[Joe Strummer]

Originally Posted by John F

That's garbage.

The marketing of the league to a broader base of fans has been a disaster. Don't blame the markets. You want to attack Phoenix? Go ahead and put a bullseye on ownership for using a bad arena to begin and then moving the team out into the desert in Glendale with no one living around the venue.

You can also take a swipe at the Sunbelt teams but you know what? NHL marketing stops at the border as well as at the onset of winter. Hoodies, long sleeves, overpriced jersies, skullies -- great marketing if you only have to market for one fourth of the year. Now how about short sleeve tees, tank tops, visors and other things that make the league not only year-round marketed but also more visible in the pleasant-weather Southeast?

To simply say that the NHL should retreat to the northeast and Canada is to embrace the failure of the NHL's marketing. There is nothing stopping the WHA from restarting besides the WHA brass itself. THAT can cater to Canada and the northeast towns that want another shot at hockey. Whining about the NHL having teams in new markets doesn't improve the marketing of the game (which is horrific for everywhere EXCEPT Canada).

I don't agree with you entirely. But speeking of the WHA BRING BACK THE REBEL LEAGUE!!!