The State of Hockey in General

[showtime89]

This is from http://www.theonion.com/content/news_briefs/nhl_offers_will_ferrell_350
February 21, 2008
NHL Offers Will Ferrell $350 To Do Movie About Hockey

NEW YORK—National Hockey League commissioner Gary Bettman announced yesterday that the NHL has offered actor/comedian Will Ferrell $350 to write, direct, and star in a sports comedy about the game of hockey. "We deliberated long and hard about spending our entire promotions budget on a single venture, but I think investing in Mr. Ferrell is a wise choice," Bettman told reporters, adding that an 80-minute Will Ferrell hockey movie can give the league more visibility than an 82-game season ever could. "If Mr. Ferrell chooses to take on this project, he will have complete creative control and all the league's resources at his disposal—zambonis, hockey sticks, Wayne Gretzky—whatever he needs to make a funny movie about hockey. The movie doesn't even necessarily have to be about hockey, just so long as there is some hockey in it." Former Saturday Night Live cast member Ferrell reportedly made $20 million for his last film.

Obviously a joke as is 99% of what they do, but really it says a lot about the sport. Hockey needs a kick in the pants of some sort. Mike Eruzione was a household name after 1980 whether you liked hockey or not. Even though he was fictional, men and women know who Roy Hobbs is, whether you are watching Spike TV or WE or Oxygen. Crosby and Ovechkin are great ambassadors for the sport, but the nation/world needs a rallying point bigger than just one player. Whether that's a movie or a player that can transcend the sport, we need something. I hate basketball, but if Michael Jordan ever played in a venue near me, I would have paid to see him play, just to say I did. I've seen some great NHL players play in person, Gretzky, Lemieux, Jagr, LaFontaine, Mogilny, Bure, Ovechkin, Crosby, Roy, Brodeur, Stevens, etc... but these players can only ignite a city or fan base or get fans of a sport talking, but I don't see it getting to the general populace. Michael Jordan had people talking irregardless of what sport they liked. Gretzky did too, I guess, but he's "old hat" (always wanted to say that). Bonds had that chance to be that guy for MLB, but even with his issues, people, not just sports fans had opinions about him and still do. There's no such thing as bad publicity, is there? We need something to get the people's attention, whether its an ambassador going above and beyond outside the rink or a movie that brings people to check out the sport. I don't have the answer, its just my opinion. I know this was sort of random. I just went looking for the FROZEN FOUR or the brackets and had to do a couple of searches to find out who was in. I guess it just stands out more in a hockey deprived area (North East Florida) than it would up north or a place with an NHL franchise or even a NCAA hockey market.
P.S. Can you see the coach in the 3rd Mighty Ducks movie coaching Ovechkin and telling him, "Act like you've scored before."

[RichardGraham]

Hey Ron,

I was just talking to someone about this today. He said that even the NHL has always had these kinds of issues, and always will, because it's an acquired taste, and I think he's right. Inline hockey's even more of a niche sport.

However, it IS nice to see the coverage of college ice hockey here in Colorado Springs -- you don't get any of that in the Los Angeles Times.

Great thread topic. I hope a lot of IHC readers will chip in with their thoughts and suggestions.

[DannyG]

In terms of creating a general popularity...

I sincerely and honestly believe that it has to come from the opposite direction. That is to say, you don't want to have an overnight, iconic focus point, like Gretzky was in 1988/89, or like Pele was in 1975 for that matter...

these situations produce only flash-in-the-pan interest.

I am reminded of the first game broadcast by the XFL. The TV on-air broadcasters treated the game without the hoopla, and fanfare, deliberately avoiding the hyped superalatives. They treated the game with respect, like a good, honest, down-to-earth football game. This created an image that the game was quality, the players to be respected, and admired. No gushing allowed seemed to be their hallmark in telecasting this game.

The XFL didn't fail because it was broadcast like a circus. If it had been, it would have died quicker than it did.

Inline hockey must do the same. Do not treat the game like a circus. Let the game sell itself. Create neighborhood kid opportunites for play. Move into the schools. Move into collegiate and true professional situations. All with no fanfare and over-the-top hoopla...just solid, honest, effort.

it can happen and it will.

Guess I'm just feeling philosophical tonight...

[RichardGraham]

Hi Danny,

Glad you were feeling philosophical. Great post. I agree, we need to continue to focus on the grassroots growth, bringing new people into the sport. At the same time, we need to support the successful organizations that are already doing great things for inline hockey. I see growth created by passionate people in areas like youth hockey, high school hockey, and at the collegiate level. I saw my first PIHA game last night and saw about 125 people in the stands who'd paid $7 a ticket. (Me included!) We've got the elite tournament series and people with big plans for international events that may or may not come through. ;)

So, there are definitely reasons for optimism. At the same time, there are huge hurdles to leap. I'm sure that IHC's readers can name some of them without bashing people or starting flame wars and getting their posts pulled and worse... :)

[showtime89]

I really think the ramps on pro beach hockey near the end boards hurt inline hockey's image. That, and using a ball.

[DannyG]

I really think the ramps on pro beach hockey near the end boards hurt inline hockey's image. That, and using a ball.

Absolutely! That is exactly what we have been talking about for decades...

PBH arguably featured some of the best players in the game at the time, and they didn't let 'em play the game...instead, these fine athletes were forced to play some one-ring circus version of sort-of hockey...what a joke.

What I found was most funny, was: here's these guys, put up in apartments on the beach with all expenses paid by the television production company, getting a "salary," and then they are asked on camera what they think of PHB..."yeah, this is really great hockey, great fans, and what a tremendous concept..." was the inane drivel we had to listen to in these interviews...

You can't fault the players, they got to play, and got paid...sure would have been nice if some tv production company has decided that real inline hockey would've been the sport to feature...

Oh, well...

[PGHhockey]

As I think it's been said before...I do believe you're speaking strictly from an American perspective.

Look at our nation's #1 league, the NFL. The same principle applies when you'd ask people in other large nations about American football. They just don't get it, and it hasn't really become much of a big thing anywhere besides North America.

You could say the same for hockey - huge in Canada, Russia, Czech Republic, Sweden, etc. - but for the most part, Americans just don't "get it."

And, at least around here, there are a ton of guys still playing with a ball. That's most likely a result of guys around here growing up playing dekhockey during it's golden years of, say, 1987-1995.

[showtime89]

So last night I decided to go see the local Minor League team the Jacksonville Barracudas in game 2 of the SPHL Finals (Best of 5). It's only the second game of the year that I have been to out of protest (more on that later). The team has jumped from the WHA2 to the SPHL and maybe some other leagues that I am not aware of. They won the WHA2 in 03-04 and lost in the SPHL finals last year. They are currently down 0-2 in this series. So they are pretty good team for their league, it's not like they are bottom dwellers. Last night I attended the game with 1700 others as the game was sold out. So here's the problem. Jacksonville is NOT a hockey town. It's all about college football (Florida, FSU, Georgia), the Jaguars, the TPC at Sawgrass and some baseball as well, and driving your truck in the mud. Most northerners relocate to southern Florida, not north Florida(see all the Sabres jerseys in the stands when the Lightning or Panthers host the Sabres). In 2003-2004 as part of the Better Jacksonville plan, the city built a new baseball stadium for the AA Jacksonville Suns (Dodgers) as well as a $130 MILLION New Arena for Hockey, Basketball, Concerts and whatnot. It seats 16,000 for concerts and probably 11,000-12,000 for hockey. This arena is amazing for a "Minor League" city. Except for the seating capacity, it could be a NHL arena. Suites, great site lines, lots of concession areas, great atrium, etc... You feel like you are watching something professional. The Barracudas played there from '03-'07. They averaged about 2200 fans per game. I was at a game with 3500 people once(gasp) and also at a game with 750 people. If I had friends here that liked hockey, I would get season tickets. But this year the Barracudas moved into JaxIce, the only ice rink in town. It's a complete joke. They had to vacate the new Arena because the arena wasn't making enough money. The team had to draw 2000 to break even(which they did), but the arena needed to draw 3000 to break even (which they didn't). Instead of the city of Jax stepping in to assist the Barracudas in staying downtown at the new arena, they didn't and the Barracudas had to swim 15 minutes down I-95 to the dump(I mean jaxice). At the old arena the first two rows cost $35, and then $14 for the rest of the lower bowl. I think the upper bowl was $10, but no one was ever up there. The seats were individual padded seats with armrests, and cup holders like found in new NHL arenas. Now at the new rink they play at, seats are $30 for "premium seating" which are bar stools with backs at ice level. The rest of the seats are $15 which are either metal bleachers at the west end of the rink, or near the east end along the side. The main section of seats consists of rows of folding chairs on a stepped seating system. So last year, for $14, I could sit in a comfortable seat in the 2nd row in the end, or anywhere else I felt like it, get up between periods and have my pick of bathrooms and concession stands with a variety of foods and beverages, watch replays on overhead scoreboard, take my pick from a few different souvenir stands and when the game was over, walk to anywhere in downtown to continue enjoying the nightlife. I could even lean back in my seat, because it had a back. Now I pay $15 to sit on a metal bleacher where my but still hurts today, have one concession stand that ran out of some soda types and candy, and share 1 bathroom with others. If I was a player who played last year on the team, I would be embarrassed to where I was playing now (My D3 college arena was better as was the local rink I played roller in during the summer in Buffalo (ice rink with the ice melted). So that's why I have only been to 2 games this season. On a good note, the fans that are there are knowledgeable and very into the games. Outside the rink I thought I was going to a football game. Lots of people tailgating, grilling, hanging out drinking, etc... On a strange note, after walking by the player benches after the game I saw that ever player stick was a Sherwood stick for both teams. Some pics are included from the game are included as well as layout of downtown, etc...
So I guess what I am saying is that the city of Jacksonville dropped the ball on this one. Supplementing the team so they could stay downtown and draw 2000-3000 fans downtown that otherwise wouldn't be there would make sense to me, especially if you already dropped $130 million on the arena, might as well use it. They did a great thing putting the football stadium(Formerly the Gator Bowl), fairgrounds, baseball stadium and arena all together, but if you aren't going to use the arena to it's potential, what's the point? So, hockey is not a priority, even if it could help the city. That 2000-3000 could be 10,000-12,000 some day, but never if they are playing in a 1700 seat arena 15 minutes out of downtown.

[cougarsrh]

JAX Hockey? Wow, somebody else that actually showed up other than me? :D - I've been traveling down there for years from the Philly area and I've gone to about 5 or six 'Cuda games. I'm going to have to disagree with ya there as far as the attendance. I never saw attendance higher than 500 people at those games. its neck and nect on who got the least atendance, that, or that monorail into the city over the St Johns River. One game, I actually COUNTED the people in the stands!. Anyway, it was still a fun night in a beautiful arena.

This year I heard they moved to "JAX-ICE"- I thought this was some new arena maybe by UNF or something. I found out its at that old rink on Emerson Street. They actually fit 1700 people in that rink? I'd be amazed...

I don't know that the city blew it on this one - there is no interest at all in the sport in that area - the kids arent playing roller outside anywhere, which is a cheap way to gain interest.

[DblJ44]

hey Cougarsrh,
We know someone down in JAX that played with the Cougars way back when. He says he skates at a roller rink now like he did at choice when we were younger.

[showtime89]

JJ, I said hi to Kurt, but he wasn't sure who I was talking about.
Cougarsrh, the 3400 was back in '03-04, their first season in the new arena.
As for Jaxice, they "renovated" the rink, completely isolating it from the area in the front of the building, painted some stuff. I don't remember what it was like before the renovation, but there's lots of bleachers on the north side of the rink, and one small set on the west end as well as the two rows of Premium seating all the way around the rink except right behind the benches. Whether there is interest or not downtown, they don't have a chance with them out of the city. If they can draw 1700 to the joke of jax ice and sell out, it would make sense that they could draw maybe double that downtown to a better facility all around, especially with $10 tickets after the first 10 rows or so. BTW, the Barracuda are part of the Rangers system.

[zipyaj]

(Sighs) Yet another prospective and productive forum topic diluted to so much trivia and meaningless blah!

Ho Hum! zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

WAKE UP! If not coffee, try some energy drink! But please stop dribbling your balls (or pucks) in the past. ENERGIZE and get with some help with the State of Hockey today!

OR, just stay GENERAL and oh-so-blahsey!

[DannyG]

okay...how'se this:

1. I got u-6's at my rink for the first time in our city.

2. I got a full, four-team weekly slates of 8's, 10's, 12's, teen/adults, masters/novices...I got a weekly club game in 14's, wheelchair, and we're about three weeks away from a club game in USABA sanctioned (I hope) blind roller hockey...

3. locally, we got more hockey opportunities than any time since '01...

4. I got an aau tourney director telling me he'll do whatever I need to make a 6's division work, even if only a couple of teams, in the local regional.

not to spread too much sunshine, but locally, things are looking pretty good: new opportunities, program expansion, and positive program development.

everybody's happy on hockey Main Xtreet...

[showtime89]

okay...how'se this:

1. I got u-6's at my rink for the first time in our city.

2. I got a full, four-team weekly slates of 8's, 10's, 12's, teen/adults, masters/novices...I got a weekly club game in 14's, wheelchair, and we're about three weeks away from a club game in USABA sanctioned (I hope) blind roller hockey...

3. locally, we got more hockey opportunities than any time since '01...

4. I got an aau tourney director telling me he'll do whatever I need to make a 6's division work, even if only a couple of teams, in the local regional.

not to spread too much sunshine, but locally, things are looking pretty good: new opportunities, program expansion, and positive program development.

everybody's happy on hockey Main Xtreet...


How is your rink? Ours is a roller skating rink, wood floors, carpeted wall, disco balls, so it's not exactly a drawing point.

[zipyaj]

GREAT DannyG!

I applaud your accomplishments!

So. HOW did you accomplish said feats? Share the wealth of your experience!

For sake of example... In the past week, the IHF high school league received acknowlegement from the 2007 Stanley Cup Champions, Anaheim Ducks, to recognize this scholastic league's special achiever's (academic and social contributors) in a special award ceremony within their season-ending All-Star event. The award comes from their GM, Brain Burke!

This award program resulted from repeated efforts to connect with this NHL team's Fan Development personnel. Fortunately, it was in alignment with their goals to expand youth hockey interests in the community. The immediate result is an awards program. The long-term is portending.

One can only hope that by these examples that others will take seed and flourish!

THANKS,
Jay

[DannyG]

...HOW did you accomplish said feats? Share the wealth of your experience!

THANKS,
Jay

How is your rink? Ours is a roller skating rink...not exactly a drawing point.

I have built my own facility in a warehouse. I tried to take a page from Disney and create a "neighborhood" where kids and adults would only be thinking about the joy of playing sports for fun. The entire facility is designed/decorated to resemble one block of a city street in Brooklyn back in the 1950's.

So, all the furnishings/fixtures/equipment resemble that of a street. The skating surface is made up to look like a city street. (get it, we play "in the street," hence the name, "Xtreet Sports.")

The floor is Mateflex(tm). It is four different colors of silver/gray, set up in a "patchwork design," much like a street surface that has received a few re-surfacings here and there. Decals of actual manhole covers are fixed on the floor at home plate and second base. Similar decals of sewer grates depict 1st/2nd/pitcher's plate. All the lines on the floor are dark gray: baselines, hockey circles, batter's box, three-point lines, etc.

On the spectator side of the floor is the facade of the Main Xtreet Apartments, where you sit on the porch chairs and watch people playing "in the street."

On the player side are the Main Xtreet Grocery, Barbershop, Deli, and Bakery, in reality the four dressing rooms. These have full-wall decals of 1950's photographs depicting scenes from actual stores of the 50's. Two bus-stop corrals are the team benches. The lemonade stand is the scorekeeper's booth. A street telephone pole brings electricity to the lemonade stand for scoreboard and pa system. The pa system is a Lanier Carryvoice amp/speaker, authentic from 1962. The scoreboard is a 50's Chevron billboard, with "Supreme" and "Regular" boxes noting the "prices" (scores) of the gasoline. A local refinery sponsored the scoreboard. The "No Parking" signs are the baseball foul poles.

The Main Xtreet Newsstand is the office/counter.

Each of the rink walls is likewise decorated. The south end wall is 8 ft high, and painted/decalled to represent the Main Xtreet Warehouse, with loading dock, double freight doors, and a service elevator aperature. The north end wall likewise has a service elevator door, these open up and are the indoor soccer goals. The north wall is decorated to resemble a plywood, temporary sidewalk that you see out in front of downtown construction sites. We have "people" walking insde the temorary sidewalk construct: these are decals of our players, each of whom has donned a costume to look like they were walking down the street in the 50's, maybe stopping to watch the kids playing in the street.

Two pad-lined, 55-gallon drums are set up at the creases as our actual hockey and lacrosse goals. This is a functional, but fantasy/fun environment, a cross between toon-town and a hockey rink.

Our games are likewise "Xtreet" versions of the major sports. Hockey 3v3, no goalies, 2-ft, round goals (the 55-gal. drums). Indoor soccer, 4v4, no goalies, 3x3 ft goals (the service elevators). Baseball (whiffleball equipment), 35' bases, 85' diagonal homerun wall (very few hr's though). "Arena" basketball, two halves, 1 point per basket, call-your-fouls, no free throws, ball never out of bounds, free substitutions, etc.

We play small-sided, small-floor (75 by 70) games...no goalkeepers in any of our 22 sports.

We have 24 sets of equipment for each sport. We can tell any little kid, "just come play," and they don't need to spend a dime on equipment, until they want to (usually about the third week they show up with some of their own stuff).

Promo's in free announcement sections of paper, press releases personally to sports dept of tv, flyers to schools: some gave 'em out, some wouldn't...went to a couple of school fairs, $25 table, "mouse hockey" paticipant game, with prize a $10 off membership card. Word-of-mouth is huge.

Make no mistake, this is not a success story yet. I am still behind on rent for the place, but catching up. Sometime about September, I hope to be caught up, and maybe taking home a salary, finally. I work 12-16 hour days, presently for zero income to the household (for about 15 months now).

Without a wife that supports this, it wouldn't work at all...

so, I'll let you all know when this is a true success. At that time I'll maybe have a good set of suggestions as to how to really make it all work.

Thanks for listening in the meantime.

[showtime89]

Well I got this on a Popsicle today in Florida. I retract my previous posts. Hockey is everywhere.

[showtime89]

I was looking through cnnsi.com and somehow came across the cover searches. Do a search for hockey and see the time lapses between covers that have hockey on them. The little blurbs in the corners don't count. I am talking actualy cover stories. Pretty sad.
http://dynamic.si.cnn.com/covers/search