On the Forecheck
Next entry: Catching up with the Thang
Previous entry: From Selke winner to cellar dweller
A history lesson on NHL relocation
by Forechecker on 01/12/09 at 05:32 PM ET
Comments (3)
Some corners of the hockey world are all a-twitter over the news that Phoenix reportedly missed out on 25% of their NHL revenue sharing last season, and the cries for relocation (or even, laughably, contraction) are making the rounds. Most of these screeds start off with the presumption that the NHL’s Sun Belt movement was directed by Commissioner Gary Bettman in a bid to establish a stronger national TV presence in the US, but the story is much more complicated than that, and local considerations played a key role in each individual case.
For some historical background on the conditions under which the NHL expanded or relocated teams to the southern US, check out today’s piece by Stu Hackel of the New York Times’ Slap Shot blog, which should be required reading for anyone about to sound off on the Coyotes’ situation. He traces a sea change in the NHL’s business climate to the transition from Alan Eagleson to Bob Goodenow as head of the NHLPA:
When the Eagle was replaced by Bob Goodenow, the union’s accommodations to ownership were gone too. One brief strike later (in 1992), and salaries began to skyrocket. That was followed by one half-season lockout (in 1994), and the rocket’s booster kicked in. The N.H.L.’s trajectory completely changed.
To cover those escalating salaries, owners needed new revenue. Since hockey was an arena-based gate-receipts business — as it always has been and continues to be — the owners found that they needed more seats, more amenities, more luxury boxes and, yes, even better parking revenue. Many owners got those things. Not all did.
It’s a fine recap of the factors involved in the Jets/Coyotes move, as well as the various missteps locally which have led the Coyotes to their current state.
Filed in: NHL Commentary | On the Forecheck | Permalink
Comments
You know what, Josh, you’re right, I worded that pretty horribly there, and I apologize (especially to Stephen Brunt of the Globe & Mail) for misrepresenting his piece.
What I was trying to convey was the fact that the belief is widespread that expansion to southern US markets was a personal crusade of Bettman’s, and that this view massively oversimplifies the situation at the time. What Hackel over at the New York Times presents is a timeline of how structural changes within the league (specificaly spiraling player salaries) forced owners to get new, luxury box-laden arenas built for them largely at taxpayer expense, or, failing that, relocate to another city which would do so.
Posted by Forechecker from Nolensville, TN on 01/12/09 at 07:35 PM ET
A blogger who cops to mistakes. A true original! Good on ya, Forechecker. 
Posted by Josh from Montreal on 01/12/09 at 08:24 PM ET
Add a Comment
Please limit embedded image or media size to 575 pixels wide.
Add your own avatar by joining Kukla's Korner, or logging in and uploading one in your member control panel.
Captchas bug you? Join KK or log in and you won't have to bother.
Most Recent Blog Posts
A pivotal Predators prospect: Colin Wilson
Canadian hockey team on the road to Nashville
Two recreational hockey players die on same night, at same rink
Calgary investor Brett Wilson to buy stake in the Nashville Predators
Preds enjoy a command performance
To buy or not to buy? That is the question…
About On the Forecheck
Dirk Hoag is the Forechecker, churner of NHL stats and analysis. Having started over 10 years ago writing for websites like In the Crease and e-Sports, Dirk launched On The Forecheck in 2005 to cover the Nashville Predators as well as apply statistical analysis to NHL hockey.
Email:
Furious February
The Preds host 10 home games during the month of February, including two games each against the Phoenix Coyotes, St. Louis Blues and, yes, the Detroit Red Wings. For discounted Nashville Predators tickets, including steeply discounted Ticketmaster fees, to these or any other upcoming home games, take advantage of this special offer, and use the special offer code "predators".
“Most of these screeds start off with the presumption that the NHL’s Sun Belt movement was directed by Commissioner Gary Bettman in a bid to establish a stronger national TV presence in the US...”
Funny - in that “screed” you link to, I don’t see the words “TV” or “television” until the 11th paragraph, and even then, it’s not to make the point you claim they all start off with.
Posted by Josh from Montreal on 01/12/09 at 06:42 PM ET