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What if…: The NHL Asked For Fan Ideas For Improving The Game?
Press Release:
Toronto, ON, May 1st, 2009
Canadian Football League is running with some rule changes first suggested by its' fans.
Today the CFL Board of Governors approved:
1) Moving back the kickoff following a safety touch, to reduce the number of times a team chooses to take a knee in its own end zone;
2) Giving coaches the green light to use so called "wildcat" formations that would move the quarterback around, instead of requiring him to stand behind or under centre;
3) Requiring a team that kicks a successful field goal to then kick off to its' opponents, increasing the number of kick returns;
4) Awarding a team a third instant replay challenge if its' first two challenges are successful.
All four ideas were approved in March by the league's rules committee, and were among those brought forward by CFL fans this past off-season after Commissioner Mark Cohon asked for their input.”
(Credit: CFL.ca)
Let me reiterate three points raised in this story: a) A Commissioner solicited the fans for input on how to improve the game; b) The fans submitted for the most part reasonable and well thought out suggestions that were read, compiled and presented to the league; and c) The league implemented suggestions the fans felt were important with regard to specific aspects of the game play.
Now when I first heard about this during the phase where Commissioner Cohon requested fan’s input, I was skeptical to say the least. A move like this has the potential to undermine the credibility of the league in the sense that Mr. Cohon and the board members were going to be in a real awkward position if this did not work out (i.e., viable, implementable suggestions being made) as a lack of usable submissions would reflect negatively on both the fan base and the intent of the initiative. Furthermore, this is a league that holds a firm tradition in Canada, especially in the Western provinces, and this type of move could backfire with the core fan if the suggestions they implemented were viewed as too radical, and that they had been implemented not in the best interests of the game, but more for the sake of what might be labelled a publicity stunt. I’m not suggesting that this move was intended to be a publicity stunt by any means as I truly believe that the intentions of this move were nothing short of attempting to give the fans a say in the type of game they watched. That being said, it was the type of move that could surely be scrutinized quite heavily were it to result in any type of changes that were viewed as challenging the integrity of the CFL product.
This was a case where going out on a limb got them the fruit, however. By all accounts the sizable portion of responses came from the group the league was targeting: the hardcore, grassroots Canadian football fan. Their ideas: well thought out, targeted specific problems, didn’t undermine the fundamentals of the game and worked towards furthering the entertainment and sporting value of the game. Well over 2,000 submissions were received.
What ultimately made this work though is that the board of governors was willing to listen! They checked their egos at the door and realized that at the end of the day the success and survival of the league depends on giving the fans a product they want. Furthermore, I truly believe that they knew the fans were not invested in doing something that would fundamentally alter the game in the process, thereby allowing them to take this leap (although we must qualify “leap” as the fact of the matter remains that the BOG is not going to endorse anything detrimental to the game). And paramount in this is the fact that opening up league-altering decisions into the fan domain ultimately leads the viewing public to feel as though they have some ownership in the game, that they have a presence in the boardroom, subsequently strengthening their bond to the league.
Now before I go any further, let me make this very clear: I’m not going to suggest that any of the four major leagues undertake an initiative such as this. That being said, is there any league of those four (MLB, NBA, NFL & NHL) that could not benefit more from this type of approach than the NHL? Without getting into overwhelming detail about this, I think it’s enough to say that from a management perspective the NHL has in the eyes of many core fans made numerous questionable decisions over the past 17-18 years in terms of the direction of the league while at the same time steadfastly denying in the face of consistent questioning that there has ever been a misjudgment on their part. If anything this has created a rift between league and fan that on some level suggests to the fan that their perceptions are not valid, accurate or welcomed. What better way to mend a rift such as this than to approach the fans in a genuine and sincere manner, and putting all ego aside ask your customer: What can we do to make this the best product for the best fans there are?
Will the day come when we see Commissioner Bettman taking the approach of Commissioner Cohon and making this genuine gesture to us, the fans of the greatest sport out there, for guidance as to how the sport could grow and develop into something he and his board might not be able to see given the fact that their primary view of the sport is a business one? For a wide variety of reasons I can confidently say that day will likely never come. At the same time, that’s not what this series of columns is about, is it? On that note, here we go:
“WHAT IF...?” #9: The NHL Asked For Fan Ideas For Improving The Game?
What I want from people is the one thing they would ask of the league for improving the game. Is it a rule that needs modification (Added/Removed/Changed)? Equipment changes? Player accessibility? Scheduling issues? Let’s take it beyond what the CFL requested of their fans and look at all aspects of the game. What would improve the game experience for you while at the same time not fundamentally changing the game we have come to know? Or does anything need to change at all? How’s about moving something back to the way it was previously?
Anything is game folks. Creativity and passion are the name of the game in this exercise, and as usual I look forward to seeing what you have to say!
Cheers!
Shawn Gates
[email protected]
Twitter: ShawnHockeybuzz
Facebook: Shawn Gates
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Previous “WHAT IF…?” Articles
#1 What If The NHL Contracted To 24 Teams?
#2 What If Quebec Traded Lindros To The Rangers Instead Of The Flyers?
#3 What If Calgary Drafted Martin Brodeur Instead Of Trevor Kidd?
#3a What If Calgary Drafted Martin Brodeur Instead Of Trevor Kidd?: A RESPONSE
#4 What If The WHA Never Existed?
#5 What If The Position Of Rover Had Not Been Eliminated?
#6 What If Pittsburgh Had Not Been Awarded A Team In 1967?
#7 What If Steve Smith Had Not Scored In His Own Net In Game 7?
#8 What If The NHL Had a Cross-Conference Playoff Structure?
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