Bettman's new strategy

[southsider2k5]

With a backdrop of one of the world's most exclusive resorts -- a place that positively reeks of old money -- NHL commissioner Gary Bettman this week articulated his vision for the future of his league.

 

 

OK, so maybe holding the a board of governors meetings for a league facing a financial crisis at the Breakers Hotel on Florida's monied island of Palm Beach wasn't a stroke of marketing genius, but Bettman did have a great many interesting things to say.

 

 

For one, he laid out a plan that would address problems beyond the current collective bargaining struggles.

 

 

Bettman wants to explore ways to address both the high cost of tickets and (dare we let out a gasp here?) changes in the game itself.

 

 

Cynics will argue that Bettman is controlling the spin in the battle of perception with the players association. After all, if the league and the owners seem to want to work, well, it would be hard not to side with them concerning the need for a salary cap and a plan to lower ticket prices as well as to include fans and the league's crustiest critics (the media) in talks to improve the quality of hockey at the NHL level.

 

The NHLPA is backed in a corner, looking as if the players are against a salary cap (true, by their own admission), against lower ticket prices (by no means a declared statement) and against improvements that would make the game more entertaining for the fans and perhaps more fun to play (not true, and actually something they have longed for).

 

Truth be told, both sides want a more fan-friendly game, more fans in the seats and more growth to the business side of the operation.

 

 

The battle is over how.

 

Yet Bettman chose Palm Beach as the springboard for his blueprint for the future, which includes a two-pronged plan -- a new collective bargaining agreement that allows for teams to both make money and compete on an equal footing, and a fan-friendly league in which the game itself, and not the sideshow issues that surround it, becomes the focal point.

 

 

"That is my vision," Bettman said of the newly proposed approach.

 

 

For the him to concede -- for the first time -- that the almost constant complaints about the quality of entertainment in the NHL are real and deserve a full airing is newsworthy, no matter where he chooses to announce it.

 

 

In that regard, Bettman charged the general managers, a hidebound group of traditionalists if there ever was one, to prepare a list of potential changes to be discussed at their next gathering, a March mission to Las Vegas.

 

 

And while the recommendations will likely be minimal, Bettman hopes to take the best of them before a committee made up of fans, players, execs and the media. One hopes that this committee will be allowed to venture beyond the scope of the GMs' recommendations so that real changes can truly be discussed.

 

 

If everything were on the table, there could be discussion of how best to officiate the game, how to increase scoring (something most fans want) and how to get back to the strengths of the game (skating, passing, shooting, scoring and hitting) and do away with the weaknesses (clutching, grabbing, holding, hooking, and dreadfully boring defensive schemes), and how to fix the ridiculous awarding of a point to a team that loses a game in overtime.

 

 

Among the ideas allegedly kicked around in Palm Beach were plans for a three-point win, repainting the ice with wider lines to increase the size of the offensive and neutral zone areas, wider and taller goal cages to reduce the impact of well-padded and extremely large goaltenders and perhaps even moving the nets back a bit.

 

These suggestions are little more than trial balloons, but the fact that the NHL is saying something other than the game is good and the fans just love it -- which has been the script for the past several seasons -- is certainly a Bettmanesque step in the right direction.

 

It's not likely that the NHLwill turn the shape of its game over to a committee, especially one that includes the media. Bettman, a brilliant man, likely has a plan for exactly the kind of game he wants. He almost said as much in his last state-of-the-league address during the Stanley Cup finals in New Jersey when he conceded that the game had problems but that he knew how to fix them. Still, by reaching out to involve others, Bettman tempers the impression that he sometimes acts not just as commissioner but as the king of hockey. He also opens the door to the politics of inclusion, something the neither the league itself nor the NHLPA has been particularly adept at communicating.

 

"At some point I'd like to reach some sort of end to the debate over the game," Bettman said.

 

How the NHL goes about it may only be window dressing, but having a working agreement that benefits both labor and management, a fan-friendly atmosphere and a product that is appealing to old and new fans alike would be one heck of a way to start.

[southsider2k5]

So in otherwords if they go out on strike, the league is threatening to make chaos of everything by completely starting over, instead of just negotiating what they need to.

[The Critic]

In my opinion, the NHL was doomed the second Radar tried to make it into the NBA.

The NHL does not have the public support or TV deals to try to pretend it is a high-profile sport in the US. They overspent, overcharged and overmarketed, to a resounding yawn in the US.

Unfortunately, Americans do not "Love This Game".

[NUKE_CLEVELAND]

In my opinion, the NHL was doomed the second Radar tried to make it into the NBA.

The NHL does not have the public support or TV deals to try to pretend it is a high-profile sport in the US. They overspent, overcharged and overmarketed, to a resounding yawn in the US.

Unfortunately, Americans do not "Love This Game".

YES!!! DING DING!!! YOU ARE RIGHT.

 

Buttman did all he could to get rid of fighting in the game for the sake of attracting a few NBA fans who thought the fights were barbaric and he has alienated his fan base as a result. Also, you see a lot of cheapshots and stick work from soft ass eurotrash players who no longer have to fear facing the enforcer from the other team. Just sickening.

[Texsox]

The root of hockey's problem is it is 1000% better game in person than on tv.

Football and Basketball are great tv sports. Better than in person.

Baseball is down the middle. Good either way.

 

Hockey has a problem encouraging more kids to play because of cost. I thought my gymnastics bills where high; then I talked to a friends whose kid played hockey. I believe it cost them over $4000 a year. Ice time, coaches, equipment, leqague fees etc.

 

A grass roots appeal is starting. When McAllen, Texas can support a minor league hockey team you know there is hope. The Killer Bees are drawing over 4,000 per game and they now know a Zamboni from a Zapruder

 

I've never been a fight fan. I could live without ever seeing another hockey fight. I still don't understand why you get 5 minutes in hockey and thrown out in football, baseball, and basketball. Something wrong with the sport. Those eurotrash guys need to be checked hard, not b**** slapped.

[Mathew]

Hockey is a great t.V. sport it's just not accesible from a facility point to be part of the U.S. T.V. culture. The N.H.L. is dead and that may not be a bad thing. There will be pro hockey still but it's currently not sustainable at the current salary model.

[YASNY]

Wouldn't it be great if they threw a "New Hockey League" Party and no one invited Bill Wirtz?

[Texsox]

Hockey is a great t.V. sport it's just not accesible from a facility point to be part of the U.S. T.V. culture.  The N.H.L. is dead and that may not be a bad thing.  There will be pro hockey still but it's currently not sustainable at the current salary model.

The reasons I believe hockey is not a great tv sport are:

 

No natural breaks in the action to allow commercials. Football has change of possession, basketball has time outs, baseball has inning changes. Hockey just keeps going. Great in person, poor on TV.

 

Hockey has 2 long intermissions. That is a lot of time to try and fill for TV. Baseball keeps rolling, basketball and football only one half.

 

The puck is hard to follow on TV. And please don't try any enhancements, they don't work.

 

The flow of action doesn't allow for any replays except for goals. It is difficult for tv to jump back and show a great save or check.

 

Line changes happen at the blink of an eye. When tv is following the puck they can't show who just came on the ice. In person your peripheral vision sees the line change.

 

Don't get me wrong, I love the sport. I just think it has a huge uphill battle for tv ratings and tv ratings is the key to economic security for any sport.

[Queen Prawn]

Hockey is a great t.V. sport it's just not accesible from a facility point to be part of the U.S. T.V. culture.

THat's very true in Chicago. There are the Hawks away games and an occasional game on ESPN, but overall, not consistant hockey coverage. Even with the wolves you have to have comcast to get them on TV. I have a blast watching hockey on TV, especially in tight games. When there is someone or a group of someones in the sin bin, the play gets really good. But then again, I like watching NASCAR, so maybe it's another one of my quirks.

[southsider2k5]

The reasons I believe hockey is not a great tv sport are:

 

No natural breaks in the action to allow commercials. Football has change of possession, basketball has time outs, baseball has inning changes. Hockey just keeps going. Great in person, poor on TV.

 

Hockey has 2 long intermissions. That is a lot of time to try and fill for TV. Baseball keeps rolling, basketball and football only one half.

 

The puck is hard to follow on TV. And please don't try any enhancements, they don't work.

 

The flow of action doesn't allow for any replays except for goals. It is difficult for tv to jump back and show a great save or check.

 

Line changes happen at the blink of an eye. When tv is following the puck they can't show who just came on the ice. In person your peripheral vision sees the line change.

 

Don't get me wrong, I love the sport. I just think it has a huge uphill battle for tv ratings and tv ratings is the key to economic security for any sport.

All great points Tex. But even as being by far a baseball fan over all other sports. I will argue there is no better sport to see live than hockey. Espesially at Ice level the action is just addicting.

[Texsox]

All great points Tex.  But even as being by far a baseball fan over all other sports.  I will argue there is no better sport to see live than hockey.  Espesially at Ice level the action is just addicting.

I agree; in person hockey is awesome. Which is my point. Hockey is the only major sport that watching a game in person is so much better than on tv.

 

But as a tv sport it isn't even close to football. Football is practically a made for tv creation. It has breaks in the action to call plays and allow for replays, change of possession allows for commercials. All the key action is around the ball which doesn't move very fast.

 

Hockey also lost a long time ago one of it's advantages and that's no helmets and caps. Players were very recognizable. Bobby Hull would not have been as cool with a helmet.

[southsider2k5]

I agree; in person hockey is awesome. Which is my point. Hockey is the only major sport that watching a game in person is so much better than on tv.

 

But as a tv sport it isn't even close to football. Football is practically a made for tv creation. It has breaks in the action to call plays and  allow for replays, change of possession allows for commercials. All the key action is around the ball which doesn't move very fast.

 

Hockey also lost a long time ago one of it's advantages and that's no helmets and caps. Players were very recognizable. Bobby Hull would not have been as cool with a helmet.

Also I hope that this doesn't sound the wrong way, but I think the influx of European players has hurt its recognition among the average American. Most people want to root for players who have names that they can easily pronounce and to be able to see their guy give a clear interview in English.

[Texsox]

Also I hope that this doesn't sound the wrong way, but I think the influx of European players has hurt its recognition among the average American.  Most people want to root for players who have names that they can easily pronounce and to be able to see their guy give a clear interview in English.

Are we talking baseball or hockey?

[southsider2k5]

Are we talking baseball or hockey? 

How many Euro's play baseball in MLB?

[The Critic]

How many Euro's play baseball in MLB?  

The same point could be made about some of the Latin and Japanese names in MLB.

If people don't follow a sport because they can't pronounce the players' names, that is ignorant, stupid and sad.

 

...not saying that is isn't true ( at least to some degree ), but it is STILL ignorant, stupid and sad...

[BrandoFan]

Makarov could buy and sell you all in his prime.

 

Go ЦСКА, go!!!

[southsider2k5]

The same point could be made about some of the Latin and Japanese names in MLB.

If people don't follow a sport because they can't pronounce the players' names, that is ignorant, stupid and sad.

 

...not saying that is isn't true ( at least to some degree ), but it is STILL ignorant, stupid and sad...

To me it seems most of the Asian phemonon is mostly fueled by the Asian's. The hordes of media who followed around guys like Ichiro were mostly from Japan. As for the Latin's I think they have had a little easier time blending in because learning English from Spanish isn't nearly as hard as trying to learn English after speaking an Eastern Bloc language.

 

And it is sad and ignorant that people think like that. Hell there are still plenty of people out there who won't root for someone like Tiger Woods because he is black. Racism and Nationalism are still way to prevailant for my tastes...

[BrandoFan]

Hell there are still plenty of people out there who won't root for someone like Tiger Woods because he is black

 

 

Technically, Tiger Woods is NOT Black and neither is Hallem Berry, Drek Jeter, etc.

 

I get what you're saying, and if you want to continue going down that road, using NON-WHITE would be more apt.

 

And yes Spanish does have much more in common with English than any given Slav language does.

[The Critic]

I get what you're saying, and if you want to continue going down that road, using NON-WHITE would be more apt.

Might be more appropriate, but most of the neanderthals who think that way aren't going to take the time ( or be able to use the brain cells ) to make that kind of distinction.