Sammy said:
I agree with you, & I would like to see hockey teams stay in Canada. On a more rational basis, I just dont think that many US cities are all that supportive of NHL hockey, particularly if a team is going through a rough stretch.
I am pro-Canada for the NHL as well and wish that more teams were in the league from Canada still. However they are not, and I think the best markets (most money to be made) are where you'll see NHL teams in the long run. Like it or not, Phoenix may be a better business venture for an NHL team than Winnipeg.
I think it's a little foolish when people say there shouldn't be any teams in the south. You rarely hear the Dallas, Colorado, San Jose, Tampa Bay, or Los Angeles should not have a team, while you do hear how Phoenix, Raleigh, Miami, Nashville, Atlanta, and Anaheim shouldn't have a team. It takes time for a new sport to take to a new region. That's the whole point of expansion. If it can work in 5 markets, it might work for the other 6, or it might not. Some people are so conservative to expansion I'm shocked that they don't complain about there being more than 6 teams, and point to the late 60's expansion as the decline of hockey.
In the case of Phoenix, it's not just hockey, if your pro team isn't winning -- the fans aren't showing up. I think that is becoming an increasing example of the United States fan and maybe a result of the economy today as well. It also might speak volumes about the cost of tickets for a sport that doesn't have the tradition in these markets. If the NHL's prices in Phoenix, Miami, Atlanta, etc. were competitive with those of the NBA or MLB...well I'll save that for another discussion.