Relocation?

[Gary Buttman]

If teams moved, what markets make sense? If there are gvoing to be 30 teams like Bettman says, then Pittsburgh for sure is going to have to do something, because the Mellon Arena lease runs out in a fe years and the state's not going to let the Pens renew it.

Click to read more...

 

[B-MEL]

Winnipeg, Portland or Seattle, and flame if you will, Las Vegas

 

[Dr Love]

Houston is the largest US market without an NHL team. Some will say "they didn't support an AHL team, they don't deserve a NHL team" but that's ignorant. Does the attendance of the Philadelphia Phantoms have anything to do with the attendance of the Flyers? No, it does not. Did the Detroit Vipers attendance have anything to do with the Red Wings attendance? No. The exception is the Chicago Wolves, if I was from Chicago I wouldn't give Wirtz a dime of my money either. Now, I don't know if Houston can be a good NHL city, but that argument is going to be made and it's not a good one.

Seattle/Portland doesn't currently have the arena, so a move to there couldn't be immediate. A positive to both of those cities is that you would get an immediate "rivalry" with Dallas or Vancouver, which is good.

Winnipeg is out of the question. They just built an arena that isn't up to NHL standards for capacity and luxury boxes for new arenas, and obviously they're not going to build another one. That, and the corporate dollar isn't there compared to Seattle/Portland/Houston.

 

[futurcorerock]

just a bit OT, but can a mod answer me why one of the default avatars is Rosie O'Donnell?

Am I missing a really inside joke?

 

[Jaded-Fan]

If teams moved, what markets make sense? If there are gvoing to be 30 teams like Bettman says, then Pittsburgh for sure is going to have to do something, because the Mellon Arena lease runs out in a fe years and the state's not going to let the Pens renew it.

Not much news to report since July, but here is the most up to date info, basically it is pretty much agreed that Pittsburgh's one slots license will be used at least partially to fund a new arena . . . http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/04188/342405.stm

 

[Jacob]

If teams moved, what markets make sense? If there are gvoing to be 30 teams like Bettman says, then Pittsburgh for sure is going to have to do something, because the Mellon Arena lease runs out in a fe years and the state's not going to let the Pens renew it.

The state? What do they have to do with the lease?

 

[Shainsaw]

Lav Vegas

I actually think a team in Vegas would do well. Not from local support but from tourists coming to cheer for their own team. For me nothing would be better than catching an Oilers away game in Vegas.

 

[ATLANTARANGER*]

Chicago

They haven't had one in decades!

 

[Reilly311]

correct me if I'm wrong, but couldn't the pens just renew their lease to keep the team there? Or is it more complicated that that? Lets say the Pens get a new arena, but it's not started for another 3 years. Couldn't they just extend the lease until it's demolished?

 

[Tb0ne]

http://www.nhl2pdx.com/index.html

I think they might have an arena in Portland but I'm not totally sure, if there is it's where the Portland NBA team plays obviously.

Las Vegas might be a good spot, because it's just a matter of time before some major sport puts a team there and it would be good for the NHL to blaze that trail so to speak.

Seattle would be great for a cross border rivalry with Vancouver, but as other posters have said they have no arena.

 

[Old Hickory]

just a bit OT, but can a mod answer me why one of the default avatars is Rosie O'Donnell?

Am I missing a really inside joke?

Someone's avatar is changed to Rosie if it breaks avatar guidelines

 

[Jaded-Fan]

A more interesting question to me. Assume the following:

1. CBA resolved.
2. New Arena deal.

Many owners, including maybe Mario I would think who only took over the team as otherwise the bankruptcy court would have given him almost $0 on the $30 million remaining on his contract, are looking to get out once franchise values rise.

Mark Cuban, who was born in Pittsburgh and was one of the suitors for the Pens when they went into bankruptcy, though I am not sure how serious a suitor he was, and now is openly coveting a franchise. I wonder if he could end up owning the Pens in a couple of years.

 

[Isles72]

The absolute largest hockey market in the world , Toronto (southern ontario) has all but 1 NHL team , the Leafs

meanwhile , theres 2 teams in Los Angeles (Ducks,Kings) and the obvious one everyone mentions the threee NY area teams (Rag$,Devs,Isles)

I think its time to put another NHL team in the Toronto market(no not Hamilton either, North York if anything) so that the average fan can get to see a game .

The corporate suits can go see the leafs at ACC much like the suits go to the NYR games at MSG while the blue collar folk go see the ''other Toronto '' team much like the Devils and Isles fanbase

 

[Anthony*]

hamilton
winnipeg
quebec
london
milwaukee

 

[futurcorerock]

I actually think a team in Vegas would do well. Not from local support but from tourists coming to cheer for their own team. For me nothing would be better than catching an Oilers away game in Vegas.

You're wrong.

Vegas' population has exploded in the last 10 years. They are a city that could gain most of it's support from local fans.

 

[Anthony*]

yea vegas is one of the fastest growing cities in america

 

[Old Hickory]

The absolute largest hockey market in the world , Toronto (southern ontario) has all but 1 NHL team , the Leafs

meanwhile , theres 2 teams in Los Angeles (Ducks,Kings) and the obvious one everyone mentions the threee NY area teams (Rag$,Devs,Isles)

I think its time to put another NHL team in the Toronto market(no not Hamilton either, North York if anything) so that the average fan can get to see a game .

The corporate suits can go see the leafs at ACC much like the suits go to the NYR games at MSG while the blue collar folk go see the ''other Toronto '' team much like the Devils and Isles fanbase

Ny is the number 1 US media market and LA is second. I don't know NY's population figures, but there are more people in California than all of Canada.

 

[triggrman]

I love Vegas.

 

[Lionel Hutz]

.....because the Mellon Arena lease runs out in a fe years and the state's not going to let the Pens renew it.

say again?

 

[kdb209]

http://www.nhl2pdx.com/index.html

I think they might have an arena in Portland but I'm not totally sure, if there is it's where the Portland NBA team plays obviously.

Las Vegas might be a good spot, because it's just a matter of time before some major sport puts a team there and it would be good for the NHL to blaze that trail so to speak.

Seattle would be great for a cross border rivalry with Vancouver, but as other posters have said they have no arena.

Portland will get a team if and when Paul Allen decides he wants another toy. He owns the Trailblazers and controls the arena (Rose Garden).

I still think Vegas is the best untapped market. No professional sports (unless you count UNLV) they know how to market, they have a growing local population, and a huge tourist influx every day.

Now, the question is can the league get over the obvious gambling connections. I don't think the Canadian teams will have a problem with it - isn't there a legal sportsbook type lottery in some provinces? Convincing the US owners is another story. It certainly would not have been picked as an expansion market, but if an owner tried to move there, how much would the league oppose or try to stop it, especially if the alternative was threat of bankrupcy/contraction.

But did I mention - Vegas knows how to market. Can't you just see the glitz, Fire and Ice, Ice in the desert, Vegas on the Rocks, etc.

But outside of Paul Allen, Vegas is the only real appealing relocation market.

 

[Game_Misconduct]

Houston would work. There's plenty of corporate money there and a brand new arena downtown.

 

[Game_Misconduct]

Portland will get a team if and when Paul Allen decides he wants another toy. He owns the Trailblazers and controls the arena (Rose Garden).

I still think Vegas is the best untapped market. No professional sports (unless you count UNLV) they know how to market, they have a growing local population, and a huge tourist influx every day.

Now, the question is can the league get over the obvious gambling connections. I don't think the Canadian teams will have a problem with it - isn't there a legal sportsbook type lottery in some provinces? Convincing the US owners is another story. It certainly would not have been picked as an expansion market, but if an owner tried to move there, how much would the league oppose or try to stop it, especially if the alternative was threat of bankrupcy/contraction.

But did I mention - Vegas knows how to market. Can't you just see the glitz, Fire and Ice, Ice in the desert, Vegas on the Rocks, etc.

But outside of Paul Allen, Vegas is the only real appealing relocation market.

Is the Thomas & Mack Center fitted for hockey?

 

[Gary Buttman]

http://www.nhl2pdx.com/index.html

I think they might have an arena in Portland but I'm not totally sure, if there is it's where the Portland NBA team plays obviously.

Las Vegas might be a good spot, because it's just a matter of time before some major sport puts a team there and it would be good for the NHL to blaze that trail so to speak.

Seattle would be great for a cross border rivalry with Vancouver, but as other posters have said they have no arena.

Portland has the beautiful 19,000 seat Rose Garden, which just hosted the Figure Skating Championships, so its obviously capable of hlding an ice-related event. The arena draws thousands to the Winter Hawks, a major-junior team.
-------------------
Just a thought...but with the new arena opening, what if Carolina moved 90 mins down the road to Charlotte, a market 5 times the size of Raleigh

 

[Brindfan]

Is the Thomas & Mack Center fitted for hockey?

Not really. That's where the Thunder played when the IHL was still around. The rink wasn't "regulation size". Also, the seats aren't set up for viewing hockey. Many are obstructed, and the scoreboard isn't centered when the rink is there. It's over the "home team's" attack twice zone.

 

[Brindfan]

Portland has the beautiful 19,000 seat Rose Garden, which just hosted the Figure Skating Championships, so its obviously capable of hlding an ice-related event. The arena draws thousands to the Winter Hawks, a major-junior team.

I believe that the Winter Hawks average over 10,000 a game.