Around Hockey XVI (All Non-Jackets Hockey talk in here)

[WannabeFinn]

In terms of viability this is how I rank them:

Toronto 2

Seattle
Quebec City



Portland

Kansas City

Las Vegas


I would be opposed to the latter three and in favor of the first three. Toronto could fit several more NHL teams in.

To be fair, I would have Quebec City in the tier with Toronto rather than with Seattle. That's not to say anything bad about Seattle, but it's that the QC market is essentially guaranteed sellouts and rabid support for a long, long time.

 

[major major]

To be fair, I would have Quebec City in the tier with Toronto rather than with Seattle. That's not to say anything bad about Seattle, but it's that the QC market is essentially guaranteed sellouts and rabid support for a long, long time.

Yeah they would be ahead in terms of guaranteed fans, but way behind in population and $$.

 

[Nordique]

I just saw Portzline tweet this (sorry for the copy & paste):

"Vegas Baby!!! (Cough) I mean ... The Province of Vancouver is reporting that #NHL expansion to Las Vegas is a "done deal." #imhereforwork"

I don't know if he is serious but it's very interesting...

This would be the most popular road game destination for fans in the league.

 

[cslebn]

This would be the most popular road game destination for fans in the league.

I'd like it. Would put an NHL team within driving range of me at least.

 

[cbjfaninmo]

This would be the most popular road game destination for fans in the league.

I think it's a sure bet that it would.

 

[DJA]

I must be the only one here who hates Vegas as both a tourist destination and a potential NHL city.

 

[major major]

I must be the only one here who hates Vegas as both a tourist destination and a potential NHL city.

You're not alone. I hate the entire idea of a city built on math illiteracy, short term thinking, and housing fraud.
And deserts haven't exactly been good for the NHL, I don't know why they think Vegas (1/2 the size of Phoenix) would be any different.

 

[EspenK]

I must be the only one here who hates Vegas as both a tourist destination and a potential NHL city.

I definitely don't get it as an NHL city. Maye they would draw okay because of tourists but I have a hard time seeing them building an avid home town base.

 

[Sore Loser]

I definitely don't get it as an NHL city. Maye they would draw okay because of tourists but I have a hard time seeing them building an avid home town base.

Funny you say that, because I'm about to put out an article making this exact argument against Las Vegas... Great minds think alike!

 

[Nanabijou]

Luongo tweeted a joke about how the team would be unstoppable at home because of the distractions for the visiting teams.

Like both of you, I would think that the visiting team would almost always have home ice advantage in terms of fan support due to tourists/road trips/etc filling the arena.

 

[Mayor Bee]

Funny you say that, because I'm about to put out an article making this exact argument against Las Vegas... Great minds think alike!

If that's true, then why do I strongly disagree with you on this?

 

[EspenK]

Borrowed this from the Rangers board regarding a new rule:

"Teams that ice the puck can only use one center to make the ensuring faceoff. If that player attempts to get kicked out of the faceoff to buy his team time, he’ll get a two-minute delay-of-game penalty."

I missed that one.

 

[spintheblackcircle]

Greg Wyshynski ‏@wyshynski 37m

But seriously, there's only one person who can put Crosby in jail and it's Brandon Dubinsky...

 

[WannabeFinn]

I'm not all for putting an NHL team in Vegas, but it is a very rapidly growing city. The city's population itself has grown from 258k to ~600k since 1990 and the metro population is ~2m. This doesn't even take into consideration the amount of people throughout the state/area who would make the drive to see the team play simply because it'd be the closest team in the league to them.

 

[pete goegan]

I'm not all for putting an NHL team in Vegas, but it is a very rapidly growing city. The city's population itself has grown from 258k to ~600k since 1990 and the metro population is ~2m. This doesn't even take into consideration the amount of people throughout the state/area who would make the drive to see the team play simply because it'd be the closest team in the league to them.

If current climate trends in the Southwest continue, Vegas won't have enough water to make ice for their cocktails, let alone keep a rink frozen!

 

[EDM]

I wonder if the number of people interested in hockey in the Vegas desert is the same as in the desert around Phoenix.

 

[Fro]

Borrowed this from the Rangers board regarding a new rule:



I missed that one.

how about the ref just drops the puck instead of fiddling around with stupid rules about the ref not dropping the puck?

 

[EspenK]

how about the ref just drops the puck instead of fiddling around with stupid rules about the ref not dropping the puck?

I agree

 

[Mayor Bee]

I wonder if the number of people interested in hockey in the Vegas desert is the same as in the desert around Phoenix.

The IHL's Thunder used to have a huge following back in their heyday, and the ECHL Wranglers still have one (despite the current issues).

Let's say that Vegas gets a team. Here's where all of the uniquely Vegas variables come into play.

1) Tourists. If someone wants to see a show or a concert involving a specific act, there are plenty of times to see what's basically the same thing. Cirque du Soleil's Tuesday show is the same as the Monday show, Blue Man Group is the same on Saturday as Thursday, and so on. But there may be only one chance in seven days to see an NHL game. If there are tickets to see two shows and an NHL game, that game is getting watched.

2) Fans. Vegas has 20+ years of pro hockey with a passionate following, in addition to their usual NHL preseason games that sell out as well.

3) Wagering. Regardless of what the NHL does in regards to gambling on the sport in Vegas, it will cause a huge surge in interest because it will either be a taboo subject with underground wagering or something local that everyone gets in on. And then the local team isn't the only one being watched...imagine a casino sportsbook full of guys awake well past midnight watching the Oilers and Canucks in their snoozefests.

4) Turnover. This week's population is entirely different from last week's. Last week's was different than the week prior. Every week there's an exodus of a good chunk of the population and an influx of a new part.

5) Residual distant benefits. Give tickets to a tourist. Make sure they go to the game. That tourist goes back home and watches their local team. That tourist is hooked and becomes a fan. Even if they never go back to Vegas again, the NHL and hockey as a whole now benefit.

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

how about the ref just drops the puck instead of fiddling around with stupid rules about the ref not dropping the puck?

 

[WannabeFinn]

I wonder if the number of people interested in hockey in the Vegas desert is the same as in the desert around Phoenix.

I think we all know that one of the major problems with Phoenix's attendance numbers is that the arena is located a good drive away from Phoenix itself. It's not neatly located downtown like our arena or many other NHL arenas.

Anyways, it's a little different between the two cities. One has a team from each of the 4 major leagues, the other has none. Don't you think that the sports fans of the city might be a little more inclined to cheer for their team/get into hockey if it's the only major league team around?

 

[Crede777]

I feel like the casinos would buy significant numbers of tickets as they're relatively cheap and easy to obtain while they can then be easily given away or distributed to clients / guests.

AKA rent a room at the Luxor for three nights and get a free set of tickets to see the Las Vegas Whatevers play on Friday night, includes free drink and a hat!

It doesn't really matter if those tickets are used or not, all the league cares about is if they're bought.

 

[BluejacketNut]

how about the ref just drops the puck instead of fiddling around with stupid rules about the ref not dropping the puck?

Wasnt this what they started doing after the 1st lockout and then reverted right back to the lesson teaching lineman?

 

[BluejacketNut]

I have to wonder how much longer Vegas has. Look at Atlantic City, with all the legal gambling around them, there's no need to travel somewhere to lose money when you can lose it right in your backyard! I've worked in Vegas for a week every year for the last 7 years, since Hollywood opened, I have no interest in Vegas at all. I dont need to go to another city to buy $8 drinks, or to lose money or to hang out in a hot as hell desert. Now, we almost just end up buying a case of beer and sitting by the hotel pool as opposed to throwing money away on the strip. Vegas is not where you go to be pampered for cheap anymore, its over the top expensive. I will say that its a place youve got to see once, but Vegas is not what it use to be.

 

[Mayor Bee]

I think we all know that one of the major problems with Phoenix's attendance numbers is that the arena is located a good drive away from Phoenix itself. It's not neatly located downtown like our arena or many other NHL arenas.

The way that Phoenix' population is located, it would basically be like getting off of work in Columbus, heading home to Hilliard/Dublin/Westerville to have dinner and get changed, then heading down to Canal Winchester to watch a CBJ game.