MLRH website will get a face lift

[MLRH League]

Before the weekend games to be played in Grand Rapids, January 16th and 17th, the MLRH website will have a new look...

As a viewer, what changes would YOU like to see?

Keep checking for the new look, Monday January 11th!

Meanwhile, please let us know what we can do to better the MLRH website and wishes for everyone to have a great New Year!!!

MLRH

[hockeymum]

glad to hear of the makeover! Would love to see a website that is fan friendly. Professional looking, easy to navigate. Seems like currently many of the menus are geared toward the potential franchise/player, rather than fans- I would think franchise info could be condensed into one menu leaving the balance for stuff of interest to fans. Love to see rosters, stats- awesome if stats could be real-time eventually, but in the meantime at least it should be updated quickly after games. Up to date schedules with locations and times. League news.Good Luck!

[TULaw]

Lots of multimedia, video highlights from recent games, photos from every game and team.

[BourneRoller]

Video, video, video!

[growl89]

Stats and Rosters for all of the teams!!

[JLeas20]

stats, rosters, up to date scheduling, live scoreboard

[DieselBurns]

We'll all be much better off when everyone realizes Roller Hockey will never be a major or even minor sport on a professional level. It's a niche sport that we all love to play, and that's all it will ever be. There is no mass appeal for it and there is not enough money behind it to make it anything significant. The RHI was the best shot pro roller hockey ever had and even that was short lived.

No matter how well you market the sport, it will never be much more than what it currently is. If everyone would just accept that and just enjoy playing it, we would all be better off.

[growl89]

No matter how well you market the sport, it will never be much more than what it currently is. If everyone would just accept that and just enjoy playing it, we would all be better off.

Wrong, anything, if marketted correctly can be a success.

[DieselBurns]

Wrong, anything, if marketted correctly can be a success.

Really? Don't you have to have a large enough base of people that have a desire for a product similar to what you're offering? Nobody cares about roller hockey except people who play roller hockey. There simply isn't enough of a demand for it and no amount of marketing can or will change that.

[quick_dry]

Really? Don't you have to have a large enough base of people that have a desire for a product similar to what you're offering?
sport stacking :p

[Sinister Soup]

I'm always amazed by how near-sided some peoples thinking can be. Look how far roller hockey has come in the last 15 years.

[Sinister Soup]

Wrong, anything, if marketted correctly can be a success.

yea look at snuggies

[skooled]

DieselBurns.

The RHI did not fall due to lack of intrest (on its own) if you did some research( and read Richard's book when it is finally released) you will see a myriad of reasons, with the one mentioned not at the front. If there were different people behind the wheel, and less people wanting to bring out there own version, I am willing to say that it would still be around, and probably on par with MLL, AFL (though not for the last season, so lets say AFL2)

[DieselBurns]

I'm always amazed by how near-sided some peoples thinking can be. Look how far roller hockey has come in the last 15 years.

It has nothing to do with being nearSIGHTET. It has everything to do with the fact that nobody besides family and friends show up to watch roller hockey. They did for the first few years of the RHI and that was it.


DieselBurns.

The RHI did not fall due to lack of intrest (on its own) if you did some research( and read Richard's book when it is finally released) you will see a myriad of reasons, with the one mentioned not at the front. If there were different people behind the wheel, and less people wanting to bring out there own version, I am willing to say that it would still be around, and probably on par with MLL, AFL (though not for the last season, so lets say AFL2)

I don't care about Richard or his book. A book about roller hockey will do just about as well as professional roller hockey itself. His friends and family will buy it.

The RHI failed for many reasons, but the main reason is people stopped going to watch. There just isn't a large enough following for roller hockey and there never will be.

[Hystyk28]

I totally agree. It is what it is; no more, no less.

[iwearstripes]

nearSIGHTET

I noticed his error too, but this is hardly an improvement.

[DieselBurns]

I noticed his error too, but this is hardly an improvement.

Why is that? It's spelled correctly.

[growl89]

The RHI failed for many reasons, but the main reason is people stopped going to watch. There just isn't a large enough following for roller hockey and there never will be.

Actually, one of the main reasons that it failed was because of rink capacity, with the exception of the bullfrogs who got 10,000 +, each team was getting 1500-3000 people per game. That's pretty good, any team in the league would take that now. The problem was that they were trying to fill 20,000 seat arenas. I had season tickets for the NJ Rockin Rollers and there was a nice sized crowd at each game. The league would have survived (or had a MUCH better chance to) if they would have used ECHL buildings and not NHL buildings.

[growl89]

Why is that? It's spelled correctly.

It's near-sighted not sightet... come on

[DieselBurns]

It's near-sighted not sightet... come on


Ha! Didn't even notice that.

[ACCCT2]

Actually, one of the main reasons that it failed was because of rink capacity, with the exception of the bullfrogs who got 10,000 +, each team was getting 1500-3000 people per game. That's pretty good, any team in the league would take that now. The problem was that they were trying to fill 20,000 seat arenas. I had season tickets for the NJ Rockin Rollers and there was a nice sized crowd at each game. The league would have survived (or had a MUCH better chance to) if they would have used ECHL buildings and not NHL buildings.

ABSOLUTELY...POSITIVELY...UNEQUIVICALLY..."THE" #1 REASON -- the MAIN reason -- RHI went bust. I know a couple of mid-90's RHI GM/Coaches who stated that THIS ALONE was the single BIGGEST factor in RHI's financial viability and logistical problems. It's truly a shame too, as like what Bill said, a lot of RHI teams were indeed getting 2000, 3000, even 4000 or more a game, but the cost of renting NHL buildings was just too much for most teams to bear.

Further, a 20,000-seat NHL building with 3000 spectators looks 'empty' (especially to sponsors), whereas a 3000-seat ECHL building looks (and IS!) 'packed' -- a MUCH MORE MARKETABLE proposition for sponsor/advertisers. Bill's favorite team, the NJ Rockin' Rollers would've been MUCH better off playing at the 2500-seat (what was then known as) South Mountain Arena, at that time the NJ Devils practice facility, or something of the like. Anyway, I'm sure that this will be one of the things that Richard's book will certainly touch upon.

GREAT POINTS, Bill!;)

[skooled]

Bill and ACCCT2,
I am glad that people know why this failed, and are willing to see it for that. (mind you the fact that it was all wrapped up in 90's marketin/corporate greed didn't help) teams moved/folded because they either could not get out of the contract for their large stadium (from memory this was imposed by the league) so they folded or relocated to where they could afford.

Long island jaws at Nassau Collesium???

If we went back and had these teams linked to a IHL/AHL/ECHL/WCHL franchise, I think RHI would have had a chance to still be around. For as much as AFL and NFL are different sports, played at differen times of the year, players were/are playing both, and in smaller stadiums

So, if MLRH was to affiliate/partner with someone like ECHL, I think you would see a major increase in revenue, crowd, and recognition for the sport as a whole.

[BourneRoller]

Well said. I agree and I have heard that is how some of the Pro inline leagues in Europe work. Ice in the winter, inline in the summer. Perfect!

[DieselBurns]

If you guys are so convinced it could work, make it happen. There are plenty of sources for funding so that shouldn't be a problem. Of course, investors like to put their money in ventures that are likely to make them more money, which is why no one has stepped forward with big money for roller hockey. They're smart enough to know it's a niche sport with no place in the mainstream.

Narch has it figured out. The money to be made in roller hockey is by charging players to play tournaments, not by charging people to watch "pro" games. Nobody wants to watch roller hockey except other roller hockey players.

You guys take this stuff too personally. I play roller hockey and I love playing it. I'm just pragmatic enough to know it will never again be a successful professional sport. It had one shot, and that will be the last one.

[DieselBurns]

Bill and ACCCT2,
I am glad that people know why this failed, and are willing to see it for that. (mind you the fact that it was all wrapped up in 90's marketin/corporate greed didn't help) teams moved/folded because they either could not get out of the contract for their large stadium (from memory this was imposed by the league) so they folded or relocated to where they could afford.

Long island jaws at Nassau Collesium???

If we went back and had these teams linked to a IHL/AHL/ECHL/WCHL franchise, I think RHI would have had a chance to still be around. For as much as AFL and NFL are different sports, played at differen times of the year, players were/are playing both, and in smaller stadiums

So, if MLRH was to affiliate/partner with someone like ECHL, I think you would see a major increase in revenue, crowd, and recognition for the sport as a whole.

You really don't think that anyone affiliated with the ECHL would have thought of this in the last 10 years? You really think you're the first person to think of it? Come on...they haven't done it because it won't work.

The Arena Football League is not the success you think it is. Maybe you've been in a coma, but they canceled their 2009 season.

[alex]

You guys take this stuff too personally. I play roller hockey and I love playing it. I'm just pragmatic enough to know it will never again be a successful professional sport. It had one shot, and that will be the last one.

One person's pragmatism is another's skepticism contributing nothing positive or beneficial. And dismissive comments about the owner of this website and one of the most important people in the sport? Really, what are you even doing here, why even post? And spare us a rant on how you have a right to post here and why nobody is in a position to judge the value of your comments. They're pointless.

[MLRH League]

Check the site out Monday and please comment!

[DieselBurns]

One person's pragmatism is another's skepticism contributing nothing positive or beneficial. And dismissive comments about the owner of this website and one of the most important people in the sport? Really, what are you even doing here, why even post? And spare us a rant on how you have a right to post here and why nobody is in a position to judge the value of your comments. They're pointless.

Let me make sure I have this straight. I brought up legitimate reasons why roller hockey as a legitimate pro sport doesn't have a future. You reply with a sophomoric ad hominem and somehow MY comments are the ones that have no value? Interesting.

[SlammHockey]

Unfortunately the Professional Hockey Players Association (PHPA) will not allow the ECHL or AHL to currently align with any professional inline hockey league. Even though these guys in the ECHL are working summer jobs, they want to make sure that the liability for their players is not put into jeopardy while they are under their watch.

As far as thinking the ECHL would last 10+ years, it is mainly due to the fact that they get 40 home games a year in order to turn a reasonable income for their teams. In professional inline hockey we are going to have to offset all of our expenses in 8 - 10 home games. We don't currently have the ability to make 4x the amount of income per game that an ECHL team makes.

Good conversation though!

[skooled]

You really don't think that anyone affiliated with the ECHL would have thought of this in the last 10 years? You really think you're the first person to think of it? Come on...they haven't done it because it won't work.

The Arena Football League is not the success you think it is. Maybe you've been in a coma, but they canceled their 2009 season.


were you in a coma for the reast of this thread, or do you only read "between" the lines? I mentioned in an earlier post that I know they are not running AFL1 this season, but AFL2 is running, as well as the LFL, slamball etc.....

di you have a great idea shut down on you once? is that why you don't listen? or are you one of those guys that has everything right all the time? does your wife have dinner ready every night when you get home from work??

the biggest hurdle in having a succesful attempt at another PRO league in north america is the way that the game has evolved in the last decade or so, that being tournament based. I think if someone was able to get into the highschool leagues, then through the college leagues creating successful, strong programmes, then there would be a chance, but the fact that everyone travels to tournaments, which puts no emphasis on spectators, grassroots development or proper healthy growth in junior numbers, will be the downfall of any pro league (and worst case the sport as a whole) mind you, having 3 seperate "pro" leagues now doesn't help the fact either.

[alex]

Let me make sure I have this straight. I brought up legitimate reasons why roller hockey as a legitimate pro sport doesn't have a future. You reply with a sophomoric ad hominem and somehow MY comments are the ones that have no value? Interesting.

Your points could be summed up as "roller hockey can't work as more than a niche sport stop wasting your time." So, yes I still think your points have no value and you add nothing to the conversation. You spend most of your time on here insulting someone for being a cameraman, someone who contributes concrete value to the sport by publicizing it online, while you, out of nowhere, insult a man who runs this site for actually working hard on creating a book to educate people about the history of the sport and then continue with posts summed up, like before, as "it can't work, give up." Never seen you've offer solutions. So, yeah, no value.

[Sinister Soup]

website looks the same

[JLeas20]

its monday january 11th and the website is still the same? any reasons?????

[Fusion9]

It's about 95% done and looks great, should be up late tonight

[MLRH League]

We apologize, while we can't wait to show the site, we also want to make sure all the bugs that are worked out. We're almost there.

Thank you for your patience and it will be "live" soon!

[MLRH League]

We are live!

Check out our live score ticker tonight and all weekend!

http://www.mlrh.com

[minutemen]

Site still looks the same?

[minutemen]

now it is up. Looks a lot better. good job on the site.

[MLRH League]

Thank you! we had our first festival in Grand Rapids this past weekend and the standings and pictures are up under multimedia!

[Doug Jones]

Chris Street did an amazing job redesigning the site and updating it.

The graphics are incredible...