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MVPs Number
   251   
Members Number
29,755
The 1998 Fan Report Results
November 16, 1998
Following are the results from the first ever NHLFA Fan Report poll.
When we launched the NHLFA back in April, our first commitment was do a baseline poll of you, the members, to get your views and opinions on a variety of subjects related to NHL hockey. Our purpose was to demonstrate to the NHL and its players that the fans are knowledgeable about the game and have real concerns about the future direction of hockey.
We still must increase our membership significantly if we are to have a strong voice when speaking to the NHL and the NHLPA. And we are still searching out sponsors because, as with any organization, there are costs incurred which we cannot continue to fund ourselves. Anyway, hope you enjoy reading through the results - some of them you'll probably have anticipated, others may surprise you.
Membership - November 8, 1998 2185
Members from the USA 867 (40%)
Members from Canada 1230 (56%)
Members from other countries 88 (4%)
Members invited to complete poll: 2004
Members who completed poll: 1051 (52%)
Disqualified poll results: 138
Acceptable poll results: 913
The Game's the Thing
1. How many "live" NHL games have you attended in the last 12 months?
none 209 22%
1-5 341 37
6-11 123 13
12-15 67 7
16-24 42 4
25 or more 131 14
2. If you have not attended games in the last year, why not?
I live too far away 111 12%
it is too expensive 133 15
tickets not available 25 3
not worth the money 24 3
other 24 3
not applicable 596 65
3. How many NHL games have you watched on TV in the last 12 months?
none 2 0%
1-10 38 4
11-20 77 8
21-39 185 20
40-49 96 11
more than 50 515 56
4. What is your greatest concern related to NHL hockey today?
quality of the game 173 19%
quality of the players 48 5
escalating salaries 265 29
cost of attending games 241 26
more business than sport 145 16
none of the above 22 2
like the game as it is 19 2
5. Is the length of time it takes to play an NHL game too long?
yes 78 9%
no 824 90
don't know 11 1
6. I think the number of teams (16) that qualify for the playoffs is
too high 222 24%
too low 12 1
just right 679 74
7. Should the NHL season start in early September (as opposed to October) thus ensuring the season finishes a month earlier?
yes 447 49%
no 384 42
don't know 82 9
8. Do you think there are too many teams (27, soon to be 30) in the NHL?
yes 586 64%
no 294 32
don't know 33 4
9. Do you think that expansion is lowering the quality of NHL hockey?
yes 693 76%
no 185 20
don't know 35 4
10. If you answered yes to the previous question, has this perceived reduction in quality affected your interest in the NHL?
yes 245 27%
no 399 44
don't know 44 5
not applicable 225 25
11. Should the NHL go to smaller rosters (currently 24) and use the savings to lower ticket prices?
yes 275 30%
no 527 58
don't know 111 12
12. Would you like to see NHL teams based outside North America?
yes 151 17%
no 709 78
don't know 53 6
13. Would you like to see more teams based in Canada?
yes 737 81%
no 96 11
don't know 80 9
14. Would you like to see more teams based in the U.S.?
yes 92 10%
no 705 77
don't know 116 13
15. Would you like to see more penalty shots in the NHL?
yes 496 54%
no 332 36
don't know 85 9
16. Should a penalty shot be awarded to the opposing team if a goaltender (or one of his teammates), in the opinion of the referee, intentionally knocks the net off the moorings?
yes 630 69%
no 243 27
don't know 40 4
17. Should there be a shoot out when a game ends in a tie during the regular season? (This would not apply in the playoffs.)
yes 306 34%
no 584 64
don't know 23 3
18. Do you think the 90-second time-out in games should be reduced to 60 seconds?
yes 254 28%
no 599 66
don't know 60 7
19. What is your prime source of information about NHL hockey?
newspaper 191 21%
Internet 394 43
television 227 25
magazines 1 0
radio 35 4
The Hockey News 57 6
other hockey publications 1 0
other 7 1
20. In general, do today's NHL players have a strong sense of loyalty to the fans in the cities they play in?
yes 237 26%
no 573 63
don't know 103 11
Rules & Regulations
21. Would you like to see more goals scored in NHL games?
yes 615 67%
no 214 23
don't know 84 9
22. Do you think moving the goal line out two feet from the end boards will increase scoring?
yes 321 35%
no 405 44
don't know 187 20
23. Do you think the new rules regulating the size of goaltenders' equipment will increase scoring?
yes 510 56%
no 309 34
don't know 94 10
24. Generally speaking, do you think the NHL on-ice officials do a good job?
yes 639 70%
no 246 27
don't know 28 3
25. Generally speaking, do you think the NHL gives adequate direction as to how on-ice officials should call games?
yes 328 36%
no 433 47
don't know 152 17
26. Should the NHL direct the referees to more stringently enforce the rule book?
yes 610 67%
no 233 26
don't know 70 8
27. The NHL is experimenting with a two referee system this season. Do you think this will be good for the game?
yes 514 56%
no 254 28
don't know 145 16
28. The NHL is experimenting with a two referee system this season. Will the potential delays caused by increased penalty calls offset the benefits of two referees?
yes 250 27%
no 479 52
don't know 184 20
29. I think the new rule to allow NHL video officials to alert on-ice officials to cases of crease infringement is
a good thing for the game 89 28%
a bad thing for the game 260 65
don't know 64 7
30. I think the punishments handed out by the league to players who commit serious infractions are
too severe 20 2%
not severe enough 701 77
just right 165 18
don't know 27 3
31. Do you think the new rules adopted by the NHL this season calling for stricter suspensions for deliberate stick and elbow fouls will decrease the number of head injuries in the league?
yes 437 48%
no 297 33
don't know 179 20
32. The NHL has standards and rules for most aspects of the game. Should there be stricter standards/guidelines for ice quality in NHL arenas?
yes 820 90%
no 47 5
don't know 46 5
33. Would you object to going to NHL games if the arenas were kept cooler if this would improve ice quality?
yes 47 5%
no 850 93
don't know 16 2
34. Do you think the NHL should increase the size of the ice surface?
yes 417 46%
no 441 48
don't know 55 8
35. Do you think a lack of flexibility of the rink-board glass in many arenas is a cause of an increasing number of injuries to players?
yes 568 62%
no 181 20
don't know 164 18
36. If you answered yes to the previous question, should the NHL create guidelines/standards on the flexibility of the rink board glass for all teams?
yes 519 57%
no 22 2
don't know 23 3
not applicable 349 38
37. Should fighting be banned from the NHL?
yes 77 8%
no 819 90
don't know 17 2
38. Do you think the NHL would increase its popularity if it were to ban fighting?
yes 51 6%
no 809 89
don't know 53 6
39. Should the NHL remove the centre red line?
yes 252 28%
no 580 63
don't know 81 9
40. Do you think the NHL should remove restrictions on curvature of sticks?
yes 152 17%
no 698 76
don't know 63 7
41. Should the NHL be conducting random drug tests for players during the hockey season?
yes 595 65%
no 242 27
don't know 76 8
42. Do you think a goal should be disallowed when a player has his skate in the crease even if that player does not interfere with the goaltender?
yes 216 24%
no 678 74
don't know 19 2
43. If a goaltender leaves his crease to play the puck behind the goal line, should opposing players be able to check him as they would any other player on the ice?
yes 662 73%
no 235 26
don't know 16 2
44. Do you think there is a loss of objectivity when NHL teams employ their own broadcasters?
yes 491 54%
no 337 37
don't know 85 9
Decision Makers
45. Do you feel Gary Bettman is doing a good job as NHL commissioner on behalf of the fans?
yes 268 29%
no 513 56
don't know 132 14
46. Do you think Gary Bettman is doing a good job as NHL commissioner on behalf of the game?
yes 336 37%
no 447 49
don't know 130 14
47. Do you think Gary Bettman is doing a good job as NHL commissioner on behalf of the owners?
yes 563 62%
no 155 17
don't know 195 21
48. Do you feel the League is responsive to the concerns of fans when making changes to the game?
yes 216 24%
no 607 65
don't know 90 10
49. Do you think Bob Goodenow (President of NHL Players' Association) is doing a good job on behalf of the players?
yes 542 59%
no 157 17
don't know 214 23
50. Do you feel marketing of the NHL game has become more important than the game itself?
yes 594 65%
no 261 29
don't know 58 6
51. Do you feel the "room trashing" incident at the 1998 Olympics by the U.S. men's hockey team negatively affected the public perception of the NHL?
greatly 166 18%
somewhat 516 57
not at all 207 23
don't know 24 3
Money Matters
52. Should there be a salary cap in the NHL to include all players?
yes 685 75%
no 157 17
don't know 71 8
53. In general, I think players' salaries are
too high 695 76%
too low 12 1
about right 178 19
don't know 28 3
54. Do escalating salaries of NHL players have a negative affect on how you perceive the game?
yes 605 66%
no 290 32
don't know 18 2
55. Do you think the rookie salary cap has achieved its objective of slowing the escalation of entry player salaries?
yes 344 38%
no 423 46
don't know 146 16
56. Do you think players and management should be bound by the duration and financial conditions of signed contracts?
yes 847 93%
no 32 4
don't know 32 4
57. In general, I think ticket prices for NHL games are
too high 804 88%
too low 0 0
about right 82 9
don't know 27 3
58. Do you approve of NHL players charging for their autographs at special events such as card shows?
yes 188 21%
no 673 74
don't know 52 6
59. I think NHL coaches' salaries are
too high 64 7%
too low 237 26
about right 436 48
don't know 176 19
60. Should there be an NHL Coaches' Association similar to the NHL Players' Association?
yes 379 42%
no 317 35
don't know 217 24
61. Should the NHL aggressively attempt to sell TV rights in Europe and abroad?
yes 641 70%
no 132 14
don't know 140 15
62. Do you like afternoon games on the weekends?
yes 606 66%
no 281 31
don't know 26 3
63. Do you believe that half of NHL teams are losing money as has been reported?
yes 397 43%
no 363 40
don't know 153 17
64. Should Canadian teams receive tax breaks similar to those of their American counterparts?
yes 804 88%
no 62 7
don't know 47 5
65. Do you find rink board and on-ice advertising distracting?
yes 133 15%
no 778 85
don't know 2 0
66. Do you think players should have advertising on their sweaters as they do in Europe?
yes 79 9%
no 793 87
don't know 41 4
67. Are you in favor of NHL teams adopting a third jersey?
yes 549 60%
no 291 32
don't know 73 8
NHLFA Corner
68. Should there be annual awards presented to NHL players by our Association?
yes 810 89%
no 53 6
don't know 50 5
69. Do you think the NHLFA should be involved in the administration of fan voting on player selection for the NHL All-Star game, now managed by the NHL?
yes 701 77%
no 129 14
don't know 83 9
70. Would you participate in NHLFA "mini polls" sent out as required to address major issues as they arise?
yes 901 99%
no 4 0
don't know 8 1
71. With respect to the previous question, how often do you check your e-mail?
daily 727 80%
more than three times a week 161 18
less than three times a week 23 3
rarely 2 0
72. Would you be interested in attending an annual conference of NHLFA members?
yes 457 50%
no 146 16
don't know 310 34
73. Would you be interested in purchasing NHLFA-branded merchandise?
yes 419 46%
no 200 22
don't know 294 32
74. Given sufficient funding, is it important to you that we upgrade the NHLFA Web site to include a chat room?
yes 322 35%
no 427 47
don't know 164 18
75. Should the NHLFA pursue a high-profile spokesperson for the Association?
yes 548 60%
no 158 17
don't know 207 23
76. Should we approach the NHL to sell NHLFA merchandise in arenas across the league?
yes 536 59%
no 170 19
don't know 207 23
77. Clearly, the fans pay enough. Consider that businesses financially support their own "watch dog" organizations such as the Better Business Bureau.
a) With that in mind, should we approach the 27 NHL teams to become financial supporters of the NHLFA, through a contribution of $5,000 per team per year?
yes 607 66%
no 154 17
don't know 152 17
b) Should we approach individual NHL players to become financial supporters of the NHLFA through a contribution of $200 per player per year?
yes 505 55%
no 258 28
don't know 150 16
c) Should we approach corporate sponsors to become financial supporters of the NHLFA?
yes 723 80%
no 108 12
don't know 82 9
Contact:
Jim Boone Jim Spendlove
boone@nhlfa.com spendlove@nhlfa.com
Box 70040, Place Bell RPO
Ottawa, Ontario, CAN, K2P 2M3
© 1998 - National Hockey League Fans' Association
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