NHL Gov. Ned Lamont has a group with money to buy Arizona Coyotes, move them to Hartford

[Mainehockey33]

If we’re talking about cities that will never get an NHL team how about Portland, Maine? I think Portland can beat Hartford’s average attendance of a couple thousand people per game and it’s actually a nice city.

There are half a dozen cities that deserve a team before Hartford. I’d rather see a European team before Hartford. Joke of a franchise.

 

[Fenian24]

If we’re talking about cities that will never get an NHL team how about Portland, Maine? I think Portland can beat Hartford’s average attendance of a couple thousand people per game and it’s actually a nice city.

There are half a dozen cities that deserve a team before Hartford. I’d rather see a European team before Hartford. Joke of a franchise.

Portland is a nice city, it also could not support an AHL team.

 

[Mainehockey33]

Portland is a nice city, it also could not support an AHL team.

I was kidding. I think attendance was down in the last few years because they had to play in Lewiston for a season and didn’t rebound. Average attendance for Portland looks like it was around where the Manchester Monarchs have been for the last ten years. I’d love another AHL team in Portland.

 

[Fire Sweeney]

Here comes another 2 decade long delusion after the Quebec market

 

[EvilDead]

Delaware North lost the concessions contract at Centre Videotron to Levy Restaurants based in Chicago

This sounds like, what we call in the business, a conflict of interest. Also, it should be noted that Jacobs and the other owners who side with him (which is the vast majority, unfortunately) believe that Quebec City won't get them anymore money outside of what they make and an initial expansion fee. Houston, Salt Lake City, and Atlanta however....do bring in "new money". And lots of it.

 

[McGarnagle]

Portland is a nice city, it also could not support an AHL team.

If we’re talking about cities that will never get an NHL team how about Portland, Maine? I think Portland can beat Hartford’s average attendance of a couple thousand people per game and it’s actually a nice city.

There are half a dozen cities that deserve a team before Hartford. I’d rather see a European team before Hartford. Joke of a franchise.

Careful, mentioning Portland and citing AHL attendance in front of a mirror 3 times summons CHRDANHUTCH

 

[EvilDead]

Guess what, no one gave a crap about the Whalers when they actually existed, and no one will if they come back. They will draw less than nothing and the only money made will be what is made now, merchandise. You dont need the team to exist to make money on merchandise.

Hartford is barely an AHL level town, nevermind NHL

Hard to say no one gave a crap about the team when they were perennially in the basement. I didn't see many people here or outside of here showing up to Bruins games between 05/06 to 06/07. I saw many Red Wings and Canadiens jerseys though. Are we going to say that the Bruins aren't in a hockey market based off that? No, we wouldn't at all. We would sound like fools to gauge fan base interest off the seasons the Bruins were the drizzling shits. Turns out people don't want to go to games when the team is a trash fire. Neither did the people of Hartford or the state of Connecticut, which made the Whalers situation even worse given there was the Rangers, Islanders, and the Bruins right next door. And the Whalers were more often than not a trash fire more than they were good. A lot of which had to do with the BS punishment the NHL put on the WHA teams with having to redraft their entire rosters in 1979 and the NHL got to reclaim all the talent they lost from the WHA.

 

[Bruinswillwin77]

Hard to say no one gave a crap about the team when they were perennially in the basement. I didn't see many people here or outside of here showing up to Bruins games between 05/06 to 06/07. I saw many Red Wings and Canadiens jerseys though. Are we going to say that the Bruins aren't in a hockey market based off that? No, we wouldn't at all. We would sound like fools to gauge fan base interest off the seasons the Bruins were the drizzling shits. Turns out people don't want to go to games when the team is a trash fire. Neither did the people of Hartford or the state of Connecticut, which made the Whalers situation even worse given there was the Rangers, Islanders, and the Bruins right next door. And the Whalers were more often than not a trash fire more than they were good. A lot of which had to do with the BS punishment the NHL put on the WHA teams with having to redraft their entire rosters in 1979 and the NHL got to reclaim all the talent they lost from the WHA.

Add the Devils to the list of teams right next door

 

[mikelvl]

This will never happen. Sadly, very doubtful for Quebec City too. Salt Lake City, Houston, Atlanta again will all get teams before Quebec City. Fenway just wanted an excuse to play Brass Bonanza.

Fenway, it it wasn't obvious, I was joking, should have used the sarcasm emoji.

 

[BigBadBruins7708]

Hard to say no one gave a crap about the team when they were perennially in the basement. I didn't see many people here or outside of here showing up to Bruins games between 05/06 to 06/07. I saw many Red Wings and Canadiens jerseys though. Are we going to say that the Bruins aren't in a hockey market based off that? No, we wouldn't at all. We would sound like fools to gauge fan base interest off the seasons the Bruins were the drizzling shits. Turns out people don't want to go to games when the team is a trash fire. Neither did the people of Hartford or the state of Connecticut, which made the Whalers situation even worse given there was the Rangers, Islanders, and the Bruins right next door. And the Whalers were more often than not a trash fire more than they were good. A lot of which had to do with the BS punishment the NHL put on the WHA teams with having to redraft their entire rosters in 1979 and the NHL got to reclaim all the talent they lost from the WHA.

For all the complaining about The Coyotes, they still average around 3k more per game than Hartford did

 

[EvilDead]

For all the complaining about The Coyotes, they still average around 3k more per game than Hartford did

The Yotes had a bigger arena than the Whalers did. Should be interesting, btw, to see how they handle having an arena smaller than most ECHL teams for the next couple of years, because I don't think they aren't gonna get another arena downtown unfortunately.

 

[BMC]

Everyone in central CT is interested in revitalizing Hartford and getting a top level sports team would go a long way towards helping that along.

The endgame would have to be a replacement for the XL center though, not just a refurb.

I thought Adriaen's Landing was supposed to do that

 

[McGarnagle]

Is it still connected to a mall?

 

[Gordoff]

@BigBadBruins7708

Back in 2014 during the SCF, I was invited to have lunch with my best friend from college and he said there are 2 others I want you to meet - It was at a Jewish deli in Encino.

My college friend had become a respected player in Hollywood as an agent and the other 2 people at that lunch were Fred Silverman and Howard Baldwin.

Believe me, at that table, I felt like this



My late friend Howard Lapides knew exactly what he was doing......................

He introduces me to Baldwin by saying I was at the first Whalers game in Boston and Baldwin asks 'Where did you buy the tickets?' and I replied at the Whalers office at the Statler Hilton ( now Park Plaza ) - Baldwin now trusts me and opens up............

Baldwin was the public face owner of the Whalers but the true owner was Robert Schmertz who also owned the Celtics. The plan was the Whalers/Celtics would build a new arena in Boston but Schmertz died in 1975 at the age of 48.

The Whalers' fanbase was essentially Hartford, Springfield, New Britain and Bristol. NOBODY in New Haven, Bridgeport, or Stamford cared.

I vaguely remember that (Celts & Whalers arena talk). IIRC, were they talking about the Monsanto property (where the casino is now) or Somerville/Medford line where Assembly Sq or East Cambridge on the other side of McGrath Highway/Lechmere station is now located?

 

[BruinsFan37]

I think Tilman Fertitta would pay the NHL's asking price for an expansion team.

But I don't see him overpaying for the Coyotes, who are three years minimum away from competing.

If you buy the team, fire/release everyone to install your own personnel, what's the difference really?

If the cost of buying the Yotes AND taking on their existing debt is less than the cost of an expansion team why wouldn't you do it? (Assuming you're allowed to immediately relocate the team)

 

[KrugAvoy]

I highly doubt anyone would care if Hartford didn't have an iconic logo and goal song in its history

 

[UncleRico]

Wrong thread

 

[GordonHowe]

Conn. governor says Hartford is on NHL's 'radar screen' for potential Whalers return

CT Gov. Ned Lamont said Hartford is on the NHL's "radar screen" for a potential Whalers return should the Coyotes

www.boston.com

Don't you love how TWO TIME FRANCHISE FAILURE ATLANTA, in a city where no one cares about hockey, is somehow in the mix for yet another?

Ladies and gentlemen, your NHL owners.

 

[rfournier103]

Conn. governor says Hartford is on NHL's 'radar screen' for potential Whalers return

CT Gov. Ned Lamont said Hartford is on the NHL's "radar screen" for a potential Whalers return should the Coyotes

www.boston.com

Don't you love how TWO TIME FRANCHISE FAILURE ATLANTA, in a city where no one cares about hockey, is somehow in the mix for yet another?

Ladies and gentlemen, you’re NHL owners.

I couldn’t improve upon this if I wanted to.

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

I highly doubt anyone would care if Hartford didn't have an iconic logo and goal song in its history

I would.

I really like iconic things.