Big markets sound appealing but the NHL has not done well in places like Phoenix, Atlanta or Miami. These large, crowded sports markets with transient populations are a challenge even for the Big 3, let alone the NHL. With successful clubs in cities like Tampa and Nashville (and Vegas by the looks of it), there's something to be said about being the big fish in a little pond.
Not getting rid of Tampa, just saying Miami should have gone first. Those 4 are the core of the south. I'm talking both, and I think the NHL management is why Atlanta failed. The stars should have stayed in Bloommington and Dallas gets the wild later if we want to be politically correct, but I just feel southern expansion should have been done much better. ESPN doesn't show all of the basketball games, most of them are local just like the NHL. There's support for the soft cap because people want to see dynasities and bigger markets bring bigger ratings. Plus why force players to live somewhere they don't like just to get paid more. If people don't want to live in Buffalo, there is a reason for that. Census trends point out why.
I wouldn't be so sure. The NHL is more or less irrelevant in cities like Phoenix and Miami. I wouldn't be surprised if it's had more growth over all (revenue, ratings, fans, etc) in smaller markets like Nashville and Tampa.
We'll see. I think if teams like the leafs want to keep their players and have a dynasty, there will be some noise. People have a right to choose their job and live where they want. If your city isn't up to par for them, then that is a munnicipal issue and you should figure out why people want to be in NYC, Chicago, LA, Boston, DC, SF or other big markets. Not just pro sports. ESPN gives the NHL more exposure, which is more money. At the end of the day, pro sports is a business. The goal is not always to win, it's to make money.
The players said it, not me. The NHLPA surveys say it all. Plus, bigger endorsement opportunities and others things in places like Los Angeles and Toronto other places just don`t have. Also, if you know the Rangers and Flyers won`t win all the time, what is there to be afraid of getting rid of the cap?
Only some of the owners and some of the fans want that. Some people understand that you can't really market parity after a while. The NFL is getting mediocre from every team being the same.
JMROWE?.... while your perfectly entitled to express your opinion here... not exactly "making friends" in Las Vegas, Arizona, North Carolina & South Florida huh?... Unbelievable...... How about instead... and the only real possibility I see as a Relocation is Arizona and the most likely destination being Houston.... Portland, as much as I'd love to see them in, not seeing it, not in the near term.Hamilton is no longer a hockey market..... why would the Canadiens back out of that market and even Andlauer's reward is a OHL Franchise....
Dont see the Hurricanes moving, dont see Vegas cratering (quite the opposite, and I hope their a success) even with the arrival of the NFL & potentially NBA though could see, possibly Calgary departing & where they end up, open to question, but I sincerely hope it doesnt come to that.... which leaves nothing but EXPANSION as the way in through the door and yes, with the admittance of Seattle, Quebec City & Hamilton around 2021.
That I think is a far more likely possibility, scenario than the one you prescribe.... You know, its a terrible thing for a city to lose its team, not something a true hockey fan, all part of a "family" & community would wish on anyone regardless of what side of the border or market in which they play. These cousins of ours didnt pick their owners, just as we cant pick our siblings or parents, its not they themselves who are failing the game or the League, its their owners & the NHL that are failing them.
is that right eh? According to Gary Bettman who admitted on the stand during the Moyes BK in Arizona Hamilton would very likely be a Top 5 Revenue Club. But ok HUTCH. "No longer a hockey market"..... Let me ax you somethin here.... how much sense does it make for the Habs to be dropping their top farm club into Southern Ontario in the first place? Isnt that Leafs & Sabres "territory"? Even for old guys living there who grew up with nothing but a steady diet of Leafs & then Leafs & Sabres games starting in 1970, you do realize Hamilton was actually "Red Wings Territory" for years with its Junior Team sponsorships, while in places like St. Catharines (Chicago), Kitchener/Waterloo (Rangers) & so on people related to, supported their Junior clubs NHL affiliates right? ask the fans in Quebec City why they still do NOT have a franchise and turn their noses up AT ANY OTHER LEAGUE , including their own junior team in QC call it Leafs syndrome, K....
So for multi-generational fans, like Father Like Son, a kid from the Hammer or anywhere else in SW Ontario as likely if not more likely to be a fan of the Rangers, Black Hawks, Red Wings, Bruins (Niagara Falls) and so on. There are other issues as well, with no love lost with a huge swath of people living outside of the 416 area code (Metro Toronto) and closer 905 residents in some cases. Like to kick them out of the Canadian Federation in fact. Separate, please... Made absolutely no sense for the Canadiens to be planting a flag in Hamilton, or for the Oilers to at one time doing so in Toronto with the old Roadrunners & so on. All kinds of examples of dumb thinking on that level. Cant see Vegas hanging on to the Chicago Wolves for long.
