Whitlock: NHL makes more sense than NBA

[Bearcat]

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NHL fits us better than the NBA


JASON WHITLOCK



Saturday morning when I walked through the door at the Ice Sports Arena of Kansas City, Paul McGannon stood 15 feet away, head cocked, looking up at a TV screen as the NHL began its resurrection.
The NHL entry draft, the league’s first official act since inking a new collective-bargaining agreement, had been under way for maybe 30 minutes. Sidney Crosby, the teenager who commissioner Gary Bettman hopes makes the NHL relevant again, had already been plucked by the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Ice Sports Arena was hosting a “watch party.” There were hot dogs, potato chips, ice cream, free ice time and a three-piece rockabilly band to entice potential partygoers. Ninety minutes into the draft, there were between 40 and 50 people milling around. Most cared little about the draft. They were there to watch their kids skate.
McGannon, of course, was there because his life is devoted to getting an NHL team in Kansas City.

“It’s a pure startup with nothing but blue skies ahead,” said McGannon, comparing the new NHL to an Internet venture.

You know what? I agree with McGannon.

When looking for a full-time tenant at the Sprint Center, we should focus our attention on the NHL over the NBA. Professional hockey in Kansas City makes far more sense than professional basketball.
I can do better than that. The new NHL makes more sense in Kansas City than does major-league baseball.

Everyone is beating up on the NHL right now. The sport was devastated by its seasonlong work stoppage. It doesn’t have a TV contract. It’s implemented a bunch of new rules designed to make the game more exciting. Jeremy Roenick, one of the league’s best players, told hockey fans to kiss his rear. I went to the league’s official Web site, NHL.com, and it looked second-class, like something a second-rate sports-talk radio station would put together.

You could argue that MLS is in better shape than the NHL.
You’d be wrong, but you could make the argument.

Hockey is going to rebound. It’s a great game, and now the NHL has the best economic system in professional sports. The NHL has a firm salary cap ($39 million), revenue sharing that will support nontraditional, small-market hockey cities and an economic structure that will spread the game’s best players around the league.

You won’t need a free-spending, billionaire owner to compete in the NHL. A penny-pincher like David Glass would have a chance to win in the NHL.

OK, that might be an exaggeration. Glass would put his son in charge of the operation, and KC’s hockey franchise would flip-flop between a youth movement and veteran club every two to three months.

I digress. The new NHL for the foreseeable future, particularly while the NHL tries to win back fans, will be very fan and family friendly. You won’t need a high-six-figures income to take your family to NHL games on a regular basis. Fans won’t get shaken down at the ticket booth just so owners can pay their superstars $15 million a year.

“Most teams have season-ticket packages around $400 or $500,” said McGannon, whose group, NHL 21, brings an NHL exhibition game to town once a year. “The Florida Panthers have seats as cheap as $7.”
Hey, look, I love the NBA. It would be easy for me to argue that Kansas City should do everything within its power to land an NBA franchise. I’m a member of the media and get a free seat down close. But I’m not sure if the average Kansas City sports fan will shell out $50 or $60 to see the KC Magic play 41 home basketball games. Now, $20 or $25 to see the KC Penguins and Sidney Crosby is very doable.

The Penguins are a prime candidate for relocation. Mario Lemieux’s franchise is in need of a new arena. The city of Pittsburgh has yet to step up. The Penguins’ lease runs out in 2007.

The other thing I like is that we could get in on the ground floor of the new NHL.

The sport is basically starting over. The new rules will significantly change the style of play. We could learn the game and its new stars together.

“They’re going to open up the ice and make it more fast-paced,” said Bob O’Leary, a diehard hockey fan who attended Saturday’s draft party. “It’ll be a lot better. And there’ll definitely be more highlights on ESPN.”
Take it from a lifelong basketball junkie, we’ll learn to love hockey.

[Pasta Little Brioni]

KC is probably like 5th on the list to get a team, dad bod

[jspchief]

NBA needs contraction. 5-10 fewer teams would greatly improve the game.

I don't know what the talent level is the NHL, but the same is probably true. Fewer teams makes a better product.

[Pasta Little Brioni]

Originally Posted by jspchief

NBA needs contraction. 5-10 fewer teams would greatly improve the game.

I don't know what the talent level is the NHL, but the same is probably true. Fewer teams makes a better product.

Half the league makes the playoffs, the other half is ABSOLUTE garbage...so you are probably right.

[CaliforniaChief]

Oh I would place KC's odds of actually landing an NHL team at <1%, but it would be awesome.

[New World Order]

I'm too scared to go downtown.

[Titty Meat]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

We gotta keep the name islanders. It's a sports tradition keeping dumb mascots having nothing to Do with your area, Utah Jazz!

Well need to dump fat sly james and get a mayor who's interested in helpingetting drive interest in a new franchise.

[Strongside]

Originally Posted by New World Order

I'm too scared to go downtown.

This sentiment is so outlandish to me. I lived down there for 5 years (just moved recently). Never had a break in, never robbed, never had my car stolen, never had a run-in with anyone or was I ever assaulted. I heard gunshots ONCE. Is there crime down there sometimes? Sure, but the vast majority of assault charges issued downtown are dipshit Johnson County kids getting into fights at the PBR bar.

The stigma that KC's downtown is unsafe is a remnant from days past. It's one of the safest, if not the safest, downtown areas I've lived in or visited. Go drive through downtown at about 9PM on any night of the week. You'll see young women walking their dogs alone, making ChiefsPlanet member New World Order look like a huge pussy.

[CaliforniaChief]

Having a major tenant changes the whole dynamic of a downtown. When Staples Center was built with the teams moving in there, everything around there changed. Yeah, there's still an element of crap around, but I'm perfectly fine walking around the area at night with my kids.

That's downtown Los Angeles. You're talking about Kansas City???

[carcosa]

Originally Posted by New World Order

I'm too scared to go downtown.

lol

[Valiant]

KC will only get mentioned so a team gets a new arena elsewhere.

[Predarat]

It would be cool if KC could get an NHL team. If not I am hearing rumors the STL is going to move their AHL (AAA) team to the Sprint Center. They say they are going to try to keep the Mavericks too, not sure if that will work out. Might hamper both teams.

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by CaliforniaChief

Oh I would place KC's odds of actually landing an NHL team at <1%, but it would be awesome.

The Sprint Center is more often used by other teams as a threat to get their current host cities to give them the deal they're demanding. Perhaps one day a city will call their bluff. If that happens, we (KC) might have a chance.