher players salaries, and if there was going to additional teams, the NHL wanted "expansion" money not the non existent merge money.
Hartford was going to accepted because of possible anti trust lawsuit in the US. Montreal owner, Senator David Molson was in charge of negotiations for a merge. He was pressured into accepting the Quebec franchise because he would be the most hated man in Quebec, if they weren't allowed in. He was also told that if Quebec wasn't allowed to merge, there wouldn't Molson (beer) product sold in Eastern Quebec.
Ben Haskins owner of the Winnipeg Jets must of got wind of this, because he told Mr Molson the same thing. "If Winnipeg and Edmonton don't get a WHA merged NHL franchise, you will never sell a beer west of Ontario.
Hence the four additional teams that merged from the WHA to the NHL.

 

[saskganesh]

Thank you.

Owners hire Bettman. Bettman works for owners. Bettman can't do anything without backing of owners.

You make him sound like the office coffee boy.

He was hired to provide leadership and hence has tremendous influence over the owners and league strategy. Ya, he has to have the buy in from his employers, but every successfull leader does that, whether he is an executive director, a prime minister, a CEO or President, all of whom ultimately owe their positions to other people -- the people who could replace them. Bettman leads as long as he retains the confidence of a majority (or is it supermajority?) of the BoG. And as long as he is there, he is more important to the league than any individual owner.

 

[New User Name]

As for Quebec not getting a team, would it surprise anyone if Habs are the team that opposes the return of Nordiques the most?

Yeah it would surprise me. Though, even if they are, there's 30 other owners and a BOG who we all know now runs the show.

 

[BKIslandersFan]

Yeah it would surprise me. Though, even if they are, there's 30 other owners and a BOG who we all know now runs the show.

Leafs are well known for blocking 2nd Southern Ontario team. Just saying.

 

[New User Name]

Leafs are well known for blocking 2nd Southern Ontario team. Just saying.

No they're not. Just saying.

 

[New User Name]

You said
"Leafs are well known for blocking 2nd Southern Ontario team. Just saying."

Fake News........provide evidence where the Leafs have blocked a 2nd Southern Ontario team.

 

[BKIslandersFan]

You said
"Leafs are well known for blocking 2nd Southern Ontario team. Just saying."

Fake News........provide evidence where the Leafs have blocked a 2nd Southern Ontario team.

Maple Leafs couldn't veto NHL expansion to GTA, Bettman says | Toronto Star

Maybe not blocked. But opposed.

 

[BKIslandersFan]

You make him sound like the office coffee boy.

He was hired to provide leadership and hence has tremendous influence over the owners and league strategy. Ya, he has to have the buy in from his employers, but every successfull leader does that, whether he is an executive director, a prime minister, a CEO or President, all of whom ultimately owe their positions to other people -- the people who could replace them. Bettman leads as long as he retains the confidence of a majority (or is it supermajority?) of the BoG. And as long as he is there, he is more important to the league than any individual owner.

You make it sound like Bettman is brain washing the owners....

 

[lifelonghockeyfan]

Leafs are well known for blocking 2nd Southern Ontario team. Just saying.

No exactly true. When Hamilton has a so called application to join the NHL, (Tampa and Ottawa) received the franchises, there was not an owner in place. If anything the NHL owners want"show my the money", and there was none from Hamilton. The only presentation to the owners were from city of Hamilton, saying we have an arena (meaningless in the minds of current NHL owners at the time). It was Buffalo that would have been really affected most by Hamilton team. Lots of people from Toronto, Hamilton and Canadian Niagara Pensiusla attend Sabres games. Sabres attendance would have been affected not the Leafs And the fact that Ottawa got a franchise, the Leafs and the other Canadian owners had to share the national TV deal. So these owners might have wanted to veto Ottawa but didn't. So the weren't against a Canadian team getting into the league. The NHL current owners were more worried about the Sabre franchise needed to relocate in a few years due to non (Canadian) support.
To this day, there is still talk sometimes about how the Leafs denied a Hamilton franchise. And sportscasters, especially Hamilton based ones, still pound the false news. And the fact that a Brooklyn smart guy like yourself, has heard the and believed these untruths shows have long false information can be last so long.
Now I agree the Leafs probably wouldn't want a Hamilton or Kitchener franchise in the NHL. But really it doesn't much difference to the Leafs. Hamilton is 45 miles from downtown Toronto, and it's not like many folks are Leaf ticket holders which there is a long waiting list. Just about 20 years later, the one gem that Hamilton had, the arena is now outdated. And I really wonder if Hamilton (or Quebec or Kitchener) could really support a NHL team long term. Small population and I don't know if there is enough business support for a team.
A former business acquaintance of mine was one of the guys who wanted to put a team in Markham Ontario. City on Toronto's northern border. But he wanted the city to build the arena and take all the responsibilities for any short comings in building and continued maintenance of the building. The city of Markham, declined his arena plans. Yea he wanted an NHL team, having a a financially strong arena is almost as important as the 500 million price tag for a franchise.
A few years ago the owner of Blackberry made so talk about wanted to relocate an NHL franchise to Hamilton or Kitchener. Again the arena was a big factor as there was none in Kitchener and he wanted the province of Ontario to upgrade the Hamilton arena. Nothing came of his plans. A lot of it I believe ,he wanted self publicity. Maybe he should have concentrated more on his business Blackberry, which has tanked in recent years.

Your comment on Bettman having influence of the owners. He does because he has been around so long that most of these owner have come into the league with Bettman as commish. So these new owners do feel a sense of loyalty to Bettman as "the guy that let them have a franchise."

 

[BKIslandersFan]

Your comment on Bettman having influence of the owners. He does because he has been around so long that most of these owner have come into the league with Bettman as commish. So these new owners do feel a sense of loyalty to Bettman as "the guy that let them have a franchise."

Fair enough to part about Hamilton.

As for loyalty to Bettman, if they didn't think Bettman was getting them enough money they would fire him immediately.

There is no loyalty in business.

 

[JMROWE]

Gary Bettman legacy be known for the lockouts in which one cost them an entire season , Putting teams in markets that had business having hockey team , the on going coyotes fiasco & turning the NHL. from one of the most popular sports leagues to one of the least popular not to mention having only 11 out of 31 teams making any kind of money & most of them being in Canada which Gary Bettman has deep distain for also this is man's business model is we don't care if we make money it is about growing the game really this just goes to show you the NHL. is being run by morons & don't envy they guy that comes after him that would have to clean up this mess & joke of a league .

 

[BKIslandersFan]

Gary Bettman legacy be known for the lockouts in which one cost them an entire season , Putting teams in markets that had business having hockey team , the on going coyotes fiasco & turning the NHL. from one of the most popular sports leagues to one of the least popular not to mention having only 11 out of 31 teams making any kind of money & most of them being in Canada which Gary Bettman has deep distain for also this is man's business model is we don't care if we make money it is about growing the game really this just goes to show you the NHL. is being run by morons & don't envy they guy that comes after him that would have to clean up this mess & joke of a league .

Lockout is fair criticism.

As for putting teams where they allegedly did not belong, teams like Coyotes were definitely poorly planned. But even if you think putting teams anywhere near the south is a bad idea, that did not start with Bettman.

Despite your alleged belief the southern teams are costing NHL money, billionaire owners don't seem to mind if they are.

 

[ForumNamePending]

Bettman isn't some great visionary, but he also isn't some incompetent moron ruining all things hockey, or a evil genius secretly trying to destroy it. IMO, all things considered, his run as commissioner has been... I dunno... I'll say... adequate.

 

[Dirty Old Man]

turning the NHL. from one of the most popular sports leagues to one of the least popular .

Look, your bitterness for not having a team wherever it is you want one is on here well documented, but if they weren't 4th most popular in NA before Bettman became commissioner who were they in front of? And who have they since fallen behind?

Even if you're just referring to Canada, same question?

No, they were popular *with you* (and some of your buddies, maybe), and now they're less popular *with you*.

 

[Fenway]

Bettman inherited a mess created by decades of neglect which ended with John Ziegler getting bounced by Jacobs. Bettman has to answer to 31 owners but the reality is not all owners are equal.

His biggest mistake was going all in with Glendale and he would probably admit that today. His biggest disappointment would be Atlanta which should have worked but the ownership group that bought the NBA Hawks had no use for hockey.

Love him or hate him, Bettman usually is the smartest person in the room.

 

[varsaku]

I think most of his success in growing revenue was just mainly the NHL riding the sports craze wave that started in the 90s. The flood of money into sports in the 90s had nothing to do with Bettman's decisions. It will be interesting to see how Bettman or his successor deals with the collapse of cable and the eventual TV money drying up.