If you were NHL Commissioner...?

Question

First, identify what you feel the leagues issues are
Second, identify how you would address each issue
Third, identify how your solution would grow the game

Background: I have been involved in hockey in one way or another since the early 1960s (I played minor league hockey with Phil Esposito in Chicago's system) and was a scout for the Black Hawks for over 30 years. I am still involved in the league. I have seen a lot of people complain about Gary Bettman on this forum, attributing to him problems that he has nothing to do with. Gary is a well paid commissioner who does what the owners tell him, not the other way around. He has a specific mandate (and I'm not telling you what it is) and he has accomplished that mandate, which is why the owners endorsed him last summer.

So, let me hear your answers (cyrenaica can't answer)

Chris M - Detroit plays each team in the other conference twice every three years - they are supposed to host them once (on average) every three years

Benny Boy - how will you get the networks to sign bigger deals with the NHL?

Awesome Bill - How will contracting grow the game?

Damien - again, you show your lack of knowledge

1. During John Ziegler's reign, the percentage of US daily newspapers carrying NHL scores jumped from 55% to 59%. During Bettman's reign, that has moved from 60% to 96%

2. The number of US dailies carrying NHL summaries has gone from 23% to 65%.

3. The percentage of revenue generated from outside Canada grew from 31% in 1977 to 44% in 1993. It now accounts for 74% of revenues.

Non-Canadian TV revenue was 26% in 1993, and is now 62%.

The number of American kids playing hockey below the University level has quadrupled in the past 13 years.

Between 1970 and 1993, the number of US colleges playing hockey decreased, since 1993 the number has increased.

The number of games on US television has increased 9000% in the last 13 years.

In your response you fail to say what the issues were, or how any issues should be fixed

lotus - good answer, but attendance isn't an issue in the eyes of the league. Scheduling is not an issue in the eyes of the players or owners. I like your answer with regards to TV coverage but there are differences in broadcast laws between Canada and the US that need to be addressed first.

Answer 1

I think the three main issues facing the league are

1. Attendance and the growth of the sport over time
2. The ongoing contract issues
3. Scheduling/TV coverage

1. a. The prices of tickets have to be accessible. I just moved to Boston from CA and where we were season tix holders there, we simply can't afford it here. So you have die hard fans who are willing to come to 80% of the home games who are suddenly eliminated. Those are "at risk" fans, and as the prices of tickets are jacked up, you stand to lose more and more, as well as alienating "casual" fans who are deterred from "picking up a couple of tickets" and going to the game.

Make the luxury seats pricier. Drop the prices of the cheap seats. Promote more packages (like the four seats, four hot dogs, four cokes packages).

Yes, I know marketing is a franchise issue, but I think some of this should come from the league. Make it so the clubs *have* to have a certain number of reasonably priced seats/seat packages. Work with the clubs to reach a more diverse group of fans.

b. The league has to promote the sport better. Many of the clubs have outreach programs for everything from reading and literacy to cancer prevention. Great, that's great, but the first business of the league should be hockey. Sports are great for kids, and hockey in particular is a great sport. Every club should have a program to promote hockey in the schools, including player presence, clinics, street hockey programs, equipment drives, etc. Literacy is a wonderful thing, but so is hockey. Promote hockey.

The NHL should push programs like this for every club. The most fans come from areas where kids grow up with the sport. So give kids the sport. San Jose is a perfect example of how the club promoted play, which in turn fed back to attendance.

2. a. As league commissioner I'd refuse to talk to Goodenow. At all. I'd request a players-only delegation (preferably elected) from the NHLPA, and have *monthly meetings* with this delegation, lawyer-free, from now until the next CBA deadline. I'd make sure issues were being dealt with and hammered out long before the point of walkout/lockout. The sport cannot weather another strike or lockout. Period.

Also, the time where the players needed representation is over. Players are now businessmen in their own right, and don't need someone putting words in their mouths. No closed door sessions, no secret meetings. Everything on the up and up between the players and the NHL in negotiations. No BS.

3. Part of the reason I'm not commissioner is I have no idea how to handle the scheduling issue. I don't think reducing the number of teams is the answer.

Making games available online through the NHL for a subscriber fee -- make it a good format, have special "online only" features to attract more viewers, etc. -- may increase viewership. Right now a lot of people get their TV from YouTube and other sources.

Putting the games in a good format on the internet is probably the best step forward for the league in terms of broadcasting. YouTube is a great example of how that's a fiscally sound proposition.

But I'd hire some great people to make it work for me.

***

Attendance may not be an issue but it should be. But thanks, and point taken.

Answer 2

The biggest issue facing all professional sports these days is the size of players contracts and the trickle down effect that they have on the marketing of the respective sports and ultimately the quality of the games and the price paid by the ticket buyer.

Those who are paying the biggest price are the true hockey fans. They are being priced out to the nose bleed section so that the team can continue to operate with a profit, insulted by the quality of play due to expansion, and soaked for extended playoff rounds that are necessitated by the fact that teams make money hand over fist in the playoffs.

What is going on may be tweaked but never fixed. I feel that all leagues should contract, use a first division format like international soccer leagues, limit contract length and outlay, and get rid of the obnoxiously loud music during the game.

For hockey specific solutions I would cut the amount of teams to 20 at the most by dissolving some and relocating others to more deserving Canadian cities. I would also see to it that the referees and linesmen be consistent in their penalty calling and let the players use a little more holding. It's like the damned ice capades now and I am turned off by it.

I live in the real world so I know that my ideas aren't realistic. But if I were running things, that's the way I would like it to be.

IN REPLY TO YOUR ADDENDUM: History has shown that you can grow by subtracting unhealthy elements.

Answer 3

Like any and all guys who've been the President of the United States, Gary Bettman takes the brunt of any and all matters dangerous that pass on. Obama for the US and Bettman within the NHL. It is NOT all Bettman's fault. He is going by means of the principles. He did NOT make the entire regulations. I doubt he's going to ever be "thrown out". It is much more likely that HE will decide on to transport on. My opt for to be the brand new commissioner while that occurs is Brendan Shanahan. Or Machinehead. He had an exceptional play off beard final spring. viphockey is aware of stuff. He might deliver it a pass, too. Besides, he is a Red Wings fan.

Answer 4

i do agree that there is a problem with the scheduling, but also there needs to be something done to draw more fans into the game because it is way behind the MLB, NFL, and NBA. im not really sure what i would do, maybe sign more tv contracts with bigger networks with espn, because that would really help to get more fan interest, and i would deffinatly do more giveaways. to make the game grow i would try to somehow get more scoring in the game, without damaging the history of the game, but there just needs to be more action, but i also really like the shootouts to resolve ties that helps alot

Answer 5

One problem I have is the scheduling. A team like Detroit will only play each eastern conference team once every three years. THAT IS ABSURD! so, crosby, ovechkin, malkin, brodeur, jagr, etc. will only play against detroit ONCE EVERY THREE YEARS! that is ridiculous. obviously, i'd fix that by increasing the number of games played against those teams. it will grow the game because cities with less hockey interest might get more interested if they get to see crosby often.

Answer 6

like the others, scheduling is a problem. it should be like it was before, you play every team at least twice, once home and once away. if the nhl is worried about making money, this would make them earn more bec fans wanna see drury,ovechkin, crosby etc.. and you would play your division plenty... btw, awsome question and thats some awsome hockey history you got there, GO AVS!

Answer 7

I would make sure hockey got as little exposure as possible and keep my job by getting my nose up the asses of all the owners.

Oh, sorry, that's what Bettmen does.