PRO LEAGUE

[hockey4life]

I think what is needed for a pro league is everything that we have been talking about on this message board and a few other minor things that have a big impact. First: the owners need to be patient and realize that they will not see a big profit or any profit for a few years. If they can get sponsors, put ads in the local paper about the games, and maybe even get the local news channel to show about 15 seconds of highlights more people will come to the games. Second: the owners should have a draft recruiting one or two college players per team. The reason for this is because when the c.j. yoders of this game retire the skill level will decrease. Ice hockey players and inline hockey players have a different style of playing. Most inline hockey fans come to the game to see fancy moves and goals scored. Allowing college players or graduates to practice with the team not necessarily playing gives them a chance to develop and get better. And since the players don;t get paid it will not violate the crhl rules and violations policy. Third: create a team in a city where you will get fans. for example, if you have a team in NYC nobody will come to the games because inline hockey is not popular there. Fourth, the regular season should start right after the stanley cup finals because during the regular nhl season you will not get as many fans for inline hockey. Fifth: narch, mlrh, narhl, and other "pro leagues" should somehow come together and use all of their resources to make one big and better pro league.

please reply to this with any comments that you might have.

[AndrewMacMillan]

hockey4life,

I couldn't agree more. I can sit and watch CRHL hockey for an entire weekend. The style of play (actual roller hockey) and the skill level is outstanding at the top of the league. If pro leagues could emmulate that and draw from a larger base than just the colleges it would be AWESOME.

[morrisville75]

very good ideas here

[chandler27]

The main point that I agree on is that you have to start in markets where roller hockey is popular. I think it would be better to have 3 or 4 localized pro leagues and then one grand prize national tourny at the end of the season. That way, travel is minimized, local rivalries are established, players can still work for a living, and you aren't putting franchises where they don't belong. Maybe a league on the West Coast that might include teams from as far west as Colorado. Another league in the Great Lakes area, one in the south east and one on the east coast. Sort of an AFL, NFL of old, or ABA, NBA, AL, NL, blah blah blah.... it may take time to catch on, but there's nothing wrong with that. And forget about trying to land tv contracts. TV needs sponsors... and sponsors want to pimp their products via some sort of related vehicle...ie suntan lotion and beach volleyball. I don't see roller hockey doing well on TV until the buzz is too big for TV to not want to get involved. Sort of snowboarding, X games stuff. Anyway, just some thoughts from someone in an area where pro roller hockey has bombed miserably.