The question is not if its when quebec gets their team back.
The bigger question is when will canadian nhl fans appetite be satiated. After quebec and possibly hamilton/GTA the chances of nhl in any other city in canada falls off a cliff. population alone is perhaps the largest hinderance.
So when will canadians be satisfied?
Just QC then SO, then all of the passion for more Canadian teams will die down. Sure there will be discussions of Halifax, Ssk, NB etc, but the elitism will go.
I don't think it would matter how it happens. Canadians have no problem with the South, just think of it this way; it seems so unfair that I live in a Hockey mad city but can't buy Season tickets. Even if the Leaf prices were affordable (i would totally buy them if they were) I would have to drive an hour there and back 40 times. And yet if you're a resident in Sunrise or Florida, Glendale, etc, you have the opportunity to see your team for dirt cheap prices within driving distance and don't nearly appreciate it as much as we would.i guess the hypothetical question becomes does the satisfaction of two new teams in QC and SO diminish if it were to occur under league expansion to 32 teams.
Regardless of what fans say i did sense a large amount of satisfaction of the jets return solely based on the fact that a sunbelt team was moving at the expense of the new jets.
Canadians will be happy when Quebec , Southern ontario get their teams.
Nah, then there'll be pushes for a third team in southern Ontario (GTA if Hamilton gets a team, and Hamilton if the GTA gets a team) and a team out in Saskatoon.
MAKE IT 11!
And if that's done, people will push for Halifax.
MAKE IT 12!
And then there'll be talk about second teams in Montreal and/or Vancouver.
MAKE IT 14!
In other words, there'll always be a push for more teams in Canada.
I can see suggestions, but it won't be as serious as it is now. If Toronto gets a 2nd all hope is gone for Hamilton, QC deserves a team no doubt.
In other words, there'll always be a push for more teams in Canada.
Sure, by the shortsighted, selfish, and less than competent. After TOR2/HAM and QC, there's no other place in Canada to put a team. No one is going to take Saskatoon and Halifax seriously. That doesn't mean people will suddenly be enthusiastic about the poor state of some franchises, though. Even adding two strong markets (and removing one or more weak ones), which should go far to shore up the tenuous fiscal situation of the league, probably won't make everything perfect. Because apart from the chauvinists, the goal isn't teams in Canada, it's a stable NHL that operates like a major league. It isn't good for anyone who enjoys watching the best hockey in the world for there to be so many potential disasters going on in the league which threaten its continued smooth operation.
What I'm curious about is the Canadian/hockey media's reaction to all this when/if the Phoenix and Quebec situations are settled. Depending on how addicted to the ownership soap operas certain demographics have become, we may or may not see the same level of media coverage. Or level of venom, as some would argue.
thats a very solid argument. It just so happens that at this point in time, canada has the most potential for nhl franchise success.
In the case of the panthers moving forward, if the organization can start putting together a winning team, will bandwagon fans turn into consistent followers of the team.
This forumla should work for other sunbelt teams and has worked in Carolina, Nashville, and Tampa. If atlanta's organization was able to win consistently i would believe they could have gotten solid attendance too.
The problem with phoenix is that the team has experienced success but the organization still seems to fail at getting bandwagon/casual fans attached long term.
Im willing to bet if the panthers make the playoffs this season that the home games would be sold out easily and that success should translate over into following season.
Owner Peter Karmanos hired Allen & Co. to help him sell half the team over a year ago. Karmanos finally sold $22 million in equity to 10 minority investors at the start of the 2011-12 season. Karmanos is looking to sell another $20 million worth over the next 12 months.The Hurricanes have a lot of debt and Karmanos has been looking for cash ever since his partner in the team, Thomas Thewes, died three years ago.
The Lightning reached the Eastern Conference finals (its first playoff appearance in four years) last year, but still lost money thanks to rock bottom ticket prices.
The Predators are losing money and trying to find investors to pump in about $25 million to shore up the team's finances. In early 2011 the team secured a $75 million credit facility led by Regions Bank to replace the $75 million loan from CIT Group used to finance the purchase of the team. The team has plans to renovate 15-year old Bridgestone Arena by adding a Fan Zone on the upper concourse and upgrading 72 suites. The Predators have a lot of debt and have been in the bottom-third of the league in attendance for six consecutive seasons.
Chipman says he'd love to see the Coyotes move to Quebec City.
A winning team can never be guaranteed. Look at the Sabres struggles thus far this season.
Nashville, Carolina and Tampa may appear to have turned the corner but in a primarily gate driven league their ticket prices are too low to make any profits. If these franchises can sustain losses in perpetuity then I guess it is a business success.
Attendance does not equal franchise success. Paid attendance at ticket prices which can sustain the business equals success.
Look no further than what Bettman said when TNSE purchased the Thrashers. In regards to the MTSC if this place isn't sold out every night this is not going to work out very well. That is 15 000 seats near the top of the NHL average ticket prices. Obviously this is the benchmark for success.
It will be very exciting to see Quebec back in the NHL.
from Forbes
http://www.forbes.com/teams/carolina-hurricanes/
http://www.forbes.com/teams/tampa-bay-lightning/
http://www.forbes.com/teams/nashville-predators/
And is it normal that no one appears to know Quebec's new arena is a done deal? Or is he indeed correct that done deal or not, the league won't green-light Quebec until shovels actually hit the ground?
"The Colisée will not be ready until at least the 2014-2015 season"
Mayor Labeaume.
Correction: Mayor said it would be impossible to have the new building ready in 24 months (ready in september 2014).
So, of course he'll stick to his initial plan (400M$, building ready in september 2015). Should a team be back in Quebec City next season, Quebecor will surely put some pre$$ure to get its new building sooner! The city would then be in the driver seat: "Want it faster? You should then compensate for the extra expenses involved!"
thats a very solid argument. It just so happens that at this point in time, canada has the most potential for nhl franchise success.
There are realistically three suitable markets remaining in Canada:
(1) Quebec City
(2) Toronto/Markham/GTA
(3) Hamilton
However, due to the influence of the Leafs, I doubt (2) or (3) will happen for a while, if ever. I cannot imagine both happening, even though I think they could both be supported.
Is it normal that the owners appear to have no idea what the league's plans are for Phoenix?
And is it normal that no one appears to know Quebec's new arena is a done deal? Or is he indeed correct that done deal or not, the league won't green-light Quebec until shovels actually hit the ground?
A team somewhere between London and Kitchener-Waterloo (ex. Woodstock) could be successful.