Professional Roller Hockey...Ways to succeed

[Inline_Burl]

Professional Roller Hockey 2008 and on...

They are many ways to make true Professional Roller Hockey work, but there a lot that don't.

• Start by running the League like an 'A' Ice Hockey League (EPHL & MAHL).
• Play in smaller arenas with no more than 2,000 seats (keep arena costs down)
• Similar to NLL play players, but not enough for them to live off of. (Players would keep day jobs, lessen salary costs)
• Play a 14 game schedule and only on weekends (similar to NLL)
• The league must be full contact and fighting must be allowed. Roller Hockey is already a very skilled game. Just because there is checking does not mean the skill will disappear. People want to see hitting plain and simple.
• Place franchises in Roller hockey hot beds.
• Set up leagues such as the AIHL, and the PIHA that can serve as a feeder system.
• Play showcase All-star games all over the country during the off season to boost the buzz about Roller Hockey.
• Get agreements with NHL, AHL, ECHL, IHL, and SPHL to be the league summer training programs. Roller Hockey improves your ice hockey game.
• Get Agreements with those same leagues to promote your league.
• In the end in your market establish a fan base, acknowledge your minor and junior roller teams, and advertise! Advertise! Advertise! Get your name out there.
• Make everything from your website and logos/jerseys look PRO (be original and get a professional to create your logos for you)

[Inline_Burl]

Possible Locations:
Jamestown Savings Bank Ice Arena (1,900) Jamestown, New York.
Buffalo State Sports Arena (1,800) Buffalo New York

???

[TULaw]

I think those are all great ideas. I think there are many CHL, ECHL and college hockey arenas that could work for a true professional league.

[quick_dry]

I think more definition needs to go into what people mean by "allow fighting".

Do you mean peaopl are encouraged to fight, and 'enforcers' are important positions on the roster? or do you mean that two willing combatants can go at it hammer and tong without getting a suspension for the rest of the season? Maybe a major plus game and that is it?

[MrCanada]

I am thinking more like every player can fight twice in a game.

On the 2nd occasion, you get a 5 major for fighting a 10 misc. and a game misc. for 2nd fight of the game.

No suspension!

[Wingman]

I am thinking more like every player can fight twice in a game.

On the 2nd occasion, you get a 5 major for fighting a 10 misc. and a game misc. for 2nd fight of the game.

No suspension!

A Game misconduct penalty is a suspension.

If fighting is allowed I think it should be a 5 minute match penalty. It's only 5 minutes but the guy is out for the rest of the game.

[cal16]

For this to happen, it would have to become a summer sport, and currently everyone refuses to do it in the summer.

Its unfortunate that these ignorant people wont switch over. They complain that the tournament series are more important.. "oh no..I cant miss NARCH"

Well personally I would rather see the game move to a higher level than pay someone to go to the same tournament every year.

...Great ideas though Inline Burl.

[Bfoster]

These ideas are great. However I know a lot of players don't want a full check game but your right in that hitting attracts massive numbers of fans. It wouldn't need to be a great deal though I played a few PIHA games where the refs were really leniant and allowed just about everything with the exception of open floor truck runs. The fans loved it and as far as fighting goes, treat it like the NHL. 5 min major, and if owners and gm's want to open an enforcer spot on the roster so be it. It's a part of hockey, it always will be and everyone knows when you tell someone who doesn't know much about hockey that you play, their first response is always, "do you fight?"

[TULaw]

Yeah a professional league like the one we are talking of could only work during the summer, it just wouldnt make sense to compete with Ice Hockey. Once you start paying players you will have no problem getting them away from the tournaments. Also I dont buy the argument that PIHA players wouldnt play in a full contact league, once you offer them a pay check that would change quickley. Another thing is I believe that if there is a pro league that pays its likely that most current PIHA players wouldnt be able to make onto the rosters if they have to compete against players who are currently playing minor league ice hockey who would likey be drawn to such a league by the prospect of additional pay during the off season.

[Inline_Burl]

Fights...
(Don't encourage, but don’t abolish)
1st: 5 Min
2nd: 5 Min + out remainder of game
2nd fight third period: 5 Min + another game
Instigator rule removed
No roster spot for goon

Other things I was thinking were....

• Have music playing during games, some games will get boring...but there needs to be more things in the arena where fans won’t fall sleep.
• All minor penalties be 2:00, but in overtime all minor penalties be 1:00
• In case of a tie overtime would be 4on4 five minute sudden death overtime, if no one scored after five minutes 3 player shootout would start.
• Start with medium to low ticket prices and incentives to get peoples butts in the seats. (There is nothing people like more than free ****, and they will come from anywhere to get it)
• Have in game entertainment...Dancers, Mascots, and bands playing in the arena corner during the game.
• Have a highly recognizable trophy, something everyone will go "I have to win this trophy!" Make it big make it flashy.
• Have a team in Anaheim and call them the Bullfrogs (that seems to be the only RHI team people remember)
• Get Point streak.
• Playoffs would be one game elimination.
• Have player autographs after the game; let the fans get to know the players.

As for "oh no! I’ll miss NARCH" since it’s in the summer try drawing players from the professional ice ranks to come play. The NHL, ECHL, IHL, CHL, OHL have a lot of roller hockey players.

Really for this to work the only real big coats would be the travel and maybe the equipment....unless you can get roller hockey manufactures on board.

• Arena Costs: 2,000 seat arenas are a lot less expensive than 4,000-10,000 seat arenas
• Players Costs: Since all players will need to keep their day job, player salaries will be low.
• Travel Costs: The most expensive part
• Equipment Costs: Get manufactures on board to supply equipment
• Advertisement: Another thing each team and the league need to put major money into.

All the Pro Roller Hockey League have been doing it wrong. RHI, To big to fast...MLRH...unprofessional and the PIHA and AIHL have said that it needs to be grass roots...that’s fine but grass roots only gets you so far. I mean the PIHA and AIHL can keep doing what they’re doing and get people into the sport on a community level, but you need a nationally recognized league for players to look forward to; I believe that is the only way to get our sport out there. It's like lacrosse, virtually unpopular until the NLL and the MLL came out and boosted interest.
Once you establish the league and start getting on TV and in the Newspaper and all over the internet, people will take notice.

[Inline_Burl]

As for PIHA making it over Minor Pro guys...not all ice hockey players are good at roller hockey. There are alot of guys in the PIHA that could beat the minor pro hockey player for a roller hockey roster spot.

[VaInline]

Question for Inline_Burl: how do you enforce the "no roster spot for goon"?

Very tough to enforce that I would imagine. How do you define a "goon" without letting him play? See my point.

I like the idea of full contact hockey. I like the idea of the occasional scrap. Both of those things have entertainment value and will draw fans into the building. But I also like the idea of limiting the violence with a second major penalty game ejection rule.

[TULaw]

As for PIHA making it over Minor Pro guys...not all ice hockey players are good at roller hockey. There are alot of guys in the PIHA that could beat the minor pro hockey player for a roller hockey roster spot.

Well this is simply my opinion and many might disagree with me but the best Roller Hockey players are not playing in PIHA but are playing in leagues where they get paid which is minor ice. Once a paying roller hockey league is established many of these guys will return to roller hockey making it tougher for many of the PIHA guys to make onto rosters. But you are right not all Ice players turn into good Roller players, though for most its not that hard of a transition. It is easier then a pure roller player switching to Ice.

[Alvare71]

Its all depends how you define a goon, but if you have an enforcer on each team it cancels each other out.

Hockey fans are used to fighting and it is very important in the game of a hockey.....

I mean, I have played and watched a non check league and my opinion it is very boring....

And plus you have refferees who have to decide what a hit is and isnt

Can you rub along the boards or hold......it just makes the game more complicated.

[TULaw]

While I believe that hitting is necessary for any future Pro league to succeed. As far as fighting is concerned I dont think it is absolutley necessary. I think a 5 min major for the first fight and a game misconduct for the 2nd would be a good rule though.