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NHL All-Star Game
“A 68-Year Work In Progress” |
During his annual State of the League address on Friday, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said of NHL All-Star Weekend competing against the Super Bowl: "A lot of people are going to be home this weekend and watching television in anticipation of the Super Bowl, maybe that'll be a plus. If we get a good rating, maybe we'll do this every year. ... I can count on one hand the number of guests that we may have lost. As long as we're not going head-to-head on television. We were either very smart or very lucky, but we'd always planned to do this game on Saturday." Bettman, on the league's future: "The challenge for the future is making sure that we have an economic system that enables all of our clubs to be economically viable, stable and competitive where they're currently located" (AP, 2/1). Bettman, on the All-Star Game format: "This gives us a jumping-off point, an appetizer, if you will, to the Olympics." Bettman, on possibly canceling the All-Star game this season: "If we didn't take the All-Star break, each of the teams would be playing either two or three regular season games. So in terms of the burdens on the players and the wear and tear, this is actually easier on them than if we were playing straight through to the Olympic break." Bettman, on the idea of using the All-Star break to allow Olympic teams to practice: "I had some discussions over the summer with the [NHLPA] about whether or not they wanted to use this break to prep for the Olympics. But [the NHLPA] said the players had no interest in doing that because they really enjoy the All-Star Weekend and they look forward to the break by coming to the All-Star Game" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 2/2). Bettman, on hosting an All-Star Weekend in Europe: "We have lots of teams that want the opportunity to host the All-Star weekend. For the foreseeable future, I don't see anything other than conducting it in NHL cities" (AP, 2/1). Bettman, on the NHL's 1% attendance increase: "Attendance is very solid this year, which based on the soft economy and a whole lot of other issues, is a credit to our game and our fans. This has been a strong season for us" (THE DAILY). Bettman, on the NHL participating in future Winter Games: "When the ['02 Games are] over and we've had a chance to digest it, reflect on it, we'll make a decision" (DETROIT NEWS, 2/3).
SOLID WEEKEND: NHL VP/Events & Entertainment Frank Supovitz, on NHL All-Star Weekend: "It has actually turned out very well for us, because ... we've gotten so much more attention for playing our All-Star Game the day before the Super Bowl that now everybody knows when it is." AEG President Tim Leiweke said of the weekend: "The events of September 11 created some unique challenges for a lot of people. As far as the response from corporate sponsors and such, it hasn't taken anything away. Most people have been able to change their plans and attend both events if they desired" (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 2/2).
ALL-STAR REVIEWS: In L.A., Steve Dilbeck wrote the NHL All-Star Game "remains a 68-year work in progress." Dilbeck: "[The NHL] clearly [doesn't] know what to do with it. They've changed the format seven different times, and another might come next year. At least you hope." More Dilbeck: "The best thing about this All-Star Game was bringing back the ['80] U.S. gold-medal team, but the NHL even managed to botch that. ... They were introduced as a team in the pregame ceremony and skated on the ice to warm applause. Yet there were no individual introductions, no quick updates on what they're doing now" (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 2/3). In Toronto, William Houston wrote the All-Star game "has been pretty much lost in the hype of" the Super Bowl. Houston: "This game has received very little attention, particularly in the [U.S.]" (GLOBE & MAIL, 2/2). Meanwhile, in Toronto, Damien Cox wrote the inaugural YoungStars game "drew a fairly thin audience and tepid enthusiasm from the southern California hockey public, whatever that may be" (TORONTO STAR, 2/2). In L.A., J.A. Adande noted NHL FANtasy "exposed more kids to hockey" and the SuperSkills competition "showcased the talents of the league's best players." But Adande wrote, "Then came the game itself. If this were an audition, the NHL wouldn't get a callback. ... Forget about a showcase for the world's fastest game. At times it looked as if the players were going through the motions — as in slow-motion replays" (L.A. TIMES, 2/3).
OLYMPIC TALK: Red Wings coach Scotty Bowman, on NHL players participating in the Olympics: "I understand the business part of it, but I just don't like it. There better be something at the end of this rainbow for the league, like a new TV deal" (DETROIT NEWS, 2/3). In Chicago, Brian Hanley wrote the NHL "might revert to" an Eastern Conference-Western Conference All-Star Game "should the league's last Olympic foray be in Salt Lake City." Bettman said that the decision whether to continue suspending league play for the Olympics "will be made after" the Games (SUN-TIMES, 2/3). However, IIHF President Rene Fasel said, "Having the NHL players involved is the best thing for everybody and especially the fans" (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 2/3).
OTHER TOPICS DISCUSSED: In Vancouver, Tony Gallagher wrote of the upcoming CBA negotiations: "The truth is the owners are fine with the way the business is going. Of course they'd love to still lower player salaries to achieve `cost certainty' and improve their bottom lines, but nobody is really complaining. If they were, there would have been a huge controversy about whether Bettman should or should not have been kept on. Instead, he is quietly given a huge extension, clearly a reward for a job well done" (PROVINCE, 2/3). In Ottawa, Allen Panzeri noted the NHL BOG "approved the complicated transaction" of Senators Chair Rod Bryden selling the team in $150,000 parcels to investors. Bettman said of approving the deal: "The only issue is whether they sell out the units, and my understanding is that they're going pretty fast." However, Bettman said that the deal is "`not something of general application that other [NHL teams] could use as a blueprint" (OTTAWA CITIZEN, 2/2).
