I'd probably keep half an eye on it if there was one high level league.
Their landscape is too fractured and I do think nhl should get involved.
Times are changing and they are going to need to work to attract younger fans, there is a lot more competition for their attention than 30 years ago. The games are too expensive for most normal families to attend regularly in person. Co branded womens teams are a good way to try and make more little girls into lifelong hockey/nhl fans.
Having a womens product run a short season schedule with fewer teams probably would not be a huge investment for them to make cost wise but I think worthwhile. The afl in Australia just did this and promoted it a lot, it's been a reasonable success.
Thinking it needs to make money on day 1 is shortsighted, it won't, but it would be a good idea long run imo to ensure the long term health of the league.
|