Broadcasting and marketing are very easy to improve, the main problem is upgrading the infrastructure and moving every team to 12000+ arena.
Right now the main goal should be get rid of the teams with no prospects (Vityaz, Yugra(?), even maybe Novokuznetsk) and figure out the schedule and realignment plan which would really make sense because these trips to Khabarovsk can't go on, it's ridiculous.
I agree with guys who claim that expansion/arenas are no.1 priorities.
KHL main goal right now
1) expansion to Europe - to get 3 or 4 clubs (one from Finland) + arenas as ult wrote (I prefer arenas over 15+) + IIHF
2) make more stable all russian clubs, get rid of a few if necesarry + finished developing system, feeder leagues (MHL/VHL)
3) rest
You can not do step 2 if you dont fullfill step 1 etc.
KHL does not need 10-15 euro clubs (btw there are no money/will for so many clubs in Europe), but needs some euro clubs from "west". Would be a mistake to give up euro expansion now. At the same time KHL must solve arena´s problem and IIHF schedulling.
When this is done, KHL can go to step 2. So developed all russian clubs, not all are good. There are agree with SoundAndFury, but in my eyes it is step 2 not 1. As Peter25 wrote, KHL needs to produce more and more great players. So feeder leagues must be more stable than now (changes of MHL/VHL structure every summer, not good). I would abandon limit for foreigners as well.
Marketing etc is important, but not the most.
Would be great if steps 1/2 to be done within a two years.
Yes it does,if it wants to become truly continental,which i think will happen irregardless of what you think,vorky.
I think all guys saying that every team should have a 12-15k+ arena arelazycrazy. Let's start with fulfilling 8k arenas first, then we can build megalomaniac projects. This is exactly why I left new arenas out. When the fan service is on the top level, when all teams sell every game out, then you take the nxt step.
Destroy the Finnish and Swedish Elite leagues by stealing their top teams into the KHL.
Also expand to exciting new hockey cities like Milano and Copenhagen so KHL can steal some more players and coaches from Finland, Sweden, Czech and Slovakia.
NHL seems to steal players too from Finland and Sweden,why arent you mad about that?
Also adding one team from each league wouldnt be "Stealing" its not like KHL bosses come to Sweden and Finland one day and threaten for example HIFK leadership with Kalashnikovs to join KHL
Destroy the Finnish and Swedish Elite leagues by stealing their top teams into the KHL.
Also expand to exciting new hockey cities like Milano and Copenhagen so KHL can steal some more players and coaches from Finland, Sweden, Czech and Slovakia.
Dunno about Finnish, but the Swedish top teams has no interest in joining KHL. Maybe you could try one of the lesser teams with financial problems.
What do you mean by "stealing"?Destroy the Finnish and Swedish Elite leagues by stealing their top teams into the KHL.
Also expand to exciting new hockey cities like Milano and Copenhagen so KHL can steal some more players and coaches from Finland, Sweden, Czech and Slovakia.
And I can go on... I prefer 15+ arenas because it is better from long-term poin of view. Why to do the same mistake as Amur did with 7000 arena? if club decides to build new arena, it should think about next 20-30 yrs, not next 5-10 yrs. It is not only about hockey but culture in the city. Astana, capital city with 708 000 ppl, is planning to build arena for 12000. Why? Dont they need bigger arenas, for concerts etc? Etc.
Sure, maybe I did not explain what I mean by arenas. I think that KHL has to solve arena´s problem in Sokolniky/Barys/Vityaz etc in next 2-3 yrs. Sure, Ufa/Kazan etc does not need new arenas NOW. Amur needs, but it is unreal to build it within 2 yrs. And I can go on... I prefer 15+ arenas because it is better from long-term poin of view. Why to do the same mistake as Amur did with 7000 arena? if club decides to build new arena, it should think about next 20-30 yrs, not next 5-10 yrs. It is not only about hockey but culture in the city. Astana, capital city with 708 000 ppl, is planning to build arena for 12000. Why? Dont they need bigger arenas, for concerts etc? Etc.
Your right, makes no sense to rebuild every 2 years, these are capital intensive investments with intended life spans of at least 25 years. Makes absolutely no sense to build < 10K arenas if goal is to remain in KHL long term. Your cost will be twice as much if you do this.
BTW part of what brings fans to the games are an arena that is better than expectations. There was some marketing article on KHL and the VP referenced simple marketing strategies that were proven to increase fan adoption: Things like whiter ice, hd broadcasts, brighter lighting, modern arenas with enjoyable enviroment etc..
True, but it also doesn't make sense to jump from 5k to >15, I don't care how nice the stadium is, attendance isn't going to increase to 15, 8-10 max. Over the course of 5-10 years you may get 15k people to attend, but you'll have an empty stadium until then.