Gary Bettman

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  • rival.
    rival. Chicago Posts: 7,775
    so many underserving US cities, and so many deserving canadian cities.


    take action and fold the three or four bankrupt teams in the league.
  • Dr. Delight
    Dr. Delight Posts: 11,210
    Teams with issues:

    Phoenix, Islanders, Devils, Columbus,(Am I missing anymore)

    Thats not counting all of the other teams losing money, but being helped by revenue sharing.
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  • Jason P
    Jason P Posts: 19,420
    rival. wrote:
    so many underserving US cities, and so many deserving canadian cities.


    take action and fold the three or four bankrupt teams in the league.
    I think Quebec is the only city in Canada that could support a team and won't be cock-blocked by Montreal, Ottawa, and Toronto owners. What other cities do you think could make it?
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  • Indifference71
    Indifference71 Chicago Posts: 14,926
    rival. wrote:
    so many underserving US cities, and so many deserving canadian cities.


    take action and fold the three or four bankrupt teams in the league.



    Contracting some teams would absolutely solve a lot of the issues. However, I doubt the players union would sign off on that since that would mean the loss of 80-90 jobs in the league. Although I'm not sure if the players union would have to agree to that....not sure how that works.
  • DS1119
    DS1119 Posts: 33,497
    Indifference71 wrote:

    Contracting some teams would absolutely solve a lot of the issues. However, I doubt the players union would sign off on that since that would mean the loss of 80-90 jobs in the league. Although I'm not sure if the players union would have to agree to that....not sure how that works.


    Yeah, that isn't happening. :lol: And I'm not laughing at you just the contarction idea. As long as the league is making money as a whole the player's union will never let that happen. I hate unions. :lol:
  • lukin2006
    lukin2006 Posts: 9,087
    Jason P wrote:
    rival. wrote:
    so many underserving US cities, and so many deserving canadian cities.


    take action and fold the three or four bankrupt teams in the league.
    I think Quebec is the only city in Canada that could support a team and won't be cock-blocked by Montreal, Ottawa, and Toronto owners. What other cities do you think could make it?

    Quebec will likely get a team...Sakatoon is also interested in a team as well. Just because a team fills a stadium doesn't mean it will compete. Winnepeg is sold out for years to come but their payroll is only 50 million close too 20 million behind the big boys. I want Canadians teams but not if their going to be farm teams for the US.

    Their also planning on building an NHL arena in Markham Ontario another burb of Toronto.
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  • shep
    shep Houston Posts: 5,902
    Dr. Delight wrote:
    In all honesty I dont see the league starting up until before/around the time of the Winter Classic. That is the NHL's Superbowl as far as league exposure/ad revenue.
    If the lockout goes beyond that, it could be devastating.

    The revenue sharing and over saturation of teams in this league is killing it. Teams that are bleeding money and require the help of the league to shovel cash their way to stay afloat need to go.

    Meanwhile teams that do make money are held hostage to a salary cap and even more hilariously, have to fork over revenue sharing to these sad sack franchises that Gary Bettman himself forced on the league in the "expansion years". All he wanted back then was more teams in new areas so that they had to hand over franchise fees to the league to help pump money to their bottom line. While a couple of teams have had success, the majority have not.
    Is their really a need for Florida to have two teams? How about the huge hockey market of Ohio?

    Don't get me started on the rules changes that have drastically changed the shape of the game I once loved the most. Today I find myself a bigger fan of the NFL, which I once could not tolerate.
    I've been watching this NHL product since 1983, and I have seen a lot.

    A lockout this year just may be the final straw for me. I'll just walk away for good this time.


    Good post.

    I'm inclined to agree with most that the majority of the revenue sharing and contract issues stem from the fact that the league simply needs to contract by 5-6 teams, i.e. all those that have been in the red for the last few seasons: Pheonix, Florida, Nashville, Columbus, and Dallas. Axe those 5 franchises and everyone's revenues start going up (to be fair, the playoff run last year did get Nashville out of the red, but prior to that :nono:)

    Bettman needs to accept that his dream of hockey in the southern US just isn't going to fly - this coming from a guy who lives in Houston, and regularly travels to Dallas to catch hockey games. It would digust most honest hockey fans in NYC, Toronto, and MTL to know that I regularly buy tickets for under face value 3 rows from the glass (and keep in mind that face value on them is only like $110).

    Lose 5 teams, axe Bettman, and hold organizations responsible for the ridiculous contract offers they hand out... they'll learn quick enough, after a 13 year gaurenteed contract at 8 million a season get's knocked out of the league on a hit from Weber.... (I will happily take Bettman's job though now that I've solved all the leagues problems ;) )
    Houston, Texas... Believe it or not, there are 7 million people here... must be a couple of fans who'd love to see you play.
  • MayDay10
    MayDay10 Posts: 11,900
    Bettman is just a puppet for the owners. Mainly the 8 richest owners on the b.o.g. also remember that his contract always gets extended by a unanimous vote. If they 'get rid of bettman', it would just be another empty lawyer suit

    I am about 75% with the owners on this. I like how they want to close these loopholes exposed in the current cba with the front loaded contracts, rediculous length, etc. I also believe that the players share could be dropped a bit (not less than half imo).

    They need to take some responsibility too with more meaningful revenue sharing. A majority of the money is being made by a few huge media markets, while 2/3 of the league is treading water to stay competitive, or hemorraging money just trying to get to the cap floor. There just isn't the widespread revenue to sustain on a team by team basis. "Well too bad"? If you are contracting teams, you might as well knock out half the league. Buffalo and pittsburgh both almost moved. Nashville came close, but were saved at zero hour. Ottawa was in trouble... Minnesota and winnipeg both lost teams. Hell, if the red wings were to go in a prolonged funk, they would lose money. Right now it happens to be phoenix, dallas, new jersey, and the isles.

    With the cost certainty of an nhl team to be able to stand on its own legs, rich dudes will be more attracted to jumping in and purchasing teams like the coyotes and stars. Overall it is a huge step for the nhl. They made a nice step last time.

    However, if the most wealthy owners are going to pass on all the burden of the financial disparity to the players, that sucks and this wont be resolved any time soon.

    It is very good the dialogue is continuing.

    As far as a work stoppage killing the league? No way. It will be just fine. Im not sure how long the players can afford to sit.... phoenix may also be used as leverage. If league doesn't start by xx/xx/xx, the coyotes will no longer be able to operate and will be contracted.
  • Rygar
    Rygar Posts: 8,712
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFVZ7aLB49s

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