Saturday, June 23, 2007
No news is bad news
Well, its been a week now and there is not much on the single A landscape happening. These teams don't realize that they are missing valuable advertising time.
Monday, June 18, 2007
No team announcements
I am very surprised the MAHL has not announced Jamestown, NY and Morristown, NJ. They really need a fourth team announced ASAP. From a PR stand point all I ever hear from people I speak with is "they only have three teams, thats not a league".
HockeyOps.com
I am in the advanced stages of launching a platform for real fantasy hockey. HockeyOps.com will allow fans to pay a yearly fee and become fan-managers of a real hockey team. Below is a general idea of the offer.
In the time being you can purchase items from our store at CafePress.com/hockeyinvestor. We need to sell 200 items to fund our first round of advertising.
The $500 Package
- A season pass to live video of team home games.
- Official promotional items. Such as a replica jersey and bobble head.
- A vote in important team decisions.
- Private team discussion area.
- Official staff reports.
In the time being you can purchase items from our store at CafePress.com/hockeyinvestor. We need to sell 200 items to fund our first round of advertising.
Name game winners.
IndianaIceMiners.com
WoosterWarriors.com
I have got to say, these are a bit corny. The marketing range of these names is the problem. Warrior is fairly bland, and there is no such thing as an "Ice Miner". Teams really shoot themselves in the foot when they don't get creative.
You have to think of things like slogans and advertising campaigns. What kind of slogan has Ice Miner in it? "Digging in for goals, Ice Miners?"
Add on top of that the same cookie cutter websites and you just don't come across that your in this for the long haul.
WoosterWarriors.com
I have got to say, these are a bit corny. The marketing range of these names is the problem. Warrior is fairly bland, and there is no such thing as an "Ice Miner". Teams really shoot themselves in the foot when they don't get creative.
You have to think of things like slogans and advertising campaigns. What kind of slogan has Ice Miner in it? "Digging in for goals, Ice Miners?"
Add on top of that the same cookie cutter websites and you just don't come across that your in this for the long haul.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Name the team.
Lets play a little game called name the team. Here is what I have found so far.
Owned by Andrew Haines
IndianaIceHawks.com
IndianaIceMiners.com
WoosterWarriors.com
(Surprised I didn't find any York candidates, does anyone know of another area they could call the team by?)
Owned by Theodore Haddad Jr, the man trying to build a sports complex in Danbury.
DanburyHatTricks.com
DanburyBruins.com
DanburyDevils.com
DanburyRangers.com (the most recent name registered)
And from the can't trace the ownership department
CTTrashers.com was register on the 12th of June, 2007
NewEnglandTrashers.com was then also registered by the same group.
TheTrashers.com was obtained by another party on the 11th of June, 2007
TrashersHockey.com got picked up anonymously on the 12th of April, 2007
I'll dig some more tomorrow.
Owned by Andrew Haines
IndianaIceHawks.com
IndianaIceMiners.com
WoosterWarriors.com
(Surprised I didn't find any York candidates, does anyone know of another area they could call the team by?)
Owned by Theodore Haddad Jr, the man trying to build a sports complex in Danbury.
DanburyHatTricks.com
DanburyBruins.com
DanburyDevils.com
DanburyRangers.com (the most recent name registered)
And from the can't trace the ownership department
CTTrashers.com was register on the 12th of June, 2007
NewEnglandTrashers.com was then also registered by the same group.
TheTrashers.com was obtained by another party on the 11th of June, 2007
TrashersHockey.com got picked up anonymously on the 12th of April, 2007
I'll dig some more tomorrow.
Monday, June 11, 2007
Baltimore, MD - The forbidden planet.
Word has it an ownership group approached the SPHL about putting a team in Baltimore, MD. The SPHL rejected them due to regional structure. Perhaps its time for a new brand of single A hockey to give it a try.
We do know that they are willing to work with smaller league teams, the ABA announced a team will be playing there next season.
The 1st Mariner Arena has never been successful at housing hockey, but it has also never been in a league that was designed to lower the costs for all involved. The arena is huge, it seats 11,000 for hockey, why not turn this burden into a blessing.
Instead of trying to get 1,000 people to give you $12, why not sell $6 tickets and try for 2,000 fans. With $150 season tickets it will be a lot easier to get fans in the doors.
Give the marketing to an agency and let them keep 60% of what they sell. Run some gimmicks and try to get some big games. A few thousand extra fans for a handful of games would be gravy on the budget.
If the Arena is giving the team a cut of concessions, another trick that they used to do in Fresno is to find large local employers (1000 plus employees) and let them buy tickets for $1-2. Try for a 3,000 person group. A lot of times the fans kids wont really know the sport so they will be all over the place, which always leads to concessions sales. If you get 10% of the fans to come back, thats 300 people.
It's defiantly an creative, but as I have talked about before, that needs to be the cornerstone of this level.
We do know that they are willing to work with smaller league teams, the ABA announced a team will be playing there next season.
The 1st Mariner Arena has never been successful at housing hockey, but it has also never been in a league that was designed to lower the costs for all involved. The arena is huge, it seats 11,000 for hockey, why not turn this burden into a blessing.
Instead of trying to get 1,000 people to give you $12, why not sell $6 tickets and try for 2,000 fans. With $150 season tickets it will be a lot easier to get fans in the doors.
Give the marketing to an agency and let them keep 60% of what they sell. Run some gimmicks and try to get some big games. A few thousand extra fans for a handful of games would be gravy on the budget.
If the Arena is giving the team a cut of concessions, another trick that they used to do in Fresno is to find large local employers (1000 plus employees) and let them buy tickets for $1-2. Try for a 3,000 person group. A lot of times the fans kids wont really know the sport so they will be all over the place, which always leads to concessions sales. If you get 10% of the fans to come back, thats 300 people.
It's defiantly an creative, but as I have talked about before, that needs to be the cornerstone of this level.
Quiet on the front
It's a little quite on the MAHL front. I am sort of surprised as I expected some kind of announcement today.
The last thing they need to do is to announce another team with no ownership. That kind of thing sets the league back two steps every time. I'd rather they come out and just say the league will be operating a few of the teams the first season. Put one decent Director of Business OP's in charge of all the teams, hire coaches for personnel decisions and announce the teams will not be allowed to make trades with each other. If the league is going to prop up some teams, mind as well cut costs and centralize a few things.
I personally think it would be smart for a single owner to own a few Far East markets (wow, there is a new use for the term Far East). Maybe Danbury, New Haven County (Hamden) and Utica.
Spend on marketing people and coaches for each team, but let the money be managed by one office. It would be better to hire top people in one 3 person business office, then hire 9 lower quality people.
Single A hockey is going to need to have a more creative approach to everything, why not the front office as well.
The last thing they need to do is to announce another team with no ownership. That kind of thing sets the league back two steps every time. I'd rather they come out and just say the league will be operating a few of the teams the first season. Put one decent Director of Business OP's in charge of all the teams, hire coaches for personnel decisions and announce the teams will not be allowed to make trades with each other. If the league is going to prop up some teams, mind as well cut costs and centralize a few things.
I personally think it would be smart for a single owner to own a few Far East markets (wow, there is a new use for the term Far East). Maybe Danbury, New Haven County (Hamden) and Utica.
Spend on marketing people and coaches for each team, but let the money be managed by one office. It would be better to hire top people in one 3 person business office, then hire 9 lower quality people.
Single A hockey is going to need to have a more creative approach to everything, why not the front office as well.
Saturday, June 9, 2007
New Haven County (Hamden)
There is a 1,000 seat city owned rink in Hamden, CT that may be a good market to bridge the gap for a coastal division. Let them play each other a bunch.
Perhaps work with Yale to play a game there once or twice a season. Have the Yale games included in the season ticket package, but have the rest $5. Try to sell the rink out.
I'm not a huge fan of putting a team in such a small rink, but I think the travel savings could be enough to make it worth it. The team will need a large season ticket holder base. As much as 80% of capacity in season tickets.
Perhaps work with Yale to play a game there once or twice a season. Have the Yale games included in the season ticket package, but have the rest $5. Try to sell the rink out.
I'm not a huge fan of putting a team in such a small rink, but I think the travel savings could be enough to make it worth it. The team will need a large season ticket holder base. As much as 80% of capacity in season tickets.
Friday, June 8, 2007
Free Sweet Name
Danbury Carnivore
Indiana Carnivore
Utica Carnivore
Mascot(s) a group called the Carnivores.
A Bear , a Tiger and a Lion
Indiana Carnivore
Utica Carnivore
Mascot(s) a group called the Carnivores.
A Bear , a Tiger and a Lion
League Meetings
Looks like the MAHL league meetings will be on the June 30th and July 1st. Curious to see what teams will be in attendance there in Wooster, OH.
I'm guessing this season will look something like.
Jamestown, NY
Danbury, CT
Mon Valley, PA
Wooster, OH
TBA, NJ
Outside of that there will probably be a team in Indiana, PA or some other small market just to get the numbers to 6. If the league is going to prop-up a team, I would do it in Utica, NY instead of Indiana, PA. There is so much more opportunity in Utica and it would be helpful to Danbury and the NJ team.
I'm guessing this season will look something like.
Jamestown, NY
Danbury, CT
Mon Valley, PA
Wooster, OH
TBA, NJ
Outside of that there will probably be a team in Indiana, PA or some other small market just to get the numbers to 6. If the league is going to prop-up a team, I would do it in Utica, NY instead of Indiana, PA. There is so much more opportunity in Utica and it would be helpful to Danbury and the NJ team.
Two new teams to be announced.
Word has it Jamestown, NY and a NJ market will be announced soon. This could bridge the gap for Danbury.
Jamestown is going to be a premier player in this league, look for the team to average 2,000 or so fans per game.
Jamestown is going to be a premier player in this league, look for the team to average 2,000 or so fans per game.
Thursday, June 7, 2007
Who are the players? Why is this needed?
Your probably wondering what magical pool of players will appear for this new brand of single A hockey. The truth is, this hockey is not going to be of spectacular quality. However, with a little effort by the teams, the whole experience should provide an entertaining product.
There is a pool of players who have that major league dream, but have no where to play once their college and junior eligibility expires. I'd imagine a lot of these players will play only a season or two in this league, luckily there is always going to be a new crop of 21-25 year olds who don't want to quit playing hockey.
As long as the teams can provide a fun experience for the fans, why not give these players an outlet?
The NHL needs this brand of hockey to exist. They need kids going to games and growing up thinking of hockey as a spectator sport. They need the $8 pro hockey ticket that minor league baseball enjoys.
There is a pool of players who have that major league dream, but have no where to play once their college and junior eligibility expires. I'd imagine a lot of these players will play only a season or two in this league, luckily there is always going to be a new crop of 21-25 year olds who don't want to quit playing hockey.
As long as the teams can provide a fun experience for the fans, why not give these players an outlet?
The NHL needs this brand of hockey to exist. They need kids going to games and growing up thinking of hockey as a spectator sport. They need the $8 pro hockey ticket that minor league baseball enjoys.
Stretching West, Geneva, IL
Geneva, IL
Fox Valley Ice Arena
Seats 2,500
Population: 400k in the county, its a suburb of Chicago.
I have always thought single A will need to become a regional affair. Four to six team divisions that mostly play against each other and meet only for the play-offs. Much like the ECHL, only the teams that can afford to travel would be asked to. Or, teams can offer to pay a percentage of the other teams travel costs to bring them over.
Perhaps throw together a Danville(IL) , Geneva (IL), St Charles (MO) and Madison (WI) division. Those last two rinks are a little bigger then needed, but potential to draw is better as well.
Fox Valley Ice Arena
Seats 2,500
Population: 400k in the county, its a suburb of Chicago.
I have always thought single A will need to become a regional affair. Four to six team divisions that mostly play against each other and meet only for the play-offs. Much like the ECHL, only the teams that can afford to travel would be asked to. Or, teams can offer to pay a percentage of the other teams travel costs to bring them over.
Perhaps throw together a Danville(IL) , Geneva (IL), St Charles (MO) and Madison (WI) division. Those last two rinks are a little bigger then needed, but potential to draw is better as well.
Flint, MI and other UHL Markets
With the possible demise of the UHL, I think it would be wise for the MAHL to go after a few of the markets.
Flint has a fan base and a sponsor base, perhaps they should join a league where they have the finances to compete every season. If they would switch to the single A brand, I think a case could be made for Port Huron to come to.
Fort Wayne, Kalamazoo and Muskegon can jump to the CHL to join Youngstown(OH). Bloomington can go USHL like the ownership always wanted to.
Flint has a fan base and a sponsor base, perhaps they should join a league where they have the finances to compete every season. If they would switch to the single A brand, I think a case could be made for Port Huron to come to.
Fort Wayne, Kalamazoo and Muskegon can jump to the CHL to join Youngstown(OH). Bloomington can go USHL like the ownership always wanted to.
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