RedSoxNation said:
I guess the question is where would you move an NHL franchise too.....its fine if you want to crap all over Winnipeg, but if not Winnipeg where else. Consider the other cities, where you might want to move an NHL team and compare that to Winnipeg.
Kansas City: already has a MLB and NFL team. Yes they're building an arena there, hockey failed once and if you could choose between K.C. and Winnipeg.
Portland: Enough already, the market isn't big enough and if Paul Allen who has more money then sense when it comes to sports isn't interested, again you make the choice between Winnipeg and Portland
Houston: Big city, fourth largest in the U.S. Good potential rival for Dallas but who's kiddinng who here. Again decide between the two, and you still choose Winnipeg
Seattle: Too many teams in that market already, basketball team always complains about their arena
Las Vegas: Stupid choice, their Mayor Oscar Goldman put hockey at the bottom of his list.
So if a team is going to move, where would you move a team too if not Winnipeg? Maybe Winnipeg does make sense when you think about it
I won't count out Winnipeg as a possible relocation option - it's much more viable now in a post-cap world - but I would not consider it the top choice market.
My handicapping of the relocation market race:
1. Portland. Paul Allen no longer controls the Rose Garden. This was the biggest block before. A long history with the Winter Hawks.
2. Houston. Largest city in US/Canada without a team - 4th largest US city (over 2M), 10th largest metro area (almost 5M), #10 US media market. Hockey history in the WHA and minor leagues. Natural rival with Dallas.
After this it becomes less clear:
3a. KC. New arena ready and looking for a tenant and will give very favorable terms. And if you wan't to use hockey failing once as a no-go criteria, you can also cross off Winnipeg, and make Colorado and San Jose and Atlanta give back their teams.
3b. Vegas. The right ownership group could make this wildly successful or an abject failure. Fastest growing city in the US and it knows how to market.
3c. Winnipeg. I'd rank the 'Peg even odds with KC and Vegas, but a notch or two below Portland or Houston.
4. Seattle - least likely.