You don't know anything. Anything at all. NOTHING.
- weirdoh

These are not my words, they are the words of sports market analyst Tom Mayenknecht .

Before you just go off and say this won't work go do some research on how much those European teams pull in yearly.

These are not my words, they are the words of sports market analyst Tom Mayenknecht .

Before you just go off and say this won't work go do some research on how much those European teams pull in yearly.
- VANTEL

You think the NHL would be for this? I can't see the owners going for this at all.

You think the NHL would be for this? I can't see the owners going for this at all.
- weirdoh

Fla Phx Ott would not go for it . The richer clubs would jump at a league that they didn't have to pay weak sisters.

Twice a year the teams would do a overseas roadtrip playing 12 games in 28 days or so. Do you know how much money would be generated by the Leafs Habs or Rangers going to play in Moscow or Oslo ?

Think of all the new gear that would be sold and a Stanley cup final between the Hawks and the Dynamos.

Very short sighted to say no it would not work.

Fla Phx Ott would not go for it . The richer clubs would jump at a league that they didn't have to pay weak sisters.

Twice a year the teams would do a overseas roadtrip playing 12 games in 28 days or so. Do you know how much money would be generated by the Leafs Habs or Rangers going to play in Moscow or Oslo ?
- VANTEL

Just as much as if they played at home? What would make it more? I'm not being a dink either, why would it be more? Would the money not go to the Euro teams on the Euro trips?

Fla Phx Ott would not go for it . The richer clubs would jump at a league that they didn't have to pay weak sisters.

Twice a year the teams would do a overseas roadtrip playing 12 games in 28 days or so. Do you know how much money would be generated by the Leafs Habs or Rangers going to play in Moscow or Oslo ?

Think of all the new gear that would be sold and a Stanley cup final between the Hawks and the Dynamos.

Very short sighted to say no it would not work.
- VANTEL

Would it be the same gear that's sold if it was between the Hawks and Pens? Can't see how a Euro team makes this thing any different than it is now.

Just as much as if they played at home? What would make it more? I'm not being a dink either, why would it be more? Would the money not go to the Euro teams on the Euro trips?
- weirdoh

It would be a NHL or wahtever the league name is TV rights and sponsorship. You would also think every game would be sold out. Plus new uniforms or a adjustment of the classic l would generate millions every year also.

Would it be the same gear that's sold if it was between the Hawks and Pens? Can't see how a Euro team makes this thing any different than it is now.
- weirdoh

If the Phx coyotes are going to you building are you going to pay to watch? How about the Mosco Dynamos?

I think a UEFA champions league model would be the way to go say the four best teams from sm-liga, KHL, NHL, and four teams from other leagues around Europe in a Olympic style tournament.

This must be one of the stupidest "ideas" I had ever read.

If the Phx coyotes are going to you building are you going to pay to watch? How about the Mosco Dynamos?
- VANTEL

Certain teams it doesn't matter who is visiting. Phx fans aren't going to magically start caring who shows up because it's a Euro team. Maybe for the first few times as the novelty is there, but to think the Euro teams would magically make the teams that can't fill a building do so is pushing it.

Certain teams it doesn't matter who is visiting. Phx fans aren't going to magically start caring who shows up because it's a Euro team. Maybe for the first few times as the novelty is there, but to think the Euro teams would magically make the teams that can't fill a building do so is pushing it.
- weirdoh

seriously, what are you doing? step back and look at the argument you've been pulled into.

Dumb idea. Work on evening out the conferences first. 32 teams add one in Canada (Quebec) and one in the US (Seattle).
- matty_ice_30

Dumb idea, Key-beck already had their chance..or let's bring back the Buffalo Braves to the NBA. And that would make 17 Eastern Teams and 15 Western Teams .... Need a Team in Viva Las Vegas, Viva Las Vegas!,

Certain teams it doesn't matter who is visiting. Phx fans aren't going to magically start caring who shows up because it's a Euro team. Maybe for the first few times as the novelty is there, but to think the Euro teams would magically make the teams that can't fill a building do so is pushing it.
- weirdoh

You are missing the point , there would be no PHX no Fla no NJ or NYI

12 teams from NA 12 teams from Eur.

seriously, what are you doing? step back and look at the argument you've been pulled into.
- RealityChecker

(frank), seriously?

Put a team in Seattle and 1 in San Francisco...they could be called The Flamers

Put a team in Seattle and 1 in San Francisco...they could be called The Flamers
- IonSabres

Like how the CFL had two Roughrider teams? Seattle Flamers and San Francisco Flamers?

seriously, what are you doing? step back and look at the argument you've been pulled into.
- RealityChecker

No one knows how far the talks have been taken, but they are being discussed. The words of the sports analyst, he said" The truely big money is in Europe". He has been the head of Tennis Canada and weekly analyzes sports business on a Saturday show on local station Team1040.I would feel he has more of an insight to this than we do.

Nope

Ahhh the dog days of summer

No one knows how far the talks have been taken, but they are being discussed. As the worlds of the sports analyst said the truely big money is in Europe. He has been the head of Tennis Canada and weekly analyzes sports business on a Saturday show on local station Team1040.I would feel he has more of an insight to this than we do.
- VANTEL

yes, if anyone should know about sports expansion, it would be the former owner of an expansion team that folded.

yes, if anyone should know about sports expansion, it would be the former owner of an expansion team that folded.
- RealityChecker

What team did Tom Mayenknecht own?

What team did Tom Mayenknecht own?
- VANTEL

vancouver ravens lacrosse

edit: yeah, he doesn't like to bring that up does he?

vancouver ravens lacrosse

edit: yeah, he doesn't like to bring that up does he?
- RealityChecker

The 1040 is bringing back Pratt and Brother Jake for the morning show so I should not be surprised that they hired a failed owner as a sports analyst .

Today they hired someone who doesn't like spots . 1040

The 1040 is bringing back Pratt and Brother Jake for the morning show so I should not be surprised that they hired a failed owner as a sports analyst .
- VANTEL

i'm not saying he's a bad analyst, i'm just saying that when he's enthusiastic about markets being ready for expansion, take it with a grain of salt.

use your own common sense.

this is far from happening. why would you give this idea a moment of thought, unless you're putting it in the "and in the future, we'll all be driving flying cars too," category.

i'm not saying he's a bad analyst, i'm just saying that when he's enthusiastic about markets being ready for expansion, take it with a grain of salt.

use your own common sense.

this is far from happening. why would you give this idea a moment of thought, unless you're putting it in the "and in the future, we'll all be driving flying cars too," category.
- RealityChecker

Never said it was going to happen tomorrow ,I was just agreeing with Ek that it is being discussed.I do think that it will be introduced like inter-league baseball to start once a true European league is formed.

I think that laying the groundwork now, is a good idea. But thinking that euro clubs would compete with NHL clubs in anything less than 5 years is a big stretch. Ice issues, travel issues, time zone issues, televising game issues... They are all too much to over come in less than a decade. They would need to develop an identity in Europe first. The way I would break it down, is like this:

The NHL would need to create a Euro Division of 8 teams that already exist, with its own championship, decided before the NHL Playoffs. Those teams would play each other almost exclusively.

Those teams would need to be included in the NHL draft for three years, with no participation in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but spotted reg season games against the NHL.

For years 4-8, the team that wins the Euro League gets to play the 16th ranked team in the NHL in a three game playoff series, with the Euros getting Home Ice, for the final berth in the SCP.

For years 9 and 10, Euro teams finishing 1 and 2 get the 15th and 16th spot in the SCP.

After 10 years, the Euro league gets fully integrated into the NHL, creating a 40 team league, and shifting the SCP to a 20 or 24 team playoff.

Now, assuming that the the NHL expands to 32 teams in the next two years, that puts a clock starting on the Euros at the latest as 2015. It's my opinion that the earliest we could see a Euro division is 2025.

The NHL has shown again and again that it just can't think long term like this. It would take substantial buy in from the Euro clubs, and it would damage their leagues in the short term for sure, and maybe forever.

It is a cool idea to talk about, and lord knows we need that in August, but I don't think it is realistic.