Rapporter Les Nordiques

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by nik-

QC revenue even at 80% of the US dollar is still going to beat any other market they can move it.

Quebec taxes are going to hurt though.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Quebec taxes are going to hurt though.

But the league bases success on overall revenue, not profit.

[Resolute 14]

For public consumption yes. I've little doubt the internal metrics are quite different.

Much like attendance. We are given tickets distributed. Internally, teams plan entirely around turnstile count.

[Tyler]

Originally Posted by Red Menace

"Growing the league" is such a fallacy and does nothing to help the Flames.
The league was much better imo when we had 21 or less teams....who cares about growing the league in stupid southern markets....sure it helps the game outside of Canada....but who cares about that.
Having less teams and only strong interest in Canada and Northern US doesn't lessen my love of the sport....in fact having these stupid teams in Florida and Tennessee, etc actually lessens my enthusiasm and waters down the talent.
I hope Quebec gets a team....at the expense of some non-hockey market.

What a ridiculous post.

[Vulcan]

The situation isn't looking bright in Quebec City while the price of a franchise has doubled.

This is the year the new 18,500-seat hockey arena opens in Quebec City, and there is no sign of the promised NHL team on the horizon.

“Listen, we’ll have public skating,” Mr. Labeaume joked. “My cousin Réjean wants to play there too,” he added, struggling to contain his own laughter.


As the September opening date approaches and the prospect of a return of the beloved Nordiques grows dimmer, the taxpayers who footed almost the entire $400-million bill can be excused for not seeing the hilarity in the situation.

I've been hoping they could pull it off but it may take some patience if it ever gets done.

http://news.nationalpost.com/2015/01...ittle-problem/

[White Out 403]

Originally Posted by Tyler

What a ridiculous post.

It's not 100% ridiculous. When you consider how much league revenue comes from the fraction of Canadian teams it really does paint a picture.

The American teams might get better TV deals from NBC (maybe) but all this southern US expansion really has been a bust. I don't think the league should be 21 teams, but, it really should stay where its relevant and matters. More northern US teams and more Canadian teams.

[Resolute 14]

Honestly Resurrection, what you are really doing is justifying what the NHL did in the 90s.

Appeal to revenue? Sure. Lets look at how the Canadian teams were nowhere near the top of the revenue chain. Lets also look at how they were losing gobs of money. The Jets themselves lost as much in 1994-95 as the Coyotes have in pretty much any season - when salaries and expenses were a fraction of what they are now. Stay where the NHL is relevant? There are periods of history in Vancouver, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Calgary, Hartford, etc. where the NHL's relevance was marginal.

Southern expansion a bust? Define "bust". The Coyotes and Panthers, certainly. And I expect both will end with relocation. Tampa? Success. Dallas? Reasonably successful. Nashville? Success albeit with some rough patches. Anaheim? San Jose? LA? Look at what the AHL did yesterday.

More northern and Canadian teams? Ok. Where? Obviously GTA2 and Quebec City for Canada, but there is nowhere else that is feasible. Where in the northern US then? Also, how does xenophobia and a regression to little more than a regional league benefit the NHL?

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

I've been hoping they could pull it off but it may take some patience if it ever gets done.

Honestly, I doubt the NHL ever seriously conisdered Quebec City for expansion. There's too much money to be had from other markets - Las Vegas and Toronto2.

But relocation? Quebec City will probably become the go-to threat for an eastern team. Read: Florida.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Honestly, I doubt the NHL ever seriously conisdered Quebec City for expansion. There's too much money to be had from other markets - Las Vegas and Toronto2.

But relocation? Quebec City will probably become the go-to threat for an eastern team. Read: Florida.

As soon as the NHL conferences divided unevenly, you knew Quebec City wasn't going to get an expansion franchise. The only hope for them is relocation and that probably boils down to as you say, Florida with an outside chance at a couple of other places such as Carolina.

The thing about Toronto 2 is that, although they wouldn't like it, they could play in the Western Conference. The problem is no arena. The Seattle bid doesn't seem to be going anywhere without an arena also.

Portland looks lukewarm to an expansion team (although moving Arizona would be convenient) so I could see an expansion to Las Vegas as the only new team in the near future.

[Resolute 14]

Well, the NHL built an out for eastern expansion with how they aligned the Florida teams. Hard to argue that it would be much worse putting Tampa (alone following relocation or paired up with Sunrise) in the Central than it is the Atlantic. Not the prettiest option, and one that would be open to mockery, but it does leave options to move another team into the East.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Well, the NHL built an out for eastern expansion with how they aligned the Florida teams. Hard to argue that it would be much worse putting Tampa (alone following relocation or paired up with Sunrise) in the Central than it is the Atlantic. Not the prettiest option, and one that would be open to mockery, but it does leave options to move another team into the East.

Except IIRC Bettman said no Eastern Conference teams would be moving (back?) to the Western Conference. I'm not sure if he was referring to only the recent moves of the Wings and BJs though.

Personally I'm not a fan of the re-alignment as it removes options for the league if a team needs to move.

[troutman]

http://www.lecentrevideotron.ca/en

scheduled to open its doors on September 15, 2015

Events already booked:

Sept. 16 - Metallica
Sept. 21 - Madonna

[JBR]

When is the Nationales home opener?

[Erick Estrada]

For an city that supposedly wants an NHL team they certainly didn't look like a major league city the way they attended the Memorial Cup. Put me in the column that doesn't believe the NHL will put an expansion team there. Only chance is if a rich owner purchases a team like the Panthers and moves them there on his own accord.

[polak]

As much as I wouldn't watch Junior hockey, QC sure could have used a good showing at the memorial cup which they did not do.

Lets not forget the team left for a reason.

[CroFlames]

Why would people in QC feel obligated to go watch Jr hockey in hopes of getting NHL hockey? It's not like they paid for the new Arena.

It was the good folks of Western Canada that paid for that rink through equalization payments, while the Quebec government runs a socialist nanny state. Heck, maybe they are planning on having a government owned hockey club.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by polak

As much as I wouldn't watch Junior hockey, QC sure could have used a good showing at the memorial cup which they did not do.

Lets not forget the team left for a reason.

A bit OT, but why wouldn't you watch Junior Hockey?

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Why would people in QC feel obligated to go watch Jr hockey in hopes of getting NHL hockey? It's not like they paid for the new Arena.

It was the good folks of Western Canada that paid for that rink through equalization payments, while the Quebec government runs a socialist nanny state. Heck, maybe they are planning on having a government owned hockey club.

Mikey is that you?

[FlamesAddiction]

And yet the Remparts seem to do pretty well:

http://www.hockeydb.com/nhl-attendan...h.php?tmi=9451

I think it is different when it is "your" team involved.

[polak]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

A bit OT, but why wouldn't you watch Junior Hockey?

Can't get into it. Even the world juniors.

I think it's just the fact that it's not best on best and it's a bunch of kids.

Not taking anything away from them, just a personal preference I guess.