NHL Interactive Cyber Enterprises President Tom
Richardson is "leaving the league to join the executive
recruiting firm Spencer Stuart," according to Andy Bernstein
of the SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, who writes that Richardson's
departure comes at a time when the league is deciding the
future of its Internet regulations. In a "notable shift"
from what the league originally proposed to teams last
summer, "clubs will be able to block out two sponsorship
categories each year in order to avoid potential conflicts
between national advertisers and team sponsors." Bernstein:
"For instance, the Avalanche, who play in the Pepsi Center,
could designate soft drinks as a protected category and keep
ads from NHL-sponsor Coca-Cola Co. from appearing on
coloradoavalanche.com." With the new regulations taking
effect December 1, analysts say Richardson's departure
"comes as a blow." NHL COO Jon Litner said that Richardson's
departure "will not make it any more difficult to usher in
the changes," as the new regulations were authored by a
committee that included several NHL execs (SBJ, 10/30).
