Quote:
Originally Posted by getbak
When there is a cloud of uncertainty hanging over a team, people will be reluctant to invest the time, money, and energy into supporting the team. Being in Phoenix for a couple of days and going to a game is one thing, but the life-blood of any team is the locals, the season ticket holders.
There's also the marketing side of things. There are very few teams who can sell out every game without advertising. Even though the NHL has owned the team, they haven't been investing in the team or the community. All you have to do is look at the difference in the Nashville market since they've had locally focused ownership.
Arguably, five years ago, the Predators were in worse shape than the Coyotes. Now, they're one of the bright spots in the league. They're not Toronto or Montreal, but they're solid and stable.
To be successful, you need a good building, stable ownership, and a competitive team. The Coyotes have never had all three at the same time since they moved to Arizona.
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I admit having a stable ownership isn't good for ticket sales just as having a poor economy isn't either, but there were five years where they had a good building, a good economy and stable ownership from 2003 to 2008. They didn't have a great team but a lot of franchises have to deal with that and don't end up going through bankruptcy. If every losing team used that as an excuse, there would be lot more teams going bankrupt and threatening to move.
If their were enough hockey fans in Phoenix, they wouldn't have a problem finding a legitimate owner.