Quote:
Originally Posted by Locke
Yeah, and this has to be looked at more closely.
I was highly skeptical that Winnipeg would be able to make a go of it, but they've managed.
I'm not sure I'm with you on the Quebec City front though.
The other battle that Quebec has to fight is 'The Ottawa Effect.'
Sure, you can plunk a team there but what percentage of people there are still old diehard Nordiques fans? Most of those people have moved on to support other teams? Are they going to ditch almost a generation of being a Habs or Leafs fan to renew their fandom for Quebec?
That was something that Winnipeg made work for them, but each additional gap year just applies more pressure to that attrition.
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Quebec city has an odd fandom at the moment.
The majority are Habs fans, Bruins are probably a somewhat close second and then followed by others like Avalanche, Tampa etc. Whenever you are out though you still see someone wearing a Nordiques hat or shirt, people haven't let go.
The Remparts are also the highest drawing CHL team in the league(if that is even a factor).
The thing that doesn't help out QC is that there is no additional added plus to a tv deal. Everyone here already watches hockey. Team or not that will never change. The team would sell out, jerseys would sell like hot cakes but the TV wouldn't change. Quebec city is thus a low risk medium reward scenerio and the NHL or at least Bettman will always roll the dice on a high risk high reward scenerio before considering Quebec. TV deals still mean alot and until that changes the likelihood that we get a team is slim.