It’s been over a week since the European Super League fiasco, and the last thing fans want is a similar problem in the NHL or with the Islanders.

In April 2021, multiple elite European soccer clubs banded together to create the Super League, likely wanting to play games exclusively against the other top teams in the world. Entry into the league included a $400 million prize, according to a New York Times report, which sparked the ire of soccer fans. Essentially, fans felt the elite teams and their owners abandoned their local leagues in pursuit of the increased revenue that these popular games would bring.

Fans gathered in protest across Europe, and Super League disbanded shortly afterward. This was a prime example of fans using their voice to have a say in what their team does. Fans deserve a bigger say in their teams’ decisions.

The NHL

Now let’s connect this to something closer to home, the NHL. The NHL nor any North American sports league will ever have a Super League situation. After all the NHL, MLB, NBA and NFL are technically super leagues already. But a common theme across these leagues has been a lack of trust between the front office and the fans. Fans sometimes feel that owners act counter to the interests of the team to hurt the fanbase, whether it’s raising ticket prices, or moving the team to a different city.

Even though fans deserve a bigger say in their teams, that doesn’t mean they get to be the coach or general manager and make nightly roster decisions like what happens in Fan Controlled Football. We should leave that to the professionals. But fans should have a say in non-hockey-related issues.

Hockey teams are businesses, whether fans like it or not. We pay for tickets, jerseys, parking and other fan experiences in exchange for watching our favorite team play every other night.

So when issues come up, whether it is ticket prices, food costs or even what jerseys the team wears, shouldn’t we have a say? Fans are the ones paying for these things anyway. Isn’t the customer always right?

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Islanders Fans

Take the Islanders’ reverse retro jerseys for example. The disappointment at a lack of creativity could’ve been prevented with fan involvement in the design process. It likely would have led to more sales and revenue for the team anyway.

But something that is really important to Islanders fans is the building they play in. After the 2014-15 season, the New York Islanders moved from Nassau Coliseum in the heart of Long Island to Barclays Center in downtown Brooklyn.

Once they arrived, Barclays Center management made a plethora of changes that bothered fans. They tried to change the goal horn, prevented fans from going to the glass for warmups, hid the Stanley Cup banners in the back of the rafters, and made other decisions that were counter to the team’s traditions. That’s not even mentioning the awful ice that the arena refused to upgrade after players constantly complained about it.

It showed in attendance numbers. The Islanders were among the worst teams in the NHL with respect to game attendance. On top of all the aforementioned grievances, fans had to cram into crowded trains just to get to the arena. It was a bad relationship from start to finish, and the arena kicked the team out after the 2019-20 season. More communication between management and the fans might have led to a better outcome for both parties.

Fans would likely be thrilled to give input on some business decisions for the team. Front office managers and owners should talk to the fans about suggestions they have for the team. They could have monthly meetings on Zoom, like a town hall. This will not only solve problems and bring up unseen issues with the team, but will also build a closer relationship between the team and the fans.

Jack Kobil

Hi, my name is Jack Kobil. I am currently attending Woodrow Wilson High School in Washington DC. I am a huge Islanders fan and I love to share my passion for this team.