Second NHL team in Ontario could present problems

[Otto-matic]

If the NHL ever chooses to add a second team in Toronto, that expansion franchise has to hope the Maple Leafs' Stanley Cup drought continues.
Speaking in a hypothetical sense on the topic of a second team in the hockey-mad market, commissioner Gary Bettman said it's one thing to consider.
"If we decided that we were putting a second team in Ontario, and the year the team was supposed to start, the Leafs won the Cup, that second team wouldn't exist," Bettman said in a conversation with George Stroumboulopoulos at a Canadian Club luncheon.
Stroumboulopoulos, the new host of "Hockey Night In Canada" and a self-professed Montreal Canadiens fan, interrupted Bettman to say, "That's a big hypothetical."

Bettman does bring up a good point with having a second team in Ontario.

Bettman continued: "That's part of the dynamic because the attention gets diluted, either two ways or three ways, and when you have historically established teams with great histories and traditions, the second team -- even if the first team isn't having tremendous success at the time -- the second team will never quite get the premier coverage."

[KelVarnsen]

Wouldn't that be the third team in Ontario?

[Locke]

If the NHL ever chooses to add a second team in Toronto, that expansion franchise has to hope the Maple Leafs' Stanley Cup drought continues.
Speaking in a hypothetical sense on the topic of a second team in the hockey-mad market, commissioner Gary Bettman said it's one thing to consider.
"If we decided that we were putting a second team in Ontario, and the year the team was supposed to start, the Leafs won the Cup, that second team wouldn't exist," Bettman said in a conversation with George Stroumboulopoulos at a Canadian Club luncheon.
Stroumboulopoulos, the new host of "Hockey Night In Canada" and a self-professed Montreal Canadiens fan, interrupted Bettman to say, "That's a big hypothetical."

[mikeecho]

I'd bet money that a new hockey team in the GTAA would have a better chance of winning the cup before the Leafs ever do, so it's a non issue.

[SuperMatt18]

I think Bettman's denial is just a maneuver to not piss of MLSE before actual negotiations happen in case they challenge the right to bring a team there.

The fan base would be fine, and younger generations would probably lean towards the new team since they might actually be able to go to a game.

[CaptainCrunch]

By the time they negotiated with the Leafs about area rights that would be a billion dollar cost to put a franchise in there.

I can't see it ever happening.

[FlamesAddiction]

They would probably still get more coverage than half the teams in the league right now.

Yeah, they would probably be second fiddle to the Leafs for a long time, but let's face it, a lot of teams in the NHL might be the only NHL team in their respective markets, but they are 3rd or 4th for sports team coverage as well.

[Oil Stain]

I don't see what difference it makes if the second team isn't getting the same premier coverage as the Leafs. No other team in the league gets that except possibly Montreal. The second team will still get more coverage then a third of the American teams.

Did the Rangers and Kings get to negotiate settlements when a new team was moved into their areas? Why do the Leafs seemingly have way more clout?

[Komskies]

Originally Posted by KelVarnsen

Wouldn't that be the third team in Ontario?

Forever Alone Senators.

[Coach]

Any diluted attention TO 2 would receive would be more so than any of the 3-5 teams that should move there combined.

Saying its not viable if the Leafs win the Cup is like arguing that the Flames arent viable if the world stops using oil.

Whats the fear of the Leafs anyway? What are they going to do, up and leave the NHL?

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Oil Stain

I don't see what difference it makes if the second team isn't getting the same premier coverage as the Leafs. No other team in the league gets that except possibly Montreal. The second team will still get more coverage then a third of the American teams.

Did the Rangers and Kings get to negotiate settlements when a new team was moved into their areas? Why do the Leafs seemingly have way more clout?

Yeah, I'm pretty sure the Kings and Rangers got some area protected money. The Leafs would also need to get money for their territorial rights. The thing is the Leafs no longer have a veto to stop expansion into their area and can't set the price.

[Finger Cookin]

There was an interview/feature on TSN yesterday with Peter Karmanos of the Hurricanes. Among the subjects touched on was the possibility of a second team in Toronto. I thought his quotes were weird, not only because he spent part of the interview defending Raleigh as a vibrant market, but also because his examples of secondary teams struggling were the Giants and Dodgers of MLB leaving New York more than 50 years ago.

Originally Posted by TSN

Karmanos also offered some insight into NHL expansion and the league's efforts to grow its $3 billion-per-season business. He said Las Vegas, Seattle, Houston and Quebec City are all viable markets for the NHL.

But Karmanos said he has suspicions that a second team in Toronto would face significant hurdles.

"You can't guarantee that you'd be a revenue contributor in Toronto," Karmanos said. "History has always shown other teams haven't been able to match up even in the biggest media market in North America.

Originally Posted by TSN

It's why another team wouldn't move to Detroit. Because short of winning the Stanley Cup you would never replace the Detroit Red Wings.

I don't care where a second team in Toronto might play, the Maple Leafs are in the hearts and minds of all those people... I would feel sorry for a second franchise there."

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=462401

[BACKCHECK!!!]

All of this Leafs butt hurt just makes me want to see a team move there even more.

[Barnes]

Originally Posted by Oil Stain

I don't see what difference it makes if the second team isn't getting the same premier coverage as the Leafs. No other team in the league gets that except possibly Montreal. The second team will still get more coverage then a third of the American teams.

Did the Rangers and Kings get to negotiate settlements when a new team was moved into their areas? Why do the Leafs seemingly have way more clout?

Article 4.1 of the league’s constitution:

“each member shall have exclusive territorial rights in the city in which it is located and within 50 miles of that city’s corporate limits,”

Islanders paid 4 million in 1972

The Devils paid the Rangers, Islanders, Flyers and Jets

They paid the Jets to move to the Smyth division so the Devil's could play Patrick.

Not sure about the Ducks.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

I think Bettman's denial is just a maneuver to not piss of MLSE before actual negotiations happen in case they challenge the right to bring a team there.

The fan base would be fine, and younger generations would probably lean towards the new team since they might actually be able to go to a game.

Yep. There's gotta be millions of hockey fans under 50 who are tired of the sad-sack team their dads, uncles, and grandads follow. That's where the Nordiques fans came from - younger fans tired of hearing about Montreal. And the Habs actually were a team that had multiple Cups in their recent history when the Nordiques joined the league.

[calgaryred]

Im one who does not want to see another team in T.O, it is bad enough I have to spend 10 minutes everyday watching Leaf garbage. Add a second team the Flames would be a footnote in the national sports news. There is too much attention on Toronto hockey as it is, I have no interest in more.

[fanman]

"If we decided that we were putting a second team in Ontario, and the year the team was supposed to start, the Leafs won the Cup, that second team wouldn't exist,"

So basically if they start up the new team any time after 1967 it should be fine.

[BigTuna]

Someone should tell Bettman there are already 2 teams in Ontario.

[BigTuna]

You wouldn't put a second team in Detroit because they'd get 500 people a night and go bankrupt. Wings tickets are so easy to come by now and cheap.

[Headshot]

Originally Posted by BigTuna

Someone should tell Bettman there are already 2 teams in Ontario.

No, one. The Leafs are an AHL team.