[Rumour] Coyotes owner put in letter of intent to buy 41 acres of land in Mesa, Arizona

[D as in David]

Originally Posted by Funkhouser

I still think Austin is the best potential home for a new franchise. The NHL seems to do well in mid-sized centres that are underserviced by pro sports (San Jose, Nashville, Vegas...)

The NHL seems to do okay in a no-sport town like Edmonton.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Silicon Valley is not generally considered part of SF or Oakland but they are close together obviously. I wouldn’t consider those teams to belong to San Jose.

I don’t know if NHL does well in true one sport towns, Canadian markets aside? Columbus?

As for the Coyotes, they leak info about a closing in on a site to try and defuse difficult conversations at the BOG meeting. And silence since.

They’re part of the Bay Area, which was served by all of those teams (RIP Raiders and A’s). They aren’t “theirs” like the Sharks are, but I wouldn’t call it a market underserved by pro sports at all. I could drive to a 49ers game from SAP faster than I could drive to a Flames game from my house in Calgary. It’s a few kilometres further than the distance between the Saddledome and McMahon.

You’re more likely to run into a Giants, 49ers, or Warriors fan than a Sharks fan in San Jose. But, at the same time, you’re more likely to run into a Sharks fan in San Jose than anywhere else in the Bay Area, so there is that.

Vegas is a valid example, though. Nashville is debatable.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Saint Paul.

Minneapolis is awfully close.

Austin and Dallas are much further apart.

I guess Raleigh would be the other one besides Columbus.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

They’re part of the Bay Area, which was served by all of those teams (RIP Raiders and A’s). They aren’t “theirs” like the Sharks are, but I wouldn’t call it a market underserved by pro sports at all. I could drive to a 49ers game from SAP faster than I could drive to a Flames game from my house in Calgary. It’s a few kilometres further than the distance between the Saddledome and McMahon.

You’re more likely to run into a Giants, 49ers, or Warriors fan than a Sharks fan in San Jose. But, at the same time, you’re more likely to run into a Sharks fan in San Jose than anywhere else in the Bay Area, so there is that.

Vegas is a valid example, though. Nashville is debatable.

Nashville had an NFL team before the Preds. And Vegas about to be a 3 sport town. Honestly Vegas is like nothing else anyway.

Yea for sure the NoCal teams are all relatively close together but it doesn’t seem right saying that San Jose had the Raiders for example. It’s a bit like Anaheim and LA, it’s such a populated area that you have teams serving different markets.

Not how it would be in Austin in any case.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

I don’t know if NHL does well in true one sport towns, Canadian markets aside? Columbus?

It's hard to judge since Columbus and Carolina are the only teams that play in metro areas with only one major league team and both of them are big college markets (as is Austin). Columbus also has an MLS team with higher average attendance than the Jackets -- but also much lower ticket prices.

Vegas was successful as a single-sport market for the brief time it was one.

Hartford is the only single-sport market to fail, and it's a smaller market than Buffalo.

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Saint Paul.

The Wild's arena is 15 minutes away from the Timberwolves arena (which is right beside the Twins stadium; and Vikings stadium is a few blocks closer to St Paul)

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

They’re part of the Bay Area, which was served by all of those teams (RIP Raiders and A’s). They aren’t “theirs” like the Sharks are, but I wouldn’t call it a market underserved by pro sports at all. I could drive to a 49ers game from SAP faster than I could drive to a Flames game from my house in Calgary. It’s a few kilometres further than the distance between the Saddledome and McMahon.

You’re more likely to run into a Giants, 49ers, or Warriors fan than a Sharks fan in San Jose. But, at the same time, you’re more likely to run into a Sharks fan in San Jose than anywhere else in the Bay Area, so there is that.

Vegas is a valid example, though. Nashville is debatable.

SAP to Oracle is 45 mins. The football stadium is now more in San Jose than San Fran, but ~9 Sunday afternoons is really apples to elephants. Fair point when it comes to media hierarchy, but the gates would be mostly mutually exclusive.

It is kinda interesting that for the first ~20 years of the Sharks existence the Warriors were pretty much abysmal - 1 playoff appearance from 1995 to 2012. The Sharks best ~4 year span was right at the end of their long run, and coincided wit the Warriors making 5 straight finals (winning 3).

[Strange Brew]

I assume Bettman is going to address this in his press availability. There are rumors that the Scottsdale situation isn't moving forward as the targeted land is state land and requires a public auction. And that Mesa feels jerked around so that situation isn't as good as before. Just internet rumors though so who knows.

Of course these clowns put out an "Arena" tweet in December and crickets since.

I imagine the NHL still believes in the market and what they would really like is stronger ownership.

Will be interested to hear what Bettman says.

[pseudoreality]

I hear Bettman's patience is running thin. Give it another 20-25 years and the team might have to look at moving.

[getbak]

Get on the phone, Gary.

[Joborule]

Relocate to Houston.

Expand to Salt Lake and Atlanta.

Revisit Arizona in future expansion.

I'll be awaiting my cheque in the mail.

[KelVarnsen]

You'll be waiting for a while

[D as in David]

Originally Posted by Joborule

Relocate to Houston.

Expand to Salt Lake and Atlanta.

Revisit Arizona in future expansion.

I'll be awaiting my cheque in the mail.

Phase 2: relocate Atlanta franchise to Quebec City.

[sureLoss]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1753507733393887571

https://twitter.com/user/status/1753508962094215191

https://twitter.com/user/status/1753516535526604803

[dobbles]

Originally Posted by pseudoreality

I hear Bettman's patience is running thin. Give it another 20-25 years and the team might have to look at moving.

I swear if you guys rip on me 13 or 14 more times... I'm outta here!

[dammage79]

If the PA is starting to make noise publicly, you can be sure the Yotes don't have much time left in ARZ to get an arena done. There's cities waiting for a franchise.

[YYC in LAX]

Originally Posted by dobbles

I swear if you guys rip on me 13 or 14 more times... I'm outta here!

[Reggie Dunlop]

Salt Lake.... step right up....

Houston and Atlanta can be the expansion teams.

[Strange Brew]

Bettman said he was "reasonably (long pause) confident that Maruelo will do what he says" and that is not in the habit of contradicting owners unless he "has hard facts to the contrary".

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by D as in David

Phase 2: relocate Atlanta franchise to Quebec City.

Phase 3: Relocate the Jets to Arizona

[FlamesAddiction]

I was wondering how long it would be before the players started to voice more discontent. Playing in a dinky college arena is probably neat for some fans, and maybe even cute for the players for a little while, but I don't think their dream of NHL stardom includes doing that for years. Plus, the players and league are supposed to be in business together and always looking for ways to increase revenue. Keeping the Coyotes in a tiny rink goes against that.