Inline Hockey's Comeback?

[RichardGraham]

Hi Folks,

It's stories like this one that give me a bit of hope that inline hockey could see a renaissance. Have to take your inspiration where you find it:

http://www.brighouseecho.co.uk/news-features/Wheels-on-fire.5319494.jp

[DannyG]

please allow me to piggyback this on Richard's broadcast note...

in the spirit of the re-development and growth of our sport, we have 6's, 8's, 10's, 12's, 13's in the Main Xtreet Polar Bears. Our two-year old program was featured in the May issue of USA Hockey Magazine (page 15, eh?)

We would love for any group of youngsters to come join us over the July 4th weekend for a tournament of "Xtreet Hockey," in El Paso, Texas.

We play 3v3, small-floor, 2ft diameter trashcan goals, no golaies, 3 periods of play, it's a lot of fun.

For the tournament, we are asking a $75 team fee, rosters 4-7 players is all that's needed.

Give me a call at 915-252-1678, and we'll get you involved very easily. You only need 4 players in an age group to make a team, so we hope many programs in the Southwest U.S. (or farther?) can even bring multiple teams (A,B,C divisions) in an age group.

Lemme know if you would like to play.

[skooled]

well unfortunately i cannot say the same for australian inline hockey..... we are fighting a losing battle at the moment

[quick_dry]

well unfortunately i cannot say the same for australian inline hockey..... we are fighting a losing battle at the moment
hey c'mon, in Sydney we've got at least... *does quick tally ... 4 teams, 6 players per team, 3 goalies...* 27 players ... well, its better than nothing

[ACCCT2]

It's interesting, 'cuz in Europe the game is thriving -- well organized and growing, they generally have a great on-court presence and package which, with the various national "Eite" leagues from different countries, could very easily be RE-packaged and marketed as a 'continental' and truly "professional" league worthy of ad, sponsor and broadcast monies and audience.

Here in the USA, we (and I use the word "we" in a very NON-alligned, NON-allied, NON-productive and totally self-centered way) clearly are letting what little "BIG-time" or "Pro" credibility and potential the game might've once had slowly but surely slip away into the meaningless money-pit abyss of the totally meaningless plethora of totally meaningless "championships" where the ONLY paid-to-play "pro's" are those running the events.:(

[growl89]

richard, great story, thanks for posting that link...

I can't believe I'm about to say this... But acct's post is pretty much right on about the game in Europe. And makes a good point about it here in the states. I wonder what it would take to get narch/torhs or both together to develop some kind of pro league. I think the sport at the elite level is getting dangerously close to moving to the next level. I say dangerously because if not done properly it will destroy the sport for many more years to come.

Let's take some of the pro teams for example

Pama, mudcats, wings, snipers, wolves, stl, syndacite, homecare

Imagine a league with these 8 teams playing as a start? The games would be great. And if marketed correctly this could effectively work.

At least 25% of these teams already have the financial backing to do something like this. With marketing and fundraising I don't see why It couldn't work. Advertised to parents as a low cost alternative to ice.

I think the problem with these leagues now is that there are way too many teams. Just in Nj there are 5 elite/pro teams with an already low fan base. Now divide those fans 5 ways. Doesn't make sense.

Someone needs to pull dave garland out of retirement... That kid could sell a ketchup popsicle to a woman in white gloves.

[ACCCT2]

I think the sport at the elite level is getting dangerously close to moving to the next level. I say dangerously because if not done properly it will destroy the sport for many more years to come.

RIGHT ON. To put it ("dangerously close to moving to the next level") in "nuclear" terms: I think we're talking at least 11:55...56...57PM (or so) on the "Doomsday Clock" -- just one more nonsensical "implosion" like say, the INCREDIBLY idiotic and disgusting marketing of MLRH "cat-fighting" (yeah, Moms and Dads the world over really want their daughter to play THAT sport, eh?) or any more PAYING-to-play "pro" leagues that feature relative beginners and BELOW "rec" league presentation will surely "doom" any recoverable "BIG-time" aspirations or potential the sport might have left, as well as even the sport's "wanna' play that" appeal for talented young athletes (as well as the enthusaistic support of parents in general).




I think the problem with these leagues now is that there are way too many teams. Just in Nj there are 5 elite/pro teams with an already low fan base. Now divide those fans 5 ways. Doesn't make sense.

BINGO!!! What the game REALLY needs is a SMALLER, but much more exclusive, TRULY professional and "Elite" level "Original 6" or "8", "10", "12", whatever (though I would think NO MORE than maybe 12 for the entire USA & Canada) type of presentation. And 'grow' it (add more teams) ONLY when "growing" the league makes lostical and financial sense. There is virtually NO VALUE at ANY level whatsoever in 'diluting' ANYTHING in life -- why have we allowed the plethora of half-assed shams and scams of what presently is being passed off as "professional" or "Elite" level leagues, tournaments and "championships" to have ANY definitive say or influence whatsoever in the marketing trajectory of our sport...?!?:confused:

Honestly, I myself can genuinely and logistically envision, and eventually, actually see a 2-continent (North American & European) "Elite" league that would playoff like 'conferences' and finish in an "All-World" or "Global-Elite" final much like the NHL Stanley Cup Final. Don't laugh -- with the RIGHT people doing it, "it" VERY EASILY could be done.




Someone needs to pull dave garland out of retirement... That kid could sell a ketchup popsicle to a woman in white gloves.

LOL!!! -- I'll second that one and go ya' one better: Put me and Dave alone in a conference room with a good supply of junk food, soda and sushi and I'll betcha' we'll have a kick-ass (and "BIG-time" marketable) "paid-to-play" professional league outline (with logistics, schedules, ad & sponsor kits, as well as even potential "BIG-time" sponsors & media partners, etc.) 'inlined-up' in no time!!!:)

[quick_dry]

I said the same thing about the european pro-league a fair while ago, but have people identified just what characteristics european pro-leagues have that make them possible?

Why are towns/cities in Germany like Dusseldorf able to support several teams, with players on varying amounts of money (from playing and earning a little pocket money, to paid enough to live frugally on)? How is rollerhockey on TV somewhat regularly in these places? How is the Spanish pro-league viable?

In the USA can you draw large crowds to a game in a major city, or is a regional city better for getting a crowd, and air time for promos? (e.g. in Sydney our teams in the national ice league have a hard time getting big crowds and promo is expensive, 45 minutes up the coast there are near sellouts and the main FM broadcaster can't get enough, similar story an hour further away from Sydney - with regional TV snippets in the sports update too)

[ACCCT2]

Basically, inline hockey has to stop trying to be an off-season-poor-little-brother "pro" sport and simply just 'be' itself (much like the NHL needs to stop trying to be the NBA or NFL by hiring their 2nd rate cast-off management and "marketing" excutives) -- only in this way will the true essence, excitement and marketability of our sport be visable to the cutting-edge, out-of-the-box advertisers, sponsors, marketing and media people who are more than ready, willing and able and absolutely would support a truly unique and original stand-on-its-own-merits sport -- especially one as globally played as inline inline in fact is.

This might sound ironic and hard to believe, but inline hockey needs to divorce itself from being 2nd fiddle to it's older 'ice' brother if it's truly to get anywhere meaningful marketing, media and "paid-to-play" professional-wise.

For any truly "professional" league, you're going to need serious and sincerely committed owners -- NOT "owners" who think that owning the rink or buying jerseys and court time constitutes what amounts to their cheaply paid-for licence to wreck the long-term image, growth and potential of the sport for their own incredibly narrow-minded and short-term objectives -- but REAL owners with REAL money to both spend and risk and commit to, as NOTHING in business or nature EVER "grows" healthy unless and until it's nurtured in whatever way is necessary.

And ultimately, in MY opinion, the single most damaging thing the sport is both saddled with and facing (and I know all the "tournament series" companies are definitely going to HATE hearing this and vilify me for saying so) is the ridiculous gamut-like grab-bag of meaningless tournaments, divisions, medals and so-called "championships" (GEEZ, what is it this week -- the "Mid-Spring-North-Central-Regional-National-High-Noon-Quasi-Platinum-Series-Pro-Qualifier" or something ridiculously meaningless like that?).:confused:

I (of course!:eek:) have some (hmmm, innovative? creative?) ideas on all of these things and even on how I myself might approach creating, partnering and lauching a high-end "Elite" and truly "paid-to-play" professional league -- I'm sure that there are many others who have great ideas as well -- but we're never going to save or grow our sport following the present "doomsday" path that way too many of us have unfortunately allowed ourselves to be put on (mostly for the financially self-enriching sake of a few self-annointed experts and "puck-pie-dividing" profiteers).;)

[STEMM]

LOL!!! -- I'll second that one and go ya' one better: Put me and Dave alone in a conference room with a good supply of junk food, soda and sushi and I'll betcha' we'll have a kick-ass (and "BIG-time" marketable) "paid-to-play" professional league outline (with logistics, schedules, ad & sponsor kits, as well as even potential "BIG-time" sponsors & media partners, etc.) in no time!!!:)

:eek: You and Dave ???

We know Dave Garland.

But what have you done ?

[ACCCT2]

:eek: You and Dave ???

We know Dave Garland.

But what have you done ?

Well, I'm guessing that if I can spend nearly 30 years being called upon to 'package' and 'sell' cornflakes, cars, cosmetics and cola's (none of which particularly send scintilating shivers of joy up & down my spine) and over 20 years in international hockey, sports, events and cultural exchange -- if I can be asked by literally hundreds of clients, literally hundreds of times, to help "save" the BIGGEST and BEST and MOST LUCRATIVE advertising clients, accounts and sponsors from "walking out the doors" of some of the BIGGEST and BEST and MOST FAMOUS advertising agencies in the world, well then, I think it's a pretty safe bet to assume that I can DEFINITELY help "package", "sell" and yes, even help "save" a sport thst I passionately love, play, enjoy and care about. And since I wouldn't EVER 'answer' to you or anyone else presently 'running' or 'organizing' the sport as it NOW stands, chill out dude -- you're never gonna' hafta' worry about ME and MY annoying or abrasive 'style' messing with your day or YOUR blissfully pathetic version of the sport.;)

[zipyaj]

Richard,
Thanks again for sharing another insightful article. It further demonstrates that our inline hockey community is indeed global and bonded by common issues as stated so simply by Cleckheaton Comets Club secretary, Paul Wright,"We will take youngsters of all abilities. To give it a try you need a pair of skates, a helmet like that used in cycling or skateboarding, elbow and knee pads, if possible, and a hockey stick. We have some sticks we can lend out."

While some may bicker and debate the pros and cons, or the goods and bads of what could or should be at the upper levels of the sport's pyramid, what really marks the measure of a comeback is counting each and every new kid who picks up a stick, straps on skates and learns what fun hockey can be.

Richard, I'm reminded of your mentions of your old Mylec shin guards, and comments from others who used to saw the brakes off from their rollerblades, make nets of PVC pipe and fish netting and play hockey with an orange ball in cul-de-sacs and on parking lots. Oh how far this road has been traveled, and how refreshing to read about those who are now only beginning their own journey.

Thanks again for helping bring us the Good News!

Best!

[zipyaj]

... in the spirit of the re-development and growth of our sport, we have 6's, 8's, 10's, 12's, 13's in the Main Xtreet Polar Bears. Our two-year old program was featured in the May issue of USA Hockey Magazine (page 15, eh?)...

Danny,
Jeremy Kennedy's write up of "Xtreet Hockey" was an interesting read. I even clipped it for my scrapbook. Great job in getting some ink in USAHockey!!!!!

Best!

[William Bourque]

ACCCT2...

If your so confident it can be done, what's holding you back?

[deno94]

I think I will agree with Growl's post on the subject. Our sport is dangerously close to going to the next level. It needs a certain someone/something to take it there,carefully and professionally. If that is done, the sport will thrive in the long run. Kind of like business, put money in to make money in the long run....

[PGHhockey]

Richard,
Richard, I'm reminded of your mentions of your old Mylec shin guards, and comments from others who used to saw the brakes off from their rollerblades, make nets of PVC pipe and fish netting and play hockey with an orange ball in cul-de-sacs and on parking lots. Oh how far this road has been traveled, and how refreshing to read about those who are now only beginning their own journey.


On my way to a friend's house last night, I saw something here in the Pittsburgh area that I haven't seen since 1992...

A street hockey net...ON THE STREET!

And, it was complete with a Franklin goalie mask sitting on top.

McDonald's has become one of the most successful businesses in American history because of their genius ability to market their product successfully as they almost "guide" someone to their restaurant at all ages. They got you hooked when you were little because of the Happy Meal and the toy. Inline hockey needs its own Happy Meal and toy.

[growl89]

good point pbrgh... It's a catch 22 because we need to draw in the little ones... But also to e them something to strive for... Under the current leagues tournaments that run if you ask a roller hockey player about where they want to go with hockey the answer is either pro ice hockey or narch pro is a distant second. The words aihl or piha never leave thier mouth. Which is what we need to strive for. What would it take to get a mcdonalds or subway corporate sponsor? I'm asking because I really have no idea. They are everywhere, why not roller hockey?

[ACCCT2]

ACCCT2...

If your so confident it can be done, what's holding you back?

Hmmm...who said I'm "holding back"...?!?;)


I think I will agree with Growl's post on the subject. Our sport is dangerously close to going to the next level. It needs a certain someone/something to take it there,carefully and professionally. If that is done, the sport will thrive in the long run. Kind of like business, put money in to make money in the long run....

BINGO!!!:)




McDonald's has become one of the most successful businesses in American history because of their genius ability to market their product successfully as they almost "guide" someone to their restaurant at all ages. They got you hooked when you were little because of the Happy Meal and the toy. Inline hockey needs its own Happy Meal and toy.

DING-DING-DING!!! WOW, we're all on a brilliant winning streak today!!! Although I hafta' say, we definitely don't need any more 'clowns' in our sport -- we've already got what would basically amount to the "Ronald McDonald Brigade" running it's various (self-serving?) NGB's and tournament 'franchises'...:eek:




The words aihl or piha never leave thier mouth.

YOU said it, NOT ME...:confused:




What would it take to get a mcdonalds or subway corporate sponsor? I'm asking because I really have no idea. They are everywhere, why not roller hockey?

Honestly, "it" would take a LOT more in terms of on-court packaging, presentation and professionalism than what the sport presently evidences anywhere. On a scale of 1-to-10, with 10 being the best and 1 the worst, "it" -- the corporate support factor -- is presently at about -99 (pun intended), GEEZ, "it" is REALLY REALLY BAD...BAD BAD BAD. And the sooner that everyone takes their heads out of the sand on this one, the sooner we all will see what we actually have to do and where we have to take the sport in order to realize any "BIG-time "corporate" or even long-term "survival" and "growth" aspirations.:(

[calihockey]

If you want pro roller to get the type of sponsorship and investment needed to make it grow, it needs to be a product worth being a part of. Companies like McDonalds want to see a return on investment (ie increased visibility such as the McDonalds All-American game or increased good PR like supporting UNICEF). Before you worry about the financial backing, make the product sparkle. Right now the product looks like a beat up Yugo as a whole. I am not sure about cutting down the teams really needs to be an effort. Just start having drop dead deadlines for fees, schedules etc with NO flexability. Have a talk with the players,coaches,managers,refs and league officials laying out plainly that you want to improve the product. You will likely see some natural weeding out of the less than serious participants. Yes, getting Dave Garland involved would be a big help, but maybe see if we can get Flynn to help give some advice on the game day ops. He did so well with the Growl and the game they put on I was impressed by the presentation, especially on what I assume was a very meager budget. Having the attitude of making the most of what you got is something that will let the sport grow. My grandfather played minor league ball and he has told me stories about how guys stayed down in AAA with company sponsored teams because it made sure they had an income all year around. A lot of the guys back in his day who were up in the MLB worked winter jobs. Some of the Pirates worked the mines in the off season to provide for their familes (Can you imagine A-Rod working a mine?). Not saying roller hockey will ever be the national past time, but everyone starts out meager.

[STEMM]

Under the current leagues tournaments that run if you ask a roller hockey player about where they want to go with hockey the answer is either pro ice hockey or narch pro is a distant second. The words aihl or piha never leave thier mouth.


I'd have to disagree. Of course EVERY hockey player (roller,ice,or floor) dreams of playing in the NHL.

Now, I can't speak for all areas but in St.Louis the kids do look up to the PIHA players. My son told even told me that if he does not make the NHL he wants to play PIHA. The kids that play out of All American want to wear the Southside Snipers Jersey. And I'm sure the kids that play for the youth hockey Cobras, want to play PIHA St.Louis Cobras someday.

[STEMM]

Hmmm...who said I'm "holding back"...?!?;)(


If you are not holding back. Then give us 3 points that will make the sport of Roller Hockey better today. Because all you do is reply with a bunch of BINGO's, some DING-DINGS, and all the added :confused::):eek::(;)...

Oh, and also since you're not holding back I guess that means your going to make your big Euro-Trash announcement today !

[PGHhockey]

You guys made a lot of good points.

ACCCT2: You're 100% right. No major corporate sponsor wants to touch a product with a history of no-shows, or 5 guys showing up, or games getting re-scheduled last-minute.

Cali: I'm sure you know why those kids don't mention AIHL or PIHA. STEMM mentioned the STL kids look up to the PIHA guys. That's because STL was lucky enough to have a guy like the aforementioned Dave Garland doing his thing down there. But, I think Dave's found his calling, and he's doing well for himself. Last time I emailed with him, I don't think he'll be back anytime soon to "save the sport."

Guys like Dave who are wicked talented and driven aren't easy to come by.

Cali, you mentioned the kids want to go to pro ice. Why? Because that's what they see. That's what's marketed to them. NARCh Pro (and NARCh in general) is very well-marketed to them. Say what you will about him, but Daryn has kicked ass with that tournament series since he took over. There's a reason why it's the biggest and the best.

I coach tee-ball for 4-6 year olds. There used to be 2 teams for every little neighborhood 15-20 years ago. Now? All those neighborhoods are combined into one team. Why? Because the Pirates STINK and are doing nothing but managing themselves as a profitable business, not as a baseball club. No kid gives a **** about the Pirates, because they don't have management that REALLY GETS IT. So, no kids play baseball. TV = down. Ad revenue = down. Attendance = down. Etc, Etc, Etc.

Same deal with AIHL/PIHA. They're both in their infancy, so give them some time. Granted, there's BS in both leagues, but hopefully one day someone in the mold of Dave or Daryn will step up and do it right.

Who will be the one? (Hint: you won't do it talking about it on a message board)

[ACCCT2]

Who will be the one? (Hint: you won't do it talking about it on a message board)

That's why I'm not doing it talking about it on a message board...!!!:eek:;):D:cool::p

[skooled]

Ok. Look at this as an outsiders perspective (for two reasons. 1: I live outside the US or Europe, and 2: I have had one two many glasses of "thought juice" tonight). The biggest problem with US roller hockey at grass route through to elite is the amount of tournaments.
Now, don't get me wrong entrepeneures will make this sport great, but 100 entrepeneures flogging the same dead horse??? not so good. I honestly think that this is the same for the "pro" level PIHA came along and was great, but along came minors (not so bad), and then too many teams. Now AILHA??? what is needed is a smaller, "payed to play" (even if this means working part time in the off season for the time being) league with ONE (emphasis), ONE team per major market, in a league. From here, I have always liked a "relegation" Idea, like alot of European football (soccer).
Here you have something to aspire to, not just look at and say, well elite at my tournament could play against them..... from here, the next thin is structuring junior levels into no more than 2 associations (linked to IIHF of FIRS {etc]) to see some uniformity.

too much "thought juice"???

[quick_dry]

definitely too much though juice mate, making that AILHA slip of the tongue. (AIHLA is the Australian InLine Hockey Association, it ceased to exist recently when we merged with the aussie FIRS body - vene though we were the first ones to govern inline hockey here, and the only ones who actually gave a crap and run things well... but i digress)

A small paid to play league would be great, but at the moment the whole product just doesn't look good enough to get all that money together to pay people.

I don't know that America has the RSL / Football clubs like we do (do you? see: http://www.panthers.com.au/ that is for the 'clubhouse' that supports the RUgby league NRL team - they also support minor league teams to the tune of a hundred or a few hundred bucks a game depending on division. Money comes from selling beer/food inside, and from poker machines - mostly the pokies)

These venues/clubs do a great job supporting teams, and forming that low tier 'paid to play, but not pro' level.

We don't need 'FIRS or IIHF' - we need ONE single global body. We're not boxers with all this bickering and bull**** about IBF and WBO or whatever. The current state of play with two world championships sucks. It takes away credibility as a sport.

[Leaferguy]

Where are these ketchup popsicles I read about?

[skooled]

[QUOTE=quick_dry;60169]definitely too much though juice mate, making that AILHA slip of the tongue. (AIHLA is the Australian InLine Hockey Association, it ceased to exist recently when we merged with the aussie FIRS body -* vene though we were the first ones to govern inline hockey here, and the only ones who actually gave a crap and run things well... but i digress)[QUOTE]
yeh, I meant AIHL......

but you understand what I meant when i was talking about getting down to one or two governing bodies (one for international play)

[Inline_Burl]

How many threads about a true "PRO" Inline Hockey League has come up on this board...I would have to say maybe close to 100 lol.

I’ve always thought from the days of watching my father referee the likes of the Buffalo Wings, Port Huron/Flint North Americans and the such that Professional inline hockey can be marketed correctly but like someone else said it needs it's "happymeal".

I have always given suggestions on what it would take to start something like this and from what I can see now seems to be the best time for it. With the likes of the AFL folding up shop and even the NLL not doing so well I believe it’s time that people are looking for the fresh new thing. I mean Pro Inline Hockey has been done before but that was in the 90's and not many people remember those days ecspecially younger folks.

Here are some ideas that I think would help get Professional Inline Hockey off the ground:
1) Place teams and Inline Hockey hot beds.
2) Market the league around a player (Kind of like the NHL did with crosby)...can anyone say Itan Chavira?
3) Start out the league in arenas no smaller than 2000 seats but no bigger than 4000 or 5000.
4) If you do it in the summer sign a deal with some minor pro ice hockey leagues/teams to be there official summer training program.
5) Teams must be a part of the community, do events, do camps, do whatever it takes to get the youngsters interested enough to try the game out.
6) Market!, Market!, Market...that is the key to any Professional Team, make it exciting.
7) TV is a must...even if it isn’t national TV, the league must be in the public eye for people that know nothing about Inline hockey.

Thats all I have right now that i can think of...

[GoRangrHky]

A format similar to that of MLL- where you bring in the players for the weekend, get them to play their game and go home, I think would work out best. It's tough to get guys to commit for the kind of money that these teams have available. PIHA and MLRH and AIHL sort of do that now, but it would have to be big names in the right kind of facilities, with the right marketing and advertising in the facilities and all that. And not 8 teams in the same city. While a few of the local guys are out in the community, it's surprisingly the dance teams that do most of that, since all of those girls are local. And as a 12 year old kid, I'm tossed up on wanting to see my favorite lax player versus some 21 year old in spandex. As a 25 year old, I can tell you which way I now lean :D

[RichardGraham]

Hi Inline_Burl,

I like just about all of your ideas in your post. However, you mention a pro league needing a "Happy Meal," and I'm curious as to what that might be. I assume it's something for the younger fans? Because if it's a free hamburger, fries and a drink at a game, that's good, too. ;)

[J88]

I remember back when Roller Hockey International was around, I went to a couple Philadelphia Bulldogs games at the Spectrum. After the games kids were allowed to bring their skates and skate after the game. That could be your toy.

[Inline_Burl]

When I mean "happy meal" I mean one or two big things to sell the game and market around.

Look at the NHL they have sydney crosby that kid has been the poster boy of the league for years.

I believe if a new league were to be but together they may want to look at the National Lacrosse League or Major League Lacrosse business model.

- Play no more than 16 games a season
- Only on weekends
- Pay the players as if its a part time job (they would have to keep there day jobs, thus the only on weekends.)
- Make the Championship Trophy something that every youngster can identify with...much like the stanley cup. Something they can aspire to winning someday.
- Make it fun, Cheerleaders, mascots, in game bands to play the music. etc
- Get in game announces that will really pump up the crowd
- Full contact is a must and im sorry to say fighting must be allowed as it is in the NHL, because people love the fighting.
- Play in more intimate arenas, no 11,000 seat barns.

[quick_dry]

I don't think you want to 'allow' fighting - as in it is condoned by the league, but a penalty system that doesn't see you ejected for a large part of the season would work. But have much tougher penalties on additional players joining the fray.

e.g. something like in ice where a Game Misconduct ejects you from the game, but if it is in the second half of the last period (i.e. last 7 or 10 minutes of game) you miss the next game, or just a blanket 'Game Misconduct = ejection + next game'

I think you could forget the expense of a decent band, and just have a person who does a good job playing the tunes in breaks - not one who just plays the same thing over and over. (And definitely not, like at a tournament in new Zealand, some guy who plays reggae type stuff for the warm-up - you can't get any tempo from "Don't worry, beeeee happy")

16 games is very few games per season.

Inthe AIHL here (Australian Ice Hockey league) we play 26 regular season games, plus a finals weekend (1v4,2v3 then playoff for third place, and a grand final). Including a few double header weekends - e.g. next weekend we fly to Adelaide in the morning, play afternoon, fly to Melbourne the next morning, play afternoon then fly back to Sydney.

This length of season fits in the Northern Hemisphere off-season for many leagues (except NHL) so we get access to good imports from the euro leagues, AHL, ECHL, WHL, etc. The season ends in time for them to head back home for training camp.

[calihockey]

I agree with not allowing fighting for the time being. Yes, it may excite the fans, but there are some financial and legal restraints for a league with limited funds. If you allow fighting, I can assume the liability insurance company would jack up the rates. Good luck finding owners willing to run a league that allows physical violence without liability. There is a reason every pro team and league have their own sets of legal departments. To keep that from being such a needed priority (an a huge expense), its better to limit the liability in the rules as much as practical. Also, the average roller referee does not have the same experience officiating games where fighting is allowed. Look how quickly NHL refs jump in when a fight gets too one sided. That comes from experience. Granted NARCh and some of the other big tournament series bring in minor league and NHL caliber refs for some of their tournaments, to have them during the winter months the pro roller league would have to compete with the NHL,AHL etc when it comes to salaries. Again...limited funds. 16 games really isn't enough. Ratings and sales go up during the playoffs stretch in pro sports (worked for the management company for the ducks and angels, so i know this first hand). 16 games would not really give a stretch long enough to take advantage of this. I think 32 games for the time being is perfect. I also like the idea of putting the minor games before the pro games. Better ticket sales. You can't pay players until the product is developed enough to create some sort of income coming back to the teams (example RHI).

[HockeyFan1989]

I think the AIHL and PIHA both have a great structure, and of course little things will hopefully get worked out as time goes on, but how these leagues gets marketed is what it comes down to. Something that NCRHA does atleast up here in the ECRHA anyway is they have a table at some if not all of the events that have information such as pamphlets and stuff about the schools inline hockey program. This is great because parents, friends and family are picking these things up and looking at them and even if theyre not playing college hockey themselves, there's probably a good chance they will pass this information on somewhere down the line. As far as the AIHL and PIHA, there's way to many people in this sport, who are completely clueless as to what it is. I'd like to say that atleast 80% of the people in Canada and the U.S., let alone every single hockey player, has atleast a slight understanding of what the NHL is. With things like Myspace and Facebook today it's almost hard to get the product out there.