NHLFA.com - 2000 NHLFA Fan Report


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2000 NHLFA Fan Report - Results

Here are the 2000 Fan Report results. Thanks to everyone who gave their opinions.

(Due to rounding, some totals may not be exactly 100%)

Current membership (closing poll date) 15,140
Percentage of Members from the USA – 60%
Percentage of Members from Canada – 37%
Percentage of Members from other countries – 3%

Members invited to complete poll:   15,140
Completed polls:   3,241
Disqualified poll results:   127
Acceptable poll results:   3,114

Grab Bag

1.	How many "live" NHL games have you attended in the last 12 months?

none	877	28%
1-5	1270	41%
6-11	365	12%
12-15	160	5%
16-24	138	4%
25 or more	304	10


2.	Do you plan to attend more games next year than you did this year?

yes	1399	45%
no	677	22%
don't know	1038	33%


3.	How many NHL games have you watched on TV in the last 12 months?

none	14	- %
1-20	311	10%
21-40	707	23%
41-60	632	20%
more than 60	1389	44%
don't know	61	2%


4.	Do you think the NHL should try to increase television coverage of its games for European audiences?

yes	1809	58%
no	325	10%
don't know	180	6%
no opinion	800	26%


5.	Generally, what do you think of the calibre of television coverage of the NHL in the United States? (please answer only if you are a resident of the U.S.)

excellent	127	6%
good	753	40%
average	625	33%
poor	370	20%
Not a resident of the U.S.	1239	--


6.	Generally, what do you think of the calibre of television coverage of the NHL in Canada? (please answer only if you are a resident of Canada.)

excellent	517	41%
good	570	45%
average	131	10%
poor	56	4%
Not a resident of Canada	1840	--


7.	Which of the following is your greatest concern related to NHL hockey today?

expansion	221	7%
the quality of the game/players	301	10%
escalating salaries	443	14%
cost of attending games	655	21%
all of the above	1389	45%
no concerns - like the game as it is	105	3%


8.	Should the NHL season start in early September thus ensuring the season finishes before June?

yes	1863	60%
no	837	27%
don't know	95	3%
no opinion	319	10%


9.	Do you think there are too many teams in the NHL?

yes	1877	60%
no	1027	33%
don't know	63	2%
no opinion	147	5%


10.	Do you feel NHL expansion in recent years has watered down the talent pool?

yes	2206	71%
no	728	23%
don't know	80	3%
no opinion	100	3%


11.	Do you think there should be an embargo on NHL expansion?

yes, for five years	926	30%
yes, for 10 years	1471	47%
no embargo	402	13%
no opinion	315	10%


12.	I think the number of teams (16) that qualify for the playoffs is

too high	476	15%
too low	115	4%
just right	2442	79%
no opinion	81	3%


13.	Do you like the current playoff format?

yes	2232	72%
no	775	25%
don't know	19	1%
no opinion	88	3%


14.	What is your prime source of information about NHL hockey?

newspaper	467	15%
internet	1335	43%
television	778	25%
magazines	6	-%
radio	64	2%
The Hockey News	408	13%
other hockey publication	3	-%
other	53	2%


15.	How do you feel about the noise levels at live NHL games? (and here we are not referring to fan noise but music, announcements, etc.)

too loud	671	22%
too quiet	200	6%
about right	1585	51%
don't know	170	5%
no opinion	488	16%


16.	What is your opinion of the way the score clocks are employed in today's NHL?

I think it adds to the excitement of the game	1300	41%

I find the way the score clocks are used is an intrusion on the game	181	6%

don't know	363	12%

no opinion	1270	41%


Rules & Regulations

17.	Generally speaking, do you think the NHL on-ice officials do a good job?

yes	1960	63%
no	1015	33%
don't know	52	2%
no opinion	87	3%


18.	Generally speaking, do you think the NHL gives adequate direction as to how on-ice officials should call games?

yes	1076	35%
no	1523	49%
don't know	373	12%
no opinion	142	5%


19.	Do the referees call enough of the clutching, grabbing and stick infractions in NHL games?

yes	604	19%
no	2358	76%
don't know	52	2%
no opinion	100	3%


20.	Should the referees call the game the same way in the first minute of play as in the last minute of play or in overtime?

yes	2244	72%
no	766	24%
don't know	29	1%
no opinion	75	2%


21.	Has the two referee system adopted for many games this season improved the overall calibre and consistency of officiating?

yes	1766	57%
no	944	30%
don't know	271	9%
no opinion	133	4%


22.	Is the ice surface getting too crowded now with 10 skaters plus four officials?

yes	1070	34%
no	1765	57%
don't know	124	4%
no opinion	155	5%


23.	Should goaltender interference be called more frequently?

yes	1431	46%
no	1441	46%
don't know	107	3%
no opinion	135	4%


24.	Should goaltenders be required to serve their own penalties? (the back-up goalie would have to come in)

yes	1013	33%
no	1954	63%
don't know	59	2%
no opinion	88	3%


25.	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	2195	70%
no	808	26%
don't know	43	1%
no opinion	68	2%


26.	Should the NHL change the "touch up" rule on icings to allow the call to be made as soon as the puck crosses the goal line?

yes	1299	42%
no	1589	51%
don't know	90	3%
no opinion	136	4%


27.	To speed-up games, should teams be required to change on the fly or during TV time outs only?

yes	378	12%
no	2278	73%
don't know	153	5%
no opinion	305	10%


28.	To maintain the pace of the game in overtime, should the additional time out provided to each team in OT be eliminated?

yes	527	17%
no	2390	77%
don't know	49	2%
no opinion	148	5%


29.	Do you think the fines meted out to players this season for serious infractions were generally appropriate?

yes, appropriate	1302	42%
no, not harsh enough	1424	46%
too harsh	115	4%
don't know	132	4%
no opinion	141	5%


30.	Do you feel fines and suspensions are meted out in a consistent fashion, regardless of the stature of the player who commmitted the infraction?

yes	570	18%
no	2330	75%
don't know	95	3%
no opinion	119	4%


31.	Should face shields, minimum half shield, be "grandfathered" into the league? (that is, anyone coming into the NHL would be required to wear a half shield, but no current players would be forced to do so)

yes	1416	45%
no	1471	47%
don't know	99	3%
no opinion	128	4%


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	2674	86%
no	238	8%
don't know	86	3%
no opinion	116	4%


33.	Do you think the NHL should increase the size of the ice surface?

yes	1282	41%
no	1547	50%
don't know	134	4%
no opinion	151	5%


34.	Should the League remove the red line, thereby eliminating the two-line offside pass? (but still retaining it for icings)

yes	1190	38%
no	1661	53%
don't know	143	5%
no opinion	120	4%


35.	Should the NHL implement a policy to ensure greater flexibility of the rink-board glass in many arenas, to help reduce injuries?

yes	2627	84%
no	236	8%
don't know	116	4%
no opinion	135	4%


36.	Do you feel today's NHL players have respect for one another on the ice?

yes	879	28%
no	1892	61%
don't know	215	7%
no opinion	128	4%


37.	Should fighting be banned from the NHL?

yes	246	8%
no	2762	89%
don't know	37	1%
no opinion	69	2%


38.	What (if anything) should be done regarding the instigator rule as it relates to fighting in the NHL?

nothing – it makes sense and should be retained	1351	43%
get rid of it	1422	46%
don't know	174	6%
no opinion	167	5%


Decision Makers

39.	Do you think Gary Bettman is doing a good job as NHL commissioner in support of the game?

yes	1365	44%
no	1081	35%
don't know	315	10%
no opinion	353	11%


40.	Do you think Gary Bettman is doing a good job as NHL commissioner on behalf of the owners?

yes	1698	55%
no	616	20%
don't know	476	15%
no opinion	324	10%


41.	Do you feel Gary Bettman is doing a good job as NHL commissioner on behalf of the fans?

yes	548	18%
no	2059	66%
don't know	249	8%
no opinion	258	8%


42.	Now, if you had to give Gary Bettman a grade on his overall performance as NHL Commissioner, what would it be, A being the highest and F being a failure.

A	97	3%
B	928	30%
C	1175	38%
D	590	19%
F	324	10%


43.	Do you feel the NHL is responsive to the concerns of fans when making changes to the game?

yes	524	17%
no	2131	68%
don't know	263	8%
no opinion	196	6%


44.	Colin Campbell is the VP of NHL Hockey Operations and also the NHL's disciplinarian. In your opinion, what kind of job has he done this season?

an excellent job	153	5%
a good job	1224	39%
a passable job	1154	37%
a lousy job	333	11%
don't know	100	3%
no opinion	150	5%


45.	Do you think Bob Goodenow (Executive Director of NHL Players' Association) is doing a good job in support of the game?

yes	514	17%
no	1417	45%
don't know	766	25%
no opinion	417	13%


46.	Do you think Bob Goodenow is doing a good job on behalf of the players?

yes	1739	56%
no	243	8%
don't know	715	23%
no opinion	417	13%


Money Matters

47.	Ticket prices for NHL games are:

too high	2705	87%
too low	3	-%
about right	268	9%
don't know	37	1%
no opinion	101	3%


48.	Should there be some form of team/player salary cap in the NHL?

yes	2387	77%
no	440	14%
don't know	153	5%
no opinion	134	4%


49.	Should the NHL adopt a broad revenue-sharing program to encompass all teams?

yes	2197	71%
no	428	14%
don't know	293	9%
no opinion	196	6%


50.	Do you think players and management should be bound by the duration and financial conditions of signed contracts?

yes	2837	91%
no	78	3%
don't know	65	2%
no opinion	134	4%


51.	Should the NHL Players' Association (NHLPA) endeavor to ensure its members abide by their signed contracts?

yes	2798	90%
no	27	1%
it's not their problem	121	4%
don't know	50	2%
no opinion	118	4%


52.	Do you anticipate a players' strike or lock out when the current collective bargaining agreement expires in 2004?

yes	1749	56%
no	613	20%
don't know	612	20%
no opinion	140	5%


53.	Who do you feel ultimately pays the players' salaries?

the NHL	8	-%
the team owners	82	3%
the fans	1836	59%
a combination of the above	1095	35%
don't know	93	3%


54.	The average player salary in the NHL is approximately U.S. $1.6 million. Do you feel this is:

too high	1948	63%
too low	53	2%
about right	886	28%
no opinion	227	7%


55.	In most cities, ticket prices for exhibition games are the same price as for regular season games, while playoff game tickets cost significantly more than regular season game tickets. Do you think this is fair and reasonable?

yes, it's fair	327	11%
no, it's not fair	2612	84%
don't know	38	1%
no opinion	137	4%


56.	Do you feel the players and the NHLPA are concerned about keeping NHL teams in smaller markets in Canada and the U.S.?

yes	561	18%
no	2138	69%
don't know	274	9%
no opinion	141	4%


57.	Do you think the League and the owners are concerned about keeping NHL teams in smaller markets in Canada and the U.S.?

yes	721	23%
no	2037	65%
don't know	215	7%
no opinion	141	4%


58.	Should the NHLFA continue to present its own player awards, not necessarily the same as those currently awarded to players?

yes	2595	83%
no	132	4%
don't know	106	3%
no opinion	281	9%




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