Quote:
Originally Posted by Erick Estrada
Seattle is still looking at a new arena. If they get one built in the next few years the city I could see that as the market the Flames owners would want to move to seeing it's still in the west and close proximity to Vancouver. If Seattle gets this done look out as I don't think the threats would be empty at all.
http://komonews.com/news/local/commi...-seattle-arena |
It is a legit threat even though Seattle really just wants an NBA team back, they really have no appetite for an NHL team. The NHL wants in though.
It really would be dumb of the Flames to leave a town where they are King to being the 5th or 6th option in Seattle. The Seahawks are king there and despite having a decent time in recent years, the Mariners can't even draw good crowds. The Sounders have a loyal following. Then there are all the college teams. I really don't see an NHL team drawing much fan interest there, but to the NHL, they don't really care about ticket sales, they care about the tv package they can sell.
Too bad Katz didn't move the Oilers there, it would have been perfect and if they got McDavid too while in Seattle, that might actually have worked.
Also, Seattle's arena deal is almost as big a sideshow as Calgary's; however, they don't actually have any team yet.