NHL to Seattle Volume XIII - UPDATE 12/7 NHL will accept Seattle application - Expansion fee $650 M

[blueandgoldguy]

They may be great hockey cities but they are not major league markets. And with big American markets willing to pay 600+ million for expansion teams the days of the NHL being viable in those cities is coming to an end.

So are you saying Buffalo is not viable either? That city's GMA isn't that much bigger than those two cities and isn't really growing. Those two cities are growing at a reasonable rate and one is basically an extension of the largest hockey market in the world.

 

[BKIslandersFan]

So are you saying Buffalo is not viable either? That city's GMA is the same or smaller than Calgary or Edmonton. Growth rates in Edmonton and Calgary are healthier than in Buffalo if you can even call Buffalo a growing city.

Am I missing something? When did Flames and Oilers move? When did anyone say Calgary is not a viable market with a new arena?

 

[Melrose Munch]

And also ignore what Bettman's actually job is. Its in my opinion to do what's best interest in the league to where they can grow the league and Seattle is the last major region (pacific north west in general) that they have not tapped yet. It's not the comissioner's job to appease people its his job to appease his boss' which are 31 owners.

There's been a team in Vancouver for 40 plus years Tommy.

Explain the facts why QC is being denied a team. Apparently they were willing to pony up half a billion dollars.

Jacobs (and the players) don't want them.

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

I think they'll go to the 4 conference idea they OK'd (and the PA shot down) earlier and just top 4 making it in. No more wildcards in their current form.

From there, I think we'll see top 5 in with #5 @ #4 in one game play-ins. Have one per conference and have a wildcard weekend before the round of 16 begins. The round of 16 will be branded 'playoffs' for traditionalist until we're used to the new 20 team field.

no nothing changes, MG.... YOU JUST SLOT Seattle as you did Vegas.... into an alignment that has 7 teams, the cross-over has been an ultimate failure, in an unbalanced playoff, and no way has it ever been a one and done, a best of 3, more likely.

 

[Killion]

There's been a team in Vancouver for 40 plus years Tommy.

.... duuh... Obviously tommy meant US PNW MM. Big diff.... and if they could somehow get a team into Portland at some point in time down the road then you'd really have full coverage...

 

[BKIslandersFan]

There's been a team in Vancouver for 40 plus years Tommy.


Jacobs (and the players) don't want them.

Players? Any link to the story?

 

[BattleBorn]

The fact that Canadians call the area around Vancouver the Pacific Northwest is weird to me.

It should be the Pacific Southwest, right?

 

[blueandgoldguy]

Am I missing something? When did Flames and Oilers move? When did anyone say Calgary is not a viable market with a new arena?

Changed it to Hamilton and QC.

 

[Bixby Snyder]

So are you saying Buffalo is not viable either?

No.

 

[Melrose Munch]

Players? Any link to the story?

NHLPA surveys state most players think Quebec should get a team, but based on where players most want to play, another survey, small market Canadian teams are ruled out. This has Winnipeg, edmonton and probably would include quebec.
NHL players survey: Quebec City should be next for expansion

Report: Oilers, Jets top NHLers' no-trade lists - Sportsnet.ca

.... duuh... Obviously tommy meant US PNW MM. Big diff.... and if they could somehow get a team into Portland at some point in time down the road then you'd really have full coverage...

Fair enough.

No.

So are you saying Buffalo is not viable either? That city's GMA isn't that much bigger than those two cities and isn't really growing. Those two cities are growing at a reasonable rate and one is basically an extension of the largest hockey market in the world.

@blueandgoldguy would you give Buffalo a team today if they didn't have one?

 

[powerstuck]

No.

Why not ? It's a rather small market all things considered.

 

[Bixby Snyder]

Why not ? It's a rather small market all things considered.

It's in the the USA and a very good hockey market, that's why.

 

[BKIslandersFan]

It's in the the USA and a very good hockey market, that's why.

And Buffalo is not "small" if we judge it compared to Canadian markets.

It would be right behind Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver. And ahead of 4 Canadian teams.

And they also draw fans from the entire Western New York, which means they essentially draw fans from about 3 million people.

 

[Mightygoose]

And Buffalo is not "small" if we judge it compared to Canadian markets.

It would be right behind Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver. And ahead of 4 Canadian teams.

And they also draw fans from the entire Western New York, which means they essentially draw fans from about 3 million people.

In Metropolitan population, it's 1.15 million. Smaller than Calgary (1.4 million), Edmonton and Ottawa (about 1.3 million each) and all 3 are growing at a faster rate.

Buffalo is the second smallest metro with an NHL team.

 

[PCSPounder]

I hope Seattle copies the Sounders color scheme.

Reported for abject tastelessness.

(Or I would have been for offering the appropriate vomiting from reading that, anyway)

 

[BKIslandersFan]

In Metropolitan population, it's 1.15 million. Smaller than Calgary (1.4 million), Edmonton and Ottawa (about 1.3 million each) and all 3 are growing at a faster rate.

Buffalo is the second smallest metro with an NHL team.

Fair enough. But Sabres being able to draw fan base from Western New York as a whole remains valid.

Buffalo isn't too far away from Rochester, which has about million people in its metro area.

 

[blueandgoldguy]

No.

I agree with you. No, Buffalo is not viable if both Quebec City and Hamilton are not viable in the future either.

 

[blueandgoldguy]

NHLPA surveys state most players think Quebec should get a team, but based on where players most want to play, another survey, small market Canadian teams are ruled out. This has Winnipeg, edmonton and probably would include quebec.
NHL players survey: Quebec City should be next for expansion

Report: Oilers, Jets top NHLers' no-trade lists - Sportsnet.ca

Fair enough.




@blueandgoldguy would you give Buffalo a team today if they didn't have one?

With an NFL team sucking up all the disposable income and corporate dollars in the region and a city that has been losing population for decades (and GMA which has remained stagnant for just as long) probably not. Both Quebec City and Hamilton would be more attractive and have higher revenues than Buffalo. Hamilton would be a top 5- 10 revenue team improving the finances for the league as a whole. There would be little competition for disposable incomes and corporate dollars in those cities unlike Buffalo...no NFL, no NBA, no MLB.

 

[blueandgoldguy]

In Metropolitan population, it's 1.15 million. Smaller than Calgary (1.4 million), Edmonton and Ottawa (about 1.3 million each) and all 3 are growing at a faster rate.

Buffalo is the second smallest metro with an NHL team.

This is just it. And of course there is the NFL which sucks up a good portion of corporate and personal income in the area. If there was no team in Buffalo at this time, Quebec City and Hamilton (with an upgraded or new arena) would be more attractive and higher revenue markets.

 

[KevFu]

Vegas to the Central.

Makes the most sense for a multitude of reasons.

 

[BattleBorn]

.

Vegas to the Central.

Makes the most sense for a multitude of reasons.

Such as?

 

[Melrose Munch]

It's in the the USA and a very good hockey market, that's why.

So you just want Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver to have NHL teams in Canada.

With an NFL team sucking up all the disposable income and corporate dollars in the region and a city that has been losing population for decades (and GMA which has remained stagnant for just as long) probably not. Both Quebec City and Hamilton would be more attractive and have higher revenues than Buffalo. Hamilton would be a top 5- 10 revenue team improving the finances for the league as a whole. There would be little competition for disposable incomes and corporate dollars in those cities unlike Buffalo...no NFL, no NBA, no MLB.

Agreed.

 

[Bixby Snyder]

So you just want Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver to have NHL teams in Canada.

I'd be fine with that, it's the way it was before the ill-conceived WHA merger.

 

[Melrose Munch]

I'd be fine with that, it's the way it was before the ill-conceived WHA merger.

There would be no Carolina without the WHA merger.

 

[Bixby Snyder]

There would be no Carolina without the WHA merger.

There wouldn't be a former WHA team in Raliegh, whether or not it would have an NHL team is simply speculation.