$3.5 Billion Buyout of the Entire NHL?

[Reilly]

A Wall Street buyout firm and a sports advisory company have proposed to purchase all 30 NHL teams for as much $3.5 billion, according to two Canadien newspapers. NHL executive VP Bill Daly was cautious in describing the league's level of interest.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=2003701

[Reilly]

This is huge news. If it happens I really do not know where the NHL could head. I guarantee a lot of teams would no longer exist and everything would be different in the league.

[PaytonPaw]

This is huge news. If it happens I really do not know where the NHL could head. I guarantee a lot of teams would no longer exist and everything would be different in the league.
I would expect as much as new ownership would not have ties to specific markets. Only revenue generating markets would be kept. I could see the NHL constricting to about 20 teams.

I'm not sure if I like the whole idea, but if it means getting hockey back then so be it.

[Reilly]

What I liked about they said in the article was that it would help on making television and merchandise even between all teams to help each other instead of competing and only teams with big markets do well.

[domenick2x]

What I liked about they said in the article was that it would help on making television and merchandise even between all teams to help each other instead of competing and only teams with big markets do well.
#1, it would have a serious revenue sharing plan - just like the NFL.
#2, it would certainly end up with some form of cap, because one unified management company might have individual team managers, but they'd have budgets. It might not be an NFL style cap, which would be directly tied to revenue, but if one entity is setting the budgets of all teams, it would effectively be a cap.
#3, I'd be interested in seeing how they would get around anti-trust issues here.

But damn, what a coup that would be.

[1957 & Waiting]

It's pretty much a moot point, this will never happen. Are we talking an equal split of the 3.5 billion between all 30 teams? We thats not fair because some markets just suck and aren't worth squat. Plus you;d need all 30 owners to agreee to this.

Lets look at the Maple Leafs they pull in around 20 million dollars a year under the old system. Under a capped system they could pretty much double that. Do you think they want out? What about the Wings, Flyers, Rangers, Avs, Stars, Canucks? Heck even expansion teams like Minnesota and C-bus are money makers. Especially the Wild.

[1957 & Waiting]

One more point, MLS has this type of system. So when MLS wanted to get the Washington franchise doing better, they took a star from a tampa team and traded him to Washington for a scrub. To you know, even it out.

Do we want a leauge that can trade Markus Nasland to the Blue Jacket for Jody Shelley to even out the talent? I dont think so.

[Vegas]

It's interesting that a business group sees an opportunity here. They likely see that the business end of the NHL could be fixed to make more money, but this deal is as dead as Columbus. The labor dispute would get worse since the union would be negotiating with a single entity (monopoly).

[shmuck]

I cant see this ever happening and that would be a good thing. Yes, we could probably have hockey back a lot quicker but it wouldnt even be hockey as we know it. Canadians wouldn't even be able to call it there game anymore. With these owners being able to pick the rules and which cities to play there would be enormous changes, all of which, would be bad for the game in my mind.

But if every owner has to accept this than it will never happen. Just for one example, Illitch wont be selling the Red Wings for a very long time, he makes way too much money off of them. I just cant see this ever happening.

[domenick2x]

It's pretty much a moot point, this will never happen. Are we talking an equal split of the 3.5 billion between all 30 teams? We thats not fair because some markets just suck and aren't worth squat. Plus you;d need all 30 owners to agreee to this.

Lets look at the Maple Leafs they pull in around 20 million dollars a year under the old system. Under a capped system they could pretty much double that. Do you think they want out? What about the Wings, Flyers, Rangers, Avs, Stars, Canucks? Heck even expansion teams like Minnesota and C-bus are money makers. Especially the Wild.
I'm sure each franchise has a 'value share' of that 3.5 bil.

Getting all of the owners to agree would be the hard part. Considering the way they say they've been losing money the last few years, I think it is more doable than you do. But there's an ego thing involved in running your own franchise that is tough to buy out (in some people).

And I expect some level of contraction to occur, so you wouldn't need to trade stars for scrubs. You'd have more stars per team, maybe even expand the rosters to handle a few contracted teams.

As for the negotiating, screw the union. The NFL successfully brought in anyone who wanted to play - it forced the players to suck it up and come back. If you can field some measure of a product with new rules (larger rink), a better system for everyone... you'll get your stars back. Eventually.

[Calm]

With these owners being able to pick the rules and which cities to play there would be enormous changes, all of which, would be bad for the game in my mind.
So you think the game itself is perfect the way it is and ANY rules changes would be bad?

[shmuck]

So you think the game itself is perfect the way it is and ANY rules changes would be bad?
I'm not saying that the league is perfect, its far from it. But I'm afraid that hockey could into the XFL of football or something. Where instead of making a few adjustments, they completely retool the game and its a big mistake.

[manny]

Think about the Thrashers. The Atlanta Spirit bought the team and they haven't' gotten a season to play with the team.

[domenick2x]

I'm not saying that the league is perfect, its far from it. But I'm afraid that hockey could into the XFL of football or something. Where instead of making a few adjustments, they completely retool the game and its a big mistake.
Different situation - the XFL was competing with the NFL.

Hockey's only natural competition is against basketball (due to the seasons overlapping).

[Pitpen]

Think about the Thrashers. The Atlanta Spirit bought the team and they haven't' gotten a season to play with the team.
Southern teams must go.

[shmuck]

Southern teams must go.
Amen to that!

[Pitpen]

Amen to that!
I just don't want to see the Penguins go after what Lemieux did to save them. Just my altruistic desire.

[Vegas]

Different situation - the XFL was competing with the NFL.

Hockey's only natural competition is against basketball (due to the seasons overlapping).
Basketball is the main competition, but there is a lot more out there. Professional sports is an entertainment business. The competition includes movies, cable/satellite TV, minor league hockey, countless local events, and even reading books. The way most people shrugged off the hockey season this year has got to be a big concern for both the players and management of the NHL.

[1957 & Waiting]

I just don't want to see the Penguins go after what Lemieux did to save them. Just my altruistic desire.
Not to be a prick, but Mario pretty much put the Pens in that situation as a player. He allowed the former owner to defer a bunch of his salary because the team couldn't afford it. When Mario 1st retired he was owed all that money and the team couldn't pay up. Most of the money Mario used to purchase his share of the team came from that defered money already owed to him.

Another one of the Pens biggest mistake was not being able to sell idea of a new arena to the the city of Pittsburgh who was willing to help foot the bill for the Pirates and Steelers. They have the worst arena deal in the NHL and it's killing the franchise. Now they are pinning their hopes for a new arena on slot machines. and if that doesn't pass thru the state what do they do?

[manny]

Southern teams must go.
are y'all pansies threatened by a little competition from the South?

[domenick2x]

Basketball is the main competition, but there is a lot more out there. Professional sports is an entertainment business. The competition includes movies, cable/satellite TV, minor league hockey, countless local events, and even reading books. The way most people shrugged off the hockey season this year has got to be a big concern for both the players and management of the NHL.Yes, but:

As evidenced on these board, lots of sports fans would rather watch a game than even pretend to pick up a book.

Minor League Hockey has probably doubled their attendance/viewership due to the lockout. You bring back the big league, the faithful will come.

Movies and cable/satellite are always a concern, but with TiVo gaining wider acceptance, I believe that the draw from those sources is actually lessening. Live events, particularly live sporting events, will always be a draw. People shrugged off hockey this year because there were no national broadcasts going on - most fans only saw their local team, until the playoffs. A few changes (salary caps, larger rinks, smaller goalie gear) could revitalize the whole sport. Yes, it would mean changes, but right now there's a market for this league, and nobody is earning anything from it.

[Pitpen]

Not to be a prick, but Mario pretty much put the Pens in that situation as a player. He allowed the former owner to defer a bunch of his salary because the team couldn't afford it. When Mario 1st retired he was owed all that money and the team couldn't pay up. Most of the money Mario used to purchase his share of the team came from that defered money already owed to him.

Another one of the Pens biggest mistake was not being able to sell idea of a new arena to the the city of Pittsburgh who was willing to help foot the bill for the Pirates and Steelers. They have the worst arena deal in the NHL and it's killing the franchise. Now they are pinning their hopes for a new arena on slot machines. and if that doesn't pass thru the state what do they do?
Rely on the salary cap that will be in place at the start of next season. The team will be more competetive, fans will return and the state/city/ownership will be more willing to fund a new stadium.

[Vegas]

Minor League Hockey has probably doubled their attendance/viewership due to the lockout. You bring back the big league, the faithful will come.Minor league hockey is a fun game to watch. I used to have season tickets to the LA Kings. I now go to quite a few Las Vegas Wrangler games (ECHL). If anyone misses hockey and is in Vegas, I highly recommend catching a game. Their arena is smaller than an NHL team's, but it's as nice a place as you'll see. The players give it 100%.

If I still lived in LA, I'd go back to watch the Kings. I think most real hockey fans will, but I do think the NHL has hurt the growth trend they had by not getting together on a deal and losing a whole season.

[LeftClickHere]

Minor league hockey is a fun game to watch. I used to have season tickets to the LA Kings. I now go to quite a few Las Vegas Wrangler games (ECHL). If anyone misses hockey and is in Vegas, I highly recommend catching a game. Their arena is smaller than an NHL team's, but it's as nice a place as you'll see. The players give it 100%.

If I still lived in LA, I'd go back to watch the Kings. I think most real hockey fans will, but I do think the NHL has hurt the growth trend they had by not getting together on a deal and losing a whole season.

I think a lot of the NHLers think that fans love the NHL and thats it. I know people who like the NHL and thats it, but theres a lot people like you that enjoy the minor league games as much as the NHL. I'm a huge NHL fan, but I'm just as content to watch junior hockey. A lot of people are getting along fine without the NHL IMO. Looks good on them.

BTW what happened to the Las Vegas Thunder? Isn't that what they were called?

[shmuck]

Well guys we dont have to worry about the NHL being bought some guy anyways.

http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?id=116886


This is truly a good thing.

[Vegas]

I think a lot of the NHLers think that fans love the NHL and thats it. I know people who like the NHL and thats it, but theres a lot people like you that enjoy the minor league games as much as the NHL. I'm a huge NHL fan, but I'm just as content to watch junior hockey. A lot of people are getting along fine without the NHL IMO. Looks good on them.

BTW what happened to the Las Vegas Thunder? Isn't that what they were called?
I love just about any hockey. I stopped by the Fiesta casino last week in Vegas and watched a amateur game. I was very pleasantly surprised at the quality of play for being in the desert. I also love college hockey, especially since I got into the game watching the Wisconsin Badgers years ago.

The Las Vegas Thunder went defunct after the 1998-1999 season. I don't think the Wranglers will have that problem. They play in an incredible arena and with the growth of the city and all, they draw really good crowds.

[1957 & Waiting]

They say this bid was just an 1st offer, it could go higher. But i still doubt it will happen i lays odds at 1/1,000,000 anything comes of this