The Hockey News: Jim Boone's Blog: Jim Boone's Blog: Fans want new commish; better TV

Jim Boone's Blog: Fans want new commish; better TV

Gary Bettman has been the NHL's commissioner since 1993. (Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images)

Jim Boone
2009-10-10 10:08:00

It’s time to start over. It’s time to rebuild. It’s time to be patient for five years while this mess is fixed.

No, I am not talking about a bottom-feeding team embroiled in an ownership mess. I am referring to the NHL itself. The league has bottomed out and a complete explosion of its leadership is necessary.

Before dissecting the weaknesses, I want to identify the game’s strengths. The greatest asset in the NHL universe is the North American fan base – a dedicated, loyal group of people who have held this pro sport together through some horrible times. The fans of this generation deserve a 20-minute standing ovation and a collective induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

The second greatest asset in the NHL universe is the community of players. These 700-plus guys are great. Never before have fans witnessed such skill, athleticism and dedication.

Now, let’s examine the ugly mess.

The 30,000 members of the NHL Fans’ Association recently identified their primary concerns related to the game and the issues that surfaced were unique, based on a fan’s nationality (approximately 60 percent involved are US-based fans and 40 percent are Canadian fans).

I’ve said it before, but it’s worth repeating. A tear comes to my eye when I hear American fans talk about the game on Canadian television stations such as CBC, TSN, Sportsnet or the French-language RDS. Americans who have witnessed the game on one of these networks speak like they have had an out-of-body experience. They marvel at how the same product can be packaged so differently in Canada. They have tasted the good stuff and long for an opportunity to taste it again. (See here).

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The NHL is alienating fans with its limited, often low-quality TV exposure in the U.S. and fans are frustrated. Many are walking away from the game entirely. This issue is the primary concern of American fans.

Fans in Canada enjoy a plethora of quality NHL hockey coverage on television and, obviously, don’t share the same broadcasting concerns as their American counterparts. The consensus in Canada is that Gary Bettman should be replaced as commissioner of the league after 16 years as its leader.

Canadian fans feel this man has done more harm than good to the game. They feel Bettman is not in touch with the sport’s grassroots – in Canada – and the time has come to find a new and more informed leader.

The league must hire a fresh, new commissioner who recognizes the league’s priorities. They must be given five years to right the ship. The NHL must be on ESPN or another network that provides ubiquitous reach to Americans. The quality of the U.S. television broadcast must be improved.

Don’t laugh, but it’s possible for the NHL to re-claim its spot among the top four sports in North America. All of the stakeholders in the NHL community (most importantly, the fans) deserve a leader who aims top shelf for this goal.

Over the coming season, the NHLFA will focus on these two issues as its priorities and do its best to lobby the key decision-makers who can help improve the NHL. The fans have spoken. Television broadcasting in the U.S. must be improved and Bettman must go.

The co-founder of the NHL Fans' Association, Jim Boone is the chief operating officer for the Canadian Resident Matching Service and the president of Litnets Inc.

COMMENTS (33)

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m1ke1970 Posted
(2009-10-23 13:33:52)

Gary Bettman has WORN OUT his welcome as commissioner and has done NOTHING to promote the game the RIGHT WAY in the U.S.!! Bettman's way is by placing teams in markets they don't belong (i.e. the Southeast U.S. Southwest U.S. and in Phoenix). This great game was born in Canada and it's just a real shame that no Canadian team has won Lord Stanley's cup since 1993, the Montreal Canadiens. I have also said for the longest time that the Phoenix Coyotes should re-locate back to Winnipeg and maybe a "new" team in Quebec City called the Nordiques I have the NHL package from Directv in my area and watch ONLY the Canadian broadcast, because it's so much better than anything Versus ever produced. CBC, TSN and Rogers all have the best broadcast and make even NBC look silly. It's pretty apparent that the U.S. networks care only about the money and not the fans and it's time to learn from their Canadian counterparts. I have said this before, the NHL needs a Canadian to be commissioner.

iginlaizthashizzz Posted
(2009-10-22 23:42:12)

"FANS WANT NEW COMMISH" damn right!! Couldn't agree more, along with the way the game is shown on t.v. in canada and how Americans are deprived of that. Spread the word because this article is the gospel

hippomancy Posted
(2009-10-22 12:26:50)

i was hoping that with Goodenow gone, Bettman might settle down and not appear so rigid in the next round of c.b.a. talks, but the NHLPA have stickhandled their management into another possible impasse. Bettman is a genuine fan of hockey, even if he does come off like a puppet with a stick up somewhere sometimes. However if the NHLPA throws up another 'professional union representative' who's willing to strike and flush away another season, then the league is well and pooched. If they can establish labor stability, then maybe just maybe they can get the t.v. talks going. With Crosby and Ovechkin at their peak, and all they can get is Versus? It's not so much Bettman's presentation on camera that's killing him, but his commitment to Southern-fried hockey that's jamming him up. The league has got to dump this losing business model as it reflects poorly on the game, and if that means dumping Bettman to do it, then so be it. But i do like Bettman as a hockey guy; i like the fact he gets under the skin of so many hockey-media guys and commentators... I just wish he wasn't so tunnel-visioned.

talex001 Posted
(2009-10-21 01:21:33)

Not only the bad tv, but I do not like the cap situation either if the nhl is going to force teams into markets that struggle which makes all teams equally crappy, the sport seems to get more and more watered down every year, if fans in any particular city spend enough coin to allow that team to spend more on players or trades or whatever then so be it, better than having a team or several near bankruptcy while fan bases that were strong die off or decline, makes no sense to me at all and I do not even see why they bother to keep score then, why not just have a touchy feely leauge where every player scores the same and every team gets the same wins, it stupid. Back to the TV, insane. I used to get center ice and NHL network, bought about 8 jerseys a year and attended probably 10 or more games, not to mention pucks, hats etc, etc. This year I have spent 0, will be spending 0 and doubt I will be watching any games unless they are on VS HD. I used to be a big fan, but to many other sports or things I could be doing, I can follow this product for free online.

jpres1 Posted
(2009-10-20 17:10:38)

I would personally like to thank the Commish for finally breaking my 25-year addiction to hockey on TV. In the 80's, I bought a big dish so i could get many games.......since then I have migrated to DirecTV. You would think i would watch MORE hockey....but thanks to the Commish's inactions......I watch less. No more Monday/Tuesday puck....because VS. isn't on my DirecTV any more. My favorite teams...Rangers, Devils, Isles and Sabres aren't in HD any more....and I will not get a headache watching those games in SD on my large set.....which i really bought--- to watch hockey. They cut off Don Cherry's final segment now on the Saturday NHL Network telecast.........and the 2nd game is gone from the NHL net..and back in SD -only on Center Ice. I vividly remember the Commish going on TV and saying that "high def will sell the NHL like never before...." Funny.....I guess he forgot all that.......and if he wants to leave me high-and-dry, so be it. I'm still a fan.......but not a fanatic any more. Thanks, Gary.........I don't know who's greasing your palms these days-----------but shortly, it won't be me.

rberginjr Posted
(2009-10-19 10:29:57)

I'm not a huge fan of Bettman, but he has done at least as many good things as bad things. Nevertheless, I would not be upset if he were replaced, since all organizations need an infusion of new blood periodically. Jim Boone and some of the commenters have strong opinions about that, but one of these opinions is seriously flawed. Bettman is not keeping the NHL off of ESPN. ESPN does not want the NHL. On August 17, 2005 ESPN refused to beat the $65 million dollar bid from OLN(now Versus), saying that their new NBA contract was more important to them. The $65 mil was a drop in the bucket for ESPN, but they used it as an excuse not to renew their NHL contract. Mark Shapiro, then-executive vice president of programming and production for ESPN, had harsh comments when he questioned the value of having the NHL on TV the time, for any price. Then, in July 2007, after Shapiro was replaced, Bettmen approached ESPN about them taking over NBC's contract and placing the games on ESPN2. Versus was willing to waive it's exclusive cable rights. Unfortuantely, ESPN decided once more that they did not want the NHL. It takes two to tango, folks. The only reason Bettman is so passionate in his defense of the Versus contract is because he can't very well come out and say, "Well, it's all we could get because no one else wants us."

robot656 Posted
(2009-10-14 00:01:11)

I think the NHL should be more fan freindly. Allow the home teams to only wear white,this way I do not have to see a white team play a red team for 40 home games I am a paying customer and I demand change , I want to see the black of Boston the red of Detroit or the blue of Toronto

naptowner Posted
(2009-10-13 15:45:33)

Somewhere in hockeydom...probably Toronto...there is some crusty old Canadian who has sworn a bood oath never to alllow hockey helmets to become a legitimate part of the hockey uniform...I have no doubt he wishes that vitalis was all the players ever wore...They are here ...they are staying...and its time to make helmets intergral to each teams brand and improve the look of the game...Did you notice that someone had the visiting Red Wings wear their red helmets with their white jerseys at the Winter Classic last year?...The ice didn't melt and the sun didnt stop in the sky....Why pray tell are the visiting team skaters required to wear a white helmet?...Aren't the Boards and Ice White enough? How come no team is allowed to put a stripe or design on their helmet...other than a logo the size of a quarter visible only from the front row? The Ottawa Senators logo pictures a legionnaire with a gold helmet.....why can't they wear one? The helmet is central to the brand in football...It could be in hockey...as it is in college hockey....see the University of Michigan...see Notre Dame....In the NHL, it would afford the opportunity to contrast clubs...If the Hurricanes wore a white helmet all the time....we could tell them from the Red Wings!...Last year three out of the 4 cup finalists wore all black at home...all with black helmets /black pants and socks naturally...When the Caps played a West Coast swing earlier this year (last season) they faced the Ducks, Kings and Sharks on successive nights...the Caps in white with white helmets and each opponent in all black....WOULD THE WORLD COME TO AN END IF ONE OF THEM WORE A DIFFERENT COLOR HELMET? THe NHL has more all black outfits than Johnny Cash ever did....Hell you dont need HDTV to watch hockey now ....you dont even need a color TV... My suggestion again ....A contest in every NHL city...to choose the single helmet to be worn by the club...with one alternate if necessary but without design or color restrictions...It'll improve the brand identity of each club and the look of the game...both live and on HDTV. Obviously, the producers of the Winter Classic agree and forced the NHL's hand. Goalies could still do what they have been allowed to do...with their own individual design... Frankly. the league's neanderthals wont change unless somebody like Comcast or Versus forces their hand...as someone obviously did for the Winter Classic.... Wonder what they'll do at Fenway... Go crazy and let the Flyers wear a stripe...

manavis Posted
(2009-10-13 03:34:08)

Bettman considers himself some sort of sports royalty. He has taken a hard line against ESPN to try to prove a point against the sports broadcasting giant after the lockout, but it hasn't panned out like he had hoped it would. He has managed to turn the games in to circus matches with the shoot out and made the game more dangerous for players with the instigator rule. He has ruined the flow of the games with ticky-tacky penalty calls. Scoring hasn't increased a bit, in fact, its done just the opposite by destroying the momentum. Before the lockout there were plenty of 50 goal scorers in the league and just as much scoring. You can't fix hockey by adding a bunch of unnecessary rules but you can make it a better game by enforcing the rules that are in place more consistently and professionally. Bottom line is this, Bettman needed to go along time ago. He doesn't care enough about the traditions or fans of the game, he only cares about how he is perceived and how much money can be made on gimmicks, expansion and keeping player salaries low.

ethies Posted
(2009-10-13 02:33:40)

I only became a fan of the NHL post-lockout after hearing of rule changes to increase scoring and eliminate ties. I started watching and really liked what I saw. Now I've become an avid fan. I see a lot of posts here about how many decades people have been following hockey, and how its the greatest game in the world, and that its being ruined by Bettman. Well, here's the opinion of someone who has only been a fan for 3 years: The coverage on VS really isn't that bad. Yes its not the network you want to be on for exposure, but they at least know what they're talking about. I've seen lots of Canadian broadcasts via Center Ice, and they're nice but not night and day different to me. NBC games are truly terrible, but that may be what we're asking for if we want 'big network' coverage. Perhaps ESPN would be a better fit, but honestly does anyone watch SportsCenter or any of their other programs? They don't care about hockey. Not one bit. They occasionally show a highlight of some sweet goal, but they aren't going to break down a game or give it real coverage. I guess I don't think of ESPN as the brass ring of TV exposure. I mean, they show ping pong, lumberjack challenge, and world's strongest man. I will tell you what has me up in arms though. The DirecTV - VS debacle. This little peeing contest between those two has got to stop. As for Bettman, it seems he has made a lot of mistakes. Hockey in Phoenix is a bad enough idea that a child should get it. That said, the elimiation of ties was a huge deal to me, and several of my friends who have started watching hockey since the lockout. Bettman should likely go, but not because changes are bad; but because bad changes are bad.

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