An observation about the NHL

[Mets82]

Now, Im not a big fan of the NHL but I did listen to Gary Bettman on WFAN, watch NHL on the Fly, and have been reading about the new NHL contract. I will say this about the NHL and the fans. They are very loyal fan base. I give credit to the NHL and the fan base. They are very passionate and I give credit to the NHL for trying to grow there game. Ex. The Winter Classic, the game on Black Friday etc. I give them a lot of credit. Maybe some sports fans, and I'll admit Im one of them, look at the NHL and it goes under the radar but they are trying different things and growing the game. Some of the playoff games and regular season games might not get a lot of attention but there have been some great reg. season and playoff games.


I wonder if they can take advantage of the NBA lockout? Now I might not know about hockey but I believe Bettman said that there would be no contraction. I, personally, would like to see the Hartford Whalers back in the NHL. What about a team in Maine or Vermont or even another team back in Canada? I would think that would happen because isnt hockey big in those areas? Im not an expert but wouldnt teams in those regions/cities be better than teams in Nashville or Columbus?

 

[Mr Tony]

I'm confused why you keep saying "the game on black friday". Teams have had matinee games on day after Turkey Day for years

what makes this one special? Are they holding a game at a rink made in the parking lot of of a mall or something?

 

[Mets82]

Im sorry Iceberg. I should have clairified. What I should have said the nationally televised game on NBC.

 

[Mr Tony]

ahh ok....I didnt know NBC was carrying a national game on day after Turkey Day

 

[SandraC]

I agree with a lot of what you are saying, but I don't think hockey in Maine or Vermont can work...as devoted as they are to hockey in those places, the population base is just too small.

Hartford is small too, and such a strange location. The arena is in a shopping center...at one end you have Macy's, at the other you have the Civic Center. Just bizarre. And that fan base is now thoroughly divided between the Rangers and Bruins. It was like that when the Whalers WERE there, and it's even worse now.

What I just don't understand is why Bettman feels Long Island is a viable place for a franchise. Nassau county needs a huge infusion of cash just to qualify as broke, the fans are obviously the biggest front-runners in sports, and if team went away it would barely be a blip on the radar. This area cannot support three franchises in any sport...let alone hockey.

Send the Stupid-landers to Quebec, if they finally get their arena built in Quebec City, where people will actually care. The lease at the Mausoleum runs out in 2015...after that hopefully it's buh-bye.


Sandra

 

[Mets82]

Btw, the game after Black Friday on NBC is called the "Discovery NHL Thanksgiving Showdown".

 

[Bodo Fenrirsson]

I agree with a lot of what you are saying, but I don't think hockey in Maine or Vermont can work...as devoted as they are to hockey in those places, the population base is just too small.

Hartford is small too, and such a strange location. The arena is in a shopping center...at one end you have Macy's, at the other you have the Civic Center. Just bizarre. And that fan base is now thoroughly divided between the Rangers and Bruins. It was like that when the Whalers WERE there, and it's even worse now.

What I just don't understand is why Bettman feels Long Island is a viable place for a franchise. Nassau county needs a huge infusion of cash just to qualify as broke, the fans are obviously the biggest front-runners in sports, and if team went away it would barely be a blip on the radar. This area cannot support three franchises in any sport...let alone hockey.

Send the Stupid-landers to Quebec, if they finally get their arena built in Quebec City, where people will actually care. The lease at the Mausoleum runs out in 2015...after that hopefully it's buh-bye.


Sandra

What is the deal with the Islanders potentially playing in the new arena being built in Brooklyn for the Nets? Seriously,why can't they coexist there?

 

[SandraC]

What is the deal with the Islanders potentially playing in the new arena being built in Brooklyn for the Nets? Seriously,why can't they coexist there?

The Rangers may have rights to the area (Brooklyn is in the City, Uniondale, LI, is not), and if so the Rangers would have to allow them to play there. Hopefully if Dolan gets the opportunity, he says no.


Sandra

 

[Islandguy43]

The Rangers may have rights to the area (Brooklyn is in the City, Uniondale, LI, is not), and if so the Rangers would have to allow them to play there. Hopefully if Dolan gets the opportunity, he says no.


Sandra

I doubt Bettman will let the Islanders just move out of his backyard. There is tradition there with the Islanders. Columbus seems to be a more likely a choice to move than them. If I want to make the trip to Columbus on Black Friday I can get a Sabres game ticket, $10 food voucher, a hat, and tim hortons travel mug and a ten pack of timbits for only $35, and they still can't sell the place out. Tonights Leafs Blue Jackets games has a ton leafs jerseys in the crowd too.

 

[SandraC]

I doubt Bettman will let the Islanders just move out of his backyard. There is tradition there with the Islanders. Columbus seems to be a more likely a choice to move than them. If I want to make the trip to Columbus on Black Friday I can get a Sabres game ticket, $10 food voucher, a hat, and tim hortons travel mug and a ten pack of timbits for only $35, and they still can't sell the place out. Tonights Leafs Blue Jackets games has a ton leafs jerseys in the crowd too.

Tradition? If you call the Islanders to find out what time the game starts, they ask you what time you can make it...


Sandra

 

[Islandguy43]

Tradition? If you call the Islanders to find out what time the game starts, they ask you what time you can make it...


Sandra

Ya....but they did win a bunch of cups there too. What they actually need is quality ownership whom doesn't hire the backup goalie on the team to become their general manager during practice one day/

 

[SandraC]

Ya....but they did win a bunch of cups there too. What they actually need is quality ownership whom doesn't hire the backup goalie on the team to become their general manager during practice one day/

Please...that was a generation ago. There are no ties left to the Stanley Cup teams...their current fans (all 10 of them) don't even remember them.

Wang is the owner...he's not going anywhere...until the entire team does. That day cannot come soon enough.


Sandra

 

[televisionarchives]

I was part of the Booster Club for the Maine Mariners AHL team back in the 1980's . They had good turnouts for the games. Tons of Fights!! But a NHL team won't work in Maine for many reasons.