The NHL's possible expansion into Europe was examined
by Bruce Dowbiggin of the CALGARY HERALD and NHLPA Exec Dir
Bob Goodenow said, "I can see a European division by the end
of the first decade of the century." NHL Managing Dir for
Europe Brad Kwong: "As a worldwide spectacle, a
transatlantic Stanley Cup final makes sense. And as the
international media organizations merge and consolidate, the
possibility makes even more sense down the road." While the
NHL would like to focus on challenges facing it in the U.S.
and Canada, Dowbiggin wrote that Europe presents "virgin
territory for the NHL and exciting possibilities for fans
bored with the same old NHL." The prospect of collecting
expansion fees in European currencies will "no doubt be too
tempting to resist for NHL owners looking for revenue to pay
their high-priced stars in the next decade." Agent Rich
Winter: "There is so much money to be made from the
marketing and TV in Europe it isn't funny." But Dowbiggin
noted that the "problems" of European expansion "can be
summed up in one word: arenas." Europe's rinks seat "only"
5,000-6,000 in small cities and 8,000-10,000 in larger ones.
Europe is "not on" Gary Bettman's agenda at least until a
new CBA is reached after the current one expires in 2004.
But a new CBA "that guarantees labour peace and salary
stability can be used to lure European owners" and possibly
convince groups like the Deutsche Bank, Credit Suisse and
Shell to come "on board" (CALGARY HERALD, 6/22).
