Quote:
Originally Posted by dissentowner
Which is why Gary Bettman needs to go. Vegas is the next Arizona Coyotes only worse, it is going to fail and fail miserably. The current season ticket drive might be doing ok but the novelty will wear off quickly. People go to Vegas to have a good time gambling, or going to shows, or a million other things to do besides go to a hockey game. Quebec City on the other hand is a hockey crazed city that would sell out every single game. I get that Bettman's ultimate goal is to make the game bigger in the States but this is just an epic fail of an idea.
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Someone doesn't understand what Bettman's job is or who he represents. A guy that manages to get $500M in expansion fees from anyone is guaranteed to have long term employment with any league. The owners have to be tickled pink with his performance, as does the NHLPA.
I don't disagree with what you are saying about Vegas. In fact I support much of what you say about the likelihood Vegas is successful. But the reality here is the NHL is positioning itself to have 32 teams and have better balance east-to-west. Vegas may not end up being successful, but I believe that the long term goal is to get a team in Seattle and have Portland as a relocation target for Phoenix or Vegas. One will survive. Phoenix's survival likely depends on ASU, otherwise they will likely move in he next five years. Vegas may not be viable, but the fact that the NFL wants to get into Vegas as well should give the NHL a lot more confidence in their position. I think there is still a ton of risk, as selling 10 games is much easier than selling 44. I think Vegas is fraught with risk and wouldn't go down that road, but $500M is a lot of money to turn down.
I fully expect the NHL to announce that Las Vegas is getting an expansion team, starting play in 2017-18. Quebec City will not get an expansion team, but will see a relocation of Carolina in the near future, probably 2017-18 or 2018-19. Seattle will be an expansion team down the road, and the NHL will have balance across the conferences. At least this is what I think makes the most strategic sense.