Quote:
Originally Posted by tomo
Seattle is a great sports market. Those who question it might need to do a bit more travelling.
Like I have said before, hockey is being played all over the place here. I lived in Chicago a few years ago and there is easily as many people playing here in Seattle as there is in Chicago.
The problem with pro sports franchises needing public funding for arenas isn't about the desire for the teams it is that Washington State does not have a state income tax. So getting public funding for something that is considered a luxury is somewhat difficult. It took the Seahawks and the Mariners a very long time to receive public funding for their stadiums.
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Very intresting view. When i was growing up playing midget aaa, seattle only had two minor hockey associations....talking to guys who played in the Lower mainland league, the two teams from seattle were a joke. Hockey just never seemed to be a popular concept in seattle. Rinks were few and few between, I believe one of the associations even played in an old grocery store/mall? something to that affect.
Oshie coming out of washington state was an absolute shocker. I dont know what its like now but in my day minor hockey in seattle was very uncommon. compare it to a place like Chicago.....where they have programs such as the Chicago chill or team illinois who entered the macs regularly, i find it very surprising that you see more of a hockey youth movment in seattle compared to chicago.
Would love to see a team in seattle but I was always under the impression hockey at the grass roots level in seattle was very bare.