Will Atlanta Get Another Team?

[Voight]

Nope... tried twice and failed both times.... need to try QC or somewhere else for a 2nd time.

 

[Bookie21]

Nope... tried twice and failed both times.... need to try QC or somewhere else for a 2nd time.

Quebec failed twice you know

 

[JeffreyLFC]

Quebec failed twice you know

They never failed with their new top of the art building you know.

 

[Bookie21]

They never failed with their new top of the art building you know.

I guess Atlanta can claim that too once they get their "New Top Of The Art" Building

 

[powerstuck]

Quebec failed twice you know

Please do elaborate !

 

[Voight]

Quebec failed twice you know

 

[JeffreyLFC]

I guess Atlanta can claim that too once they get their "New Top Of The Art" Building

Never been to the old Colisée have you? Comparing the Philipps center to the Colisée is like comparing mild stomach ache to diarrhea.

The new Quebec arena offer way chance to survive.

 

[Bookie21]

Please do elaborate !

Quebec Nordiques and Quebec Bulldogs both participated in the NHL.

 

[cbcwpg]

Quebec Nordiques and Quebec Bulldogs both participated in the NHL.

Right, and the economies, the city, the ownership, etc. were so much the same as when those two teams existed.

Even Atlanta gets the benefit of doubt because again, totally different situations for both teams. And what happened in the past doesn't reflect what could happen in the future.

 

[Bookie21]

Right, and the economies, the city, the ownership, etc. were so much the same as when those two teams existed.

Even Atlanta gets the benefit of doubt because again, totally different situations for both teams. And what happened in the past doesn't reflect what could happen in the future.

That was exactly my point, both of Atlanta's situations were completely different as were Quebec cities. Different generations completely. My point being Atlanta would be on similar footing as Quebec, IF Atlanta had a brand new arena, and IF Atlanta had ownership. They don't though so Quebec is light years ahead of Atlanta in regards to getting a new team.

 

[edog37]

Atlanta itself will likely be served by the Gladiators, for as long as they exist, since they now carry the name of the city after years branding as Gwinnett, much as the Braves did when Coolray Field was built to entice the Stripers as the team is now known as after relocating from Richmond.... remember Fulton County no longer has any pro sports or arenas now that the Braves have left.... only the arena that houses the Hawks remains in that metro

Falcons play in downtown Atlanta...

 

[nhlfan79]

Falcons play in downtown Atlanta...

United, too.

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

Falcons play in downtown Atlanta...

NOT ALWAYS, they haven't....care to explain why Atlanta was added to an existing franchise, whereas the arena is not in Atlanta.. edog, give you another example, Atlanta Motor Speedway is in what Georgia city/town Hampton, MUCH THE WAY the Braves moved south toward Gwinnett than Fulton County....

Phillips aka the Omni, the arena it replaced, is downtown, as was the Georgia Dome, before its implosion.

 

[gstommylee]

That was exactly my point, both of Atlanta's situations were completely different as were Quebec cities. Different generations completely. My point being Atlanta would be on similar footing as Quebec, IF Atlanta had a brand new arena, and IF Atlanta had ownership. They don't though so Quebec is light years ahead of Atlanta in regards to getting a new team.

If they had someone that actually wanted to have hockey in the arena which is why the thrasher left in the first place. Owner of the arena (at the time) did not want hockey.

 

[Hockeyholic]

Quebec failed twice you know

They relocated to Denver in 95. When was the other time?

 

[Killion]

They relocated to Denver in 95. When was the other time?

1919/1920.... Quebec Athletic Club.... moved to Hamilton Ontario where they became the Tigers.... 1925 players in the Hammer went on strike & so the NHL, ever the Union Busters, sold the team to Bootlegger, Loan Shark & Pimp Big Billy Dwyer who moved them to NY where they became the Americans, the first NHL team to play out of MSG..... and on & on & on.... The forerunners to the QAA were the Quebec Bulldogs, founding members of the NHA, forerunner to the NHL with many historians not delineating or separating the two as the NHL founded initially as a temporary umbrella under which Ottawa, the Bulldogs & teams in Montreal would play while they sorted out the mess with a troublesome owner in Toronto, then return to calling themselves the NHA, the National Hockey Association. The Quebec Bulldogs a founding member of the League in 1909, 2X Stanley Cup Champions. And while they were a founding member of the NHL as well, they suspended operations for a couple of years before rejoining as the Quebec Athletic Club.....

Fact is, the city & region is one of the most important cradles of the game in North America, and what happened in 1920 or the 1990's for that matter completely irrelevant; a specious, inane argument to be making. Pittsburgh had an NHL franchise from 1925/30, Philadelphia in 1930/31... Failed.... Does that therefore somehow equate that when they came calling in 1967 they should have just been rejected outright because... hey... you failed 37 years ago, losers, go away, application rejected.... Never mind that Pennsylvania was home to the first Pro Hockey League on the planet, or that mention of the game of shinny being played in the City of Brotherly Love first appears in writing in 1776... Ha?! Ya. Thats some serious bona fides right there. Ed Snider no Dummy.... That they are populous, wealthy in terms of corporate heft & very much sports oriented... Likewise Quebec City only its smaller obviously, so more what youd classify as "high end boutique". They deserve, they should be in the NHL. A matter insofar as Im concerned of manifest destiny, will happen.

As for Atlanta.... if I lived down there, I wouldnt want them back... thats twice now this league & or ownerships screwed them over. Fact is, they should never have lost the Flames in 1980. That was Crime 1.... The NHL should have been indicted. Grand Jury. Former Georgia Governor & Flames owner Cousins turning States evidence for the FBI, DOJ, NHL charged under the RICO Act. Organized Crime Baby. A Cabal. Taken down. Would have shut down Eagleson, uncovered the NHL/NHL Player Pension Scam before it ruined so many lives & finally did wind up before the Bench a decade later. Disgraceful. Cousins knew all about it. Demanded he be allowed to sell out of market for twice what he was offered locally & if he wasnt permitted to do so, blow the whistle on the NHL Board of Governors dirty little secret that actually began in the late 40's. .. This league is no better than the Carpetbaggers & larcenous reconstructionists of an earlier century when it comes to the South & Southwestern teams. They lost the colors in Atlanta TWICE. Bettman should have resigned at the same time he announced the Thrashers move to Winnipeg.

 

[garnetpalmetto]

NOT ALWAYS, they haven't....care to explain why Atlanta was added to an existing franchise, whereas the arena is not in Atlanta.. edog, give you another example, Atlanta Motor Speedway is in what Georgia city/town Hampton, MUCH THE WAY the Braves moved south toward Gwinnett than Fulton County....

Phillips aka the Omni, the arena it replaced, is downtown, as was the Georgia Dome, before its implosion.

Hutch, your knowledge of Falcons stadium history and Atlanta geography both need brushed up. First, the Falcons have always played downtown, first in Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium (1966-1991), then in the Georgia Dome (1992-2016), and now in Mercedes-Benz Stadium (2017-present). All three venues are in downtown Atlanta.

Second, the Braves moved to Cobb County, which is northwest of downtown (towards Marietta). Gwinnett County, meanwhile is northeast of downtown Atlanta.

 

[Rhodes 81]

If the NHL ever does return here, they HAVE to get the ownership right. Ownership is everything. It's no accident that Atlanta United is annihilating attendance records for MLS. It's because they have one of the best owners in sports. Someone for whom money is no object who truly just wants to build a winner and a great experience for fans.

 

[BKIslandersFan]

If the NHL ever does return here, they HAVE to get the ownership right. Ownership is everything. It's no accident that Atlanta United is annihilating attendance records for MLS. It's because they have one of the best owners in sports. Someone for whom money is no object who truly just wants to build a winner and a great experience for fans.

How many NHL teams rent rather than own? Islanders, but it didn't work because they didn't own it and is getting a new stadium.

 

[Jumptheshark]

Poor ownership ( twice) led to the Flames & the Thrashers leaving. That said, it's a large market with a unique

.

So, should Atlanta be awarded a franchise in the next few years?

why?

because they have a TV audience? Atlanta has A LOT OF OTHER OPTIONS eating up that TV audience.

time to walk away from them

 

[Tom ServoMST3K]

Franchises are technically awarded to cities, and that's how it's branded, but in reality, they're awarded to owners.

So who would own the next ATL franchise?

 

[GoldenSeal]

I'd rather see Quebec get their NHL franchise back. To me, Atlanta is 4hrs away from Nashville and any fans in the area are probably Predators fans if not something else imo.

 

[SunDancer]

As is being proven with Atlanta United, Atlanta would easily work as an NHL market so long as there is stable, committed ownership that is interested in fielding a competitive team, pretty much like any other market. Tampa, Dallas, and Nashville are what a competently run Atlanta franchise would look like. The Thrashers failed because ASG deliberately sabotaged the team in order to favor their preferred Hawks. This has been discussed ad nauseum here. It was not a failure of the market itself.

So why doesn't it "easily work" in places like Carolina or Florida?

Of course, if the Thrashers had been lucky enough to have key ingredients in place it could have worked but the reality is that it's quite rare for all those pieces of the puzzle to fall into place ... for any franchise. If you want to use Tampa as an example of success, then you also have to take into account the incredibly good fortune of that franchise. Sure, if you have a wealthy committed owner, the league's best GM, a perfect arena situation, an NHL superstar surrounded by talent at every position and no NBA to compete with, then you're right ... Atlanta could "easily work" too.

As for the other statement I highlighted, I've never understood why ASG would deliberately sabotage their own property unless they couldn't reasonably see any way to profit from it in Atlanta.

 

[AtlantaWhaler]

So why doesn't it "easily work" in places like Carolina or Florida?

Of course, if the Thrashers had been lucky enough to have key ingredients in place it could have worked but the reality is that it's quite rare for all those pieces of the puzzle to fall into place ... for any franchise. If you want to use Tampa as an example of success, then you also have to take into account the incredibly good fortune of that franchise. Sure, if you have a wealthy committed owner, the league's best GM, a perfect arena situation, an NHL superstar surrounded by talent at every position and no NBA to compete with, then you're right ... Atlanta could "easily work" too.

As for the other statement I highlighted, I've never understood why ASG would deliberately sabotage their own property unless they couldn't reasonably see any way to profit from it in Atlanta.

Sure, Tampa is a great example. Or how about Nashville, the closest franchise? You passed over highlighting where the poster also mentioned Dallas.

As to your question regarding the ownership, they NEVER wanted the team. At all. The whole story has been discussed a ridiculous amount here, so just look it up.

 

[AtlantaWhaler]

Franchises are technically awarded to cities, and that's how it's branded, but in reality, they're awarded to owners.

So who would own the next ATL franchise?

Great question. I was holding some hope Tony Ressler (Hawks and arena owner) would step up, but it appears that ship has sailed. It's nice to see so many huge corporations in town, but so far, I'm not seeing any blip on the radar.