The problem Quebec has is that the NHL already sort of took a risk with Winnipeg and they're already having commercials begging fans to come support the team and fill the stadium. It's only been like 4 years or whatever.
When the $ is at elevated levels like it is now it's tough for Canadian teams to pay US salaries and keep prices low. People still bitch about how expensive games are, and they are, but that's the price level the league is at when you have growth YOY for 30 years. It's why the salary cap is where it's at. It's not that there will be a downward adjustment, the league will just move and grow into areas where it can continue to achieve such growth and that might mean even moving out of tougher markets.
This is where Calgary needs to be a little careful. Everything from an economic perspective looks good, but then there's a declining attendance issue coupled with a city unwilling to negotiate much to build the required facilities for the contemporary NHL product.
People need to fill the stadiums in Canada. We can't afford to have the 30% filled buildings like Arizona or Florida where the market potential is vastly superior and revenues earned in USD.
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