[Rumour] NHL and Seattle talking about expansion fees (~$225M)

[JMN]

Originally Posted by Fire

Will Gretzky actually put up his own money into this? It would be a first for Gretzky.

I wouldnt put any money in either if some schmuck was willing to hand over a percentage for my name. Unfortunately my name means nothing.

[Finger Cookin]

NHL expansion to Las Vegas 'a done deal'

Originally Posted by TheScore

The latest is from veteran Vancouver Province columnist Tony Gallagher, who suggested on Tuesday that the NHL will expand to Las Vegas, Nev. sooner rather than later:

Sources close to the situation have indicated Las Vegas is a done deal, the only thing to be determined being which owner will be entitled to proclaim that he brought the first major league sports franchise to Sin City.

Gallagher also insists that there's fire behind all of the NHL-related smoke emanating out of Seattle, Wash. and reports that Vancouver-born billionaire Victor Coleman would be among the bidders interested in bringing a second NHL club to the Pacific Northwest.

[getbak]

Here's Gallagher's story: http://www.theprovince.com/sports/ho...984/story.html


If they do go to Vegas/elsewhere, they'll likely do the expansion like they did the last time, where they announced the teams all at once, but they didn't start playing until their arenas were built and open.

The new arena behind the NYNY and Monte Carlo casinos is scheduled to open in the spring of 2016. If this does happen, I'd expect the team to start play in the 2016-17 season.

http://www.arenalasvegas.com/about/v...struction.aspx


Something that occurred to me just last week is that this is the longest the NHL has gone without a expansion since the league first expanded from 6 to 12 teams in 1967. The league had 21 teams from the 1979-80 season through the 1990-91 season (12 seasons). The NHL has been at 30 teams since 2000-01. Even if you exclude the lockout year, this will be the 14th season of a 30 team NHL.

The 2016-17 season will be the NHL's centennial, so expanding the league makes sense for that season too.

[seattleflamer]

So to recap: NHL in Seattle doesn't happen without new arena. New arena doesn't happen till NBA expansion/relocation occur. NBA expansion doesn't happen until new national tv contract is worked out. Well, if SBJ is right(and they usually get the broad strokes correct), new NBA tv deal will be announced before year's end valued at approx $18 billion over 9 years.

http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/J...NBA-media.aspx

Talks have progressed so rapidly that details are emerging on a massive agreement that would see the league’s annual rights fee more than double, with ESPN and Turner combining to pay more than $2 billion per year on average. One source said ESPN already has committed to pay “well over” $1 billion per year, and Turner is not far behind for a media rights extension that would kick in with the 2016-17 season.

[Red John]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Larry Brooks of the NY Post reports Gretzky maybe looking at a Seattle NHL team

http://nypost.com/2014/07/04/wayne-g...am-in-seattle/

Can confirm that this is true.

[albertGQ]

Originally Posted by Red John

Can confirm that this is true.

How can you confirm this? You have inside knowledge?

[albertGQ]

Mike McGinn: “Most people don’t realize how close we were to actually getting an NHL team.’’


http://seattletimes.com/html/hockey/...tml?cmpid=2628

Interesting read.

[Coach]

Very interesting. I've always been a champion for having a team in Seattle. Can't beleive the NHL has fought so hard against the Coyotes moving, but lack of an arena was obviously a contention. I think if Seattle had a suitable arena, or at least one officially planned, the NHL would already be there.

[FBI]

I'm moving there so I'm pumped for Seattle to get a team and see the Flames there probably 2-3 times a season!

[Stealth22]

Sorry if this is a re-post, but I just came across this on Yahoo.

Don't know how significant it is, just thought I would share.

https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nh...145717064.html

[sec304]

That is significant, thank you!

"Should folks in the NHL or potential owners come to us with a different financial plan that pencils out for the city and for our partners at the county, I would be willing to go back to the council and ask them to open that process," said Murray in an interview at City Hall. "I believe there could be an adjustment for an NHL team first if there if a financial plan that pencils out for the city."

[Red Menace]

Just had a thought....
If NHL actually expanded to Seattle and LV, I am sure they'd both be placed in Pacific division.
If so it would mean some Pacific team would have to move to the Central....
seems like they'd want to keep Arz with the Cali + LV teams....
So next logical geographical option might be moving the Flames to the central.
Seems just as unlikely they'd take us away from EDM, but it is a strange possibility if the NHL actually does expanded to these 2 cities in the near future.

[sec304]

I agree they would both be laced in the Pacific, but they wouldn't split up Calgary and Edmonton. Arizona to Central?

[Locke]

Originally Posted by sec304

I agree they would both be laced in the Pacific, but they wouldn't split up Calgary and Edmonton. Arizona to Central?

It'd be nice not to be lumped in with those losers anymore.

[Joborule]

No way the Canadian teams get split up. Either Phoenix gets shifted over to the Central, or Las Vegas gets placed into the Central.

[Red Menace]

Maybe they'd move EDM & CAL to the central and put COL back in the pacific....

[codynw]

Originally Posted by Locke

It'd be nice not to be lumped in with those losers anymore.

Why? That's basically free points. Why would you want them in a different division?

[ForeverFlameFan]

Pretty sure LV would just get placed in the Central. Colorado is in the Central too. Maybe AZ could go there.

[Joborule]

Originally Posted by Red Menace

Maybe they'd move EDM & CAL to the central and put COL back in the pacific....

Don't think Vancouver would be a fan of being the odd Canadian team out of Canadian divisional rival(s). Plus would increase travel costs, which is part of the reason I believe NHL went to the new division format.

[Red Menace]

I'm sure Winnipeg isn't a fan of it either.

LV is so close to California, (as is ARZ) seems like they'd want to join them all up...you know Canadian concerns will not be prioritized.