Quote:
Originally Posted by Erick Estrada
People keep forgetting the importance of TV markets. Quebec City does absolutely nothing for the NHL in terms of TV market and it's a Habs market on RDS so there will be minimal gains for the next Canadian TV deal. Conversely they lose a large US TV market which likely affects the US deals. I see zero chance they move another US TV market to Canada as they will move to another US TV market.
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That is true and probably why they will never get considered for an expansion team. If they get a team back, it will have to a Winnipeg situation when a team is packing up and needs a new home by the start of the next season.
I will say this though. You might be surprised at how many people in Quebec City do not follow the Habs, other than to watch them lose. I've been to bars in Quebec that prefer to show Bruins games surrounded by people wearing Bruins jerseys due to their historical rivalry with the Habs, and also part of Quebec City's identity isn't just "French", but as an Atlantic/Maritime old colonial culture which Boston is kind of a cultural center for in North America. In some ways, Quebec City felt more similar to a large Halifax than a small Montreal, despite the language differences.
That Habs-Nordiques rivalry was fierce and many people in QC refused to latch on to the Habs just because the Nordiques left. It would be like a Flames fan latching on to the Oilers if the Flames left.