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Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe
Taking the risk to sound like an idiot here.. but could someone refresh my memory as to why they decided to go to Glendale in the first place? Seems like a heck of a ways to go to watch a hockey game, and I heard this is the biggest reason.
Could there possibly be a buyer interested in keeping the team in metro Phoneix, but perhaps a bit closer to that high population? How did the NHL approve a move into the city of Glendale anyways?
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They anticipated Gllendale, and Westgate, across the street from the NFL stadium, becoming a bigger draw than it is. After building, the economy started struggling and Westgate never became the destination it was expected to be. Now they're building a large outlet mall adjacent to Westgate which will draw more people there, but does that translate to increasing game attendance? I'm not so sure.
I can accept that the location isn't ideal , but I will never believe that is the reason for poor attendance. This team has been under a threat of relocation for years. Why would anyone invest themselves financially or emotionally in a team that is constantly reported to be on its way out of town? The arena is freeway adjacent, it's not that big of a deal to drive there from Scottsdale. I've done it many times. Would being located downtown in a more central location for all Phoenix suburbs be better? Probably. But if that team had a stable owner and a commitment to stay put, people would make the effort to get to games. I drive over 30 miles, each way, to Staples Center at least 30 times every season and I don't think twice about it...and I have to pay to park when I get there.