[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by TOfan

All in the name of a balanced perspective. Pretty easy to get swept up in all the fear mongering going around, which isn't even coming from the Flames strangely enough.

I'm disappointed, albeit not shocked, in both sides. This is clearly a moment where both sides can renegotiate. Should go without saying but things have changed immensely since 2019 when the deal was struck. There is far too much riding on this for both parties for this to collapse. The City already has shovels in the ground on several ancillary projects and the event centre is integral part of a much larger plan that has been in the works for a decade, probably more. I would go out on a limb and say the Flames don't want to leave and the City does not want them to leave.

Even if the Flames wanted to leave the NHL board of governors would have to agreed to it. Do people really think the Flames are going to leave to go play in Houston, for example? Where would the Flames rank in the sports landscape in Houston? Here's my guess:

-NFL/Texans
-Astros
-Rockets
-College Football
-Highschool Football / NHL

Seems like a pretty big roll of the dice to me. Lots to do in Houston and I would also say Hockey is not a part of the cultural fabric. Not to the extent that is in Calgary/Canada. Further, if Canada does lose an NHL team, what does that mean for Rogers and the NHL? I think I heard the Canadian teams provide 35% of all NHL revenue. Think the BOG is looking to see one of those franchises move to a location with no NHL history unless they go to Hartford, KC, or Cleveland?

What would the relocation fee be compared to expansion? The NHL has fought tooth and nail to keep the Coyotes in Arizona for decades, but they are just going to willfully pull a franchise out of one of the more stable markets in the league? I wouldn't be surprised if Houston does get a team but I think the NHL's preference will be to have an ownership group fork up the, what, $800M in expansion fees. They won't get that from a relocation.

I don't get the infatuation with discussing Houston as a destination for the Flames. I have never once heard anything from the Flames indicating they are for sale.