RHI OR MLRH EVER COME BACK.

[hockeyburlington]

WILL THE RHI OR MLRH EVER COME BACK. DOES ANYONE THINK THERE COULD BE A LEAGUE AS BIG AS THE RHI. MY FATHER DID REFEREE THE RHI AND MLRH FOR THREE YEARS AND I REMEMBER THE GAME AND HOW FUN THEY WERE. IVE BEEN LOOKING AT PICTURES OF RHI/MLRH GAMES OR THE ANAHEIM BULLFROGS AND THE SEATS WERE PACK, LIKE WHAT THE HECK HAPPENED. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE RHI OR MLRH COME BACK OR EVEN A NEW ACTULE *PRO* LEAGUE. IF ANYONE HAVE ANY THOUGHTS PLZ GO RIGHT AHEAD.

Ryan Harrison
[email protected]
(905)320-3230

[NoMoreNiceGuy]

It is unlikely that any true "Pro" league will be available for at least 4 or 5 more years.

[KODZILLA]

The Elite League is making a good charge this year, and they boast most of the best roller players around on their rosters. They'll be filling a 5000 seat arena in Anaheim this year.

Shoot, score, then celebrate...followed by an appology for the pass you didn't make.

[NoMoreNiceGuy]

Maybe, but it is still no a situation where the players can quit their jobs and only play roller hockey. That is what a true "Pro" league constitutes.

[hockeyburlington]

NoMoreNiceGuy: You said that "a situation where the players can quit their jobs and only play roller hockey. That is what a true "Pro" league constitutes"

Well I know for a fact that the (NLL) National Lacrosse League is a "PRO" Lacrosse league and they pay thier players and most of the players in the league still have regular jobs, actully one guy on the Toronto Rock is a 3rd grade Teacher.

Ryan Harrison
[email protected]
(905)320-3230

[KODZILLA]

I know the Calgary Roughneck's very well...and EVERY single one of them has a day job, all year long. They range from Oil Field Sales, to a Firefighter, to a marketing specialist.

Hell even the CFL and 75% of it's players have fulltime job in the off season.

Shoot, score, then celebrate...followed by an appology for the pass you didn't make.

[hockeyburlington]

I seriously don't know why the RHI Left there overall attendance average was the same as some Minor league Hockey Leagues example,: UHL United hockey League

here is the attendance (average) over the years

RHI--- UHL
1993- 3,539--- 2,361
1994- 4,292--- 2,355
1995- 3,847--- 2,921
1996- 4,665--- 2,824
1997- 4,834--- 2,824
1999- 1,779--- 3,839

If they didn't take that year off in 1999 they prolly would have been fine for a few more years

Ryan Harrison
[email protected]
(905)320-3230

[NoMoreNiceGuy]

The RHI had much higher expenses than most minor league teams. For example, the teams in Phila, North Jersey and Long Island paid over $30,000 per game just to rent the building.

I once tried to get the Mennan Arena, and they wanted $7,000 a day for a building that seats only 2000 fans (and we couldn't even get a piece of the concessions. All this is because of union contracts. Yet you can get the arena in Binghamton, NY for only $3,000 a day with 5000 seats because they are not a union building.

Figure it out, if you get $10 a ticket for 3000 fans but you have to pay $30,000 for the building, you have nothing left for salaries. But if you only pay $3,000 for the building, you would make a nice profit.

If the RHI played in buildings they could afford, they would still be here today.

And as to my comment on what constitutes a "Pro" player, I believe it is someone who does no other work (at least during the season). Others might disagree with me, but that's ok.

[patrick14]

I'm glad to see someone is optomistic about filling that 5000 seat arena. That is a very agressive goal, but with the right marketing people, it can definitely be done. The rosters on the elite league messageboard are among the best amassed in a RH league structure in a very long time. I hope they provide some sort of live coverage, or post game video like last year.

Is it so much to ask that any one of these leagues provide and updated website :(

[NoMoreNiceGuy]

It only takes an average attendance of 3000 fans at $8 per ticket to break even, with players making $500 a week plus room and board. As long as the league is restricted in territory (no trips requiring flights).

In 1999, the Riot had two sell-outs in Binghamton before the season ever began (unfortunately, the season never did begin).

[KODZILLA]

Players aren't making $500/week plus room and board, that stat is to high.

Shoot, score, then celebrate...followed by an appology for the pass you didn't make.

[NoMoreNiceGuy]

If you want a full professional program, that is what you would pay. That is what many of the players in minor league hockey make (below the AHL level).

[KODZILLA]

Actually most players in the minors make less than $500/week, top end a little more ($500-750)...average is $350-$450. To say everyone is making $500 a week or more is a gross exageration and an unfair comparison. Most minor leagues play 70 some odd games, plus playoffs and charge more per ticket than inline does. The gate receipts alone from a much longer season makes a big difference when paying players. If the Elite league is only going to play 12 game seasons then it's pretty tough to justify from a economic standpoint paying on the same level. This season will see them play 20 games, but far from 70 some like hockey. It's all about revenue...a perfect example is the NHL. They don't have the revenue to support the large salaries, where as the NFL or MLB can. If they want to succeed and plan for the long term they must take baby steps.

A quick math comparioon based on a 3000 seat arena and $8/ticket.

Elite league - 3000 x $8/ticket= $24,000
24,000x20 games=$480,000.00

ECHL - 3000 x $8/ticket= $24,000
24,000 x 70 games= 1,680,000.00

Alot of minor league hockey teams also own the rink they play in, big differnce compared to paying rent. That and most charge around $12-25/game...a far cry from Elite League revenues.

I agree they should pay in the $500/week, and on some weeks they are close and in the future as the league grows they will. For now most will have to survive on $150/game as they try to make this venture viable. The players understand and are on board.

Shoot, score, then celebrate...followed by an appology for the pass you didn't make.

[KODZILLA]

Bingo...I just couldn't remember the current cap and floors for salaries in the ECHL. It's been a couple seasons since I was in that league, not much has changed though.

Thanks for validating my point.

Shoot, score, then celebrate...followed by an appology for the pass you didn't make.

[NLane]

The Williamsburg Warriors 4 years ago went to CA for a few games and also to Denver for Finals. It was expensive...a blast for spectators like myself and the players, and great PR in CA for the league but expensive for the owner. MLRH found this out in the very beginning with East/West finals and PIHA will see this too. After traveling the season, paying for floor time and refs and then having to pay 3500.00 or more for Finals it can be a shock to a team or owner. It would be great if the league (any league) could help with costs for Finals. Maybe someday.

[Brooklynite10]

A solution would be to try to land sponsorships. Of course a SOLID league must be developed first so that company's like Mission, Tour, Nike etc. would want there product on display there. If the league gains momentum and grows, these company's would cover costs such as equipment, travel, rink time, etc.. and a team owner would only be responsible for paying the players. Of course my team would have to change our name to NJ Mission Werewolves.

<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by wolves10 on 06/30/05 02:06 PM.</EM></FONT></P>

[NLane]

Tournaments seem to be able to get sponsors but they throw in jerseys or equipment. Can't trade skates for airline tickets yet. Very few just hand over money except maybe for a Final winner. Still doesn't help all the teams and doesn't help a league situation.