Haha, classic. Love the debate too, always the same. Hockey can exist in the sunbelt! No it can't! Etc.
By now it should be obvious what the NHLs business model is. Expand unsustainably and recklessly into terrible markets with little potential for return. Have commissioner sell it as "developing a culture" or however he justifies it.
Seems dumb long-term but short term it is a bonanza. The owners don't care -- they stand to benefit from splitting massive "expansion fees" (divide $1 billion by 30 owners). Any losses from a bad market are simply covered by bailouts from idiot city councils, as the Coyotes and now Panthers cases show. Profit sharing, which is incredibly unfair to and exploitative of Canadian fans who pay hundreds of dollars for tickets that would fetch $20 in bad markets, takes care of the rest.
So go ahead Florida, take the bailout. Bettman, put a team in Vegas. Heck put a team in Mexico City while you're at it. I love the comedy that is the NHL.
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"Two-liner!"
-Terry
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