Double-Shift Lasse
Just post better
http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showthread.php?t=1670935&page=40
Continue with the geography lesson...
Continue with the geography lesson...
I suspect what Candyman meant about "keeping travel time low" was the majority of AHL teams are closer to Mass. than OhioYou do realize that Cleveland, OH is closer than Springfield, MA, right?
I suspect what Candyman meant about "keeping travel time low" was the majority of AHL teams are closer to Mass. than Ohio
I suspect what Candyman meant about "keeping travel time low" was the majority of AHL teams are closer to Mass. than Ohio
That's exactly what I was talking about
I'd say that having Lake Erie as our AHL team certainly wouldn't drive fans away from the CBJ, so it really could do nothing more than expand the CBJ's area of influenceTo build on the argument for the Monsters being the CBJ's AHL affiliate... I can't remember where I saw it and I really wish I did so people don't call BS, but there was a survey that asked what NHL team Monsters fans rooted for, and the vast majority ( I think near 70%) chose the Avs, followed by Pitt, or Det.
In my opinion, it would increase interest in the CBJ exponentially in CLE if the big club was only 2 hours down I-71.
edit: I want to say I saw the 70% stat on the jumbotron at a Monsters game upon further thought.
i'm sure you all are just as happy as I am about this
Megan Carter @Megan_Carter_ 2m
You're never going to believe this... But please follow my Husband as he is new to twitter @JeffCarter_77 @LAKings #newbie
i'm sure you all are just as happy as I am about this
Megan Carter @Megan_Carter_ 2m
You're never going to believe this... But please follow my Husband as he is new to twitter @JeffCarter_77 @LAKings #newbie
figured that would be the response from more than a few hahhahahaah
I'll put as much effort into following Jeff Carter as he did into his on-ice play in Columbus.
In other words, zero.
I'm not on Twitter. But I will be as soon as the Kings launch #askJeffCarter
edit: please note, not sure if that is proper use of the hashtag
My new goal is to get blocked by him.
Expansion to the northwest? Maybe:
http://www.thescore.com/nhl/news/554793
And:
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-p...n-finally-bring-nhl-to-seattle-205156096.html
Actually came here to discuss this. Currently in Seattle for a week-long vacation, and there is a buzz around town about this. We went to a Mariners game on Tuesday and I don't think words can relay how many Blue Jays faithful were in attendance. What does that mean? Well, Canada has but one MLB team (the Blue Jays), and we sat near fans from as far away as Calgary, who were in town just to see them, because Seattle is the closest MLB city to them. Calgary is a 16 hour drive.
Factor in two things here: 1. The CHL following in the area. The Seattle Thunderbirds recently relocated to Kent, WA (about an hour southeast of Seattle) and a new barn. This has given them a whole new area/fanbase to work with, and has opened up the entire city of Seattle - one that has a big following of hockey fans. The other team in the area is the Everett Silvertips (about an hour north of Seattle), which has been a hugely popular franchise since it's inception. The city has a large and passionate hockey fanbase, very similar to the one I can remember before the Blue Jackets came to Columbus.
The other factor: Canada. Seattle is within two hours of the Canadian border, and while I realize that most of the fans up there will still follow the Canucks, Oilers, or Flames, it isn't without reason to think that many of those fans will venture down to see a Seattle team play. After all, one look at ticket prices and availability for the Canucks is enough to send many fans (including myself) looking elsewhere for their entertainment value. A ton of the fans of the Buffalo Sabres are Canadian (even many from the Toronto area) ... it's just too damn hard and expensive to get tickets up there. There is a huge following of Seattle sports teams already in Canada also ... I have good friends as far away as Ottawa who are Seahawk fans, and have been for years.
An NHL team would do very well in Seattle, much like their MLS team has done. This is a city that's passionate about it's sports, and has a culturally diverse community that will support them through thick and thin. The nearest NHL teams to Seattle are (obviously) Vancouver (three hours away), Calgary (16 hours), Edmonton (19ish hours), and then to the south, San Jose (14 hours), and the rest of the California teams. The closest American team to the East? The Colorado Avalanche. There's plenty of room/need for a team up here...
Plus, let's face it ... the Sore Loser would hate making an annual trip over to see the CBJ come to town ...
I think Seattle could be one of the most successful franchises in the entire NHL, but that's contingent on having a competent franchise, because there isn't a lot of hockey background in the region.
I've lived in Seattle area before so I'd add a few bits to SL's depiction.
1) Seattle is bigger, and has several times more money than Columbus. It's swimming in it.
2) I played youth hockey in Ohio before the Blue Jackets, and there were some teams, and no shortage of Red Wings fans around. In Seattle there isn't nearly as much youth hockey, and it's harder to find hockey fans than it was in Ohio.
3) It's not Atlanta. They do love sports. I wouldn't have said the city had a particular soccer connection before the MLS came, and now it has easily the most prosperous franchise in the league.
I think Seattle could be one of the most successful franchises in the entire NHL, but that's contingent on having a competent franchise, because there isn't a lot of hockey background in the region.