NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman "confirmed" yesterday
that the league "has scrapped plans" to open the '99-2000
regular season in London and Manchester, England, with two
Senators-Kings games, according to Bruce Garrioch of the
OTTAWA SUN. Bettman said that the league was "concerned
with the timing and money issue," since the NHL "is required
to reimburse teams" for games held overseas, and it could be
"huge dollars" with the Kings opening the Staples Center
next season. However, the NHL "will consider trying to go
at the start of the 2000-2001 season" (OTTAWA SUN, 1/25).
MARKETING MAYHEM: In Miami, David Neal wrote on the
league's marketing efforts under the header, "NHL Marketing
Garners Criticism." NHL VP/Communications Bernadette
Mansur: "I think the league can do an awful lot, but its not
as easy as it seems to be" (MIAMI HERALD, 1/24). In Tampa,
Jim Smith called the NHL's marketing strategy "misguided,"
as Bettman "seems comfortable with a team-oriented marketing
strategy that does not help" TV ratings or increase market-
share. Smith: "Emphasizing stars helped the NBA, but
Bettman has his head in the sand" (TAMPA TRIBUNE, 1/24).
STATE OF THE GAME: Bettman: "We're having a terrific
season. Our ratings are strong ... Our attendance is
strong, if not stronger than ever" (AP, 1/24). The ORANGE
COUNTRY REGISTER featured a three-part segment on the
economics of the game. Canucks GM Brian Burke: "People say
the apocalypse is coming. I think we are there now. It's
not a healthy industry." Mighty Ducks President & GM Pierre
Gauthier: "It's a suicidal business for owners, and if we're
losing significant money, what do you think is happening to
other teams that don't have our marketing resources?" In a
sidebar, Cammy Clark profiled NHLPA Exec Dir Bob Goodenow
and called him the players' "financial savior." Clark: "You
won't have too much argument from management regarding
Goodenow's clout with his constituency of about 700 players"
(ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 1/24). Also in Orange County,
Barbara Kingsley examined the financial state of the Mighty
Ducks, who will make "approximately" $51.5M against expenses
"in excess" of $55M in '98 (O.C. REGISTER, 1/24).
NHL TO WAIT AND IOC: NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman
"stopped short of suggesting the league is re-evaluating its
participation" in the 2002 Games because of the current
controversy surrounding the Games. Bettman: "From our
standpoint, we're not ready to say we're prepared to go
based on our issues. So we're not prepared to be concerned
about other issues." Bettman also "backed off" the late
February deadline for a decision (TORONTO STAR, 1/24).
Panthers President Bill Torrey: "The whole Olympic thing has
taken on another color with recent developments (of
corruption within the IOC). Do we want to get involved
right now?" (Jeff Schultz, ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 1/23). With
Bettman's Olympic decision delayed, USA Hockey officials are
"in limbo." USA Hockey Dir of PR Darryl Seibel: "We need an
appropriate amount of time to develop a plan and begin to
execute it for Salt Lake City" (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 1/24)
ALL-STAR NOTES: NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman
announced that the NHL's Hockey Fights Cancer campaign has
raised $900,000 in two months (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/24)....ESPN's
Steve Levy noted "grumblings" about the format of the NHL
All-Star Game, as 75% of all NHLers come from North America,
therefore "a number of them are being left out from this
weekend." ESPN's Barry Melrose: "No system is going to be
perfect. There are some great North American players not
here. ... But what we have now is competition"
("SportsCenter," 1/24). In Pittsburgh, Dave Molinari writes
that "most players believe" the int'l format "adds a degree
of intensity to the proceedings" (POST-GAZETTE, 1/25).
