He has killed this league and IMO, if he stays around the NHL will fold.
2007-10-23 05:02:22 · 14 answers · asked by 3rd parties for REAL CHANGE 5 in Sports ➔ Hockey
bettman works for the owners. once he fails them, he'll be gone. it's a money thing. but in terms of bettering the league, he hasn't done that. he made a critical error in judgment by trying to expand the league in north america. the correct strategy was to expand the league internationally. hockey's fan base, in proportion to the other major sports, has not increased a bit in 20+ years. the north american market is oversaturated, and now we have a slew of teams that will be virtually homeless and consistently underperform on the spreadsheet. not to mention the watered-down talent across the league. this does little to attract new fans. it will stand as bettman's failed legacy.
the next commish needs to take the league forward internationally. reduce the number of north american teams to 24 and add 5 teams in europe and 1 in japan. the league will suddenly begin to grow, and shared revenues will skyrocket. a key point here is the huge increase in interest in olympic hockey across the international community. once the nhl players started competing, interest skyrocketed (viewership, attendance) all over europe, and most surprisingly, japan.
if this strategy is too difficult logistically, then reduce the current NHL to 24 teams and farm off the rest to establish a better, more competitive minor league system. the top 2 teams in the minor league system can compete in the stanley cup playoffs. sort of a tier A, tier B system.
2007-10-23 06:02:43 · answer #1 · answered by Super G 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
2 lock outs below his watch, the loss of existence or struggles of the smaller marketplace communities (IE: Buffalo, Pittsburgh,Winnipeg, Quebec) the shortcoming of a few Canadian communities to American Markets (See above). The shifting of the league into the "sunlight belt" area of the rustic. some followers whinge of the becoming length of the Arenas, americanizing the sport (i've got heard some followers whine regarding the sweaters being pronounced as Jerseys for crying out loud!) possibilities to strengthen the sport he has ignored (possibilities to develop velocity of sport play, scoring and so on) like after the Olympics some years returned while he observed what share human beings have been loving the international rules. He HAS made strides... lowering goalie pad length and a pair different rules to develop scoring and bringing returned the shootout have been surely bonuses. yet regrettably, he hasn't finished a lot greater suitable than that and could continually be remembered because of the fact the guy who had 2 lockouts for the duration of his watch.
2016-10-04 10:33:43 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've o nly been a fan since '94 but as far as I've seen from 94 to now... 94 & 95 was much better play. (or maybe just because I was new to iy?)
I say Wayne Gretzky for Commish!
How about like with the Shanny group.. one of the execs, a player & a fan do the Commishing?
For anyone that would like to join the National hockey Leauge Fan Association (Like the players have their own union) they are helping us be heard so
MAKE US HEARD!!!! NHLFA.com
no cost to join the only thing is an occassional quick poll & the 2 longer polls 2x a season.
2007-10-23 12:26:45 · answer #3 · answered by red_e_freddie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The petition is a great idea...except it violates anti-trust laws in both Canada and the United States.
The NHL would never get a chance in court.
Remember, the NHL allowed Balsillie to buy the Penguins, the Board of Governors voted on it....Mario Lemieux blocked the deal (as was his right)
2007-10-23 06:46:26 · answer #4 · answered by Like I'm Telling You Who I A 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What do you mean fold? Those moves to such hockey hot beds as Phoenix,Carolina,Nashville and Florida and now possibly to Kansas City have been just the most awesome business decisions that have been known to mankind. If you throw in his absolute refusal to allow a team in Hamilton,Winnipeg,Saskatoon,Quebec City,Kitchener/waterloo where they would be hand over fist better than any of those places in the Southern USA (except Tampa Bay or Dallas) and his business sense just looks even more polished. Bettman is a tool and a puppet, just like emiller said above me.
2007-10-23 05:57:01 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Not all the teams are making money and some franchise values have actually decreased over the past few seasons. Bettman is a tool. Great for the small market teams I guess but who gives a crap about keeping them afloat?
2007-10-23 05:29:08 · answer #6 · answered by Bob Loblaw 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
They already had a lockout under his watch, so I wouldn't be surprised at all if the league folds. I hope and pray that it doesn't go under, but they need a new commish about 5 years ago!
2007-10-23 07:26:02 · answer #7 · answered by mikea_va 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Once the NHL finds a new person fit to take the job, I believe Bettman will have lived his last days as commisioner, ecspecially if we can get Chelios to get behind the movement.
P.S. Check out this petition to bring more teams up north.
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/NHLNORTH/petition.html
P.S.S. Go back to the NBA, loser.
2007-10-23 06:38:29 · answer #8 · answered by HCKYFAN-67-08 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yeah, it's in real trouble now that the owners and players are both making money. I don't like Bettman all that much myself, but the league is not going to be folding anytime soon.
2007-10-23 05:09:48 · answer #9 · answered by Lubers25 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
He was hired and could be fired by the owners. He makes money for the owners. Most of them have no interest in hockey just making money. They want money that doesn't have to be shared with the players or anyone else. Expansion does that so they wanted it and he approved it.
He is an idiot but he is a puppet for the owners and 90% of them are just as big an idiot as he is.
2007-10-23 05:12:23 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋