[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

There's going to have to be an element of banking on tourism dollars as part of a risk strategy around a new market pro sports team. That is the draw, especially with the location of a new arena being located on the Strip.

There is likely going to have to be some "bridging" going on in ticket sales between tourism and hometown dollars, especially over a projected 3-5 year strategy. And the team is going to have to come strong out of the gate, so as not to fall into that desert-graveyard stigma that Arizona has fallen into.

However, the Las Vegas metropolitan area (Las Vegas-Paradise area) has a population of 1.9 million. And it's sort of an untapped market in terms of pro sports potential. And hockey has shown to be stable there, at least on relatively minor levels.

You have to think though, that with Vegas in the mix, there could be some net benefit for Phoenix too, in that hometown fans may establish a rivalry (especially if they're in the same division). I don't think it's out of the question to assume that, with two competitive teams (reaching high, I know), something couldn't be built on that Vegas/Arizona regional foundation.

I guess I'm just optimistic about Vegas' chances. But I think it's a great idea to try and put a team there, especially with all the ways to deliver/sell tickets and marketing opportunities into that city; worse comes to worse, move them out.

My only concern is that the team should be a franchise move, not an expansion. It cuts into the revenue-sharing pie for each team for TV deals, and dilutes the talent base.

just to clearify (I think you mentioned this before) but are you additionally banking on people from Pheonix to help support (i.e. travel to Las Vegas to support their team in Vegas) a Las Vegas team...?