What NHL teams could be re-located, and where? - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Sakari · 03-06-2013, 08:42 AM

So, sometimes I decide the check up on the attendance records in the NHL. I notice that the most should-be-moved team (according to fans) are the Phoenix Coyotes. So far, here are the attendance records for this year.

Source: http://espn.go.com/nhl/attendance

I was pretty surprised to see Colorado so low on that list. But why only the Coyotes? I realize that they fail to fill up their stadium, however, moving markets like the Islanders, Phoenix, Colorado, Anaheim, etc, and I mean ALL of them, up north, would generate a lot more revenue for the NHL. I realize there is a lot involved, having a stadium that can support an NHL team, having a population that can and will watch these games, and, probably most importantly, having someone willing to buy the team that wants to move it. I'm no expert, I could be missing some things, I could be saying things that are untrue, but is there a reason? This is, by far, the biggest reason I was so pissed about the lockout. Move the teams I mentioned to places where hockey is of interest, and you profit. It's simple. My sad little town of 75000 could have a better record than the Isles. Some places they could be moved to?

Toronto
Detroit
Seattle
Quebec City
Saskatoon (debatably, however it would still be better than in the desert)
Hamilton

That's just to name a few. If New York can support multiple teams, so can Toronto, so can Detroit (Windsor?). They have a much lower population, but the entire GTA would go in town to watch a team play. But I'm more here to ask for opinion. I don't know why the NHL doesn't make these moves, and I would very much like to know why. Does anyone actually have an idea? Is it just a simple answer, greed?

troutman · 03-06-2013, 08:46 AM

My fantasy:

Upper Canada: Mtl, Ott, Que, Tor, Ham

Rust Belt: Buff, Phi, Cbj, Was, Pit

Atlantic: Nyi, Nj, Nyr, Har, Bos

Great Lakes: Mil, Min, Chi, Stl, Det

North West: Win, Cgy, Edm, Van, Sea

South West: LA, Sj, Dal, Por, Col

kyuss275 · 03-06-2013, 09:06 AM

The Islanders are moving to Brooklyn so they will be fine. Av's will get fans back when they start winning. Phoenix should be up north yesterday.

Vinny01 · 03-06-2013, 09:27 AM

Phoenix will end up in Seattle. Florida and columbus should move to QC and Toronto. Not a chance Saskatoon could handle a NHL team

_Q_ · 03-06-2013, 09:31 AM

I don't like the idea of another Toronto team. Now that the Leafs are doing well, you'd be hard pressed to find anyone that would become that new team's fans.

A Hamilton team, on the other hand, is a great idea. They're far enough from Toronto that they would develop their own fan base.

troutman · 03-06-2013, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by _Q_

I don't like the idea of another Toronto team. Now that the Leafs are doing well, you'd be hard pressed to find anyone that would become that new team's fans.

A Hamilton team, on the other hand, is a great idea. They're far enough from Toronto that they would develop their own fan base.

6 Million in the GTA. They could support 3-4 teams.

Northendzone · 03-06-2013, 09:39 AM

i have heard rumours that the Yotes are in trouble and may be relocated

Canada 02 · 03-06-2013, 09:42 AM

Oilers to Seattle

Bertuzzied · 03-06-2013, 09:43 AM

Oilers to Houston.

Sakari · 03-06-2013, 09:44 AM

Oilers to China.

DownhillGoat · 03-06-2013, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Canada 02

Oilers to Seattle

Canucks to the bottom of the Pacific Ocean.

Sakari · 03-06-2013, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kunkstyle

Canucks to the bottom of the Pacific Ocean.

They're too good at diving for that, wouldn't be fair.

Bertuzzied · 03-06-2013, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kunkstyle

Canucks to the bottom of the Pacific Ocean.

Canucks to Atlantis is about right. Half their team are already mer-men.

Joborule · 03-06-2013, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Florida and columbus should move to QC and Toronto.

Don't count on both of those things happening. Columbus is a market that will work once the management gets their crap together and ice a team that makes the playoffs more than once during their whole tenure there. NHL would really prefer to keep Florida around and not leave Tampa Bay alone in the state; as well make sure hockey can touch each corner of the continent. That's another team that has struggled to be competitive so low attendance is not surprising. Give them a chance to be a playoff team for multiple seasons and they could gather decent coin and viewership.

QC and Toronto aren't going to get relocation teams. Too much money to be made via expansion fees, so they will be added teams to the league.

keenan87 · 03-06-2013, 10:09 AM

I remember a time when everyone thought Nashville was going to relocate. Now, no one even puts them in the picture.

Poe969 · 03-06-2013, 10:13 AM

Penguins to Calgary

topfiverecords · 03-06-2013, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Northendzone

i have heard rumours that the Yotes are in trouble and may be relocated

All you need is to be alive to have heard this.

Fire · 03-06-2013, 10:36 AM

It was that long ago that the Flames would be in the bottom five of the league.

transplant99 · 03-06-2013, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troutman

6 Million in the GTA. They could support 3-4 teams.

No they couldn't.

maybe 1 team...just because of the population density.

But look at it this way...if Calgary was awarded a second team would you all of a sudden drop allegiance to the Flames, watch only the new teams games when both were on TV, buy all new merchandise for the new team, attend only the new teams games?

Now transfer that same thought process to another team IN TO. Sure there is likely enough people that 1 team can exist and sway enough to change allegiance, but even at that I would suggest it will take years to solidify a strong base of new team only fans.

Sakari · 03-06-2013, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by transplant99

No they couldn't.

maybe 1 team...just because of the population density.

But look at it this way...if Calgary was awarded a second team would you all of a sudden drop allegiance to the Flames, watch only the new teams games when both were on TV, buy all new merchandise for the new team, attend only the new teams games?

Now transfer that same thought process to another team IN TO. Sure there is likely enough people that 1 team can exist and sway enough to change allegiance, but even at that I would suggest it will take years to solidify a strong base of new team only fans.

I think we have to remember that for whatever reason, the Maple Leafs are the ultimate bandwagon, and many of those bandwagon fans won't take a lot to stray away from the Leafs. Also, I'd suspect many of the people that go to the ACC are just there for the game, not for the team. Not the majority, but some probably are, and I'm sure they'd watch two teams.