[News] Update: NHL green lights season-ticket drive for Las Vegas

[Clarkey]

I wish they'd have a contraction/expansion set up instead watering down the league with more tacky franchises. Allow owners of Phoenix, Florida, Carolina, Tampa Bay and Atlanta to sell their teams into new NHL approved markets and the league can tack on an expansion top up fee. 30 teams is enough.

[Finger Cookin]

Well, you're prophetic when it comes to Atlanta.

[Deegee]

They should move Atlanta to Winnipeg.

[Finger Cookin]

[BigTuna]

Originally Posted by Locke

I also dislike the notion that Quebec City somehow 'deserves' a team. Why? Because they like hockey?

If anything, Quebec City deserves an NHL hockey team the least because they've already had their chance.

We sit here talking about how expansion isnt what the league needs, it would be better served with contraction but then we want teams in places like Markham and Quebec City? Its madness.

We're already seeing the cracks in the veneer of the Winnipeg Jets.

Markham is Toronto. So it's hardly "Madness". Markham would be the 3rd highest valued franchise the moment it starts in the NHL.

Quebec should be boycotted by all of Canada. Separatist Paladeau would own it.

[White Out 403]

Originally Posted by Locke

.....

We're already seeing the cracks in the veneer of the Winnipeg Jets.

I agree it's super touch and go right now with our Jets, what with the season tickets maxed out for years to come and a capped out waiting list people pay to be on.

[Clarkey]

Originally Posted by Finger Cookin

Well, you're prophetic when it comes to Atlanta.

Woops!

[IgiTang]

Originally Posted by Resurrection

I agree it's super touch and go right now with our Jets, what with the season tickets maxed out for years to come and a capped out waiting list people pay to be on.

i hear ya. However I have heard rumblings of the sparkle rubbing off of the Jets too. But I think it has more to do with Chevaldayoff and his lack of improving the team and the team being competitive. Not from drawing fans.. for now.. And I think thats where the concern comes from. I think the Jets need new management IMO.

As for Vegas, I cant see players not wanting to play there.. Especially the guys who love to have a good time. Infact, I could see Evander Kane fighting to play for the Jets.

Perhaps Vegas is the answer to the Jets problems... Full circle... boom!

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

It helps. I talked with some Nordiques fans in Quebec (and they weren't in Quebec City), and they said there's a tremendous appetite for a team to cheer for besides the Habs, because all younger fans (by younger I mean under 50) hear about is the glory days of the Canadiens. There are over 8 million people in Quebec (more than twice the population of Alberta), and they're crazy about hockey. They can support two NHL teams. The only question is corporate support.

Oddly enough, the Boston Bruins became the team of choice for many hockey fans in Quebec City after the Nordiques left.

[Daradon]

Dunno if this has been mentioned yet, but in listening to one of the US based CBS sports shows this week, a lot of people called in saying that Vegasian's are craving a pro franchise. They're about 600,000 now with a metro area of almost 2 million. It's not a huge market but there are smaller markets in the US that have either a NBA or NFL franchise. Even if it's hockey, I think the city would love finally having a pro franchise there. And there would be no competiton for the team. They wouldn't have to worry about splitting tickets with another franchise.

So I'm not entirely sure it would just have to be hotels and tourists buying the tickets.

I will admit, hockey will be the toughest sell and that could be the thing that sinks it. But I think that it would succeed. The city needs a pro franchise and I think they'd be excited to give their love to the first one to come to town, even if ice is involved.

[troutman]

Dan Patrick says NHL will have a team in Las Vegas in 2016, is 'a done deal'


http://www.si.com/nhl/2014/08/28/now...egas-done-deal

"We will have an NHL team in Las Vegas in 2016," Dan Patrick said during his talk show on Thursday. "This is from a financial person who is involved in this. The paperwork is already done. This is, as has been reported, a done deal. We'll have a hockey team in Las Vegas in 2016. The question is, is it going to be an expansion team or is it going to be a relocation?"

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Clarkey

I wish they'd have a contraction/expansion set up instead watering down the league with more tacky franchises. Allow owners of Phoenix, Florida, Carolina, Tampa Bay and Atlanta to sell their teams into new NHL approved markets and the league can tack on an expansion top up fee. 30 teams is enough.

You've never actually looked at Tampa's situation, have you? Carolina isn't exactly struggling either. Really, your comment comes across as standard anti-south xenophobia.

[troutman]

http://www.forbes.com/nhl-valuations/list/

[Daradon]

The rumors were for four new teams, (Las Vegas, Seattle, Quebec City, Toronto Burbs) but I can't see it being four brand new teams. Two new ones and two relocations would make sense to me. Just how it all shakes down I have no idea. Who moves, who doesn't, etc. But expansion fees is something the league wants, and there's been talk of trying to get to 32 for a while now. Mathematically it makes good sense for divisions and such. 34 would be a nightmare in that respect. And it's hard to believe that the NHL would become the largest pro league in NA at least in respects of member cities.

I gotta think the Panthers time is limited. Phoenix could be another depending on the timing of the new franchise. But I'm sure they could find another one to move besides those two.

[BigTuna]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

You've never actually looked at Tampa's situation, have you? Carolina isn't exactly struggling either. Really, your comment comes across as standard anti-south xenophobia.

The problem with these markets is, even when the attendance figures look good, they're selling their tickets for peanuts and generating little revenue. Apparently, Carolina has lost money for 9 straight years.

Canadian markets make a lot largely due to tickets being very expensive and the team actually generating a lot from ticket sales.

I can buy a ticket in some of these markets for less than a beer at the ACC.

[1_Flames_Fan]

Originally Posted by The Original FFIV

So team names?

gamblers?
Strippers?
51ers?
Saucers?
Heat?
Wranglers (their echl team name)?

The Vegas Spearmint Rhinos

[troutman]

The Las Vegas Spreads

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by troutman

The Las Vegas Spreads

Oooohh, can I design that jersey?

[gilligans_off]

so does anyone know IF the league did expand, how many games would be played with 34 or 32 teams?

[ForeverFlameFan]

Vegas Vipers?