A team looking for a league

[StormOwner]

Wow...I am so glad I decided to keep the Boston Storm away this year. I do want to bring the team back next year, but I am still uncertain as to which league can meet my expectations.

I do not mind making an investment in a team and I do not mind personally managing the operations to ensure a decent product for the fans.

But I do want to know that the league is in it for the benefit of the sport. Also, that whoever is involved in the league has a goal and budget to operate it efficiently and effectively.

I have been reading the boards...but have been staying silent this season...wanted to see how things pan out.

If you were in my situation, where would you place the Boston Storm next year? Why should I invest money into a team in any of the leagues? Have the leagues shown progress this year...organization, marketing, fanbase, sponsors, commitment by players, teams and league officials?

I throw it out there to the inline community and to the various league owner/representatives....should I bring back the Boston Storm or some other team? and if so....please state the advantages of your league over the others and also please state the progress you have made this past year with your league. I am seriously considering all leagues, so please respond with your thoughts.

Kind Regards,

Marty

[dcdonkey]

Wait until the NHL is up and running and join there!

[StormOwner]

I am a bit surprised that I did not get any feedback from the leagues.....

[RichardGraham]

Hi Marty,

Don't take it personally. I rarely get answers to my posts that request responses either. Weird stuff. LOL. [img]/wtimages/icons/wink.gif[/img]

Sincerely,

Richard Graham
Editor
Inline Hockey Central

[NoMoreNiceGuy]

If you want to join a league, you better contact them, I don't believe the leagues are going to try to "out bid" each other to get a team.

Which league you join depends on what you want, if you want no-check, join the PIHA. If you want checking with a festival format, join XIHL, but if you miss a game, Steve will toss you. You were in MLRH so you know what that is like, but it has been around since 1997. To my knowledge, MLRH has not suspended a team for missing one game, except for the Riot, but that had little to do with the game and was more an owners battle.

I myself, would only have a team in MLRH because I like the checking and the other checking leagues don't seem to last very long.

[5_hole_master]

so are you actually trying to say that it is ok to "miss" a game when the teams are trying to make leagues as professional as possible?? you can't be serious

[NoMoreNiceGuy]

Not showing for a game is one thing, notifying a team 3 weeks in advance is another. If you are not paying the players, and you have a roster that limits who you can bring, there has to be some flexibility.

[NewarkBears1]

There were also teams in the MLRH that were suspensed for missing one game. I believe the Boston Jokers were suspended by the league in 2001 or 2002 for missing a game

[NewarkBears1]

The festival format is only for this year. From what I understand, someone correct me if I'm wrong, but the XIHL will move to a full 15-20 game schedule starting around Oct 2005.

[NoMoreNiceGuy]

No, you are wrong. Boston missed 2 games but was not suspended for just missing games, there were other reasons that were included in the decision.

[yokes]

Thats what i hear also.

If you dont hit me im not stopping it.

[NuHusky]

what rink are you guys gonna use? tewksbury? Thats the biggest problem in Mass right now for roller hockey overall, there is no decent facility to skate at.

[GROWL]

I know that to be true as well.

[GROWL]

No offense to the people having asked these questions or to you Richard for your opinion. However, if I were Charlie, Steve, or Benny, I would probably not dive into online discussion of this matter. Boston, I know that in most cases they don't like to use the IHC boards to conduct the business of the leagues. There are too many negative people out there and business of this matter should not be done on such a public forum. However I still believe it is a terrific topic and question and I myself am curious to hear the opinions of various players and fans from all of the leagues.

[Brooklynite10]

Teams should get tossed for missing a game. It's not like we have 80 game seasons in our leagues. XIHL had a short season consisting of 8 games per team. If a team can't field a team for all 8 games, then it should be tossed because it is not a solid organization.

The Werewolves and Wings had a home and home serious(1 game in NY and 1 the following weekend in NJ) scheduled. We (Wolves) traveled 7 hours in a snow storm to go play that game. The Wings DECIDED they couldn't make it the next weekend. How fair is that to the Werewolves ?! Our owner paid for a bus to take us to Buffalo and did a lot of promoting for our game at home the following week. He, the Werewolves, and the XIHL got screwed !! Wings then got tossed.

That is a rule that is a benefit to a league not a detriment.