Bringing back the WHA?

[TLK]

By Alan Crosby

PRAGUE (Reuters) - A group of Canadian businessmen have plans to bring back to life the World Hockey Association, a rival league to the established NHL, which died after seven years in 1979.



But whereas the first incarnation of the WHA, which delivered such stars as Wayne Gretzky (news) to professional ice hockey, was restricted to North America, the new league intends to expand into Europe by 2005.


Tim Keighan, executive director of the Canadian-based World Hockey Association Inc, told Reuters in a telephone interview the league will have 12 teams in its inaugural 2004-5 season before it expands a year later.


"We know that there are a lot of cities around North America that have excellent venues that can be used to facilitate WHA teams," he said.


When it started in 1972, the upstart WHA lured established NHL star Bobby Hull to its Winnipeg Jets franchise with a $1 million contract, a sum unheard of for hockey players in those days.


Although many of the former league's teams drowned in a sea of red ink, the WHA played seven complete seasons and developed some solid markets for pro hockey where none had existed previously.


But a reincarnated WHA is unlikely to try and make such a financial splash, especially given the precarious state of some NHL teams such as the Ottawa Senators (news), Pittsburgh Penguins (news) and Buffalo Sabres (news).


In fact, Keighan said, financial prudence will be one of the new league's strong points.


"Our economic model makes it very favorable for any place that has a 12,000-seat plus venue that can come on board and realistically be profitable from the first season," Keighan added.


Keighan did not say which cities the WHA would start up in, but its Web Site lists, among others, Hamilton, Quebec City, Nova Scotia, Saskatoon and Vancouver in Canada, as well as the likes of Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland and Hartford south of the border.


The original WHA used innovations such as colored pucks to attract fans.


But while some gimmicks came and went, the league became a proving ground for a lot of Europeans, paving the way to for the current flood of Swedes, Finns, Czechs and Russians that are now counted in the NHL's elite.


EUROPEAN EXPANSION


Keighan said the league decided after some investigation that logistically there was not a big difference between teams flying across North America or the Atlantic Ocean, giving way to the idea of adding European-based teams during expansion.


"A lot of the talent in the NHL comes from Europe and we said: 'Why can't we take it one step further. Why can't we have teams in Europe play in our regular season?"' he said.


"The reaction we've gotten from potential team owners and individuals we have talked to do this in Europe has been amazing, the excitement is there for us."


Keighan said he has received a positive response from the International Ice Hockey Federation on the issue.





The start-up of the WHA coincides with what is expected to be a tough time for the NHL. A potential player lockout looms when the current collective bargaining agreement expires on Sept. 15, 2004.

The emergence of a rival league could potentially be used by the NHL players association (NHLPA) in contract talks, or players could opt to join the league if the NHL closes its doors.

Keighan said he has had initial talks with the NHLPA, but not the NHL itself. He would not elaborate.

[Swaggs]

I think the NHL is currently the most "broken" of the big 4 sports.

A lot of the real superstars of the sport are in their mid- to late-30s. And, while there are a handful of young stars, Lemieux, Hull, Roy, Yzerman, et. al. are still head and shoulders above anyone who has entered the league in the last 5 or 6 years.

The defensive game, while still exciting to a seasoned fan, does not do much to excite potential fans.

It seems as if the "corrupt CEO" had damaged several of the leagues franchises--some into bankruptcy.

Player salaries are ridiculous (applies to any sport)--particularly considering how narrow the market has become, with really only one true financial giant (Rangers) and a handful of upper echelon financial teams (Blues, Redwings, Stars, etc.).

On a side rant, why do athletes make the argument that they deserve a high salary because, physically, they can only play for a short period of time? My grandfather was a coal miner--he didn't make 6 or 7 figures because of the physicality of his job. Neither do mechanics, construction workers, etc. I hate that argument.

Hopefully, if this happens, the WHA can attract some new talent and force the NHL into improving its product, and then merge with the NHL.

[lynchjm24]

Some of my earliest memories are heading to the Civic Center for some exciting New England Whaler hockey.

Someone call Derek Sanderson.

[sachmo71]

I think Danny Heatly might have a little something to say about your aging stars...and Gaborik, and Kovalachuk, and St. Louis, and...

[Schmidty]

Originally posted by sachmo71
I think Danny Heatly might have a little something to say about your aging stars...and Gaborik, and Kovalachuk, and St. Louis, and...

....and Zetterberg and Datsyuk.....