What about this idea of having corporate logos on NHL uniforms?

Don't know how many of you saw this little beauty recently, but it seems the NHL would consider -- for the right price, NHL chief operating officer John Collins told USA Today -- putting corporate sponsorships on game uniforms.

The question came about because the NBA, beginning next season, will let teams sell ads on their practice jerseys and is exploring allowing them on game jerseys.

I understand the economy stinks and leagues are looking for any way to give teams a financial boost. But jerseys, to me, almost always have been sacred, haven't they? We accept ads on the fire retardant suits of NASCAR drivers because we know that sport always has been sponsor driven. We don't blink when soccer jerseys don't even have the name of the team because, well, it's always been that way. But when it comes to hockey, the team name is supreme, the look of the uniform paramount.

Growing up, I even rooted for teams in all of the major sports (outside my hometown teams, of course) that had the best looks.

I guess it can be done without too much fuss on practice gear. As for game jerseys, I could even take a small corporate logo on a sleeve or near a collar. But it would be bad if traditional logos were lost to corporate ones.

Comments

[tundo]

Also, as another poster stated, those sponsors would use the athletes in their advertising, thus getting these guys more exposure.

[tundo]

It's only a matter of time before all professional leagues start having advertisements on the jerseys, whether its liked or not.

I've got no problem with it. Who the hell cares what the jersey looks like. If that can make the team more money that we can use to bring in some more talent, how can you possibly be against it?

[PD]

Tack: where would the $$ go? To the team or to the NHL?

Those ads would be national advertising revenue, split with players according to the CBA.

Local ads would be way too expensive and inneffective for Milly's Flowers or the Florida Aquarium.

[hyjyljyj]

"They surely do not look hideous...Unless you have held one up and seen a quality game worn Euro jersey,not a replica, you have no idea."

I dunno, Olin. This seems like purely a matter of (solid minority) opinion. Likewise IMHO clothing of any type covered with advertising DOES look hideous...and while I understand your tolerance of it since you grew up with it and it's the custom over there, your assumption that the Euro jerseys we've all seen which are covered with tacky ads still leave us with "no idea" how ad-covered jerseys look just doesn't hold water. Of course we can easily imagine how they'd look, and I'm with probably >90% of N. American hockey fans who strongly prefer they NOT appear in the NHL. It's enough with the ads already. IMO let the players and owners make less money if it means we don't have splashy ads spoiling the traditional look of the uniforms

[Tackleberry]

Oh great, NASCAR on ice. I could just see some of the sponsors (Tampax, Trojan, Summers Eve, Dr Scholes, Goodyear, etc...) lol. I for one want a clean uniform. I for one, hope that the NHL does not do this. So what if the NBA is selling out. Keep the NHL clean of this.

I can see the aspect of raising $$. BUT, where would the $$ go? To the team or to the NHL? Where will it stop? Will the big sponsors get more influence on owners? I can see sponsors pulling their $$ if they dont like a player or owner and leaving the team to struggle financially.

Heck-no to advertising on uniforms.

[TJ]

And I have to agree with others on the board. Corporate logos on sweaters is a no-no as far as I'm concerned. Some things just don't need to be messed with, need for advertising dollars or not. BrianB23, I'm with you about the ECHL sweaters. Don't like the advertising "fingerprints" on the Checkers (Charlotte) jerseys either.

[TJ]

LOL at Zero's 9:20am comment.... Thanks Zero, nearly lost my coffee all over my monitor at that one. Thanks for the visual I probably could have done without...

[Patrick]

Brendan,

Prepare to rejoice and hang up your MISSION ACCOMPLISHED banner - Artykhuin is supposedly traded to anaheim.

[olin]

...I prefer not to take sides on which jersey with or without advertising is the best or the norm. I am saying that these Euro jersey's when done right in its design can be a unique piece of sport art. I don't think guy's like jagr,salming,selanne, koivu,lidstom,forsberg,kovalchuk,chara, satan,malkin,gaborik,sundin,zetterberg,ovechkin, and many other's come from or play like circus side show freak's. It just happens to be the style and tradition of the Euro leagues. They even have it on the headgear and pant's. I'm not saying it is right or wrong, I just happen to think it add's to the uniqueness of the jersey of being bright and colorful, even if it is a advertisment. They surely do not look hideous or I wouldn't waste my money on them. There are many collectors of these items out there and they do it for a reason. Unless you have held one up and seen a quality game worn Euro jersey,not a replica, you have no idea. The players still play the same, and the game is the same. Some jersey's are designed better than others...I just happen to be more open minded about it...and collect them as a hobby. To each their own.

[Patrick]

I wouldn't stop being a hockey fan, but something about the sport that is special would be lost. It would definitely make me reconsider buying new hockey jerseys as I am not into being a walking billboard. I almost never wear the free t-shirts you get at sporting events because they usually have a clearly visible ad on them. I wear the shirt for the team, not its sponsors. I'm glad the sponsors and the team have a mutually beneficial relationship, but that's taking it too far. I'm not a conservative\traditional type person at all, but even I realize some things are sacred. As soon as ads start appearing on the jersey, it's going to be just like it says above - for the right place, the ads will start getting bigger and dominate the jersey. I'm sure Nascar's ad graffiti was a progression as well and started with just a few small adds.

The jersey maker's logo is the only one that is tolerable because they actually made it. Any other ads for company's not involved is just purely selling out. Kinda takes away from that saying - it's not the name on the jersey, but the logo - when you've literally sold the jersey out.

[ZERO]

Sure. And maybe they should do commercials immediately after scoring a goal.

"When I need a natural boost, I go with Enzyte. So be like me, and you'll score one for the team.

*playful laughter*

*faceoff*

[2WayCenter]

Yup, ads everywhere. Now that you mention it, even got one on my coffee cup. Man, the coffee is good this morning.

[hyjyljyj]

"Wow... not sure what hockey fan wouldn't hate that."

Second that, Patrick. How do they keep coming up with bad ideas? And it doesn't even matter which team's jersey a person likes least...even ads on Thrasher jerseys would make them look worse. (Wait...they haven't had them all along, have they?)

The boards are one thing, they're perfect billboards, but as any hockey fan knows the uniform jersey is sacrosanct, original six or not. I can appreciate olin's European take on the issue but that's the custom there, as with their soccer jerseys. In the NHL we got used to seeing the logo of CCM or whoever made it on the outside of the sweater (it used to be sewn inside only). But we really don't need to have every great action photo enshrined in the Hall of Fame in future years to be defaced with the brazen, crass brand of some long-defunct corporate entity. Hockey and the Stanley Cup and what it takes to win it are eternal; corporations are obviously the epitome of NOT.

In short--
Ads in our face all around the arena
Ads blasting our eardrums out all night
Ads all over the dasher boards
It's enough already
I can't be the only one who doesn't base buying decisions on ads

Naming rights for sports arenas and ads on uniforms...worst ideas ever IMHO in the world of sport

[PD]

Vott great piece.
Your 1st paragraph may prove to be very prescient.

[PD]

Hooters would be good.

Most here can recall white boards in the original 6. They look boring in the old films now.

A patch should be OK..they need the bucks it would bring.

Leave the Hawk's Jersey alone though. Best in sports.

[Herb]

Yeah NHL make your teams look like a circus side show freaks like the Euro leagues. They are absolutely hideous. A small patch on the sleeve maybe but that would be it. Olin you have to be kidding me in that you actually think that the Euro league's sweaters look in any way, shape, or form to be anything but HIDEOUS!!

[RICK L]

very easy don, the next time you see vinny cutting thru defenseman on a breakaway and you see the replay 100 times the next 24 hrs his jersey would have GENERAL MOTORS on it !( ooooh bad example).

[leo]

If it's good for business and not too conspicuous on the shirt, why the heck not?
Gatorade has a Bolt design, doesn't it? Little bolt on the shoulder, pow, 5 million dollars (or whatever), what's wrong with that?
Think Gatorade won't then turn around and put Stamkos in a commercial? Get the ball rolling, I say.
Applicable to teams in financial straits, of course. Anyone touches OUR shirt and I burn down the commissioner's office.
Some things are sacred and not meant to be made to turn a buck.
P.

[D]

I'm a hockey fan. I buy Bolts season tickets every year. And I'm ok with it as long as it doesn't totally replace the traditional look. Is any hockey fan going to stop being a fan because of a few ads on the unis? I doubt it.

[Boltflasher]

I would not welcome it....do not want to see our NHL stars running around looking like racecar drivers or European players. The logos and ads on the boards and ice is sufficient I would think. If allowed, then next might be renaming of teams like their hockey facilities...can you imagine the StPete Times Lightning vs the Molson Canadiens???? or the LaBatt Leafs??? or the Rexall Drugs Oilers...

[olin]

....guess I need to comment on this topic since I have a substancial collection of Swedish and Finn game worn Ishockey jersy's that are covered with advertising. To be honest, I really like them. They are often clashing colors and most often give the plain color shirt a bright and colorful look. Most are sewn on, specialized just like a number and logo. Most are balanced out and make the jersy's much more unique. I do have a game worn Lightning jersey, and comparing it to a game worn Lulea(northern Sweden-Ohlund's modderklubb) from season before last, the Luelea one totally outshines the Bolt one. I do realize there is alot of tradition involved, but I have to say if they are done in good taste and balanced out in design, they look great and with a much more collectable value. I've worn mine (different one's) to bolt games for many reason's/season's and always get people asking question's about, and or, where, they do stand out. Just imagine the Nascar driver suit without the ad's or a USAF flight suit with them, both two different entities.
I like 'em and collect 'em because theyr'e very unique, hard to find, not cheap to purchase, and are a one of a kind item. Plus ya can't miss 'em walking around the forum...I am a long time hockey guy as a fan, and know the plain jersey/logo is the tradition, but maybe it is time to add some advertising/income to keep the NHL rolling from the corporate world. Sorry guy's I like it..

[Don in St. Pete]

Seems kind of cheesy to me. I'm not sure how or where they could improve sponsorship revenues, but the Sweaters should remain off limits.

[boltcc]

I think thats terrible..However it is probably a matter of time before ALL pro sports do it..And now for tonights TECO power play...!!!!

[karma]

Simple answer: Not now. Not ever.
It's Hockey
Not NASCAR!!!

[BrianB23]

Ugh, as a Naples resident, I can tell you I really HATE seeing the www.naplesdailynews.com logos all over the ECHL Florida Everblades jerseys. Its just awful. And those euro leagues are even worse. Leave corporations out of our game! Sell more logos on the ice if you have to, but yeesh, leave the shirts alone.

[The Voice of the Turtle]

O.K. can not only take the lead in this approach, he can send out signals of his profit-taking intentions by renaming the Lightning, the BLACKBERRIES.

Seriously, one of the worst ideas in commercialization was associated with the naming of the Saint Petersburg Times Forum. We know that a newspaper is supposed to maintain standards of objectivity; yet, how does that square with covering sports events, news events, and cultural events that occur in the newspaper's self-named major downtown arena. That idea does not have an appropriate ring to it, and it may explain why no other major venues (sports or others) are named after newspapers.

I read one comment by a blogger (two days ago) suggesting that his perception of Damian Cristodero's pandering to the interests of the Lightning and its management was tied to the name on the building. While I do not subscribe to that interpretation, I find it to be indicative of the problems brought about by this practice.

There are ample places for commercialization in, around, and on the buildings where the NHL game is played and no need to sully the league's heretofore sacrosanct hockey jerseys with corporate logos or brand promotions.

[SarniaNative]

They do it in europe, not saying it should be done here. it would help in this era where owners are going broke but i have a feeling the league wants to benefit more than the teams.

[HockeyBay.com]

I agree on having www.HockeyBay.com logo on Jerseys! thats it though...

[Patrick]

Wow... not sure what hockey fan wouldn't hate that.