From: gmarven@sanjuan.UVic.CA (Grant Marven)
Subject: Expansion?
Summary: Why do the FANS want Expansion... NOT!
Keywords: expansion, salaries, southern US
Organization: University of Victoria
Date:  9 Apr 92 02:15:41 GMT

In the FAN perspective in Canada.... 
   WHY would I want NHL expansion?
   WHY would I care if Houston doesn't have a NHL team?
   WHY would I care if there was a US TV contract?

I would much rather see Vancouver vrs Hamilton than Tampa Bay.
Actually I would rather see Vancouver vrs BlackHawks.

As a hockey fan I don't care if Scott Stevens (the contract that
started spiralling salaries) makes $1,000,000 or $100,000.

BIGGER/MORE is not BETTER (no sexual connotations).

Actually I would probably want a good salary for the players...
lets say 4 times average salary (conservative est.) ($35,000x4 = 140,000)
   i) there is enough incentive to try to make it to the NHL.
      It would not hinder the level significantly.
      (over a 8 year career it would equal what the "average"
       person would make in a 30 year career)
   ii) They players could live comfortably in the better areas
       of towns (some status)
   iii) They would not act like elitist (esp. during a recession)

Expansion with more teams hinders the league financially and lowers
the level of play:  	    	    	    
   i) Go into markets which may financially jeopardize the whole league.
   ii) specific teams will meet less often.
   iii) more players in the league (lowers the level) 
       Just think if we still had 12 teams?
         -> The farm teams would be better 
            and each team would have more premium players. 

Strengthen what we have:
   i) more focus advertising
   ii) make current teams stronger (more fan support) 
       More rivalry between 12 teams than 24 (next year?).
   iii) more stability in the league (long term goals).
   iv) keeps the level higher (less marginal players in NHL)
   v) makes it easier to follow 300 people (get to know them)
     than 560 people (gender neutral)

I'm not advocating that NHL is a Canada/US argument. In THIS FAN point
of view more teams in the southern US will change the game. 
For some, it may be interesting to see gladiators with 
sticks on skates NOW, but long term interest is proven NOT to be there.

Short term proof is available:
 - when baseball season gets into full swing, hockey is put in 
   the dug out.
 - ever try to get a hockey score in the southern states (even
   during the Stanley Cup finals)?
 - two teams in California and the LA papers still have hockey
   on the last page of the sports section (if not in international
   news section)...speculating on comments earlier made on this
   newsgroup.
 - ever notice that most Canadian News on TV... the sports announcers
   start with hockey and show lots of clips and the American TV
   announcers (as far north as Oregon) will only show the NHL scores IF 
   there is time.

Trends rise and fall, bringing unstable conditions to the entire league.
(possible examples: Golden Seals/Sharks)

There isn't the natural conditions (weather wise) for people to relate to 
hockey in warmer climate. Many kids in Canada and northern US grew
up with outdoor hockey.... remember thoughs pickup games outside (everyone
wearing different jersey, helmet, skates, and a stick) playing until
your feet froze off or one of your parents is coaxing you with
SUUUUUUPPPPPPPPPER. Outdoor hockey is a minimum investment not
major expenditure like indoor hockey... I would think it would
cost more in the southern states since hockey rinks are hard to find.

More MONEY in the league => more business attitude and less game attitude =>
it is less fun to watch two greedy sides battling it out than one team
trying to win a game.

First thing you are taught in a Business Course... 
TARGET you market! Maybe a few people in the NHL front office should
take a couple of refresher courses.

KEEP hockey at HOME (where the real fans ARE),
NOT in the board (BORED) rooms or front of disappointed 
gladiators fans when they find out that there is a purpose to 
the little black flat ball.


Grant Marven

PS... I hope I don't have to kill another thread (Grant's spewing).



Newsgroups: rec.sport.hockey