Wetcoaster said:
What are you talking about?
I have nothing against Winnipeg and I would like to see a team there but it is not realistic.
wetcoaster, i've often enjoyed reading your posts as they are usually intelligent, informative and well researched. your knowledge of the law has been a definite bonus to these forums and are much appreciated.
that being said, i've read before in a prior post that you would like to see a team in winnipeg, however every post i've read of yours regarding the subject is negative.
when you point out facts, it is a benefit to the discussion.
however, from my point of view, and i wouldn't presume to say i have a better knowledge of the winnipeg business scene than you as i don't know you personally, but i will say i have a very good sense of the the business community here.
it's for this reason that i become concerned when someone opinionates that winnipeg's corporate sector wouldn't/couldn't support the NHL.
the MTS Centre's luxury suites are all sold out at $ 45,000 apiece. This is amazing corporate support for AHL hockey. Could these firms afford $ 125,000 per suite for NHL ? This I where we disagree.
I know my firm would definitely step up to the plate and pay the extra amount, because frankly it makes good business sense, and i see the other suite holders happily forking out the extra $$$ as well. Winnipeg has a thriving business community, including booming high tech & housing development sectors.
Winnipeg's arena, at 15,015 seats, is often said to be small to be an NHL calibre rink. However, Gary Bettman has said the arena is fine for the NHL, so I'll take his word for it. Further Cal Nicholls, part owner of the Edmonton Oilers, has been quoted, to paraphase " it's better to have 1,000 seats to few, then 2,000 seats to many". Of course, simple supply and demand equations also prove this theory, which also benefits ancillary businesses such as tv rights, pay per view, etc.
also, bettman stated something along the lines of ... "in hindsight we should have done more to save winnipeg, although i don't see a team in winnipeg in the foreseeable future, as we are first committed to making our current 30 teams viable". my response to this is that the longer the lockout goes on, the less chance current struggling markets in non-traditional markets have to be viable. the nhl can have a $ 15 million salary cap, it's not going to matter to carolina and florida when 5,000 fans are showing up at games.
and finally, all 30 nhl teams equally share both national tv deals, so a relocation of a current team wouldn't affect any Cdn clubs revenues from these areas, which i presume is one of the main reasons both the calgary and edmonton ownership groups both support an NHL team relocating to Winnipeg.