Conference Board economists predict Canada could support three more NHL teams

[troutman]

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/sports/...416/story.html

The Conference Board of Canada says the economic conditions are favourable enough to have three more National Hockey League franchises in the country within the next 20 years.

The board suggested Monday that in addition to Canada's seven existing NHL teams, Quebec City and Hamilton, Ont., appear to meet minimum requirements to become home to franchises in the near future.

In the longer term, another franchise could eventually find its way to the Toronto area, but a lot of money and population growth would be required for the region to support two teams.

The co-authors predict that franchises in Calgary, Edmonton and Ottawa will continue to be viable markets over the next 20 years but that the Atlantic provinces and Saskatchewan will not have the population or corporate presence to support NHL teams.

[EldrickOnIce]

I'd argue that Saskatchewan could have the corporate presence.

[Coach]

It blows my mind that a second team in Toronto hasn't existed for a long time actually. It makes too much sense.

[Jay Random]

It makes sense to everyone but the Leafs. If there was a second NHL team in Toronto, the Leafs would actually have to ice a competitive product instead of Harold Ballard-ing their way through life. This thought terrifies the brass at MLSE, and they will do anything up to and including mailing nuclear letter bombs to league HQ to prevent it.

[FanIn80]

Wtf. Hopefully this report doesn't lead to Edmonton getting an NHL franchise.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

I'd argue that Saskatchewan could have the corporate presence.

I think Saskatoon could have the appropriate building blocks for an NHL team especially in the future when oil sands development expands into Saskatchewan. Saskatoon will likely see a pretty serious boom with oil sands expansion.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

I'd argue that Saskatchewan could have the corporate presence.

Saskatchewan isn't even in my top 15 potential NHL markets.

GTA/K-W/Hamilton and Quebec City are the only places close to viable

[nik-]

I personally think the Toronto market is overrated.

They're Leafs fans, not hockey fans. The Marlies do okay because they're the Leafs farm team. They don't go to Junior games. They may support a new team for a bit to spite the Leafs, but it will be temporary.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Saskatchewan isn't even in my top 15 potential NHL markets.

Will never happen, just don't see lack of corporate presence as an issue.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by nik-

I personally think the Toronto market is overrated.

They're Leafs fans, not hockey fans. The Marlies do okay because they're the Leafs farm team. They don't go to Junior games. They may support a new team for a bit to spite the Leafs, but it will be temporary.

There would be enough corporate support from those who can't get/afford leafs tickets to make it viable.

[Dagger]

The Leafs and Sabres would never approve having an additional team in the area. It simply won't happen.

[bubbsy]

agreed, leafs would never agree to another team, but i think a team in the western GTA could easily have another successful team.

[SeanCharles]

Quebec City and Seattle will have the next two franchises.

Its still debatable if that will be because Pheonix and possibly Florida/NJ relocate or if the NHL will in fact expand.

I'm not saying Florida/NJ will relocate by any means but these are the next 2 most struggling franchises...

I have no doubt Pheonix will likely relocate in 5years time..

[djsFlames]

Saskatoon still has such a small town feel to it, I just can't imagine it having an NHL team. But maybe like 7-10 years down the road that conversation changes. I'd say some place like Hamilton Ontario, even over a second Toronto team. The metro area has a population similar to Edmonton. Could work.

Maybe an east coast team..but where? Halifax?

Quebec City is the most likely at this point.

[Tyler]

Quebec will make money, but who will want to play there?

Culturally, I can't see it being appealing for any prospective FA in the league

[tripin_billie]

Anyone who thinks that Saskatoon or Regina are cities that could support an NHL team needs to travel more.

I mean, I know in the region, they are bigger than some of the other areas, but just think of it like this: the metro population of Saskatoon is 260,000 people, the metro population of Dayton, Ohio is 841,000 and it is 71 in USA metro population ranking.

When the US's 71st metro area is 4 times that of Saskatoon, and it is a place that nobody in their right mind has considered for pro sports, I just find myself chuckling at mentions of Saskatoon having a big 4 pro sports team.

Just for reference, some of the US metro areas that are close (some bigger, some smaller) to Saskatoon: Greeley, CO, Clarksville, TN, Hagerstown, MD, and Lynchburg, VA. And there are a plethora of other areas in this same size group, from ranking 161 to 181st. Now tell me that any of those areas make any sense to put a pro sports team... These places sound more like cities that have built monorails!

[Erick Estrada]

There's barely enough people in the entire province of Saskatchewan to support an NHL franchise let alone an individual city like Regina or Saskatoon. This isn't the CFL where the province travels to Regina once every two weeks in the summer to see a football game. NHL games need to be attended during weekdays in the middle of winter.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by tripin_billie

Anyone who thinks that Saskatoon or Regina are cities that could support an NHL team needs to travel more.

I mean, I know in the region, they are bigger than some of the other areas, but just think of it like this: the metro population of Saskatoon is 260,000 people, the metro population of Dayton, Ohio is 841,000 and it is 71 in USA metro population ranking.

When the US's 71st metro area is 4 times that of Saskatoon, and it is a place that nobody in their right mind has considered for pro sports, I just find myself chuckling at mentions of Saskatoon having a big 4 pro sports team.

Population is only part of the equation. Large population centers have proven to be unsuccessful in the past/present like Phoenix (1.5M), Metro Hartford (~1M), Metro Atlanta (5.5M.) You can't just go around basing team presence on population. You might as well move the Flames and Oilers to some place like Houston or San Antonio or San Diego.

[Clever_Iggy]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

Population is only part of the equation. Large population centers have proven to be unsuccessful in the past/present like Phoenix (1.5M), Metro Hartford (~1M), Metro Atlanta (5.5M.) You can't just go around basing team presence on population. You might as well move the Flames and Oilers to some place like Houston or San Antonio or San Diego.

Just stop. The league needs to relocate franchises before expansion, IMO, as the talent base is getting too diluted. Adding 2 more teams to make the league 32 and relocated 2 leaves Saskatchewan (either Regina or Saskatoon) around 50th on the waiting list.

Maybe in 30-40 years if potash rebounds and oil & gas expands dramatically... both for long term corporate sponsorship and, yes, adequate population in the immediate vicinity that would be able to attend 41 games a year.

[#-3]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

I'd argue that Saskatchewan could have the corporate presence.

You Must be from Saskatoon, its the 21st most populous city in Canada.
It would need to at least triple its population before it could be considered. It took Calgary over 15 years of being Boom Town to double in population.

I think it will be at least 40 years of growing at a booming pace for Saskatoon to be Viable. and for corporate support you could not have meant Regina.

Edit:

/\ didn't even read the last post before I wrote that. Love that our math was the same.