No Heritage Classic next season

[beantownmaniac]

During the draft Bettman was asked if LA would ever get a chance to play in one. His answer was LA can have the draft or the all star game but never a Winter Classic.
Of course if the Kings start bringing in the ratings then NBC may show who really picks the teams for these games

And that's what I think is wrong. I don't expect L.A. to host it of course, but the Kings should get to play in one. That's one reason I don't like him. His agenda doesn't always benefit EVERY team.

 

[beantownmaniac]

he has done amazingly well for the owners.

Consider Atlanta had zero alternative. The league needed Winnipeg more than Winnipeg needed the league, and Bettman STILL bent over True North group to the tune of (an invented) $60 million relocation fee.

Phoenix had no alternative. Oh that's right, they had a buyer. The NHL. I bet Atlanta fans wish they had the same alternative.

 

[elocomotive]

I didn't say I hate Bettman for everything, but I hate a lot of things he does. Why do everything you can to save Phoenix but nothing for Atlanta? I believe the Heritage Classic was on Versus who owns NBC so that excuse don't wash. I think it sucks seeing the same 3 or 4 teams in the classic all the time. Pittsburgh had 2, now Philly getting a 2nd. I don't care if the Bruins aren't in it for a while, I think every team should get a chance to play in it so their fans have a chance to experience one.

I wasn't saying YOU did, just that it's often the typical thinking among hockey fans. As to PHX and ATL, it's all about buyers and money being put up. Glendale will cover the losses and both were probably going to move. So, if you have two assetts to move and one is insured, you move the other.

And if you want to see every team be in the Classic, that's fine. But that is not a point of view that MAKES MONEY. And Bettman just got a huge TV deal partly b/c of how he has organized/promoted the Classic (big markets, big stars, etc.). And I'm sure it's people under him that do a lot of it, but the buck stops with him.

This is what irks me. Both positions you mention above are about fairness. THat is NOT Bettman's job. His job is to make MONEY for the league so we can all keep watching hockey and it's profitable to be an owner. And THAT ultimately benefits every team.

 

[Automattic]

Nobody agrees that having the Jets in it this year would be Cool?

 

[TiLoBrown]

This is what irks me. Both positions you mention above are about fairness. THat is NOT Bettman's job. His job is to make MONEY for the league so we can all keep watching hockey and it's profitable to be an owner. And THAT ultimately benefits every team.

It's hard for the other teams to get popular and make money when NBC REFUSES to show them. I'm waiting to see the NBC effect on VS, atleast before the merger VS would show different teams. Now I dont expect to see any Devils games on VS either....oh wait, when we play the Rangers and MAYBE the Penguins.

 

[beantownmaniac]

It's hard for the other teams to get popular and make money when NBC REFUSES to show them. I'm waiting to see the NBC effect on VS, atleast before the merger VS would show different teams. Now I dont expect to see any Devils games on VS either....oh wait, when we play the Rangers and MAYBE the Penguins.

EXACTLY!!! Why would fans of other teams bother watching the winter classic if their teams never get to play in it? I would think it would have the reverse effect that Eloco is talking about.

 

[SLY]

I understand what they are doing from a business perspective. Using only big market teams attracts the casual fan and draws new fans. Obviously die hard hockey fans like all of us would like to see different teams involved even if it is not our own (if they've already played obviously). With the news that the Heritage classic isn't going to be an annual thing, i see them incorporating Canadian teams soon.

 

[TiLoBrown]

EXACTLY!!! Why would fans of other teams bother watching the winter classic if their teams never get to play in it? I would think it would have the reverse effect that Eloco is talking about.

I already said I'm not watching the game unless both of my girlfriends and I are at the game. 1 is a Rags fan and the other a Flyers fan...as a Devils fan I think its pretty fucked up that a man that hold NHL records and a team that has been a winning team for almost 20 straight years gets ignored because they believe in promoting a team and not just a star player. But hey Betman was trying to move us ever since 95, what should we expect.

I understand what they are doing from a business perspective. Using only big market teams attracts the casual fan and draws new fans. Obviously die hard hockey fans like all of us would like to see different teams involved even if it is not our own (if they've already played obviously). With the news that the Heritage classic isn't going to be an annual thing, i see them incorporating Canadian teams soon.

No way will NBC agree to that

 

[esls79]

Fans of other team bother to watch because they are fans of the game itself first, and fans of their team second. To make money, you've got to alieniate some teams fans in the process.

The VS NBC dymanic is the same as the NHL had with Disney back in the 90's - the cable channel would show a few games a week, and then on Saturday or Sunday, the parent network would have games. The only difference was ABC did regional coverage - say a Rangers game, a Blues/Stars game, and a LA/San Jose game - this requires multiple time windows however unless you do a national 12pm pacific/3 pm easter start.

Because of the way its window is set up, NBC has very limited access to the Western Conference - Chicago, Detroit, Dalls, St. Louis, Minnesota, Nashville, and Columbus are the ony possibilities - and right now, other than Chicago and Detroit and maybe Nashville, none of those are going to get coverage short of the hockey day in America promotion.

All eastern coference teams are fair game at least, even though if you're not Pittsburgh, Washington, Philly, Boston, or the Rangers, you're pretty much not getting NBC time. That's just the way it is - NBC caters to the corporate crowd and not the fans - I don't know why it's that difficult to comprehend.

I understand that some teams fans may be worried about Versus coverage next year, but I don't think it will change all that much. They showed 29 of the 30 teams last year and I'd imagine they will continue to show a mix again for the upcoming season.

I don't understand why as a fan of a team that doesn't get the national attention it matters whether or not NBC shows your team. Before HNIC began showin double headers in the mid 90's, how do you think fans of Vancouver, Edmonton, or Calgary, or even the Nordiques felt? It is a business decision, not a hockey decision. The same way as Toronto and the Habs dominated national coverage - it is pretty much the same now, except Pittsburgh, Washington, Philly, Detroit, and Chicago etc are today's Toronto and Montral in the US.

Whatever is good for the league's top line (revenue) is fine with me.

 

[dash]

Nobody agrees that having the Jets in it this year would be Cool?

I think it would have been very cool, but maybe they should decide on a name for the Winnipeg team before they award them the Heritage Classic.

/I would like it to be the Jets, but I'm starting to come around to the Falcons...