TequilaBay
Registered User
- May 30, 2019
- 108
- 153
With the recent news of the San Antonio Rampage being relocated to Henderson, Nevada to serve as the AHL affiliate of the Vegas Golden Knights, I thought this would be an interesting discussion. Also, this thread is largely inspired by the Hockey Guys' "32 teams from scratch" video from a few years back, which I found highly interesting as a geodemography geek.
In your opinion, regarding all 32 (including Seattle) NHL teams, where do you believe their AHL affiliates should be located, ideally? Which location do you believe would both draw fans and make money, as well as be a feasible travel distance between its home team?
Here why I believe they would work best;
No change
Anaheim Ducks = San Diego
Arizona Coyotes = Tucson
Boston Bruins = Providence
Buffalo Sabres = Rochester
Carolina Hurricanes = Charlotte
Chicago Blackhawks = Rockford
Columbus Blue Jackets = Cleveland
Detroit Red Wings = Grand Rapids
Los Angeles Kings = Ontario/Riverside
Minnesota Wild = Des Moines
Montreal Canadiens = Laval
Nashville Predators = Milwaukee
New York Islanders = Bridgeport
New York Rangers = Hartford
Philadelphia Flyers = Allentown (Lehigh Valley)
Toronto Maple Leafs = Toronto
Vegas Golden Knights = Henderson
Minor change
Colorado Avalanche = Colorado Springs instead of Loveland
Colorado Springs has a larger metro population than the Fort Collins - Loveland statistical area and could therefore draw from a larger crowd.
Dallas Stars = Austin instead of Cedar Park
Cedar Park is already in the Austin metro area, this move would just move the team to Austin proper, where it could draw from a larger crowd.
Pittsburgh Penguins = Harrisburg/Hershey instead of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
Harrisburg is closer to Pittsburgh than Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, and contains a larger, as well as a growing, metro population, and could draw from larger crowds.
San Jose Sharks = San Francisco instead of San Jose
San Francisco metro population is a lot bigger than the San Jose metro population. Not only this, but not sharing the same arena as its NHL counterpart and being able to pull from a different city could help this AHL affiliate stand out on its own, while still being in the same general area (Bay Area) as its NHL counterpart.
Washington Capitals = Baltimore instead of Hershey
Since Hershey would be affiliated with Pittsburgh. Also, because Baltimore draws from the same DMV-area crowd as DC does while also containing a large metro population itself.
Moderate change
New Jersey Devils = Staten Island instead of Binghampton
Staten Island is a lot closer to Newark than Binghampton as its within the same metro area as Newark, plus it's a borough without any sports teams outside the minor league Staten Island Yankees, yet would definitely be able to draw a large crowd for its own hockey team.
Ottawa Senators = Quebec City instead of Belleville
Quebec City would be a perfect spot for an AHL team, since they're not getting an NHL team anytime soon if ever, an AHL team in Quebec City would draw huge crowds from former Nordiques fans, and games against Hartford (NYR affiliate) should be a hit for the AHL for renewing an old Adams Division rivalry.
St. Louis Blues = Louisville instead of (presumably) Chicago
Louisville is only a 4 hour drive away from St. Louis, and has a large metro population without a major sports team.
Winnipeg Jets = Thunder Bay instead of Winnipeg
Thunder Bay is not a large city by any means, but its an isolated city of over 100,000 people in hockey-mad Ontario which would love to have its own AHL team. Winnipeg is only 8 hours drive away from Thunder Bay, and the fans in this small town would embrace this team quickly, and again, not sharing the same arena as its NHL counterpart would help the team stand out on its own.
Major change
Calgary Flames = Regina instead of Stockton
Edmonton Oilers = Saskatoon instead of Bakersfield
This would create a Battle of Saskatchewan in the AHL between the affiliates of both Alberta teams. The Battle of Alberta is fantastic in the NHL, the Battle of Saskatchewan would be fantastic in the AHL, and the fact that the Alberta and Saskatchewan teams would be connected would be the icing on top. Also, both locations are far closer to their NHL affiliates than either city in California is.
Florida Panthers = Palm Beach instead of Springfield
Much closer to Sunrise, and much larger population. The AHL could work in Florida.
Seattle = Spokane instead of Palm Springs
Far closer, and both teams would draw from different areas within the same state.
Tampa Bay Lightning = Orlando instead of Syracuse
Much closer, and both Tampa and Orlando draw from the I-4 Corridor.
Vancouver Canucks = Victoria instead of Utica
Both Vancouver and Victoria are within British Columbia, and Victoria is a Canadian metro of over 365,000 people and could draw from Vancouver Island.
Do you agree or disagree with me on this?
In your opinion, regarding all 32 (including Seattle) NHL teams, where do you believe their AHL affiliates should be located, ideally? Which location do you believe would both draw fans and make money, as well as be a feasible travel distance between its home team?
Here why I believe they would work best;
No change
Anaheim Ducks = San Diego
Arizona Coyotes = Tucson
Boston Bruins = Providence
Buffalo Sabres = Rochester
Carolina Hurricanes = Charlotte
Chicago Blackhawks = Rockford
Columbus Blue Jackets = Cleveland
Detroit Red Wings = Grand Rapids
Los Angeles Kings = Ontario/Riverside
Minnesota Wild = Des Moines
Montreal Canadiens = Laval
Nashville Predators = Milwaukee
New York Islanders = Bridgeport
New York Rangers = Hartford
Philadelphia Flyers = Allentown (Lehigh Valley)
Toronto Maple Leafs = Toronto
Vegas Golden Knights = Henderson
Minor change
Colorado Avalanche = Colorado Springs instead of Loveland
Colorado Springs has a larger metro population than the Fort Collins - Loveland statistical area and could therefore draw from a larger crowd.
Dallas Stars = Austin instead of Cedar Park
Cedar Park is already in the Austin metro area, this move would just move the team to Austin proper, where it could draw from a larger crowd.
Pittsburgh Penguins = Harrisburg/Hershey instead of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
Harrisburg is closer to Pittsburgh than Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, and contains a larger, as well as a growing, metro population, and could draw from larger crowds.
San Jose Sharks = San Francisco instead of San Jose
San Francisco metro population is a lot bigger than the San Jose metro population. Not only this, but not sharing the same arena as its NHL counterpart and being able to pull from a different city could help this AHL affiliate stand out on its own, while still being in the same general area (Bay Area) as its NHL counterpart.
Washington Capitals = Baltimore instead of Hershey
Since Hershey would be affiliated with Pittsburgh. Also, because Baltimore draws from the same DMV-area crowd as DC does while also containing a large metro population itself.
Moderate change
New Jersey Devils = Staten Island instead of Binghampton
Staten Island is a lot closer to Newark than Binghampton as its within the same metro area as Newark, plus it's a borough without any sports teams outside the minor league Staten Island Yankees, yet would definitely be able to draw a large crowd for its own hockey team.
Ottawa Senators = Quebec City instead of Belleville
Quebec City would be a perfect spot for an AHL team, since they're not getting an NHL team anytime soon if ever, an AHL team in Quebec City would draw huge crowds from former Nordiques fans, and games against Hartford (NYR affiliate) should be a hit for the AHL for renewing an old Adams Division rivalry.
St. Louis Blues = Louisville instead of (presumably) Chicago
Louisville is only a 4 hour drive away from St. Louis, and has a large metro population without a major sports team.
Winnipeg Jets = Thunder Bay instead of Winnipeg
Thunder Bay is not a large city by any means, but its an isolated city of over 100,000 people in hockey-mad Ontario which would love to have its own AHL team. Winnipeg is only 8 hours drive away from Thunder Bay, and the fans in this small town would embrace this team quickly, and again, not sharing the same arena as its NHL counterpart would help the team stand out on its own.
Major change
Calgary Flames = Regina instead of Stockton
Edmonton Oilers = Saskatoon instead of Bakersfield
This would create a Battle of Saskatchewan in the AHL between the affiliates of both Alberta teams. The Battle of Alberta is fantastic in the NHL, the Battle of Saskatchewan would be fantastic in the AHL, and the fact that the Alberta and Saskatchewan teams would be connected would be the icing on top. Also, both locations are far closer to their NHL affiliates than either city in California is.
Florida Panthers = Palm Beach instead of Springfield
Much closer to Sunrise, and much larger population. The AHL could work in Florida.
Seattle = Spokane instead of Palm Springs
Far closer, and both teams would draw from different areas within the same state.
Tampa Bay Lightning = Orlando instead of Syracuse
Much closer, and both Tampa and Orlando draw from the I-4 Corridor.
Vancouver Canucks = Victoria instead of Utica
Both Vancouver and Victoria are within British Columbia, and Victoria is a Canadian metro of over 365,000 people and could draw from Vancouver Island.
Do you agree or disagree with me on this?
Last edited: