Quote:
Originally Posted by troutman
Why? I'm not sure that there is great demand for NHL hockey in Seattle. Attendance and ticket prices may not be much better than Phoenix.
It would be good to have a team in that market, for "footprint" reasons.
Nate Silver estimates an "avid" hockey base in Seattle of 241,463 (5% of the metro population). Phoenix = 263,054 (6%).
http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes...e-stanley-cup/ |
It's interesting that people seem to treat Seattle like a no brainer hockey market when there's really not much basis for it, besides it being further north. Junior hockey in the area does okay, but Phoenix had minor league teams for a long time too.
Personally I'm not sure what to think, it's certainly a large wealthy city so that's a big plus, but it's not a slam dunk. I wonder if hockey is still enough of a counter culture type sport to grab a big cult following the way soccer has been embraced.