The reaction from the Americans to Jim Basille trying to bring a dying NHL team back to Canada further magnifies why we need the CFL in this country.
Because its obvious now we have lost hockey to the USA. JIm Devellano, a one time Canadian, said in the Toronto Star today that the NHL is now America's game. Beleive it or not.
We can't let those people down south run everything for us, and dictate to us what cities in this country should be allowed sports teams.
The CFL is the only league we have to call our own. We have to keep supporting it and help it to thrive. Because if we lose that, we'll have nothing left. And we''ll be at the mercy of the Americans when it comes to sports. And who the hell wants that?
Well said berezin! :thup:
Yeah, maybe I'm a xenophobe, but there's something about a pure Canadian league that I have fallen in love with. I love hockey and the NHL but because of the "basterdization" of that league alot of things make me sad to see.
I grew up on the CFL
It is the one game I love ..
Hockey means nothing or very little to me..
Cheers to that!
Bettman doesn't like Balsille for some reason and doesn't want to expand to Canada.
I like that Bettman wants to make hockey work in the markets that he has expanded too. He has got Nashville out of the crapper, for now and he seems intent on making it work in Phoenix.
People think that if you throw hockey back into Canada (Winnipeg and Quebec City, specifically) you will be making money hand over fist.
Not true!
I was listening to the Fan 590 a few weeks ago and Doug MacLean, who used to run the Blue Jackets, said that a city like Wpg or QC could only generate around $40 million each in revenue. They don't have major corporations in their city and they wouldn't be able to get the corporate support.
Tampa Bay on the other hand, generates $90 million in revenue each year.
Also, 2 days ago on 550 out of Buffalo, on the Schop and Bulldog show, they interviewed Larry Quinn, managing partner for the Sabres and he said moving a franchise to Hamilton would hurt the Sabres. No, not with that stupid 50 mile radious rule, that by the way, wouldn't hold up in a court of law, but if Hamilton would generate more money than Phoenix, it would drive up the salary cap. The owners down't want the salary cap any higher because most teams can barely afford the talent that they have now.
I 100% see why Balsille wants a team in Southern Ontario. I personally don't want one here in Hamilton. First, I think it would only be for the short term. Jim wants the team in Waterloo, where he lives and he has a ton of land in RIM park.
Second, the ticket pricing. I think it would be almost like the ACC. It would mostly be corporate and the average fan couldn't afford a ticket or go to more than a couple games a year.
Third, the Canadian dollar isn't too bad right now. I expect once the US economy picks up again in a year or two, our dollar will drop like a rock. It hurts the fans because the ticket prices get adjusted because of the extra costs incurred by the dollar moving.
I don't want a team in Hamilton. I really don't. I like hockey but I love going down to Buffalo to see my Sabres play. Would a team in Hamilton be successful? You bet! It would be very successful. I just see the corporate takeover, which is what it would take to be successful. I don't want to see empty seats at the beginning of the 2nd and 3rd periods because they are down below for free food. Tickets would be very expensive. I want something affordable, but affordable in the NHL doesn't guarantee your team survives. The Sabres have reasonable prices but they are barely surviving. Hamilton would barely survive minus 15% (difference in the CAD and the USD).
I know a lot of people will disagree with me but it's just something we don't need.
The topic is 100% correct. We need the CFL because it's the only true local professional sports league that we all can afford to go and if we wanted, to go to every game.
:thup: Well said berezin.
I have often wondered if a CFL version of the NHL, geared for the affordability of and appeal to, the working class fan, (not the corporate suit luxury suite types) might not be very successful in Canada. Same operating model, salary management system, etc as the CFL. Teams in the CFL cities, Halifax, Quebec City, Windsor, even others… its hockey, which Canada is rabid about, whereas the same level of passion does not exist for football. So, possibly more cities would be able to support teams, even some cities that might not be such good candidates for a CFL football team.
I realize the top hockey talent of Canada would probably take the bigger money and play in the NHL, but Canada probably has the same surplus of professional level skilled hockey players that the USA enjoys with its “gridiron” football players, or basketball players. (see Americans in the CFL, and Americans playing pro basketball overseas in Europe.) Anyone have any thoughts on this as an idea?
…we do, its called the Canadian Hockey league and teams are peppered across the country (http://www.chl.ca)…the CHL comprises the Western Hockey League, the Ontario Hockey League and the Quebec Minor Junior Hockey League…cities that could not otherwise support an NHL calibre franchise have teams and all NHL cities in Canada save Montreal have a CHL team (Go HItmen!!)…
…the CHL is currently wrapping up it’s league playoffs which will culminate in the Memorial Cup, a trophy IMO that is a lot tougher to win than Lord Stanley’s Cup…read Canadian Hockey League - Wikipedia and see if you agree…
Hockey night in canada revenue is split 6 ways do you honestly think the other canadian teams want to split that revenue 7 ways instead of six?
Your post is great, but one slight correction is that Montreal also has a QMJHL team. This was their first season in Montreal (a relocated team)
I think the Hockey Night In Canada money goes to the league, which divides the money amongst the thirty teams. The same is done with the national U.S. tv money.
Bettman is consistant in his policy. When the Canadian teams were in trouble because of the dropping dollar and rising salaries, he helped push through a deal to help compensate Canadian teams. MLSE, when the federal government had the short-lived offer of financial support for our teams, publicly went against it, despite the fact that they would have gotten $3 million from it. They are the biggest enemy of small market Canadian teams.
The whole situation in Phoenix depends on what kind of concessions the team can get from governments and the company that runs their arena. If they don't get help, there is no way the franchise will be viable there even if Balsillie loses in court.
The NHL mess is why we're very lucky the CFL didn't become somewhat successful in the USA. Because if that would have happened, eventually the Americans would have taken it over. Teams in Saskatchewan and Winnipeg would have been considered expendable. The game would be changed to suit Americans,. And the American teams wouldn't play by the quota rule.
Evenutally we'd be on the outside looking in. As we are right now with hockey. Which the Americans have hijacked from us.
This is why I like a guy like Basille. He isn't afraid to tell the Americans to screw off. He's setting the agenda, and if they don't like it, too bad. For too bad Canadians running the show have been scared to question anything that goes on south of the border. But here comes a Canadian whose not afraid to rock the boat. Go Jimmy Go!
I seriously doubt the revenue from CBC is worth worrying about splitting with a 7th team… my guess is those teams make more $$ from concessions than what the CBC pays
Except the CHL is A junior league. No one over 21.
[url]http://www.friends.ca/news-item/1943[/url]
According to this article the CBC could have paid as much as $100 million a year for NHL hockey broadcast rights.
…so?..the OP inquired about having a league that appealed to and was affordable for the working joe, does the CHL not do this?..
…and my bad on Montreal’s new team…
I thought he was talking about having a professional hockey leagu
The CHL is the umbrella league for all 3 junior leagues- the WHL, OHL & QMJHL. If I remember correctly, there are at least 50 teams the WHL has 22 teams, the OHL 20 and Q 18.