How to Improve the NHL (part 2)

When we last left the subject of improving NHL hockey, we were talking about marketing. But how can the NHL market itself when it's not on a proper television network? The next solution addresses this. If the NHL insists on being in markets it doesn't belong in, it needs to be back on ESPN. The coverage on the network formerly known as the Outdoor Life Network (OLN), now known as Versus, isn't bad (it isn't great, but it isn't bad). The problem is that not all homes have Versus. Last time I heard, a local cable provider here, called Wide Open West, didn't have Versus. Now, that may have changed by now, but the fact still remains that not all homes have Versus. I know for a fact that people who have Direct TV do not have Versus. And don't even get me started on NBC. I don't have a major problem with their coverage of the NHL either, but the fact that they showed so few Olympic hockey games bothered me. I mean, I understand that figure skating is probably more popular to the average person (read: women) than hockey, but to not show a game that you have broadcasting rights to is despicable. The NHL needs to be back on ABC and ESPN. And I don't care if the games are on ESPN2, at least then you would see more than just a brief series of hockey highlights on SportsCenter before they moved on to a highlight of a basketball dunk you've seen a million times before.

And finally, the last solution also concerns how the game is broadcast. More specifically, the advertisements during the game. The same technology that brings you the first down line in football has brought digital advertising (also known as virtual advertising) during NHL games. If you're not in the Detroit market, and even if you are, you might not know what I'm talking about. As recently as a few weeks ago, during a Red Wings game, there were advertisements on the glass behind the goalie nets. I also vaguely remember hearing about this a couple of years ago too, but not for certain. I don't know how many other hockey markets have tried this, but I know this has been done in Major League Baseball. In any event, these ads need to remain and be league-wide. I know, I know, Ken said that he didn't like the fact that the NHL was becoming more corporate (and I don't). Some things though, you just can't fight. There was a time, I'm not old enough to remember it, that there were no advertisements along the boards. I'm sure people were up in arms over it then, just like some people are up in arms over the virtual advertising now. Nowadays, you don't even really notice the advertisements along the boards. In time, the same will be true for the virtual advertisements. And who knows, maybe there will be a little give back to the fans. Maybe there will be less commercial breaks, which will allow the hockey game to flow more smoothly. A man can dream, am I right?

Well, those are all the solutions I have for now. I know they are far from perfect, some of them aren't entirely realistic, and none of them are my ideas alone. I just want what I think is best for the game though because I truly think that it's one of the best games on Earth.

To recap (TL;DR version):

• Eliminate six teams from the league (less teams means more talent to go around)
• Get rid of commissioner Gary Bettman (he's bad for the game)
• Market more superstars (not just Sidney Crosby)
• Get the NHL back on ABC/ESPN (instead of one no one can find or one that doesn't seem to care)
• Keep digital/virtual advertisements (maybe this will lead to less commercials and more flow to the game)