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Originally Posted by Monahammer
I still think there are huge problems with the idea of selling and moving from the calgary market. Especially when the expansion fee has been set at a very attractive number. If more billionaires want to enter the game, the other billionaires would prefer to get a pound of flesh (500 million) from them.
And again, a guy like Fertitta isn't going to buy a hockey franchise. Allen's group might... but I don't see there being huge upside for them so unless one of the family scions is a big hockey fan it is unlikely.
So, are they going to sell to Quebecor? That seems like an enormously futile decision for the league.
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I don't think the NHL is going to expand again any time soon, so the expansion fee bonus probably isn't a huge factor. It's always been prudent for the NHL to keep some cities on the backburner in the event relocation is necessary. It gives cities negotiating power in events like this and also prevents folding as an option. Much more expansion, and they would be giving that up.
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Originally Posted by Strange Brew
This is all correct for Houston, except that Aeros did play in the toyota center for a few years until the Rockets owner kicked them out.
If anyone is going to throw around the relo threat, you really need to do some homework. Houston is not an option today for relo. It is only an option for a sale of the team if they could cut a deal with Fertitta. There are other cities in the same boat.
It doesn't mean Flames would never leave, or more likely, be sold. But it would take quite a bit of time and effort.
But the Flames won't play in the Saddledome forever. And no pro sports owner will fully fund the construction of a new arena in Calgary so if you're going to keep an NHL team, it's simply a question of how much you're willing to spend.
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If Feritta wanted an NHL team, he could probably get one easily and he did express interest before. If it helped get him a favourable deal from the City to build a new facility, it's quite possible he would do it. It's not uncommon for teams to play out of old arenas until the new one is complete. The Toyota Center might not be ideal, but it wouldn't necessarily be a permanent home.
It's hard to know what is going on behind the scenes. It's not in anyone's best interests to make relocation discussions public (see Jim Balsillie). Not too many people saw Winnipeg as a realistic destination before it happened. Things can happen very fast if the people involved see an opportunity present itself. It's easy when there isn't an apparent opportunity to point out all the reasons why something won't happen, but when there is an opportunity, the mind set usually changes from "we can't", to "how can we".
Bettman said Houston is very much on the radar despite those issues and I am sure he would move heaven and hell to get a team there.