Should the NHL move toward the European hockey attitude toward advertising?

Question

http://www.eurohockey.net/playerofthemonth/200603_reto_von_arx.jpg --an example

Basically, turning the players, ice surface, and anything else people look at into giant billboards. It's no doubt the NHL and its owners are in financial trouble, and it's also no doubt that advertising in an incredibly lucrative industry, especially in the United States, where most of the struggling NHL teams reside.

So, do you think the NHL should begin to advertise in more places, and move more toward the way European leagues use advertising?

Answer 1

I think the European clubs are more dependent on that revenue stream than NHL teams simply because they can't charge as much for tickets. For both social and tax reasons, they don't have large corporations willing to pay the big bucks for luxury boxes in Europe. Therefore I don't think the NHL will go there, because it's just not how they make money.

Answer 2

Here is the problem with that theory. Lets say Microsoft decides to buy sweater space....will they give the Coyotes anywhere near what they would give to the Rangers, Flyers or Maple leafs? So the haves sudden have even more disposable income while the struggling teams now generate even less revenue by comparison to the financially strong teams creating a bigger gap in who can afford to do what. The problem with revenue gaps is the more the strong markets can make the bigger the issues for the smaller market teams even though they are in theory making more money. What is the primary argument leading into the CBA talks....the owners want a bigger % of the revenue because they are crying poverty...yet we all hear how much more revenue they are making now than ever before. More money isnt always a good thing, spending control just like you and I must do if we want a balanced checkbook at the end of the day is the only way struggling NHL teams can survive. Look no further than this years free agent frenzy....Craig Leopold cries constantly about the money issues for small markets like his and he just signed 2 guys to 26 years worth of deals for $196 million......and we need to keep in mind this is a "small market" team "unable to compete" with the wealthy teams.

Answer 3

I think that the adds on the boards are a great thing for advertisements, and the same with the four adds in the neutral zone. I would be in favor of extra stuff to an extent because the players would look ridiculous if they didn't. That means limiting extra adds to...



the ice either inside or outside the tapezoid behind the net.

a small one in the chest area (similar to the C captain patch or #)

a small one on the helmets

Answer 4

I do not want to see advertising on the sweaters. They can ad up the helmets, the pants, or the socks all they want, but hockey sweaters are almost like cultural emblems in Canada (and parts of the U.S.) and any advertising beyond Reebok (or any future manufacturers) putting a small logo on them would be a desecration.



That said, I think even advertising on the pants or helmet would be really gaudy and jarring to North American fans, but I wouldn't fault the league for trying to make money if they left the sweaters alone.

Answer 5

I can see it now. The Red Wings will have a Little Caesar's Pizza with a wing on it. Toronto will have the Air Canada Maple Leaf on the Front. The hub on the Bruins uniform will be a Boston Pizza. The Rangers will carry Yankees logos all over their sweaters. Montreal will be Molson's Canadiens and Phoenix will carry ads for the Goldwater Institute and Money Mart their two biggest contributors.

Answer 6

Native Americans saw the land as something everyone had the right to use. No one could "own" it. Europeans felt differently in that it was there to be owned by individuals and that it was an object of material gain. While most would assume religion to be the base problem and cause of conflict between the two cultures, it was actually these differences that brought about so much chaos.

Answer 7

So you are telling Original 6 clubs and all their loyal fans to accept random stupid ads to be plastered all over their sweaters?



Yea like the Habs will hop on board for that one, the Leafs will jump to put Air Canada logos all over the blue and white, the Red Wings will start putting McDonald's logos beside the spoked wheel I assume?



Listen to what you`re saying and give your head a shake, you should be ashamed of even promoting something like that.

Answer 8

no



advertising already makes a boatload of money, but the teams that are struggling are the teams that wouldnt see a huge benefit from it. the coyotes, hurricanes, blue jackets, etc. wouldnt make much more money since their ad space is worth less since fewer people watch them. the teams that would see a big benefit are the teams that are already making money



overall, we are comprosing the leagues integrity and image to hopefully make a few extra bucks for teams that already make enough money. pass

Answer 9

Nope. I would stop watching hockey if they did this. Its mostly the coyotes and islanders who are struggling. The devils and stars are also struggling, but not nearly as bad as the coyotes and islanders. Did you hear about the revenue sharing proposal?

Answer 10

NO! he looks like a race car. Then, when interviewed, players will have to thank all the sponsors on the unis. Ridiculous.

Answer 11

The Phoenix Coyotes should. They need all the tricks they can get with advertising.

Answer 12

I would be ok with it only if ticket prices would come down 30% or more

Answer 13

That yellow uniform is hideous, the ads give it some color.