Quote:
Originally Posted by henriksedin33
In the history of the Canucks franchise? Yes, thousands have driven up from Seattle to go to games. Great argument.
Seattle is not a hockey city, anyone who has spent time there and talked to any number of people could tell you that.
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Seattle has won as many cups and did it more recently than Vancouver...so there.
Seriously, all the pro sports in this town are niche with the possible exception of the college huskies and cougars. Seattle has always been knocked as a bad sports town but the teams seem to be well supported. Even the lowly Mariners drew ~1.7 million last year.
Stable ownership and a competent operating management team are a prerequisite to any on ice success or selling the game in the community. It is too bad Paul Allen is probably done buying sports teams because he is the ideal owner and it shows in his teams.
The Mariners still have community support for its stable (if not a little eccentric) ownership that saved the franchise from leaving in the early 90s. Management, however, since Gillick left has been a disaster.
Besides the bad product on the field a couple of head scratchers are the proactive criticism of any proposal with the new arena and not drafting highly touted local wonder boy, Tim Lincecum, at no. 5. It would be like the Flames not drafting Hall if he was still available.
The Sounders proved to me that this city is open to different spectator sports like the NHL and thrive. My only concern is the NBA and NHL are after the same dollar and publicity but as Tomo said, there are good hockey fans here. They skate and play badly but they'll watch games.