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

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Originally Posted by Rerun

Las Vegas would probably be the quietest arena in the NHL when the home team scores.

Unless there's a slot machine at every seat and it pays out every time the home team gets a goal.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by Rerun

Not that crazy about having an NHL team in Nevada. They could probably afford it with all the casinos buying up tickets and boxes but the average person in LV probably can't.

In 2010, The median income for a household in the city was $53,000 and the median income for a family was $58,465. Males had a median income of $35,511 versus $27,554 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,060.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Las_Vegas

Plus their total population is only about 600,000

Their permanent fan base will probably be next to non-existent. More than likely if the Flames play there you'll probably see more Flames jerseys in the stands that LV jerseys.

Moneywise it might make sense, but that's the only reason I can see.

I'm confused about your objection? I'm not sure it does make sense money wise, but if it does, why does it matter if that business model is built on the back of a passionate local fan base, or something else?

I'd be pretty excited to do a trip to Vegas each year to watch the a Flames, and if that's the type of thing that makes it work then who cares?

Also, you bring up the median income as though it's low, but it's basically equal to the average US household income, infact it's actually slightly above their average as a country.

[Tyler]

Las Vegas will have as many fans as Quebec City will have FA signings if/when they get a team

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

I'm confused about your objection? I'm not sure it does make sense money wise, but if it does, why does it matter if that business model is built on the back of a passionate local fan base, or something else?

I'd be pretty excited to do a trip to Vegas each year to watch the a Flames, and if that's the type of thing that makes it work then who cares?.

Because there are cities that have been wanting an NHL team for years, and are more deserving of one and they would have a heck of a larger fan base than Sin City.

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

Also, you bring up the median income as though it's low, but it's basically equal to the average US household income, infact it's actually slightly above their average as a country.

Its not high enough.

Calgary, a successful franchise city, has a median household income of $93,000.... way higher than LV.

The average Joe in Calgary can afford season tickets. Can't say that for LV... and most Las Vegans aren't even avid hockey fans... which, as I suspect, makes selling season tickets to the people of Las Vegas even harder.

Why would a team, playing in front of mostly tourists (who have absolutely no allegiance to them), be successful? Call me naïve but I think of the fans as being the 7th player on the ice.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by Rerun

Because there are cities that have been wanting an NHL team for years, and are more deserving of one and they would have a heck of a larger fan base than Sin City.


Its not high enough.

Calgary, a successful franchise city, has a median household income of $93,000.... way higher than LV.

The average Joe in Calgary can afford season tickets. Can't say that for LV... and most Las Vegans aren't even avid hockey fans... which, as I suspect, makes selling season tickets to the people of Las Vegas even harder.

Why would a team, playing in front of mostly tourists (who have absolutely no allegiance to them), be successful? Call me naïve but I think of the fans as being the 7th player on the ice.

Boston's average house hold income is $51k, Chicago's is $46k, I guess those two cities don't have enough household income to make it work?

This is why averages often don't work or tell the story. An average doesn't say how many people have a large enough income and how many don't. In the US, there is often a bigger discrepancy between the rich and the poor. The poor are often much poorer than in Canada and cities like Calgary, which brings down their average, but it doesn't mean there aren't just as many people able to afford tickets as there are in a city like Calgary.

As for your other comment, I do agree, although at this point I believe there really only is 2 markets that actually want a team and could support it. Quebec City and a team 2 in southern Ontario. Smoke thing tells me Quebec City will happen regardless, and it's the Leafs that are stopping that second team in southern ont. iMO

[taco.vidal]

Who is the judge of this?


Plus this is business, not charity or some feel good project.

Originally Posted by Rerun

Because there are cities that have been wanting an NHL team for years, and are more deserving of one and they would have a heck of a larger fan base than Sin City.

[ExiledFlamesFan]

Originally Posted by taco.vidal

Who is the judge of this?


Plus this is business, not charity or some feel good project.

There's a reason none of the big 4 are in Vegas. It is a complete gamble. The population base and demographics are shaky at best.

[Tyler]

Originally Posted by ExiledFlamesFan

There's a reason none of the big 4 are in Vegas. It is a complete gamble.

[Senator Clay Davis]

I find it odd that Las Vegas "is a lock" or "is coming in the next 5 years", yet the NHL (along with every other major sports league) is currently suing the state of New Jersey to block legalized sports betting, when of course Las Vegas is world renowned for it's sports books. Las Vegas has a myriad of issues to overcome which is why none of the sports leagues have really ever considered it.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Tyler

Las Vegas will have as many fans as Quebec City

Not a chance. There are 9 million people in the province of Quebec, many of whom will support the Nords, and millions around the world that hate the Habs.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Tyler

Las Vegas will have as many fans as Quebec City will have FA signings if/when they get a team

Originally Posted by troutman

Not a chance. There are 9 million people in the province of Quebec, many of whom will support the Nords, and millions around the world that hate the Habs.

You cut out his full quote which says that Las Vegas will have as many fans Quebec City will have free agent signings.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by flameswin

You cut out his full quote which says that Las Vegas will have as many fans Quebec City will have free agent signings.

It's a nice balance because QC will have as many fans as Las Vegas will have players wanting to sign as free agents.

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Originally Posted by Rerun

Because there are cities that have been wanting an NHL team for years, and are more deserving of one and they would have a heck of a larger fan base than Sin City.

Its not high enough.

Calgary, a successful franchise city, has a median household income of $93,000.... way higher than LV.

The average Joe in Calgary can afford season tickets. Can't say that for LV... and most Las Vegans aren't even avid hockey fans... which, as I suspect, makes selling season tickets to the people of Las Vegas even harder.

Why would a team, playing in front of mostly tourists (who have absolutely no allegiance to them), be successful? Call me naïve but I think of the fans as being the 7th player on the ice.

For a team to work in Vegas it has to be all about the tourists. The general public primarily works nights in Vegas. If they're reliant on the locals to prop up this team, it's simply not going to work.

But of course Vegas has a ton of tourists and that, plus the expected support of the major hotel/casinos, should ensure that it's successful.

When you think of all the entertainment acts the city has and all the tickets which are sold for those events night after night, it can be done. The corporate sector will rally big time around the city's only major pro sports franchise.

The fans won't be the 7th player on the ice for a Vegas team. "Home ice advantage" will be hoping the visiting team is hung over.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by Sidney Crosby's Hat

For a team to work in Vegas it has to be all about the tourists. The general public primarily works nights in Vegas. If they're reliant on the locals to prop up this team, it's simply not going to work.

But of course Vegas has a ton of tourists and that, plus the expected support of the major hotel/casinos, should ensure that it's successful.

When you think of all the entertainment acts the city has and all the tickets which are sold for those events night after night, it can be done. The corporate sector will rally big time around the city's only major pro sports franchise.

The fans won't be the 7th player on the ice for a Vegas team. "Home ice advantage" will be hoping the visiting team is hung over.

will they really sell 15k tickets against a popular game?

will they sell 10k tickets against a crappy team?

[GoJetsGo]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

will they really sell 15k tickets against a popular game?

will they sell 10k tickets against a crappy team?

Have you ever been to Vegas? The Casinos snap up 1000s of tickets and give them away as comps. With that added factor it's bound to make for a more financially viable model than many of the current struggling markets.

[Vansmack]

Originally Posted by chubeyr1

How does putting a team in Las Vegas make any sense?

Casinos and businesses buy season tickets for the first few years till the fad fades away. Didn't the CFL put a football team there before? How did that turn out?

65 percent of Vegas population works in the evening/night, when games are being played. This is not a grass roots hockey environment at all. There is good reason why there are no pro sports teams in Vegas.

They average over 3 million (closer to 3.5 in 2014) visitors each month. It wouldn't be inconceivable for them to put some of those butts in chairs. The biggest problem would be the general lack of support for the home team, as I imagine the ownership would have a large emphasis on group trips for fans of the visiting teams.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by GoJetsGo

Have you ever been to Vegas? The Casinos snap up 1000s of tickets and give them away as comps. With that added factor it's bound to make for a more financially viable model than many of the current struggling markets.

Unless you are a die hard hockey fan, are you going to want NHL tickets, or party on the strip?

[Fire]

Originally Posted by troutman

Unless you are a die hard hockey fan, are you going to want NHL tickets, or party on the strip?

Why not both? People go to shows all the time.

[FlamesAddiction]

I just have trouble picturing hockey as being a big enough draw to typical Vegas tourists to make it worthwhile for casinos and hotels to offer those tickets over the other already established entertainment options in Vegas.

Most people go to Vegas for short weekend trips, so how many people are going to dedicate 2-3 hours of that at hockey game? I am a pretty big hockey fan, but I couldn't even see myself going to a game there if it was a short vacation with entertainment options not usually available back home.

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Originally Posted by troutman

Unless you are a die hard hockey fan, are you going to want NHL tickets, or party on the strip?

It all depends on how the in-game entertainment is framed. If it's a spectacle (which you think it would be, since it's Vegas) it should attract a lot of non-hockey fans. I think that aspect of it is what really appeals to the NHL.

They're going to want to make it a must-see event. Cirque du Soleil during the intermission, free booze and whatever else.