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To Sell Hockey, Celebrate Scoring
by Alanah McGinley on 12/05/08 at 04:18 PM ET
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From Eric Duhatschek at the Globe & Mail,
One of the most intriguing ideas came from Buffalo Sabres president Larry Quinn, who was musing out loud about what needs to happen for the NHL to make financial sense in all 30 markets. His idea – increasing television revenues – was not exactly ground-breaking, but his explanation of how the NHL might get there was.
Kelly suggested the NHL needed to move closer to the NFL model, where about two-thirds of all revenues are shared because of the generous TV contracts the league has been able to negotiate.
“I talked to the NFL guys last year,” said Quinn, “and I asked them: How did you change your game from the off-tackle, three-yard running play and scores that were 13-10 to what you have right now? And a wise old guy said to me: It’s very simple. Roone Arledge walked down the street and said to Pete Rozelle one day: Listen, I have this idea. It’s called Monday Night Football. I can make you lots and lots of money, but here’s what I can sell: I can sell quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers. That’s what I can sell to the American public.
“Well, if you look at what we do, we sell goaltenders. I think it’s fair to say, both Canadians and Americans, that’s not what they love about the game. They love Bobby Orr, Wayne Gretzky, Guy LaFleur and Jean Beliveau.”
read on for more stories from around the NHL, including thoughts on the Sean Avery business.
Filed in: NHL Talk, NHL Business of Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Comments
Goals are goals - until anyone starts awarding extra style points like in gymnastics or figure skating, it’s hard enough to get any goals at all. Winning is winning, and tip-ins count just as much toward that as a pretty play.
According to Kelly, if the NHL could get goal-scoring up in the seven-per-game range, that might be enough to make the long-awaited breakthrough on television in the United States.
Yay! More stupid random penalties leading to power-play goals to increase the numbers for nonfans and try to get the elusive television contract that will save the sport forever!
(Please excuse me while I bang my head against a concrete overpass until my brains leak out like tapioca to make the same stupid song stop.)
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 12/06/08 at 08:22 AM ET
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i couldn’t agree more.. except we can’t celebrate tip in goals (Holmstrom), we have to celebrate graceful goals (Hemsky) or skill goals (Toews).. or even amazing, no look, spin-o-rama passes (Thornton), like they do in basketball (steve nash)
Posted by ThinkinPink on 12/05/08 at 05:55 PM ET