Fertitta shows renewed interest in bringing hockey to Houston (Bloomberg)

[KevFu]

Honestly, extending the current lease as is, would be Fertitia's best option. Maintain the no-compete clause to ensure that he has less competition for entertainment dollars.

I mean, PHI, Bos, STL, even other arenas like in POR, Van, MON, Tor are older and are not likely to be replaced with a new one. Just spend the money for a renovation.

2003 arena, puts it within 2-3 years of any of the ones in Minny/CBS/Dal/Glendale (more location than anything)/Winnipeg from 2000-2004 and NJ in 2007. How many of those would be abandoned for another arena vs doing a 9 figure renovation?

In NBA, there are the ones in SA, OKC (built bare bones), Memphis, and Charlotte, from 2002 to 2005.

I agree, but in negotiations, you need to give to get, so if you're Houston, do you want to give away the gatekeeping ability for your city's NHL future AGAIN? Or do you want to be a five-sport city?

The other thing is if you build a new arena for the NBA team... then the old building is by definition a competing venue. Houston literally CAN'T give Fertitta the same lease they gave Alexander on a new NBA arena because you're probably not finding another mega church to buy the old NBA arena off you. And it's location is outstanding.

If your Houston, you either want an NBA and NHL team playing nice, in a brand new amazing building... OR you want the NBA owner to build his own privately financed arena and your new NHL team in a renovated Toyota Center.

 

[Yukon Joe]

I agree, but in negotiations, you need to give to get, so if you're Houston, do you want to give away the gatekeeping ability for your city's NHL future AGAIN? Or do you want to be a five-sport city?

The other thing is if you build a new arena for the NBA team... then the old building is by definition a competing venue. Houston literally CAN'T give Fertitta the same lease they gave Alexander on a new NBA arena because you're probably not finding another mega church to buy the old NBA arena off you. And it's location is outstanding.

If your Houston, you either want an NBA and NHL team playing nice, in a brand new amazing building... OR you want the NBA owner to build his own privately financed arena and your new NHL team in a renovated Toyota Center.

So here in Edmonton, the city not only agreed to help finance the construction of Rogers Place, but ALSO had to agree the old arena would not be a competing venue (it's now been closed for years with plans to tear it down).

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

I agree, but in negotiations, you need to give to get, so if you're Houston, do you want to give away the gatekeeping ability for your city's NHL future AGAIN? Or do you want to be a five-sport city?

The other thing is if you build a new arena for the NBA team... then the old building is by definition a competing venue. Houston literally CAN'T give Fertitta the same lease they gave Alexander on a new NBA arena because you're probably not finding another mega church to buy the old NBA arena off you. And it's location is outstanding.

If your Houston, you either want an NBA and NHL team playing nice, in a brand new amazing building... OR you want the NBA owner to build his own privately financed arena and your new NHL team in a renovated Toyota Center.

remember, Kev... Fertitta maybe the landlord at Toyota Center.... but also has his family name on the arena at U-Houston as well after what the Cougars just tried to do in the NCAA.....

 

[StreetHawk]

remember, Kev... Fertitta maybe the landlord at Toyota Center.... but also has his family name on the arena at U-Houston as well after what the Cougars just tried to do in the NCAA.....

In the end, Houston will be similar to AZ and Sarver. Sarver opted to only have a reno at Footprint to maintain control over the arena revenues vs go 50/50 in a new arena with the Coyotes.
If push comes to shove, he'd follow the same blueprint if he doesn't want to pay the NHL's price. Main difference is that the arena is NHL capable, vs not in AZ. So, he always has it in the back pocket if he can get the NHL at his price. So, extending the lease with the same conditions would be his fallback plan. No way he's leaving Houston. Too lucrative a market.

 

[LT]

Fertitta ever threatening to have the Rockets leave Houston would be absolutely shocking. He has far too much of his entire portfolio built up within the city. The good will he's built up would be wiped clean with a threat like that. He's not going to risk any of that just to try and get a slightly better arena deal/situation.

He is stuck with Houston, and we're stuck with him.

 

[StreetHawk]

Fertitta ever threatening to have the Rockets leave Houston would be absolutely shocking. He has far too much of his entire portfolio built up within the city. The good will he's built up would be wiped clean with a threat like that. He's not going to risk any of that just to try and get a slightly better arena deal/situation.

He is stuck with Houston, and we're stuck with him.

I think AZ should have held the line with Sarver. That threat to leave PHX, where was he going to go? SEA? The city owns the land and OVG the building. Doubt he'd have gotten as good a deal as he would have in PHX. What other market would he have been able to go to? Doubt the NBA would allow him to go to LV. Sounds like a future NBA team would have to build their own arena. Not sure what the agreement is with the Knights and T-Mobile. But, first one in the building has its advantages.

Top 10/12 markets, pretty much an idle threat to leave. Not going to find a better one (for the NBA). NHL, team isn't going to relocate and keep same owner. NBA owner would control the building, thus would likely have to be a sale.

 

[KevFu]

Fertitta ever threatening to have the Rockets leave Houston would be absolutely shocking. He has far too much of his entire portfolio built up within the city. The good will he's built up would be wiped clean with a threat like that. He's not going to risk any of that just to try and get a slightly better arena deal/situation.

He is stuck with Houston, and we're stuck with him.

Extremely valid. I think we tend to think adversarially... there really isn't a need for anyone to be adversaries. Houston wants to keep the Rockets and add an NHL team. Feritta wants the best arena deal possible. An NHL team helps that. The NHL wants Houston, but they want Fertitta to pay full price. We just need the incentive for Fertitta to pull the trigger on a full-price expansion team, and the Toyota Center leasing coming up and the "what's the future of an arena" is a good lynch pin.

 

[GKJ]