Why did Quebec not get a team?

[Cellee]

When your average person thinks of major league markets, Winnipeg doesn't really come to mind.

I don't get your point.

 

[NJ DevLolz]

I don't get your point.

Perception your average sports fan has of the NHL is diminished because you have markets like Winnipeg. Seriously, this isn't difficult.

 

[Cellee]

Perception your average sports fan has of the NHL is diminished because you have markets like Winnipeg. Seriously, this isn't difficult.

Have you ever been to Green Bay?

 

[NJ DevLolz]

Have you ever been to Green Bay?

I get your point, but Green Bay has one of the largest followings in the NFL and is a marquee franchise in the NFL with tons of success and history. Can Winnipeg claim to have a mass following outside the Winnipeg metro area? I'm very skeptical. Furthermore, Green Bay is less than two hours from Milwaukee. You're comparing apples and oranges.

 

[GSG1165]

I know they are a top market, but when you have a city like Winnepeg (again, no offense), it's tough to take the league seriously.

That's a bullshit argument my dude. Quebec and Winnipeg are bigger than Green Bay (NFL), comparable to Portland (NBA), etc. And Quebec would sell out every game, like Winnipeg.

 

[Machinehead]

Seattle will also draw crowds from Portland. Portland loves the Winterhawks and is a big hockey town.

I don't know if I can see Portland residents supporting a Seattle team. There's some major schism there.

 

[93LEAFS]

Have you ever been to Green Bay?

Green Bay is truly unique (look at the population without an NFL team within driving distance), and i'm pretty sure any area outside of extremely rural parts of America could support an NFL team given you only need to sell 8 games a year, and the national tv deal covers player expences.

 

[Cellee]

I get your point, but Green Bay has one of the largest followings in the NFL and is a marquee franchise in the NFL with tons of success and history. Can Winnipeg claim to have a mass following outside the Winnipeg metro area? I'm very skeptical. Furthermore, Green Bay is less than two hours from Milwaukee. You're comparing apples and oranges.

Sorry do you think Milwaukee is perceived as a major market?

Edmonton? Calgary? Columbus? Raleigh? You think these are perceived as major markets?

 

[Cellee]

Green Bay is truly unique (look at the population without an NFL team within driving distance), and i'm pretty sure any area outside of extremely rural parts of America could support an NFL team given you only need to sell 8 games a year, and the national tv deal covers player expences.

Great. It isn't a major market.

 

[NJ DevLolz]

Sorry do you think Milwaukee is perceived as a major market?

Edmonton? Calgary? Columbus? Raleigh? You think these are perceived as major markets?

Milwaukee has two big four sports teams and has a metropolitan population of 1.6 million people, which is in the top 40 in the U.S. Winnipeg's metro isn't even half that.

 

[sandysan]

No it wouldn't. Again, it's not about could or would, it's about what is the best option. A higher population produces higher revenue yields, so yes it is a good argument especially when that population is 5x higher than that of it's competitor. Not to mention that many of QC's residents are already NHL/Habs fans and are much older.

lots of QC residents are Habs fans ? news to me
the bruins are more popular QC because they are the habs nemesis.

if we are going based on sheer market size ( and by this I presume you mean population) and only market size I very much look forward to the mexico city sombreros. With one extant rink in a city of 8.5 million, the potential for growth is astronomical ! build another sheet, the infrastructure increases 100% as soon as its open. how's that for growth ?

to answer the op, quebec isnt getting a team because its a backstop whose only perceived role is a plan B to keep things going from bad to completely off the rails and because the videotron center isnt going anywhere.

 

[Cellee]

Milwaukee has two big four sports teams and has a metropolitan population of 1.6 million people, which is in the top 40 in the U.S. Winnipeg's metro isn't even half that.

Nobody perceives Milwaukee as a major market.

 

[Machinehead]

Green Bay is bad example. Milwaukee is an hour away.

The name "Green Bay Packers" is akin to Uniondale Islanders, Sunrise Panthers, or Kanata Senators.

 

[NJ DevLolz]

Nobody perceives Milwaukee as a major market.

I didn't say major market. I said major league market, which I think most people think Milwaukee is.

 

[sandysan]

Don't most in Quebec City follow the Montreal Canadiens anyways ?

follow them hope they lose ?
yes

 

[Cellee]

Green Bay is bad example. Milwaukee is an hour away.

The name "Green Bay Packers" is akin to Uniondale Islanders, Sunrise Panthers, or Kanata Senators.

Do you guys understand that nobody perceives it as a major market even if it is a viable market?

This is an idiotic conversation I won't be participating any further

 

[BattleBorn]

Green Bay is bad example. Milwaukee is an hour away.

The name "Green Bay Packers" is akin to Uniondale Islanders, Sunrise Panthers, or Kanata Senators.

It's not exactly that. Green Bay is almost two hours away, definitely not the same metro area like your other examples.

 

[Machinehead]

Do you guys understand that nobody perceives it as a major market even if it is a viable market?

This is an idiotic conversation I won't be participating any further

Not every city is going to be Hollywood when you have 32 teams. Milwaukee is irrefutably a professional sports market.

The same cannot be said of Winnipeg for any sport but hockey. And I fully support there being a team in Winnipeg and couldn't give a roasted shit what the perception of the league is.

 

[Machinehead]

It's not exactly that. Green Bay is almost two hours away, definitely not the same metro area like your other examples.

But it is football. People will go two hours once a week.

 

[End on a Hinote]

Not to mention the Jim Balsille thing with Hamilton. The NHL doesnt like people who are loudmouths who dont follow their rules.

Yup, and I'm sure Quebec would have made some public statement by now if their NHL dream was really over as there wouldn't be a need to be silent anymore. The fact that they've said nothing since putting I their application and fee really makes me believe something is brewing in La Belle Province.

 

[ForumNamePending]

So people in the US seriously think "The NHL? I'm not watching that because the city of Winnipeg ain't big league"?

As far as the OP goes... Quebec will get a team when the NHL is faced with the choice of...

A) Existing franchise folding
B) That same franchise moving to Quebec

 

[Kegsey]

Gary hates Canada.

 

[Machinehead]

So people in the US seriously think "The NHL? I'm not watching that because the city of Winnipeg ain't big league"?

I don't the casual viewer outside of Canada is going to watch Winnipeg in the SCF, no.

 

[NJ DevLolz]

I don't the casual viewer outside of Canada is going to watch Winnipeg in the SCF, no.

Not sure where the disconnect is here. Both of these takes can be true:

a) Winnipeg is a deserving and fantastic hockey market.
b) To your average sports fan, having a city like Winnipeg in the NHL takes away some of the league's prestige.

 

[ForumNamePending]

I don't the casual viewer outside of Canada is going to watch Winnipeg in the SCF, no.

Of course not... For the most part people in the US aren't going to watch the SCF between two American teams either. I was responding to someone saying the leagues image as a whole is diminished because Winnipeg (or Calgary, or Edmonton, etc) isn't "major league"... Like Joe Sportsfan rejects the league outright because the Winnipeg Jets are a real life thing.