Gary Bettman close to 5 year extension to remain commissioner of NHL through end of 2027 season
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DearDiary
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- Aug 29, 2010
- 15,308
- 12,797
Average? Name a better commissioner in any sport in any timeframe, taking into account corruption they were apart of
Voight
#winning
Clarence Campbell same league
Pete Rozelle - NFL (hes probably the best sports commissioner in North American history)
David Stern - NBA
Kenesaw Mountain Landis - MLB
Peasy
Registered User
What this also reads is: Coyotes close to a 5 year extension to remain in Arizona.
Campbell was awful for the league. He is a large reason why the NHL failed to take advantage of the growth of pro sports in the 1950s and 60s, and why the league is a distant fourth behind the other three in the US. His militancy towards the first attempt of an NHLPA in 1957 also led to its reformation in 1967 under Alan Eagleson, which is a direct reason for the lockouts under Bettman. And that is just the first few things that come to mind, there's a lot more to critique Campbell for.
- Sep 6, 2006
- 9,388
- 9,809
Legit question, do Americans get as angry about Bettman as Canadians do? Canadians are obsessed with Bettman, and as a Canadian I find it strange.
HockeyVirus
16/34/88/91/44 - Pathetic losers
- Nov 15, 2020
- 20,827
- 31,840
both stern and now silver have been massive amounts better for the NBA then bettman for the NHL. i’d put bettman a smidge above goodell, personally. manfred is probably above both of those two, had to deal with the aftermath of the steroid era, but then kind of botched the astros punishment by letting them keep the championship. NBA is by far the best run sports league, the rest have all been mired in various levels of scandal and haven’t handled it particularly well
SeanMoneyHands
Registered User
- Apr 18, 2019
- 15,718
- 15,211
CokenoPepsi
Registered User
- Oct 28, 2016
- 5,509
- 2,854
He has probably made more money then any NHL player in history....you would think he would like to spend some of that money.
Some people just love working I guess
Some people just love working I guess
mouser
Business of Hockey
Ads help the respective fans’ teams pay their favorite players in a competitive player talent marketplace?
Yeah, I get he grew the game in the 90s and 00s with southern expansion, but it appears that growth has stalled over the last 5 - 10 years. Participation rates in different US states are OK in their growth rates, but hardly impressive given the introduction of hockey in those places decades ago. Regional tv ratings in many US states are mediocre to terrible, particularly in some of these southern areas with little to no improvement over several years. National ratings for the playoffs do not appear to be increasing the past few seasons after we saw some promising upward trends in the late 2000s to early 2010s.
The new tv deal is not that impressive. It's a little over double the old one (factoring in that the new deal absorbed that streaming rights deal signed in recent years). This is still a largely gate dependent league almost 30 years into Bettman's tenure.
There has been a lot of inconsistency with growing the game in various European countries under Bettman's watch. Several years ago, the NHL was playing a reasonable number of games in Europe...and then all of a sudden they stopped going....then they started playing games overseas again. If you want to expand your revenue sources and be less gate reliant, it might be a good idea to stick with the plan for more than a few years before giving up and then changing your mind yet again. If they stuck with their plan to play several games per season in Europe over the past decade, they probably would have garnered enough interest to warrant some international corporate sponsorships and some half-way decent tv deals with a few European countries. Missed opportunity on Gary's part.
I remember seeing a chart posted here that showed the average age of the NHL fan over the past 20 years. The average age of had increased by nearly 20 years! That is under Gary's watch.
What initiatives has Gary undertaken to diversify the player base, live audience and tv audience? Despite the fact that both Canada and US are largely dependent on immigration to grow the populations and economies of their countries - most couples have 0-2 kids - the players, ticket buyers and and tv viewers are predominantly white. This currently is and will be a big issue going forward as a larger percentage of the North American population consists of visible minorities. There are barely any more Black, Asian, Indian, Hispanic people in the league or watching the game than when Gary arrived in 1993. That's not maximizing growth of the game.
Power play opportunities per team per game the past 2 seasons are 2.90 - the lowest on record. This decline began happening shortly after the season-long lockout when the average PPO per game was 5.85 so it's basically half of that amount. Let's not forget this commissioner presided over the dead puck era - a period of cumbersome, low-scoring, low event hockey. Are you maximizing growth of the game when you limit power play opportunities and oversee a decade's worth of obstructionist hockey?
It would have been best for Gary to move on. He is pretty old and probably out of touch with what prospective fans would like to see in the future (more offense for one). A younger fresh face is needed with some innovative ideas to maximize growth both here and abroad while being strong enough in their resolve to convince at least 2/3rds of owners to follow their visions. Not an easy task, but Gary has likely done all he is capable of at this point.
The new tv deal is not that impressive. It's a little over double the old one (factoring in that the new deal absorbed that streaming rights deal signed in recent years). This is still a largely gate dependent league almost 30 years into Bettman's tenure.
There has been a lot of inconsistency with growing the game in various European countries under Bettman's watch. Several years ago, the NHL was playing a reasonable number of games in Europe...and then all of a sudden they stopped going....then they started playing games overseas again. If you want to expand your revenue sources and be less gate reliant, it might be a good idea to stick with the plan for more than a few years before giving up and then changing your mind yet again. If they stuck with their plan to play several games per season in Europe over the past decade, they probably would have garnered enough interest to warrant some international corporate sponsorships and some half-way decent tv deals with a few European countries. Missed opportunity on Gary's part.
I remember seeing a chart posted here that showed the average age of the NHL fan over the past 20 years. The average age of had increased by nearly 20 years! That is under Gary's watch.
What initiatives has Gary undertaken to diversify the player base, live audience and tv audience? Despite the fact that both Canada and US are largely dependent on immigration to grow the populations and economies of their countries - most couples have 0-2 kids - the players, ticket buyers and and tv viewers are predominantly white. This currently is and will be a big issue going forward as a larger percentage of the North American population consists of visible minorities. There are barely any more Black, Asian, Indian, Hispanic people in the league or watching the game than when Gary arrived in 1993. That's not maximizing growth of the game.
Power play opportunities per team per game the past 2 seasons are 2.90 - the lowest on record. This decline began happening shortly after the season-long lockout when the average PPO per game was 5.85 so it's basically half of that amount. Let's not forget this commissioner presided over the dead puck era - a period of cumbersome, low-scoring, low event hockey. Are you maximizing growth of the game when you limit power play opportunities and oversee a decade's worth of obstructionist hockey?
It would have been best for Gary to move on. He is pretty old and probably out of touch with what prospective fans would like to see in the future (more offense for one). A younger fresh face is needed with some innovative ideas to maximize growth both here and abroad while being strong enough in their resolve to convince at least 2/3rds of owners to follow their visions. Not an easy task, but Gary has likely done all he is capable of at this point.
Bounces R Way
Registered User
He's made the owners(and players btw) a shitload of money. Which in case you're unaware is the point of professional sports. Signed massive TV deals in both the US and Canada. Expanded the league into new markets with great results. The amount of young talent in the NHL is incredible, best it has ever been, which points to hockey strengthening at the minor levels.
Like I get people don't like him, definitely wouldn't call myself a Gary Bettman fan either the little weasel. But objectively he has done a great job. More just a little surprised he still wants the job.
Like I get people don't like him, definitely wouldn't call myself a Gary Bettman fan either the little weasel. But objectively he has done a great job. More just a little surprised he still wants the job.
shtorm2005
Registered User
Well Bettman is the avatar of the owners. I don't know what their average age is but at a glance it appears close to his. Bettman likely stays until he wants to retire as he has done what the owners have wanted and that is make them more money year after year.
league revenue hasn’t really grown that much though. for the sake of comparison, apple revenue has grown 900% in the past ten years, while the nhl has grown revenue 60% over that same time period. to keep it to the realm of sports, nba revenue grew about 120% over that time, 2x the rate of the nhl
Quid Pro Clowe
Registered User
People like Bettiman are losers. Live their life for their job and act like it transcends all parts of life.
The league will go on without him soon, but let him waste what little time he has left
Ot, but when will this site stop redirecting? It’s ridiculous.
Quinton Byfield
Registered User
- Jul 25, 2021
- 429
- 1,016
You should chill man. He's just a guy doing a job. Saying stuff about how he's a big loser that is wasting what little life he has left says more about you than him.
Mr. Fancy Pants
Registered User
> The owners hired Bettman [in 1993] with the mandate of selling the game in the U.S. market, ending labor unrest, completing expansion plans, and modernizing the views of the "old guard" within the ownership ranks (from wikipedia)
Selling the game in the US market
Grade D
In the late 80s and early 90s, NHL was somewhat comparable to basketball but then the NBA forged ahead and the NHL never caught up. He never achieved the big US TV deal that the owners wanted. All sports have seen revenues grow. A monkey could have been commissioner and revenue would have grown.
Ending labour unrest
Grade D
After 25 years and 3 lockouts, he was finally able to sign a CBA without a lockout. I suppose that's some kind of small victory at the end.
Completing expansion plans
Grade B
Expansion plans were already in motion so he just had to see them out. 6 more teams have been added after that without too many issues (except Atlanta)
Modernizing the views of the OG
Grade C-
NHL is still very much an old boys club although there's been some improvement in the past few years but some things still remain.
Overall I think Bettman has done a mediocre to poor job. I think you can slot a number of people into his position over the past 25+ years and we'd have basically the same results. He hasn't really done anything spectacular.
Selling the game in the US market
Grade D
In the late 80s and early 90s, NHL was somewhat comparable to basketball but then the NBA forged ahead and the NHL never caught up. He never achieved the big US TV deal that the owners wanted. All sports have seen revenues grow. A monkey could have been commissioner and revenue would have grown.
Ending labour unrest
Grade D
After 25 years and 3 lockouts, he was finally able to sign a CBA without a lockout. I suppose that's some kind of small victory at the end.
Completing expansion plans
Grade B
Expansion plans were already in motion so he just had to see them out. 6 more teams have been added after that without too many issues (except Atlanta)
Modernizing the views of the OG
Grade C-
NHL is still very much an old boys club although there's been some improvement in the past few years but some things still remain.
Overall I think Bettman has done a mediocre to poor job. I think you can slot a number of people into his position over the past 25+ years and we'd have basically the same results. He hasn't really done anything spectacular.
Quid Pro Clowe
Registered User
Chill, bro. Don’t be so opinionated.
And here’s my opinion of you…..
f***ing hypocrite.
Dr Beinfest
Registered User
I imagine Canadians view the man the way they view the WWE. The US made the show and filled it with our clowns, but Canada eats that circus shit up.
All jokes aside, ol’ gare bear isn’t all that bad. Plenty to criticize, but he’s been effective nonetheless. Imagine not bowing to ESPN in the early 2000s, being right about their bullshit, and then getting a the chance to take advantage of them when they’re weak. Tactical. Also, I appreciate his defense of small hockey market teams in large markets. Not just because I’m a fan of such a team, but the nuance is correct. Ten teams in Ontario and Quebec might be successful for attendance, but your league’s legitimacy as the best in the world is predicated on the idea of reaching the most people. The league is only the “national” hockey league if it adequately accounts for the entire nation (or in this case both nations). For growth to occur, you need seeds planted in those non-traditional markets.
Dr Beinfest
Registered User
His post was absurd enough to ignore, but I almost said the same thing
Quid Pro Clowe
Registered User
voyageur
Grizzled vet
- Jul 10, 2011
- 11,267
- 11,593
I think some of the owners of that era are the reason for the lack of growth, and the NHL had several anti-union owners, from Norris, Wirtz, Ballard etc. They also stifled growth, wanting bigger shares of the pot.
Campbell managed to expand the league to 18 teams in his time in office. Compared to 28 in the NFL, 24 in the MLB and 18 in the NBA at that time. In a league where revenue sharing wasn't even an idea, and the NHL was treading into some very unknown markets already, probably beyond its growth potential.
He's also the first to get the game broadcast in the U.S., and helped its growth, though it was funny to read that NHL owners cancelled their original contract with CBS because they didn't want the NHLPA getting a share of the TV revenues. Those old codgers were the worst I tell you.
Campbell is a legend who started in hockey, grew with the NHL postwar, became a villain in the Maurice Richard suspension, but always understood the game.
Bettman is a businessman who started in basketball, used his marketing expertise to grow the game, and probably thinks he is the best commissioner of all time, for the growth he has created in the U.S, hence staying on to eclipse the aura of Campbell. God help us if the NHL ever names a trophy after him, because he's not really good for hockey, as much as he is good for business.
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