In response to jaws,
Incorrect. According to Gil Stein, former head of the NHL and author of Power Plays, he states that "in June of 1997, the NHL followed the precedent of the Plan of Third Expansion when it announced a new 3-phase plan, expanding to Nashville in 1998, to Atlanta in 1999, and to St. Paul, Minnesota and Columbus, Ohio, in 2000 (Stein, 64).
While that was implamented in 1997, expansion to at least Nashville and Atlanta started before Gary Bettman's time. Sorry, no source. I read it a while ago.
Furthermore, financial contraints were also well known in the media. Hence CBC's "The New Ice Age", made between 1997-98, clearly documenting the rise in player salaries (
http://www.whitepinepictures.com/iceage.html). Despite the whole the NHL was digging itself into, it continued to expand, despite its unhealthy (supposibly anyway) situation.
Would you agree that these financial problems weren't magnified as much in 1998 then now, 2005? That was about the time when problems started to magnify.
Despite the Moose's success, Winnipeg is still dieing for an NHL team. Same with Saskatoon and Quebec City and others.
Just wondering what your thoughts/response was to towns like Kelowna and Kamloops willingness to take on a NHLPA team into their city, and drawing fans away from their resident WHL team. It's bound to happen, and I'm betting these smaller cities and towns arn't willing to gamble their WHL franchise on a NHLPA league that will be there for what, a year?
Also. would these smaller cities / towns have the proper assets to finance a league the NHLPA is proposing? How about the buildings? Remember that these pro athletes are spoiled filthy, as evident when you have guys like Rick Nash whining about long bus rides in the Swiss league. Coupled with the lower revenue a NHLPA league would draw and the small building capacity, I don't think the NHLPA league can afford 1st class flights and/or private jets to take them from town to town, and I don't think these pro players are game for 13-hour bus rides eating sandwiches from the fridge.
Also, another factor to consider is the backlash new owners would be taking on from the previous owners. Keep in mind alot of these NHL owners are incredibly powerful people in society, and can destroy a little owner should they butt heads. Take for instance Harley Hotchiss (as we are talking about a few Western small towns / cities here) who has been known to be a very charitable and friendly man, but will bend you over the table and tear you to pieces (eh, Trevor Linden?) if you decide to butt heads with him in bussiness.
Keeping that in mind, and the fact that the NHLPA drove a $2.1 billion industry in the toilet, is the risk really worth it to prospective NHLPA league owners... for a 1 year league? That sure seems like a lot of work all-for-not.
I fail to see your point about back paged financial troubles and its impact on whether to expand or not. The bottom line is the NHL knew as well as the business community, yet they still expanded, for the most part, to untraditional cities.
Basically, what I was getting at was this financial trouble is ALOT more magnified now then back then. We have the lockout, the Levitt report reporting astounding losses, and NHL franchises going into bankrupcy since - something that didn't happen at the time of expansion. Yes, it was known then, but it wasn't as magnified as it is now.
Now all that considered, how many prospective investors are there for NHL franchises? 1? 2? How do you plan on pulling off 12+? Is there really that much interest for the risks, the backlash and the financial troubles (as history would show) for owning a team for 1 season?
The Hitmen are pretty profittable last time I checked. In fact, since they're owned by the Flames, they're making them money while they don't even play. If CHL teams are worried about fans leaving, then have the PAHL work with them. Have double hitters-fans tickets go to both the players league and the CHL matchup. I'd go for the 2 for 1 deal. Also, if the CHL team owns the rink, that PAHL team has to pay rent, giving the CHL team more money.
The Hitman are in a large market (Calgary). Saskatoon is not. Huge difference.
You wonder how much interest there is? Look at "Ryan Smyth's Charity Game" tour.
As well, do you think the CHL will want to hold hands with the NHLPA league? What does the CHL have to gain from this? As far as I'm concerned, the CHL has nothing to gain from this and something to lose.
2-1 deals... as if there wasn't enough trouble for the NHLPA league to bring in revenue, now split the money with the CHL? These players would be making more in the UHL! Playing in small towns with likely no media revenue and nothing but small arena's (if they even fill half), low ticket prices and almost no marketing power will not support the Mike Modano's and Rick Nash's of the world who like their 1st class flights, gambling and nice cars. Considering the previous attempts like the OSHL and Ryan Smyth's Charity Hockey Game, this NHLPA will be lucky not to run their union into bankrupcy!
I'd say there more at risk from some wacko mifted at the players.
Lets see... Joe Thronton playing slashy-slashy... Todd Bertuzzi... I'd say "our" NHL players are probably more of a psycho on the ice then the resident league's players.
It'll be tough to create, but if they are committed, it'll work.
Once again using the OSHL as an example... that idea fell apart fast. This will take alot more work, alot more investing and alot more marketing. If the OSHL is any (even slight) indication, this deal will fall through and probably crush the union.
If they created and gave 112% into their league, it would truly show the fans what they really play and stand for.
Again... why would they? Once again, look at the OSHL. This league is almost guerenteed to be a season-long version of the all-star game, where players like Donald Brashear can continue pretending they are stars.
Why not? We got the technology. I think it'd be the greatest lure for fans to come and watch, as it really would be their team. Heck, even get them to make a payrole or something. Create a minimum salaray for players, then let the fans decide who gets most of their money. Fantasy pools come to life.
Why not? Well, first off, organization. Its too tough to organize (wow I'm sounding like a broken record here, but again, look to the OSHL) and it would take too much time, money and effort to gain awareness.
That, and fans are stupid. They will ice terrible teams, making this gong-show of a league draft more of a joke then you can ever imagine.
Payroll... who's pockets do these come out of again? Our floodgate of NHLPA league owners? And letting fans decide how much they are, with a MINIMUM salary? That'll be the day when any franchise invester agrees to that.
Then you create an even worse situation, especially for the small market teams. Three years and players could be gone, especially if he can go to a team that can offer and pay his full 10% leeway.
Huh? If they move organizations, theres no leeway. Its only if they stay with the same organization. If he changes franchises, the stipulation no longer applies.
You should. By not following their criminal history, you're allowing these unjustices to occur. Heck, your allowing them to steal from you.
Compared to whats already happening? Compared to the government money scandals? Considering how my university tuition is being throw around?
Knowing their history, would you believe their crys of poverty now?
As a fan of the Calgary Flames, I've never had to concern myself with that. First off, the Flames owners have never been accusted of any sort of crime. Secondly, the Flames have never cried poverty. They've only said that they are not willing to lose $10 million a year, and are looking to either break even or only lose a million or two.
Besides, having 3 guys, or even a bit more in law trouble, out of 700 is a pretty good ratio; much better than what the owners have.
Do I really have to name them all? Theo Fleury, Ed Belfore, Jose Theodore...
If the NHLPA really wants to play this game of chicken and destory the league, they are the ones losing. Break the NHL and the players have no where to make their $10 million. Simple as that. Not a smart idea to play chicken with your employer.