blueandgoldguy
Registered User
No, Quebec will not be priced out of as a relocation option. People need to take the medium-long term view of this. Carolina has recently been partially sold to another investor with an agreement in place the franchise will remain in its current location for the next seven years. Not coincidentally this lines up with the end of the lease agreement on the arena. After that who know what happens. If the team continues to mired in mediocrity and is barely managing a profit, the owners may look at Quebec City as an option if they cannot agree to another lease or maybe a publicly funded arena closer to downtown.
Also, let's not forget the Florida Panthers. Remember the agreement they signed with the county for the $86 million in subsidies a couple years ago? A integral part of their deal with the county is they can look at relocation as an option if the team loses $100 million in 8 years - I believe we are in the second or third year of the deal. Considering the combination of extremely cheap tickets (just take a look at the price in various sections on ticketmaster compared to similar sections of arenas for other nhl teams) and low attendance and poor local tv contract, unless things turn around on the ice in the next few seasons there is a good probability the team will exceed those losses within the timeframe and look at relocation. Quebec will most certainly be an attractive option at that point.
I don't include Phoenix as they appear to clearly earmarked for relocation to Houston unless a miracle happens and they are able to secure a new taxpayer funded arena. Meanwhile one of the dark horses for relocation would be Ottawa as their owner is rumoured to be interested in selling and a new arena in the downtown area is far from a sure thing - I'm sure significant public investment will need to be involved. Imo, Quebec City could be used as a relocation threat if Melnyk or hypothetical new owners are not able to negotiate favorable terms for the new arena and surrounding development.
Also, let's not forget the Florida Panthers. Remember the agreement they signed with the county for the $86 million in subsidies a couple years ago? A integral part of their deal with the county is they can look at relocation as an option if the team loses $100 million in 8 years - I believe we are in the second or third year of the deal. Considering the combination of extremely cheap tickets (just take a look at the price in various sections on ticketmaster compared to similar sections of arenas for other nhl teams) and low attendance and poor local tv contract, unless things turn around on the ice in the next few seasons there is a good probability the team will exceed those losses within the timeframe and look at relocation. Quebec will most certainly be an attractive option at that point.
I don't include Phoenix as they appear to clearly earmarked for relocation to Houston unless a miracle happens and they are able to secure a new taxpayer funded arena. Meanwhile one of the dark horses for relocation would be Ottawa as their owner is rumoured to be interested in selling and a new arena in the downtown area is far from a sure thing - I'm sure significant public investment will need to be involved. Imo, Quebec City could be used as a relocation threat if Melnyk or hypothetical new owners are not able to negotiate favorable terms for the new arena and surrounding development.