07-15-2016, 11:32 AM
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#1
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Some kinda newsbreaker!
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Learning Phaneufs skating style
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KHL to expand to London, England
http://www.si.com/nhl/2016/07/15/rep...-expand-london
Quote:
On Friday, a Russian sports website announced that the KHL will put an expansion team in London, England.
It's the latest aggressive move by the Russian-based circuit which is spread over vast stretches of two continents. The league will unveil its first China-based team, Kunlun Red Star, in Beijing this season.
Although it would seem to be a natural to host a major-league team due to its size and status as one of the world's greatest cities, London's history with the sport makes it far from a sure bet. The U.K.'s 10-team Elite Ice Hockey League hasn't iced a squad in the capital since 2005-06 when the London Racers folded due to a poor facilities. And while the EIHL always kept an eye on the market, a return is hardly imminent.
Facilities aren't a problem now, at least in terms of quality. The O2 Arena, which holds up to 23,000 spectators, is a world-class building that hosted two NHL regular-season games between the Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings back in 2007. But it's also the world's busiest arena, which could lead to scheduling issues.
And it remains to be seen what sort of appetite the city has for hockey. The EIHL is a non-entity in a city obsessed with its five English Premier League football teams, but the major-league status of the KHL, with its ability to attract higher quality athletes and presence in other world-class markets, could be exactly what the sport needs to find a toehold in London.
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07-15-2016, 11:36 AM
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#2
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First round-bust
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: speculating about AHL players
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Let's hope they can figure out how to power on the lights this time.
__________________
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07-15-2016, 11:37 AM
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#3
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Scoring Winger
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Maybe they can pull so expats to buy tickets. There must be a lot of Canadians, Russians, Swedes, etc living in London.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
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07-15-2016, 11:49 AM
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#4
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Scoring Winger
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: B.C.
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Met a couple of fans when were holidaying in England a couple of years back. They were very dedicated. Have been loosely following their team ever since.
http://www.panthers.co.uk/
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07-15-2016, 11:52 AM
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#5
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Ate 100 Treadmills
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An all Europe league would be really cool. Seems strange to have a league that stretches from England to China though. Travel times would be insane. Although, I guess you could structure the league so that those two teams would rarely play against eachother. You'd also have to have playoff games in a neutral space in the middle somewhere.
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07-15-2016, 12:09 PM
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#6
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Franchise Player
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Brexit the EU and Brenter the KHL?
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07-15-2016, 12:41 PM
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#7
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Powerplay Quarterback
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Imagine a Beijing-London Gagarin cup final. The jet lag factor would just be atrocius
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07-15-2016, 12:43 PM
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#8
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Income Tax Central
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Quote:
Originally Posted by blankall
An all Europe league would be really cool. Seems strange to have a league that stretches from England to China though. Travel times would be insane. Although, I guess you could structure the league so that those two teams would rarely play against eachother. You'd also have to have playoff games in a neutral space in the middle somewhere.
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Oooh! They could build a rink on an old decommissioned aircraft carrier in the middle of the Mediterranean! Now that would be awesomesauce!
You want an outdoor game? Now that would be an outdoor game!
__________________
The Beatings Shall Continue Until Morale Improves!
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The World Ends when you're dead. Until then, you've got more punishment in store. - Flames Fans
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07-15-2016, 12:44 PM
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#9
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Lifetime Suspension
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I wonder if the Saddledome would be KHL quality in 10 years when NEXT doesnt get built?
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07-15-2016, 12:50 PM
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#10
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Ate 100 Treadmills
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Locke
Oooh! They could build a rink on an old decommissioned aircraft carrier in the middle of the Mediterranean! Now that would be awesomesauce!
You want an outdoor game? Now that would be an outdoor game!
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In International Waters? Monkey knife fights in between periods.
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07-15-2016, 12:52 PM
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#11
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Income Tax Central
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Quote:
Originally Posted by blankall
In International Waters? Monkey knife fights in between periods.
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Just imagine the Gambling potential!
__________________
The Beatings Shall Continue Until Morale Improves!
This Post Has Been Distilled for the Eradication of Seemingly Incurable Sadness.
The World Ends when you're dead. Until then, you've got more punishment in store. - Flames Fans
If you thought this season would have a happy ending, you haven't been paying attention.
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07-15-2016, 01:08 PM
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#12
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In the Sin Bin
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We make jokes, but if that league stabilizes itself and consolidates problem franchises and starts to operating in the major european cities, I would not be surprised if they start taking some serious talent away from the NHL.
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07-15-2016, 01:14 PM
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#13
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Income Tax Central
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Quote:
Originally Posted by polak
We make jokes, but if that league stabilizes itself and consolidates problem franchises and starts to operating in the major european cities, I would not be surprised if they start taking some serious talent away from the NHL.
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Oh...the World has been waiting for the Russians to get their act together since 1917, I think we're safe for the time being.
__________________
The Beatings Shall Continue Until Morale Improves!
This Post Has Been Distilled for the Eradication of Seemingly Incurable Sadness.
The World Ends when you're dead. Until then, you've got more punishment in store. - Flames Fans
If you thought this season would have a happy ending, you haven't been paying attention.
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07-15-2016, 02:27 PM
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#14
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In the Sin Bin
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So, basically, the KHL is following the modern ABA's expansion model: anywhere and everywhere.
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07-15-2016, 02:33 PM
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#15
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Calgary
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London is as many timezones away from Beijing as Vancouver is
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07-15-2016, 02:45 PM
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#16
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: The Bay Area
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Quote:
Originally Posted by polak
We make jokes, but if that league stabilizes itself and consolidates problem franchises and starts to operating in the major european cities, I would not be surprised if they start taking some serious talent away from the NHL.
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Is there nothing you won't worry about? 
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07-15-2016, 02:52 PM
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#17
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Austria, NOT Australia
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Quote:
Originally Posted by blankall
An all Europe league would be really cool.
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well ... we do have THIS.
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07-15-2016, 02:56 PM
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#19
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First round-bust
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: speculating about AHL players
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Also, flights to London are substantially cheaper than flights to Moscow or Magnitogorsk, so Backlund can rest a little easier.
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07-15-2016, 03:24 PM
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#20
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First Line Centre
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Nice! The O2 arena is perfect for hockey. The NHL games they put on there a few years ago were a success mainly due to the facilities.
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