[OT] Blue Ice

[Cisco]

Without being accused of defending the NHL, I would like to make a few counter points.

[Q] 1) Expand the league to areas that don't give a shit about hockey.
2) When the game (obviously) fails in the new areas and costs swamp revenue, lock the players out to destroy the NHLPA.
3) Bring the game back with substantial rule changes appealing solely to the new areas.
[/Q]

1) The problem was not expantion. Hockey has done very well in many of the expanded areas. See Dallas. Also, see Nashville. I've attended a game there four years ago, and even back then, there was strong attendance, even for Nash v. Carolina. I think this comment really relfects a nieve traditionalism and love for "original six" (which I found most Red Wings fans were especially fond of). Hockey has also done well in Colorado

2) THe game did not fail in new areas alone. Look to Chicago, they are a huge part of the claimed losses, and they are "original six." I totally side with the players in the lockout, but that is mostly for free market and economics reasons. If Mike Illich wants to spend 70 million a year, so be it.

3)  Just a factual note - the blue ice was being tried out where? Buffalo. Don't they count as a good traditional hockey market?

Cisco

[ben03]

[Q]Cisco Wrote:
3)  Just a factual note - the blue ice was being tried out where? Buffalo. Don't they count as a good traditional hockey market? [/Q]
the only good news i read in the article was the mention of Buffalo (and hopefully others) returning to their old jerseys aka the blue and gold ... the new “black fad” is way past it’s prime and I would gladly see it be gone forever. i'm all for the NHL traveling back in time if only for the sake of the uniforms, they were definitely a whole lot better looking than the over marketed crap we’ve seen recently.

[jeh25]

[Q]Trotsky Wrote:

Now what they should really do to improve hockey is this:

1) Get rid of the ice.
2) Eliminate all of the playing surface except for a thin region at the boards.
3) Put the players in cars.
[/q]


Or.

1) Get rid of the ice.
2) Put down astroturf
3) Call it Major League Lacrosse  ::yark::

I like watching hockey. I love watching lacrosse.  I can only watch 90 seconds of MLL before I need to change the channel.