The NHL formally approved expansion franchises for the
cities of Atlanta, Columbus, Minneapolis-St. Paul and
Nashville in a unanimous vote by the League's Board of
Governors. As part of the deal, the NHL and NHLPA agreed to
a four-year extension of the CBA until September, 2004. The
Board also approved the relocation of the Whalers from
Hartford to NC and the Board unanimously re-elected Flames
partner Harley Hotchkiss for a second two-year term as its
Chair (NHL). Each expansion franchise is expected to sell
12,000 season tickets and 75% of its luxury suites within
four months of their first season to fulfill terms of
admission (USA TODAY, 6/26). If not enough tickets are
sold, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said, "It may result in
the termination of the franchise" (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION,
6/26). Expansion will lead to realignment being phased in
over a period of years. Bettman said he will meet with
"concerned" NHL teams over the summer to hear their thoughts
on realignment. Bettman: "If someone can figure out
something better, maybe we will change" (TORONTO SUN, 6/26).
NOTES: In Atlanta, the Thrashers will "begin taking
season-ticket orders for a $100 refundable deposit on each
seat." The deposit will put people on a priority list for
the seating package they desire (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION,
6/26)....Bettman said Lamar Hunt "may well be" joining
Columbus' ownership group, despite countersuits between the
John McConnell-led group and Hunt. Bettman said that
McConnell will "remain as the controlling general partner,
meaning Hunt would be a minority investor." He added that
"progress was made" during a meeting in his office to
resolve the issue (John Futty, COLUMBUS DISPATCH, 6/26).
TAKE OFF: The sport of hockey is the cover story of USA
TODAY's Sports section with the header "USA Warming Up To
Hockey." USA TODAY's Bill Meyers: "Ice hockey is booming
and should become a truly national sport before the
millennium because it no longer is a regional or seasonal
game." NHL VP/Corporate Communications Bernadette Mansur:
"It's simply a matter of getting sticks in the hands of kids
-- one by one by one." Fox said its national NHL ratings
for men 18-34 increased 38% in this year's Stanley Cup
Finals, and ratings for female viewers 18-34 have increased
43% between the '94-'97 regular seasons. Fox Sports Exec VP
Ed Goren said that the network "soon might decide to expand"
its regular-season NHL broadcast schedule for '97-98.
Meyers adds that, "Despite this enthusiasm and expansion,
however, the cold truth is that America faces an ice-rink
shortage." But he notes that roller hockey participation
among youths 12-17 was up 46% last year (USA TODAY, 6/26).
