Quote:
Originally Posted by Tiger
the relocation fee would be almost as high as building an arena. Likely they would be moving to a lesser market. They have to pay to leave almost as much to stay, so it seems a very hollow threat.
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Ownership will SELL the team to new owners not RELOCATE. Houston/Seattle whoever will gladly pay Flames owners for the franchise, and pay relocation fees (to NHL) to bring NHL to their own markets and fill their newer building for another 45 nights a year.
Flames owners are entitled to sell off their asset. They carried losses for a long time before salary cap etc.
They make way more money in their other businesses. Flames will continue in Calgary as long as the community (including city) supports it. But if there isn't enough support then owners will sell it off. A lot of people think this is a big bluff, but I don't.
Now, does anyone think another ownership group in Calgary would be dumb enough to outbid Seattle/Houston/whoever with a 40 year old Saddledome?
All while the community's most outspoken seem to resent owners/players for being billionaires/millionaires while Calgary's roads are simultaneously in disrepair?
And... .after the NHL is gone the city will still end up needing to spend millions in order to build (and maintain annually) an entertainment centre of some sort for a city of this size.