Citing wanting to FURTHER expand the league, his brilliant TV contract w/ Versus as opposed to ESPN, and a variety of other issues.
2007-09-23 12:28:42 · 15 answers · asked by thejoker133123 2 in Sports ➔ Hockey
It would make a lot of sense, while of course his apologists will always spin facts his way, the game hasn't stayed on a steady course of mediocrity there as been a drastic decline to the abyss. The NHL need a commissioner who will revive tradition and appeal to “hockey” fans. I love hockey but I'm largely embarrassed by the NHL, I would love to see an WHA-type league spring up in my lifetime.
Vs/OLN served its purpose by at least broadcasting hockey, however their interest lays with college football after already seeing the low number. Vs. hasn't had a flexible schedule (Blackhawks in April?), no pre-season games (Could only create buzz) and still no NHL Network all show that the NHL was a try-out for the network to land football in any sort of capacity.
ESPN was actually in talk with the NHL post-lockout, but decide to match Vs. offer and let the NHL handcuff themselves to a sketchy network with a weighted deal. Now even if the NHL came crawling back to ESPN they are at the mercy of Vs. Another impulsive decision of the Bettman NHL without any prudence to the consequence of them
2007-09-24 06:49:24 · answer #1 · answered by Glen Greene 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bettman was given an extention back in June, he's not going anywhere. It's to be announced before the next GM meetings.
As for ESPN, talk to ESPN about their reasons. ESPN lost money on hockey for 20 years ($73MM if Disney is to be believed) they decided they couldn't make money on it, they declined to talk to the NHL, had nothing to do with Bettman.
It all comes down to selling time. If you can't sell it, you won't buy it.
Bob
It could be looked at that way. Disney said they would purchase the rights for the average annual amount they were able to sell time for for the period 1989-1994. If the ratings got above 3.5, there would be a financial incentive. The amount was VERY low.
Bettman took the offer back to the Owners, and the owners voted 30-0 against it. Ed Snider pointed out that the highest US ratings in US history were only 3.3 back in the late 70s. So, Bettman basically told Disney to take a hike. Fox made an offer, the owners wanted no part of that so we ended up with NBC.
As I've said before, I don't care what commissioner you put in there, the US ratings won't go up significantly in the short term. They were 2.2 when Campbell retired. They were 2.3 when Ziegler retired, and they were 2.2 last year. Gretzky and Lemiuex couldn't convert them.....I'm not sure what will.
2007-09-23 12:36:51 · answer #2 · answered by Like I'm Telling You Who I A 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I'm not sure there is a thing that Bettman has done that has affected you inversely. Unless it is the price of tickets for your team becoming too expensive for you to afford. All he has done since becoming commissioner has been to make the game even more popular than it was before. By the way Bettman is the best commissioner in the history of the NHL.
2016-04-05 22:11:46 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Every real hockey fan thinks that he should be fired. He has ruined the game by trying half-baked ideas to appeal to "casual" fans. What kind of retard would try to remove fighting from hockey as they are trying to appeal to more people? Fighting is always a fan favorite and helped keep things in check without disturbing the integrity of the game, so eliminating it is about as stupid of an idea as there is out there.... He put the sport on a network that very few people even get, he has destroyed the integrity of the game and moved it to a 2nd tier sport, and need I remind you which commissioner's watch the glow puck incident occurred under.
2007-09-23 12:46:58 · answer #4 · answered by rusty shackleford 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Like I'm Telling You- My take was that ESPN lowballed an offer after the lock-out and Bettman was the stubborn one that broke off talks and basically told them where to go, then signed woth Outdoor Life Network??? Home of cycling??
Personally, I can't stand the man. Pompous little jerk. He always talks about the good of the game, if he really cared he'd quit.
No, he's not going anywhere because the loyal backing of owners that were saved by the salary cap but I really wish he would.
If you need a reason, overseeing not one but two work stoppages makes him a failure.
2007-09-23 12:48:33 · answer #5 · answered by Bob Loblaw 7 · 4⤊ 2⤋
I think he should be fired. He is talking of an expansion when a lot of teams don't have players to fill theur first 2 lines.....
He is also killing hockey in Canada. All of our stadium are fulled, and with the power of canadain money right now (1$ CAN = 1$US). The money would be really good........
I don't like to see 1000 fans watching the Canes, Panthers & Predators....
2007-09-23 12:58:09 · answer #6 · answered by silvinpower 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Bettman sucks
2007-09-23 12:58:20 · answer #7 · answered by M D 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Should have been fired before the lockout. New commish would have done anything to prevent it from happening, not Bettman!
2007-09-24 05:03:39 · answer #8 · answered by mikea_va 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You'll have more entertaining answers if you ask, "Who thinks that Bettman should NOT be fired?" Anybody who watches hockey knows that Bettman needs to go.
2007-09-23 12:58:37 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
Oh Yesssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss!
2007-09-23 13:57:02 · answer #10 · answered by Salain 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋