Could Charlotte, NC Suport the NHL?
- Thread starter Grrrowlman
- Start date
AdmiralsFan24
Registered User
Anton Babchuk
Registered User
The capacity is 19,000+. The hockey capacity is listed as 14,100 because they curtain off the upper level for Checkers games.
But to answer the question, no.
rt
The Kinder, Gentler Version
Canuckommunist
Registered User
No. The Canes are just getting their **** together. Maybe long, long term it's possible but there's too many other palatable locations with more money available and less risk.
DaleCooper
NEVER 4GET
I grew up in Charlotte, and no, it could not in my opinion support NHL hockey.
However, if it could, the Time Warner Cable Arena could not host an NHL team. The 14,000 hockey capacity is not from curtaining off the upper deck (though that is done for nearly all games); it's because the arena is not long enough for a hockey rink, so every lower level seat on one end is retracted.
You can sort of see what I am referring to here:
However, if it could, the Time Warner Cable Arena could not host an NHL team. The 14,000 hockey capacity is not from curtaining off the upper deck (though that is done for nearly all games); it's because the arena is not long enough for a hockey rink, so every lower level seat on one end is retracted.
You can sort of see what I am referring to here:
No Fun Shogun
34-38-61-10-13-15
No chance whatsoever. The Hurricanes are just now starting to become successful, and plopping another team in North Carolina would likely cut their fanbase down by... what? At least a third, you'd have to imagine.
I grew up in Charlotte, and no, it could not in my opinion support NHL hockey.
However, if it could, the Time Warner Cable Arena could not host an NHL team. The 14,000 hockey capacity is not from curtaining off the upper deck (though that is done for nearly all games); it's because the arena is not long enough for a hockey rink, so every lower level seat on one end is retracted.
You can sort of see what I am referring to here:
why ? Carolina bought the Albany AHL License to bring the Checkers to be their affiliate
DaleCooper
NEVER 4GET
Why to which part?
If to the arena part, I don't know how to further explain it. The arena is simply not suitable for anything more than minor league hockey, from both a capacity standpoint and a sight lines standpoint. It would probably less people for hockey than even Winnipeg, and the upper deck of one end would not even be able to see the end of the ice closest to them.
If it's about the city, it is already somewhat saturated with NFL and NBA. The NBA team is a disaster, and the Panthers fan base is extremely fair weather and wine and cheese. Charlotte to me has never been a great sports town. Plus Charlotte is close enough to Raleigh that adding a Charlotte team could very well have the effect of destroying both teams.
If to the arena part, I don't know how to further explain it. The arena is simply not suitable for anything more than minor league hockey, from both a capacity standpoint and a sight lines standpoint. It would probably less people for hockey than even Winnipeg, and the upper deck of one end would not even be able to see the end of the ice closest to them.
If it's about the city, it is already somewhat saturated with NFL and NBA. The NBA team is a disaster, and the Panthers fan base is extremely fair weather and wine and cheese. Charlotte to me has never been a great sports town. Plus Charlotte is close enough to Raleigh that adding a Charlotte team could very well have the effect of destroying both teams.
garnetpalmetto
Jerkministrator
FTFY. Sorry, I'm anal when it comes to geography. At any rate, add me to another "no" vote - Charlotte's also a booming city but it suffered worse than most during the bank crisis since it was headquarters for Wachovia and Bank of America both. Add in the issues Anton Cooper points out with Time Warner Cable Arena and the fact that the 'Canes are making inroads into the market to further their reach...I doubt it happens soon.
Jets4Life
Registered User
Atlanta did support the Thrashers for the most part. It was lousy management that killed the crowds.
bacon25
Unenthusiastic User
This would actually be a nice place for a team add in Provo to that mix since they are only 30 minutes to the south. With only the Jazz and Real to watch, I could see it working but the teams management would have to do a good job selling the game.
As for another team, sorry not in this lifetime. Unless the Hurricanes move there from Raleigh.
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Big McLargehuge
Fragile Traveler
Yeah, two teams in North Carolina...great idea.
Charlotte is a pretty lousy professional sports market and there's already market saturation with Raleigh/the arena isn't NHL-capable...so...we're done here. No.
Charlotte is a pretty lousy professional sports market and there's already market saturation with Raleigh/the arena isn't NHL-capable...so...we're done here. No.
tarheelhockey
Offside Review Specialist
Yes, Charlotte could support a team. All we need to do is get in a time machine and convince Pete Karmanos to wait eight years move the Whalers to Charlotte instead of Raleigh.
A more serious response... Charlotte is capable of supporting NHL hockey. Here's why it will never happen:
- In 1997, when the Whalers moved to Raleigh, Charlotte's big venue was the Charlotte Coliseum which did not have ice. They considered adding it for an AHL bid, but decided to pass. So there was no hockey-capable venue (of 10,000+ seats) until 2005.
- From 1997-2002 the Hornets were the big dog in town. The NHL could never have existed as a 3rd league in Charlotte, so even if the Hurricanes hadn't been there it would not have been considered for that round of expansion. Never mind that even the Hornets couldn't secure a new arena, so the NHL wouldn't have had a chance in hell.
- There was a small window from 2002-2004 where the NHL could hypothetically have taken advantage of the NBA's absence, except for the Hurricanes being in Raleigh. Had the Hurricanes stayed in Hartford, 2002-2004 would have been the NHL's best shot for Charlotte. The NBA had already promised an expansion team upon completion of a new arena, so that would have basically been open warfare between the two leagues to give the city the biggest sweetheart deal. Given the fate of the Bobcats, it's probably better this did not happen. The Hurricanes have been at least as successful in Raleigh as they could have been in Charlotte.
- As it turns out, the NBA came back into a new arena in 2004. Not only does that saturate the market, but they went and did this with the design:
Basketball configuration, looks good.
Hockey configuration, ummm....
So now you have a holy trinity of obstacles: saturated market, inadequate facility, and cannibalization from another NHL team. It just wouldn't work. Charlotte's most NHL-oriented future would be as a successful affiliate for the Hurricanes which would help grow a secondary market of Canes fans in the long run.
A more serious response... Charlotte is capable of supporting NHL hockey. Here's why it will never happen:
- In 1997, when the Whalers moved to Raleigh, Charlotte's big venue was the Charlotte Coliseum which did not have ice. They considered adding it for an AHL bid, but decided to pass. So there was no hockey-capable venue (of 10,000+ seats) until 2005.
- From 1997-2002 the Hornets were the big dog in town. The NHL could never have existed as a 3rd league in Charlotte, so even if the Hurricanes hadn't been there it would not have been considered for that round of expansion. Never mind that even the Hornets couldn't secure a new arena, so the NHL wouldn't have had a chance in hell.
- There was a small window from 2002-2004 where the NHL could hypothetically have taken advantage of the NBA's absence, except for the Hurricanes being in Raleigh. Had the Hurricanes stayed in Hartford, 2002-2004 would have been the NHL's best shot for Charlotte. The NBA had already promised an expansion team upon completion of a new arena, so that would have basically been open warfare between the two leagues to give the city the biggest sweetheart deal. Given the fate of the Bobcats, it's probably better this did not happen. The Hurricanes have been at least as successful in Raleigh as they could have been in Charlotte.
- As it turns out, the NBA came back into a new arena in 2004. Not only does that saturate the market, but they went and did this with the design:
Basketball configuration, looks good.
Hockey configuration, ummm....
So now you have a holy trinity of obstacles: saturated market, inadequate facility, and cannibalization from another NHL team. It just wouldn't work. Charlotte's most NHL-oriented future would be as a successful affiliate for the Hurricanes which would help grow a secondary market of Canes fans in the long run.
Ozz
Registered User
drive45
Registered User
