Talent Dillution

**missionhockey21** · 05-24-2003, 01:12 AM

It sounds like a unique and fresh idea to me, I hope it finds success. I think that is key that it will be distnguishable from ice, because everyone does look at roller hockey as the less impressive or "weaker" version of ice.

**MDE3** · 05-24-2003, 01:12 AM

because they're all broke from trying to get their kids to learn the game

)

**missionhockey21** · 05-24-2003, 01:14 AM

If there is no checking, it will not find success in this busy sports market. I dont like it that much either, but overall it will be more beneficial to the game if there was checking in this league.

**missionhockey21** · 05-24-2003, 01:15 AM

lol :P

**WMBG_GM** · 05-24-2003, 10:24 AM

Well, I believe arena football started in the mid 80s. They just recently signed with NBC to have 70+ games televised. They are season 17 I think.

The MLS started to organize in 1994 and first played in 1996. 7 years later, they get covered on ESPN2 occasionally and mostly regional sports networks (aka FOX sports). They came into it with $$ also.

In case you are curious: MLSnet.com reports the current average paid attendance at all MLS games: 14,050, with a peak at 23,786 and a low of 7,143. I couldn't find any data on the AFL other than they project 3,000,000 fans to attend AFL & AF2 (minors) games in the 2003 season. For reference, year 2 they got 1,129,333 at games.

So, in my usual 500 or more words, I answered your question. "Roller" will take off as soon as it can get fans, in seats, at games in significant numbers.

Make sense?

Ben Loyall
GM
Williamsburg Warriors

**missionhockey21** · 05-24-2003, 10:27 AM

>Make sense?

Yep, thanks for your reply. Espicially for the figures for the "smaller" pro sport leagues.

**WMBG_GM** · 05-24-2003, 10:32 PM

Daunting isn't it?

Personally, I feel the MLRH has a very good "product" At this point we mostly have a marketing job.

It also helps to keep in mind that both sports played by the AFL & the MLS were played in some fashion for a while prior to the current entity's starts.

I don't want to sound like I am "Mr Doom & Gloom" on this subject. It just really dismays me to hear the "hope" that Mr $$ is going to pop up any day now and everybody is suddenly going to make an AHL-like wage to play. I strongly believe realism says that in 3-5 years (maybe slightly sooner) a player could expect to make $50-$75 per game played. There is a HUGE amount of work that must occur before this can happen. For Williamsburg, I need 500-600 fans per home game plus solid marketing sales ($20k/season) to get to the point where I can even think about it.

And before anybody starts quoting the above numbers.... I'm speaking for me, not any other owner in _any_ league, currently in existence.

Ben Loyall
GM
Williamsburg Warriors

**mlrhfan0001** · 05-27-2003, 01:35 AM

Yes, checking NEEDS to be part of the game. It puts more fans in the seats. Fans love to see a player get creamed and make a beautiful play at the same time. Just look at those "big hits" commercials. Checking and great talent gets people in buildings.

**MDE3** · 05-27-2003, 03:37 AM

It also helps create the great talent, so it's important that it be taught at a younger age in inline hockey.

If not, Pro Inline Hockey will always tend to use former elite level ice hockey players - who have been taught how to hit - thereby maintaining the sports semi-dependance on ice hockey as a training ground for elite level roller hockey players.

**NLane** · 05-27-2003, 08:47 AM

Yes! Yes! Yes! Now convince all the others.

**WMBG_GM** · 05-27-2003, 09:27 AM

Well, I think my views on this are pretty well known. I thinking hitting should be taught in roller very early on. Ian Ward, (Warriors #19) did have some interesting comments on this. His fear was that due to the reduced ability to turn & stop on roller blades vs that of ice skates that there would be many more "knee to knee" injuries in the teaching process than you would see typically in ice. The only solution I could think of to this is to start teaching them earlier. Before body mass & power get you into the range of dangerous hits. The idea being that kids learn to "take" the hit correctly instead of trying to bail out of it.

Unfortunately, this is a very hard sell as many people view roller as 'gentle hockey' and that is why they let thier kids play it. I'd better clarify that... At least down here (Southern states) that seems to be the attitude.

Ben Loyall
GM/Owner
Williamsburg Warriors, MLRH AAA

**RichardGraham** · 05-27-2003, 03:02 PM

Hi Columbus,

I have no fear of talent dilution for the foreseeable future. I think that there are plenty of top-notch inline hockey players. Considering that there are already two elite U.S. "national" teams in Team USA Hockey InLine and Team USA (USA Roller Sports), I believe that the players that are cut from those teams rosters at training camp could form yet another quality team that would do well at the FIRS and IIFH inline hockey world championships.

The more avenues to play, the better, I think [img]/wtimages/icons/smile.gif[/img]

Sincerely,

Richard Graham
Editor
Inline Hockey Central