The World Hockey Association

[Carolina Red]

Believe it or don't, it's back. Apparently Bobby Hull has created a new version of the 1970s professional hockey league, and just in time for what could be an NHL lockout. The league website (worldhockeyassociation.net) says that the league will begin play in October, and there are six teams in it as of now - Miami, Quebec City, Detroit, Dallas, Toronto and Halifax - and they have some more cities they hope to expand to on the website.

But what concerns me is that while he looks like he wants to make a serious run at a rival league, you should remember - even in its low times the NHL can't be beat. I mean, how many hockey leagues competed with it? Sure, they have money, but the NHL attracts more players and fans because of size. Besides, it already has two minor leagues with teams in relatively good-sized markets: the American Hockey League and East Coast Hockey League. And those teams are affiliated with NHL teams!

Hockey and baseball are the only two sports I know of where the minor leagues have just as much success.

Don't forget that usually these independent leagues can't keep afloat because of a lack of financial support. The Continental Basketball Assocation has dwindled in size over the years, and now there's only eight teams in very small markets (Gary, Boise, Sioux Falls, etc.), and the World Basketball Association is in its first year and there's already a team who has suspended operations! And let's not forget the XFL....

So, does anyone hear think that the new WHA has a chance, or is it just going to flop like these other small leagues?

[Andy Mancini]

I see what your saying, but Bobby Hull and the WHA has one thing going for it that the others did not: a potential NHL lockout. If (or when, as the case may be) there is no NHL next season, this leauge has it made, as it will be the only game (of hockey) in town.

[Carolina Red]

You've got a good point, the WHA could rule if the NHL is in a lockout. But if it is a relatively short one (which i think it will be), then don't count on long-term success for the WHA. I think that the lockout will not be for long, and there will be a 2004-05 season - probably 60 games instead of the usual 82 per team - but that's just my view. I think both sides would be working on it now just to get all of the negative press off its back.

[TimTwoFace]

Within a decade, I predict that the WHA will fold, just like its earlier incarnation did. Now, I predict that the product on the ice will be pretty entertaining - hell, junior hockey and the minors (AHL and ECHL) is still pretty entertaining - but once the NHL resumes, the WHA won't be able to compete with the talent level.

The big question is how long the NHL lock-out will last, and how financially stable the teams in the US will be...and if the fans Stateside don't return, a lot of those teams will either move or fold, salaries will go down, and the players on the folding teams will need to play somewhere. The WHA could be their second chance.

If nothing else, it could prove to the NHL that they should expand into different cities, or move current teams into existing ones. Once the WHA folded in 1979 or 1980 (I forget which), the NHL absorbed four of those teams into their own league: the Edmonton Oilers, Winnipeg Jets, Quebec Nordiques, and Hartford Whalers. If the WHA takes off again in these new cities, current NHL teams in weak markets may move there. Who knows?

The REAL question is, what's the championship trophy going to be called and what will it look like? Seriously, if it doesn't look cool, the championship is kinda anti-climactic. That's why the Stanley Cup is the coolest trophy in pro sports, and should be the model for all other leagues to follow.

-Tim

[stwasm]

With the NHL threatening itself with suicide, I welcome the WHA as an alternative. Plus, with Bobby Hull in charged, having played in the last WHA, he probably learned quite a bit about what worked and what didn't work. I anticipate that he'll have that in mind once (if) the NHL resumes. And, with all the rumors floating around about contraction (Washington, in particular!), that may be an opportunity for those cities that could lose hockey teams to find refuge in the league. Will it work? Who knows? But, if the NHL does have its lockout, it's nice to know I have some place to go. I'd be curious, though, as to whom might televise their games. Fox SportWorld?

[Carolina Red]

Well, I don't think contraction or relocation is going to happen anyway. If a team was contracted, then the NHL would lose jobs in multiple departments and the city of the contracted team would lose a big economic factor and local jobs, not to mention tourist dollars (that would happen in the case of relocation too). Also, Gary Bettman is very committed to the teams and cities of the NHL. He has supported branching out throughout the US and Canada, and he has a strong level of faith in small markets - he has Raleigh as a high-priority team to host an All-Star game in the future. 2007 or 2008 is looking like the best opportunity, but that isn't too far off.

Like I said, the NHL has had so much negative publicity this past season, the last thing they would want to do is contract or relocate teams; it would only expose the weaknesses of the league in a greater magnitude. But if the WHA does become successful, then it could all be up in the air, especially if that league proves to be more successful than the NHL. Could you imagine the Tampa Bay Lightning or Vancouver Canucks in the WHA?

[stwasm]

Like I said, the NHL has had so much negative publicity this past season, the last thing they would want to do is contract or relocate teams; it would only expose the weaknesses of the league in a greater magnitude. But if the WHA does become successful, then it could all be up in the air, especially if that league proves to be more successful than the NHL. Could you imagine the Tampa Bay Lightning or Vancouver Canucks in the WHA?
Red, you make some excellent points. But, the last thing the league would want to do is have an extended lockout, and all signs point to that happening. Judging from your user name, I'm assuming your a Canes' fan. I'm a Caps fan and I'm hearing the Southeast Division (commonly referred to as the Southleast Division) would be the most likely candidate for contraction. Only time will tell, but, if there's a lockout, I fear that the league will have a much different form when (if?) it returns.

[TimTwoFace]

The one thing I'm worried about regarding the WHA is how a number of these games are going to be played in converted football stadiums. I know that the team in Toronto is doing that - they'll be playing in the SkyDome, because the Maple Leaf management won't let them play at the ACC, and the AHL affiliate doesn't want them around, either. The only cities I know of that won't be doing this thus far are cities like Quebec City and Halifax, which already have decent (but smaller) arenas, and no other pro-sports in town.

I know these games have happened outdoors before - that big university game in Minnesota a few years back, the Heritage Classic with Edmonton and Montreal last year...but those were one-time things in the middle of the winter, and way far north. How can they pull that off in, say, Miami?

Vancouver was in line to get a WHA team too, but ultimately that was turned down, because the rent at GM Place was way too high (where the Canucks play) and the Vancouver Giants (WHL junior hockey) doesn't want them even in the city.

[stwasm]

The one thing I'm worried about regarding the WHA is how a number of these games are going to be played in converted football stadiums. I know that the team in Toronto is doing that - they'll be playing in the SkyDome, because the Maple Leaf management won't let them play at the ACC, and the AHL affiliate doesn't want them around, either. The only cities I know of that won't be doing this thus far are cities like Quebec City and Halifax, which already have decent (but smaller) arenas, and no other pro-sports in town.

I know these games have happened outdoors before - that big university game in Minnesota a few years back, the Heritage Classic with Edmonton and Montreal last year...but those were one-time things in the middle of the winter, and way far north. How can they pull that off in, say, Miami?

Vancouver was in line to get a WHA team too, but ultimately that was turned down, because the rent at GM Place was way too high (where the Canucks play) and the Vancouver Giants (WHL junior hockey) doesn't want them even in the city.
Wow! I didn't know that was taking place! Seems like a lot of people are trying to keep the WHA at bay in favor of the NHL. I definitely don't like the idea of the games being played in football stadiums. But, I guess you gotta do what you gotta do. My fear is that, once the initial curiousity wears off, you'll have games being played in these cavernous facilities with a lot of empty seats.

By the way.... any idea on the other citiess that are supposed to get teams?