Guy, read what I said again. Atlantic kids often choose not to play for French Q teams and take other alternatives. Players like Alex Newhook, Shane Bowers, etc. What would having a Q team in those locations I mentioned, which obviously aren't French, have to do with anything? I literally said to go to places in Atlantic Canada and ask of their opinions of teams in French speaking areas, nothing else. Nothing about how they feel about local Q teams. It was part of my larger point that a team in Quebec City isn't going to be a beacon for all of the English speaking people in Halifax and St. John's, which if memory holds correctly are two of the largest Atlantic Canada statements. The Nords didn't draw them in during their original tenure, it's doubtful they would do it on a second try.
Your taking about people not wanting to play in a minor league, which is for various reasons a step below the OHL in the minds of many atlantic Canadians.
It has just as much to do with the fact that the league is operating in little towns like bathurst as it is not wanting to be busing around in rural quebec.
Conflating Baiecommeau with QC is a joke.
This isn't the 1980s.
No one in the east cares about the french thing.
My dad isn't all of a sudden hoping on a 24 hour trip just to see the Nords, just because they are close by. He'll do so because my mom has been nagging him for 35 years to visit the place.
QC for a lot of east coasters is one step away from being a major vacation hub. Adding in the nordiques would be that element.
When people start making up black and white arguments like
either all atlantic Canadians will flock to QC or they won't ever, you know they are making an argument based on emotion not reason.
Were talking about percentage points.
If the EastCoast is 2 percent of the fanbase that is absolutely massive for QC.
Small numbers add up to alot, when your 75-85 percent capable of supporting the team with people directly from your city.
It's not just about proximity much like the Jets the Nordiques have an aura around them, they've been gone so long to many they are just that cool team people knew use to exist.
If the Nords come back they won't be the only team getting attention but they will certainly change the geography of the east coast.