Ok, not sure what to make of this, but I have been hearing about it for the last month or so and feel I must at least report on it and put it out there….so at the risk of assured hatred and mockery... here goes.
The NFL is in the final stages of preparation of major offers to buy the NHL and the MLB. (there are some who say the NBA and possibly even the MLS could be next.) The success of the NFL and it’s meteoric rise are unprecedented. They are printing money.
And this has been in the works for three years.
Leaving MLB aside…lets talk about what the NFL buying the NHL would mean for the NHL….
According to one source in New York who is VERY familiar with the situation, “The NFL has always known the money is in the merch and the brand. And the NFL owners want to expand their brand and options. They want to have more days where the TEAM BRANDS are playing than a few Sundays in the Fall and Winter.”
Team BRANDS?
Yes, as ridiculous as you heard it… It is the brands (aka team names) which are driving all of this…..or put another way by a source at the NFL, “In your Philadelphia you have the same fans for four different entities. The Eagles, Flyers, Phillies, and 76ers. That is what we are used to of course, but look at the colleges. The Michigan Wolverines play football, basketball, hockey, etc, and the Wolverine has become a great and identifiable marketing icon. If the U of M hockey team was called, “The Flyers” it wouldn’t nearly hold the same cache as the Michigan Woverines. So why shouldn’t the Philadelphia Eagles be the name of the football, baseball, soccer, hockey, and basketball team.”
My response would likely be yours.….
“BECAUSE THE FLYERS AND PHILLIES HAVE LONG STANDING BRANDS!”
“That is of course something we are sensitive to, but maybe Philly is a bad example. Would fans in Miami rather see the Florida Panthers play hockey or the Miami Dolphins,” my source continued, The NFL has a much bigger following and could offer those franchise owners serious compensation and all they would need to do is change the name and colors. We already have 32 franchises and the NHL is ready for 32 franchises.”
So, all stupidity aside, how much money are we talking about?
Depends who you talk to, but I have herd the NFL could offer up to $100 Billion for the NHL and the 30 team naming rights and 300B up to half a TRILLION for the MLB.
Still ridiculous right?
Well, remember these are the NHL owners investments and the “NHL” isn’t its own entity but rather an organization solely made up of it’s 30 owners…and what if all those owners would need to do is approve such a sale by 2/3rd majority?
But wait! There are NO NFL teams in Canada?
I asked that question as well and was told the following…hope you are sitting down!
“Of course we would honor Canada, the country that gave birth to this sport,” my source said, “And it is a blessing actually since there are NFL cities without current NHL franchises. Cities in the south who may not be able to even support those franchises right away. So the thinking is, as a start, to have “sister cities” in the states for these teams. For example there is a great French culture and tradition in New Orleans, so the Montreal Canadiens could become the New Orleans/Montreal Saints or the or oil rich town like Edmonton and Houston could get together. I mean it wasn’t long ago they were both called the Oilers for years anyway. It wouldn’t be a stretch the call the hockey team The Houston/Edmonton Texan Oilers. Also the Seahawks and Canucks already share a fanbase as it is, right?”
Yeh. I know. NOT A STRETCH?
And what if the Canadian owners don’t exactly go along with this plan? Well one source implied that while the 7 Canadian teams couldn’t block the sale, the NFL would understand their concerns and allow them an out.
“Then, they could start their own league like the CFL did. The CHL. In fact they should merge the CFL with their CHL and do what we are doing. Allow fans in one city to have one mascot to buy jerseys and hats for.”
I simple don’t get it, but 3+BILLION per NHL owner is a lot to get…I suppose.
What do you think? (I will make sure that everyone I know at the NHL sees this Poll...BELIEV ME.)
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