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June 22, 2006 During the on-ice euphoria following the Carolina Hurricanes’ Stanley Cup-clinching victory Monday night, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman told the crowd, “Peter Karmanos had a dream that hockey would work in Raleigh.” That’s called a “spin” move. In any sport. Fact is, Karmanos, the ’Canes owner, had only one dream in mind when he broke hearts of Hartford and made the Whalers the Hurricanes in 1997: making money. To make money, common sports “wisdom” holds, owners need new arenas with club seats, four-star restaurants and dozens of luxury boxes. He got that in Raleigh. He didn’t in Connecticut. Karmanos eschewed a loyal fan base in Hartford for the blind generosity of Tobacco Road politicians anxious to inject pro sports into the local economy. The only one dreaming here is Bettman, that is if he truly believes the club’s southward migration and their eventual on-ice success are good for the game. Carolina players and coaches deserve kudos for bringing the Cup to the Triangle region. It is arguably the toughest trophy to win in pro sports, and they won it fair and square. But, as the old saying goes, if a tree falls in the forest and there is no one there to hear it… Since moving to Raleigh (the club called nearby Greensboro home for several years until the aforementioned arena was built), the Hurricanes’ fans have been fickle at best. True, the team sells out its playoff games, but regular season contests are often sparsely attended. In comparison, the Stanley Cup runner-up Edmonton Oilers have already sold out all of their home games for NEXT season. And, even with their cheesy cheerleaders, ’Canes’ fans couldn’t match the atmosphere created by their opponent’s supporters. I daresay Rangers’ fans were louder at the conclusion of game four of their team’s FIRST ROUND series--and their team had just been swept. Worse yet, the Hurricanes historically haven’t even been able capitalize on their on-ice success. The team last made the Cup Finals in 2002, and they showed significant spunk in losing to powerhouse Detroit. The next season, attendance in Raleigh remained lackluster. I won’t even mention the TV ratings, except to ask, What ratings? The only reason hockey continues to survive south of the Mason-Dixon Line is because Bettman and the sport’s owners force-fed the players a restrictive economic system. True, this system benefits small-market teams like Edmonton as well, but I didn’t see Hurricanes’ captain Rod Brind’Amour hugging the commissioner in appreciation when the latter handed him the Cup. I’m willing to wager that, Karmanos’ dreams (whatever they are) aside, hockey will never capture the imagination of sports enthusiasts in the Raleigh-Durham area. If past is prologue to the future, in fact, one bad season should send attendance totals spiraling downward again. I’m also willing to bet that that Karmanos, or the team’s next owner (whoever that is), will happily move the club again should a better deal cross his desk. The Hurricanes made history Monday. Don’t be surprised if they become history in a few years. ------------ About the author:Brian P. Dunleavy is a New York-based freelance sportswriter. He can be reached at: bpdunleavy@yahoo.com Comment on this article here! ------------ All articles are EXCLUSIVE to Useless-Knowledge.com. Please link to this article rather than copying and pasting it onto your site (which would be unauthorized and illegal). |
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