I guess I have never viewed them as underdogs. That franchise had every chance to succeed and is in a large market. They pissed it all away. The major hurdle in their way, was always themselves.
No, I think you're right about parts of that — the franchise was given so many chances.
What I meant is that all the drama overshadowed the players, who I always viewed as the underdogs. I supported them because I liked them and it felt like they were always overlooked.
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Officially, they sold out the college rink every game. In reality ... there were a few games with some empty seats. Never overwhelmingly so though and I think it's possible that they did distribute all the tickets, just with slightly lower drop counts. Who's to say.
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It's funny that the Jets moved to Phoenix the year after Shane Doan's rookie season. Now, the Coyotes are moving to Utah the year after Josh Doan's rookie season.
Josh Doan will embrace his new home city like his dad did, and 30 years from now the Shakers will move again while at least one of Ammon, Dallin, Nephi, Hyrum, Bryce, Moroni, Mosiah, Brigham, Lavell, Orson, Lyman, Heber, Wilford, Parley, Spencer, or Jared Doan makes their NHL debut cheered on by dozen(s) of their siblings.
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To me it's fascinating how this has all come together and been kept quiet to this point, in this age of social media, and then sprung on to everyone, as basically a done deal.
Is Utah a better local market than Phoenix? Now, maybe not. Compared to 1996, sure...and probably a higher ceiling in the end.
Obviously the NHL attraction here is a new arena, enthusiastic owners (Phoenix had those too) and the Olympics there in 2034, so things will build up there market and exictement wise the next 10 years. And, less competition for the sports $.
Will suck for the Coyotes employees who's been around for 25+ years, and selfishly, trips to Phoenix to watch some combo of MLB NHL NFL and NBA isn't possible any more. Can do that in LA but Phoenix is a nicer place over the fall and winter.
Can't imagine that alcohol sales in SLC will break records, or that players will be too excited about layoverse there (let alone the ones that have to live there!).
have been a fan since 2000 and the team is a huge reason I moved here in 2009.. I've invested a ton of personal time, money, energy defending this team.. But to see the team uproot like this when they are SO close to a solution is 100% mindblowingly unexpected. I have no words..
I am absolutely uninvested to a large degree, haven't been to a game since 2019 outside of 1 game at Mullett to see The Flames last season so I'm not even close to a die hard fan today.. But I TRULY believe the NHL can work in Arizona.. but it's just such a shame that the team has been run by absolute pretenders since day 1.
GO FLAMES GO
-doubleposted because I don't care. This is how I feel
I know we've had our differences about Winnipeg and Arizona but I hate this. I know how ####ty it feels to lose your team and the hole it leaves. I remember being 10 years old going door to door collecting change in the save the Jets campaign. I remember going to the Jets funeral and the lame duck season before they moved. I still have my Coyotes jersey from that first season and the first few years I followed the team until I stopped caring and became a Flames fan after Iginla in the 02 Olympics and the 04 cup run.
You've been a solid solid fan of this team and it's people like you I feel for. Much respect.
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If the re-alignment happens, it will be 2 trips a year to one of Chicago, Dallas, Minnesota, Nashville or St.Louis. For the first couple of years I'm sure they'll have Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg all play 4 times to keep the travel more palatable. Seems like 34 teams could be coming sooner than later which is likely back to 3 Divisions per side.
I think weighting for division and conference play makes the schedule so much more challenging to create, and causes less interesting match-ups.
Easy mode:
Home & Home vs all teams in the league: 62 games.
Home & Home vs division: 14 more games (76 games total).
Now the fun part:
8 Semi-randomly drawn "pools" of 4 teams. Based on your finishing position last year, you're placed in groups (Top 8 teams = group 1, Teams 9-16 = group 2, etc.). Randomly draw one team from each group = Pool A. Draw a second team from each = Pool B, etc.)
Home & Home vs your Pool: 6 more games (82 total).
Everyone sees every team, you get to keep in-division games, and from season to season the teams you get to see more often get mixed up. Also, there's the fun of the day when they draw the pools. Could do it on an off-day between Stanley Cup Final games.
Can't imagine that alcohol sales in SLC will break records, or that players will be too excited about layoverse there (let alone the ones that have to live there!).
Really? Utah is a great place to raise a family. Park City is going to be a popular residence for NHL players. Low taxes, lots of outdoor attractions, etc.
Aren't NHL players not allowed to ski/snowboard?
I've only driven through SLC, so maybe I'm missing a hidden gem, but it seemed like, if you're not hitting the hills, there's not a lot to do. I think if I were living somewhere warm, where you can golf year round, the move would feel pretty underwhelming.
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Originally Posted by snipetype
k im just not going to respond to your #### anymore because i have better things to do like #### my model girlfriend rather then try to convince people like you of commonly held hockey knowledge.
A lot of work to be done to grow the sport in Utah. While it's got the successful minor league Grizzlies, Brigham Young University dropped their sponsorship of the Cougars in 2020, and the University of Utah plays in the lower regarded ACHA. Room for growth in the state's youth hockey programs as well.
I'm sure there's Utahns on this board who can better speak to the on-the-ground situation there.
I don’t think there are. I wonder if the leagues “draft” schedule has any home games for the Latter Day Skates on Sundays? I certainly hope not.
SLC is about as vanilla of a city that the NHL could find. There is nothing there and nothing around it, it is not a tourist destination, and does not have a hockey rich passed. Have a friend that played there way back when they were the FLAMES farm team, were lucky to draw 1000 fans back then.
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Last edited by Derek Sutton; 04-13-2024 at 02:50 PM.
