Sharks in Oakland?
First, allow me to pat myself on the back for having this almost 2 weeks earlier (Link). Ok, ego massaged, time to move on.
I've spoken with some people involved in the San Jose Sharks organization, and I'm actually pleased with the direction I think they will go (although that's not to say their competitor might not do just as well). The change in fees that I suggested in my first post is a reality with the Sharks, but it will depend on the size of the team. Now, the fees per player are $515 in Oakland ("OIC"), which is supposed to generate in the neighborhood of $7200-$7500 per team, assuming 14-15 paying players. The problem is OIC allows teams to play with fewer than that. The average size, according to Iceoplex (current management, on their way out no matter what), is currently about 10 paying players. That means plenty of ice time, but it also means plenty of games shorthanded when someone can't make it . . . or picking up "subs" (aka ringers).
Under the Sharks plan, because the team will have to pay, it will behoove teams to have closer to 14 or 15 players. In that scenario, players will only pay another $50 bucks or so more over the $515 ($557 if you have 14 and pay ontime which qualifies you for a team discount of $500 or so). And, with the likely 4 extra games, we will actually end up paying less per game than we do now. Now, there is a hidden fee: the Sharks also require memebership in USA Hockey (because it comes with catastrophic medical insurance), which is another $32 per year (or close to that). My team started the year with 14 players this year, and will likely do so again next year. So our guys will pay a smidgen more, but less per game. I'm ok with that.
I'm especially ok with that because a few years back the league told me that my guys had to pay extra because we only had 12 paying skaters. We paid. Now I learn that the average team has 10 paying skaters (according to Iceoplex's report to the Oakland City Council), and they are paying the $515, not anything more. I'm just a little upset that we paid more (as I'm sure will my teammates be when they read this).
What will likely happen under the Sharks scenario, because guys won't want to pay much more than the $560 and the Sharks won't find an additional 250 skaters to fill out the current teams, is the number of teams playing at OIC will drop. That will mean, among other things, fewer "subs." And actually, the Sharks organization polices that as well. They have much more active control over rosters by rink officials, meaning you play with the guys on your team, not the extra "sub" that will help you win a game . . . (query how this will work for goaltending subs as the need arises -- something for another time). More important than fewer "subs," is fewer games against teams with only 2 or 3 guys on the bench, meaning they are spent by the 3rd period, and the games lose their competitiveness. I'm ok with that.
In addition, the Sharks organization will use Hockey Officials of Northern California (HONC -- isn't that awesome!) to call the games, which probably means a more consistent calling of USA hockey rules, something I'm in favor of. It also means we won't have the same refs over and over again, with Mad Eric telling me he doesn't like my team.
Finally, in Fremont and San Jose, the Sharks run very clean facilities. That would be a change for Oakland. No more hand lacerations from loose bolts in the boards (that happened a couple of weeks ago), no more ponds of water where the cooling unit has broken ("just try to avoid that spot on the ice tonight, ok boys?"), and perhaps showers that work in all the locker rooms (instead of just some).
Now, would the Sharks' competitors do some of these same things? Probably. And if so, good on 'em -- I'm not picking sides in the fight going on at City Hall. All I'm saying is I think the Sharks organization would upgrade the quality of hockey in Oakland. My initial reaction was fear at the increase in costs. But having spoken with officials at the Sharks organization and looking into how they run things elsewhere, now I'm looking forward to the change.
Long story short: the headline is scary, but the devil's in the details . . . and the details aren't so bad.
1 comment:
I was out of the country for two weeks. During that time, Forsberg got traded, Anna Nicole died, and this. Being a step behind everyone who has had time to digest these developments, I’m still a little fuzzy on all of the pros and cons. However, the decision that I ultimately came to, like you, is that this might not be all that bad. In fact, I’m looking forward to it.
Be honest, the Oakland in-house league is a wreck. Ringers are in every division, league leadership is seriously lacking, and the facilities continue to age with no (seemingly) dedicated maintenance. Are things going to get worse under new management? It’s possible, but with the in-coming management’s track record, that seems unlikely. Protesting this move is a vote for what’s currently in place and….is what we have now that great?
The prices: Like you, my team had to pay the full team fee because we weren’t in the league during the previous season. Other teams, simply had their guys pay the player fee and it was the commissioner’s job to fill the team. The commissioner didn’t fill the spots, the league lost money, and players ended up paying unequal prices. That’s unfair and will hopefully change.
The teams: If someone is tracking the money better, they’ll also (again, hopefully) be tracking the teams themselves. We all know that there are teams that have Gold players playing in Silver, Silver players in Bronze, and other teams who are just simply out of place in their divisions (too good, too bad, whatever). Everyone at some point in time has complained about this. Why? Because it totally sucks the fun out of it!!! But does anyone at OIC does anything about it? Thus, people add more ringers, drop down a division to boost their ego, etc.
Albeit it was several years ago, I played in a league run by the Sharks and this kind of crap was minimal; and if it did happen, someone nipped it in the bud…fast.
Maybe we’ll even use those score sheets to track some player stats? That would be kind of a cool feature for players in the correct division and an easy way to look for possible ringers.
Give it a chance, people. Being loyal is cool, but not if it’s at your own detriment.
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