72projectmgr
Registered User
- May 3, 2006
- 90
- 0
ChitownExile said:What you heard and the reality of the Pens are two completely different things.
For starters, the metropolitan area of Pittsburgh (primarily Butler and Allegheny counties) alone is nearly 25% of Quebec's total population. And considering that 3.5 million is the estimated total of the Montreal metropolitan area, I don't know where your "new" fans are coming from, because the Habs already have quite a fan base. Secondly, the number of counties in Ohio, West Virginia, and PA that are within an hour of Pittsburgh probably would add a couple hundred thousand to the available market for the Pens. That might push the possible market for the Pens to well over the 2.5 million mark.
According to the numbers this year, the Pens averaged 15,804 people per game, which is over 90% capacity. For the second WORST club in the NHL. Season ticket prices, while lower than Detroit and NYR, for example, are still not bottom-of-the-barrel. In fact, the biggest problem with the Pens' finances isn't attendence or merchandising, but a terrible lease on an outdated facility. Fix that, and I'm willing to bet the Pens turn a profit a few years into a new lease.
Also, Pittsburgh had the second highest TV ratings in the US, out of all American teams, second to Detroit. I don't see a new team out of Quebec commanding nearly that amount of brand recognition, even with Crosby and Malkin.
I'd love to see Quebec with a team again, but to say that Quebec City is a more viable hockey market than Pittsburgh is absurd when looking at the numbers. It's purely Canadian bias.
with a metro population of 2.4 million, pittsburgh would be the 3rd largest city in canada behind toronto and montreal and slightly larger than vancouver, so it's not as small as you think.raketheleaves said:I don't even think there's a comparison, but I was trying to be nice. Quebec City is in the heart of hockey country, Pittsburgh is a medium-sized US town that has a hockey team and a decent, if sporadic, hockey tradition (mostly Lemieux tho). I know you guys are nervous about losing your team, and I might seem like I'm poking a stick, and you must be sick of all the stories. I've been to Pittsburgh and liked it a lot, so I have nothing against the town.
Apparently this story is a huge hoax anyway. And, like it's been said, the Penguins have legal complications that make it unlikely that they would move, at least in the short-term. Sounds like Lemieux is really trying to make it happen (a new Pittsburgh arena) by playing hardball tho.
Im not trying to say that Pittsburgh is a better hockey town than Buffalo and New York, but I cant see why Pitt isnt just as good or better. Any city can be a great hockey town if you you are a winner. Pittsburgh was tested this year, Buffalo has done well in down years, but through the Rangers dry spell the fans weren't exactly filling the seats. Im not calling New Yorkers bandwagoners, but Im saying with the size of that city, New York should be the Toronto of America.
hotwheels* said:No, if the Habs want an NHL franchise pick another team, no way in hell should the Penguins leave. They have a strong history in the NHL (two stanley cups don't make it a weak history).
Move the Panthers to Quebec or something.
Rass said:You lost your team once, ain't gonna bring a new one in town.
Color@do @v@l@nche said:Colorado Rockies failed, but Colorado Avalanche didn't.
If the Pens leave it's because the politicians have the fix in.
Color@do @v@l@nche said:Colorado Rockies failed, but Colorado Avalanche didn't.
octopi said:And what about the Atlanta Flames and Atlanta Thrashers?
There is NO luxury boxes in the Colisée right now... so unless there's a new arena and a miracle... the Remparts have nothing to worry about.Smail said:The problem in Quebec is corporate support. With a large share of employment being government jobs, there aren't that many corporations that can support the team (luxury box).
Worked out for Colorado alright..futurcorerock said:Pens to Quebec is the biggest crime in the history of hockey.
There's nothing good about moving a failed market's franchise to another failed market. NOTHING.
futurcorerock said:Pens to Quebec is the biggest crime in the history of hockey.
There's nothing good about moving a failed market's franchise to another failed market. NOTHING.
That wasn't a "failed market," though. It was an owner who already had predetermined plans to move the team.reej said:Worked out for Colorado alright..
CoupeStanley said:I never really beleived it but if really Guy Laliberté is part of the project, it's a whole different matter.
The guy's loaded with cash. He's a master of world reknown at entertainment and producing quality shows . He rarely failed at anything.