12/18/24
March 12, 2002
The National Hockey League Fans' Association: has been the best grassroots effort thus far to create a league-recognized committee for representing the viewpoints of NHL fans. They've come close to their membership goals, but as of this Saturday, they could be closing up shop. Is it worth saving?
Also, where do you get the idea they're close to shutting down?
posted by rcade at 03:27 PM on March 12, 2002
Also, where do you get the idea they're close to shutting down? I'm on the mailing list. I don't think they've made the announcement official on the site, but it's apparent if you check the message boards. Sorry, should have had a link up there somewhere. It's true that the founders are Ottawa fans, but it's a very open committee with lots of opportunities for others to give their point of view. Unfortunately the members are silent and apathetic. The founders are doing their best but there's only so much two guys can do, I guess.
posted by Succa at 04:13 PM on March 12, 2002
I have been a NHL Center Ice-subscribing fan for two years now, and I have never heard of 'em.
posted by adampsyche at 05:16 PM on March 12, 2002
Never heard of them before today either. I didn't have the time at work to do much more than briefly check out the message boards after registering, but I'm worried about all of the talk about member's fees. What does a paying member get that others don't? And isn't the point of having an organization like this to make the game more amenable to fans? If so, my first priority is to lower ticket prices. I'm not paying $50 (suggested price of "paid" membership from one of the messages) when I can just as easily register my disgust directly with the B's front office via the internet. I can get a beer and a seat in the nosebleeds for that much. It's a decent idea, but they need a lot of restructuring before it's a workable concept.
posted by Samsonov14 at 08:28 PM on March 12, 2002
I don't think that group has done a good job of representing the views of all NHL fans. Look at how many of their news releases are about bashing Alexei Yashin for holding out from Ottawa. The NHLFA founders are Ottawa fans, and I always thought lending the group's name to that cause is pretty cheesy. The group also has been strongly opposed to recent franchise moves from Canada to the U.S. While that's understandable since they were formed in Canada and a lot of people share that view, a group meant to include all NHL fans shouldn't automatically exclude fans from the new U.S. teams.