1. Toronto and Buffalo collectively were opposed to Hamilton getting a franchise.
2. Jim Balsillie wasn't going to put an NHL team in Copps unless the arena got about $150M CAD in upgrades.
3. I agree that the Hamilton metropolitan area could likely support a franchise should one go there. However I don't think $500 refundable deposits are really proof of that.
4. I highly doubt the Sabres pull much of a Canadian fan base past St. Catherines today. There are what, 30k people in Grismby? NF, NY is a complete dump and there's still more than 50K here.
5. I also agree that Hamilton is a much nicer city that it's given credit for. But Hamilton / Burlington / Grimsby , population wise, is just slightly more than half of the Buffalo-Niagara census area, and the media incomes of the two are basically identical when you account for the exchange rate.
Hamilton is a nice place. But there is no way in hell that the Pegulas are going to move the Sabres there. Ever. All stop.
1. Leafs were opposed so they could charge more money and keep all local tv rights. Sabres know they can’t survive with a team 45 minutes away.
2. Balsille would have moved the team in two seconds, if he didn’t have to pay any indemnification rights. He tried to get 2nd NHL team in Toronto region super cheap and league said no.
3. You don’t think selling 15,000 seats at $500 in like 48 hours (and all the corporate boxes) proves anything. Really. That’s like 20% of the price of a season ticket on the 300 level in Buffalo.
4. This is just ludicrous. How many games do you go to in person? Sabres already admit 20% of STHers are in Canada. It’s not JUST tiny St. Catherine’s, it’s the whole western region of Canada’s largest city. Even in that tiny city, the average home is selling for about $425,000. I live in Toronto and have season’s and there are lots STHers in Hamilton.
When a Canadian team plays or original six team, or popular team squad like Flyers, the rink is loaded with away team fans. Have you noticed? Those are people who don’t want to pay $300 to sit on 100 level in Toronto.
Look at the crowds for those teams, it’s not just St. Catharine’s/Grimsby people rooting for the away team.
I basically sell most of the Canadian teams to people who have moved to Toronto region from other parts of the country.
5. Hamilton has median household wealth of $75 K CDN, Buffalo is like $37 K US. It’s not close and that’s just Hamilton. The catchment area for Hamilton would extend to Oakville easily which is like 30 KMs and has extreme wealth. For sure, Burlington would be fan base and I’d venture to say Mississauga too — only about 30 miles away.
I love Buffalo but you have no idea if you think the wealth close to what’s going on in Toronto suburbs and that’s what a Hamilton would draw.
If it was a straight business decision, Pegula would be nuts not to move a team there. But it’s not — and I don’t want it to be because Buffalo is great hockey town. It needs a little push from the Canadian side which is part of the franchise’s success.
The way the team is going, that’s how a small market city loses its team. That’s my point. Just poor, poor hockey and a city where disposable income is low. It’s an issue. Pegula is testing tolerance with this product.