Which city should get a team?

[polarslam]

Ok, so more than 1/4 of the population of Winnipeg considers themselves hockey fans (I'm skeptical, but whatever). 10% of those fans must be rabid enough to buy tickets just to keep the team afloat. The television market is too small to add much revenue. The city is not growing, there are no cities nearby who will drawn in (the closest cities are Edmonton and Calgary) and even Dixie cities have that in the U.S., the arena is small, and the economy is not that strong. I still think it will take a very courageous owner to make it happen.

I most definitly agree that a courageous owner or ownership group and a strong government/community effort would be needed to make it work.

Along with Winnipeg's population you can add to that the population of southern manitoba. I don't think that a competitive team with community support would have trouble drawing sell-out to the MTS Centre most every night, which would 6000-7000 more fans than the non NHL inflated numbers coming out in Carolina Miami or Atlanta.

 

[Hawker14]

Ok, so more than 1/4 of the population of Winnipeg considers themselves hockey fans (I'm skeptical, but whatever). 10% of those fans must be rabid enough to buy tickets just to keep the team afloat. The television market is too small to add much revenue. The city is not growing, there are no cities nearby who will drawn in (the closest cities are Edmonton and Calgary) and even Dixie cities have that in the U.S., the arena is small, and the economy is not that strong. I still think it will take a very courageous owner to make it happen.

it's true winnipeg will need solid ownership.

it's definitely not lost on me that no "businessmen" stepped up in the mid 90's to purchase the jets and fund losses for a couple years until the then-proposed arena was completed, after shenkarow's ownership group decided to wash their hands of the team and the arena-fiasco.

 

[G_FUNK_ERA]

1) the mts centre seats 15,015 and it has very limited expansion possibilities.

3) it's david asper who's family owns canwest global, the sun newspaper chain, national post, etc.

5) winnipeg actually contacted pittsburgh (deputy mayor dan vandal).

3) My bad, it IS David Asper who's family owns canwest global, the sun newspaper chain, national post, etc.

5) ??? I could've sworn it was Pittsburgh who contacted Winnipeg. But I could be wrong.

 

[Hasbro]

Metro area sizes on the links
New York City, United States 22,313,756
Los Angeles, United States 17,542,967
Chicago, United States 9,418,269
Washington-Baltimore, United States 8,036,348
San Francisco-San Jose, United States 7,533,837
Philadelphia, United States 6,254,178
Toronto-Hamilton, Canada 6,040,829
Boston, United States 5,908,923
Dallas-Fort Worth, United States 5,896,615
Detroit-Windsor, United States/Canada 5,885,324
Atlanta, United States 4,716,321
Miami, United States 4,286,049
Phoenix-Mesa, United States 3,792,251
Montreal, Canada 3,601,870
Minneapolis-Saint Paul, United States 3,162,872
Denver-Aurora, United States 2,685,584
Saint Louis, United States 2,629,256
Tampa, United States 2,584,448
Pittsburgh, United States 2,332,157
Vancouver, Canada 2,157,454
Columbus, United States 1,623,861
Buffalo-St. Catharines, United States/Canada 1,571,398
Raleigh-Durham, United States 1,356,786
Nashville, United States 1,330,842
Ottawa-Gatineau CMA, Ontario-Québec 1,220,000
Calgary CMA, Alberta 1,150,000
Edmonton CMA, Alberta 1,050,000

Some of the names mentioned.

San Diego-Tijuana, United States/Mexico 4,688,762
Seattle, United States 3,769,400
Cleveland, United States 2,956,323
Portland, United States 2,467,746
Kansas City, United States 1,856,530
Milwaukee, United States 1,743,593
Salt Lake City, United States 1,420,555
Oklahoma City, United States 1,131,137
7 Québec CMA (Lévis) Québec 710,000
8 Winnipeg CMA, Manitoba 700,000
9 Hamilton CMA, Burlington Ontario 710,000

 

[CCF]

If Green Bay has a population of 100,000 and have the Packers thrive in the NFL I could see a team in Saskatchewan. Doesn't Saskatoon have the higher population right now(200,000), isn't Regina's population around 175,000? I'd put a team in Saskatoon and call them Saskatchewan ______, and there will be province wide support much like the Roughriders.

Saskatoon is about 230,000 and Regina is about 200,000.

Moose Jaw is 45 minutes away from Regina, the Moose Jaw Area has about 45,000 people. Prince Albert is about 4 and a half hours away from Regina, the Prince Albert area has over 70,000.

Population wise, a lot of it is located towards the big two cities.

However, can't really compare it to the Rides because a) Rider games are for the most part on weekends, which allows people form all across the province to come. b) They have to sell only 9 games, not 41. c) Ticket prices are half of that of the NHL's.

 

[Mothra]

The only thing I was getting at is that Washington, according to Leonsis, is still due to lose money, even with a payrol of $25 million. It's not out of the question that Leonsis could sell the team to anyone willing to step up with a legitimate offer.

Anything can happen.

actually there is no chance of that happening....they are losing money because they get the shaft on the arena....the very same arena that Leonsis has right of first refusal on when Polin retires or dies....and he is a day older than dirt. So seeing how Leonsis has plenty of dough and equally rich partners....and a HUGE cash cow is just sitting there waiting for them...I can safely say that there is no chance he will sell the Capitals....doing so would cause him to lose that right of first refusal

 

[Hawker14]

Saskatoon is about 230,000 and Regina is about 200,000.

Moose Jaw is 45 minutes away from Regina, the Moose Jaw Area has about 45,000 people. Prince Albert is about 4 and a half hours away from Regina, the Prince Albert area has over 70,000.

Population wise, a lot of it is located towards the big two cities.

However, can't really compare it to the Rides because a) Rider games are for the most part on weekends, which allows people form all across the province to come. b) They have to sell only 9 games, not 41. c) Ticket prices are half of that of the NHL's.

saskatchewan fans are TOO rabid for the nhl. if someone can dump manure on david mccallum's front yard for missing a field goal, just imagine what they'd do if they had dan cloutier (just picking a random name) letting in soft goals in the playoffs ??

scary thought. scary indeed, lol.

if any cities of 200,000 people could support an nhl club, i'd definitely put my money on regina or saskatoon. too bad the corporate dollar matters more than fanbase to the nhl.

 

[GSC2k2*]

The Nordiques did have better than average attendance 9 years out of 16.

Boy, that IS impressive ...

 

[Hockeycanada*]

Saskatoon is about 230,000 and Regina is about 200,000.

Moose Jaw is 45 minutes away from Regina, the Moose Jaw Area has about 45,000 people. Prince Albert is about 4 and a half hours away from Regina, the Prince Albert area has over 70,000.

Population wise, a lot of it is located towards the big two cities.

However, can't really compare it to the Rides because a) Rider games are for the most part on weekends, which allows people form all across the province to come. b) They have to sell only 9 games, not 41. c) Ticket prices are half of that of the NHL's.

CCF, how's the economy doing in Saskatchewan? I heard it was doing good and Saskatchewan will be the next "have" in terms of equalization payments. Isn't the population finally starting to increase?

If the NHL ever decided to put a team in a small Canadian market Saskatchewan would be my first choice.

 

[Hasbro]

Of course the factors that would make Winnipeg and Quebec viable markets again, salary cap, revenue sharing, ect, would also help sustain what are percieved to be weaker markets right now.

 

[puckhead103*]

First off there many nhl teams that dont deserve to be here. (Carolina,panthers) just to name a few. Youre question should be who to get rid off.

i got another one...the washington caps....contract them....no hockey history for this town..

 

[snakepliskin]

you'all need some cheese to go with the WHINE in this thread -GO CANES!

 

[snakepliskin]

And as Clint Eastwood would say "DESERVES got nothing to do with it!"

 

[puckhead103*]

I'm from Cleveland and I care

go tell to the sport talkers in cleveland (levine, brinda, roda, fatso triv) and see if they care.....

 

[CCF]

CCF, how's the economy doing in Saskatchewan? I heard it was doing good and Saskatchewan will be the next "have" in terms of equalization payments. Isn't the population finally starting to increase?

If the NHL ever decided to put a team in a small Canadian market Saskatchewan would be my first choice.

The economy is doing very well in Saskatchewan. I believe last year we were third in equaliztion payments behind Alberta and Ontario. It will be nice for the farming industry to get a good turnout this year, which is expected, because obviously agriculture is the staple of our economy. I'm extremely excited for the future, as I am a strong Saskatchewan supporter. Things are deffinetly on the rise for this province.

It would be amazing to have a team in a province this size. I think we deserve a team just as much as the next city. However, it does come down to the corporate dollars and that's where we lack when compared to places like Alberta.

I honestly don't think there is any other place in the world that better represents hockey. The prairies are hockey. This province has so much history with the sport. You won't find the small town rivalries, the -40 outdoor hockey games, or the pride of the local team in any other place. It's sad that these factors aren't what determines who gets a team. We produce so many players, it would be nice to keep them at home.

 

[puckhead103*]

Ever heard of David Asper? His family's worth about $1.8 billion, last I checked...

http://www.notacolony.ca/0204news/021304A Asper would pony up.htm

too bad asper can't buy the caps from leonis....washington is NOT a hockey town...the caps never won anything in their life....

 

[Mothra]

too bad asper can't buy the caps from leonis....washington is NOT a hockey town...the caps never won anything in their life....

So.....move all teams that have not won the Stanley Cup? Is that what I'm hearing?

 

[CCF]

too bad asper can't buy the caps from leonis....washington is NOT a hockey town...the caps never won anything in their life....

Washington is simply not a sports town.

 

[Mothra]

Washington is simply not a sports town.

Thats pretty funny....and by funny I mean ignorant

what on earth makes you say something that is so incorrect?

 

[puckhead103*]

Washington is simply not a sports town.

washington loves their redskins...and now with the nats....is a big baseball town...

the wizards suck......and nobody cares about the caps......unless u r a hockey fan....

 

[CCF]

I'll give them the Redskins.

As for the Wizards, no one seems to care. Obviously same goes for the Caps, and give it a couple seasons and the novelty will run out for the Nats as well.

 

[JonathanK]

WINNIPEG needs their team back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Mothra]

washington loves their redskins...and now with the nats....is a big baseball town...

the wizards suck......and nobody cares about the caps......unless u r a hockey fan....

Redskin season ticket waiting list is legendary....

Nats are doing well in a hole of a stadium, but that could be in part due to expansion buzz

Wizards could be argued as the worst team in the NBA over the last 20 years...they average 17,186 over the last 12 seasons

College basketball is HUGE....Maryland, Georgetown, GW....

Maryland Football has always been strong.....even with a decade of terrible play

The Caps do well when they are competitive.....just like many NHL cities

 

[Mothra]

I'll give them the Redskins.

As for the Wizards, no one seems to care. Obviously same goes for the Caps, and give it a couple seasons and the novelty will run out for the Nats as well.

from my other post.....

Wizards could be argued as the worst team in the NBA over the last 20 years...they average 17,186 over the last 12 seasons

thats pretty damn good for a team that "no one seems to care" about

 

[canucks666]

Metro area sizes on the links
New York City, United States 22,313,756
Los Angeles, United States 17,542,967
Chicago, United States 9,418,269
Washington-Baltimore, United States 8,036,348
San Francisco-San Jose, United States 7,533,837
Philadelphia, United States 6,254,178
Toronto-Hamilton, Canada 6,040,829
Boston, United States 5,908,923
Dallas-Fort Worth, United States 5,896,615
Detroit-Windsor, United States/Canada 5,885,324
Atlanta, United States 4,716,321
Miami, United States 4,286,049
Phoenix-Mesa, United States 3,792,251
Montreal, Canada 3,601,870
Minneapolis-Saint Paul, United States 3,162,872
Denver-Aurora, United States 2,685,584
Saint Louis, United States 2,629,256
Tampa, United States 2,584,448
Pittsburgh, United States 2,332,157
Vancouver, Canada 2,157,454
Columbus, United States 1,623,861
Buffalo-St. Catharines, United States/Canada 1,571,398
Raleigh-Durham, United States 1,356,786
Nashville, United States 1,330,842
Ottawa-Gatineau CMA, Ontario-Québec 1,220,000
Calgary CMA, Alberta 1,150,000
Edmonton CMA, Alberta 1,050,000

Some of the names mentioned.

San Diego-Tijuana, United States/Mexico 4,688,762
Seattle, United States 3,769,400
Cleveland, United States 2,956,323
Portland, United States 2,467,746
Kansas City, United States 1,856,530
Milwaukee, United States 1,743,593
Salt Lake City, United States 1,420,555
Oklahoma City, United States 1,131,137
7 Québec CMA (Lévis) Québec 710,000
8 Winnipeg CMA, Manitoba 700,000
9 Hamilton CMA, Burlington Ontario 710,000

first of all where's Houston?
second of all hamilton is listed twice - so gotta consider it as part of the first one, not the second 710,000
third of all - yes, granted, winnipeg and quebec are small, and won't get large tv contracts.

HOWEVER, with more canadian teams in the league, I think the canadian tv networks would pay more money knowing canadian vs canadian games always get higher ratings. Perhaps if some of this trickled down to the teams....the teams COULD survive - especially in this new NHL era.