New Edmonton Arena Construction will begin in March 2014

[dash_pinched]

Forget about 'Oil Change', I think the Oilers need to change the name of their tv show to 'Spare Change'

[Manhattanboy]

Say what you want about Katz but if I were the City of Edmonton I would tread carefully. I think he will seriously look at moving the Oilers.

[Reaper]

Originally Posted by Manhattanboy

Say what you want about Katz but if I were the City of Edmonton I would tread carefully. I think he will seriously look at moving the Oilers.

If he did move the Oilers you can pretty much guarantee the ransacking and arson of every Rexall Drugs in the greater Edmonton area.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by Joborule

In the end I think Katz is making the right move from a business sense. He will get the city to fork over more dough; just has to be patient. If push comes to shove, he could use the relocation card once again to apply pressure.

LOL, even if a new arena were built somewhere, there would be about 20 teams that would be higher up the priority list for a move than the Oilers. The relocation card might have been relevant before the 2004 lockout, but it isn't now.

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Originally Posted by SebC

LOL, even if a new arena were built somewhere, there would be about 20 teams that would be higher up the priority list for a move than the Oilers. The relocation card might have been relevant before the 2004 lockout, but it isn't now.

And how many of those teams are movable? How many have a lease expiring in 2014?

[hurtin_albertan]

Forgive me if this is an obvious question, but can an owner just pick up and move a team if he so pleases? Is there no process of approvals or any requirements that would have to be met first?

[SebC]

Originally Posted by Sidney Crosby's Hat

And how many of those teams are movable? How many have a lease expiring in 2014?

Let's say you're right and the Oilers might leave. How long until one of the 15 franchises with lower revenues shows up?

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Originally Posted by hurtin_albertan

Forgive me if this is an obvious question, but can an owner just pick up and move a team if he so pleases? Is there no process of approvals or any requirements that would have to be met first?

If the lease is expired, he can do whatever he wants. Otherwise, usually a penalty fee is involved.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by SebC

Let's say you're right and the Oilers might leave. How long until one of the 15 franchises with lower revenues shows up?

That would be a dream for Oiler fans - a whole new rebuild!!!

Hope springs eternal!

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Originally Posted by SebC

Let's say you're right and the Oilers might leave. How long until one of the 15 franchises with lower revenues shows up?

Probably not super long (as in, within a generation) but you'd need a new building for it to happen. And it would probably be built almost entirely on the city's back like Minnesota (Xcel), Cleveland, Baltimore, etc.

And again, not until a lease expires so unless you can swing the Islanders in 2016 you'll be going more a handful of years without NHL hockey.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by hurtin_albertan

Forgive me if this is an obvious question, but can an owner just pick up and move a team if he so pleases? Is there no process of approvals or any requirements that would have to be met first?

The NHL has to approve any relocation and the owner of the team must pay a relocation fee.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by hurtin_albertan

Forgive me if this is an obvious question, but can an owner just pick up and move a team if he so pleases? Is there no process of approvals or any requirements that would have to be met first?

Given all the crap Katz said about growing up in Edmonton an Oiler fan and thats why he bought the team from the 52 investors to ensure the Oilers stay in Edmonton with his deep pockets..... yeah that moving threat isn't gonna work.

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

The NHL has to approve any relocation and the owner of the team must pay a relocation fee.

If it's the same owner, a relocation fee is unlikely. Last time an owner moved a team while retaining ownership, they didn't pay a fee (Minnesota to Dallas).

[speeds]

Originally Posted by Sidney Crosby's Hat

If the lease is expired, he can do whatever he wants. Otherwise, usually a penalty fee is involved.

One problem with that scenario might be that, unless Katz wants to sell the team, the current owners/operators of any building probably want to be the ones to own the team in their city.

Not to mention that, even with a new building in a different city, a number of the cities looking for a team may not be a better hockey market/revenue generator than EDM in Rexall.

[hurtin_albertan]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

The NHL has to approve any relocation and the owner of the team must pay a relocation fee.

So how would the approval be conducted? I'm guessing a vote by the board of governers? Let's say Katz does try to relocate the Oilers, would it not be seen as sort of "hostile" move? What are the cances that it would actually happen?

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Originally Posted by speeds

One problem with that scenario might be that, unless Katz wants to sell the team, the current owners/operators of any building probably want to be the ones to own the team in their city.

Not to mention that, even with a new building in a different city, a number of the cities looking for a team may not be a better hockey market/revenue generator than EDM in Rexall.

Although right now there's three potential buildings who are looking for an NHL owner: Seattle, Quebec and Markham.

[BlackRedGold25]

Originally Posted by Sidney Crosby's Hat

Probably not super long (as in, within a generation) but you'd need a new building for it to happen.

Why? Are the Oilers not in the upper half of NHL franchises when it comes to revenue even with an outdated building? And that's with icing the worst team in the league!

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Originally Posted by hurtin_albertan

So how would the approval be conducted? I'm guessing a vote by the board of governers? Let's say Katz does try to relocate the Oilers, would it not be seen as sort of "hostile" move? What are the cances that it would actually happen?

If Katz wanted to move the team and there was no arena coming, he could move the team (not saying he would want to move the team. I have no idea what he wants to do)

Here's Gary Bettman's thoughts on the Edmonton arena:

http://video.oilers.nhl.com/videocen...tid=4&id=98721

"The Edmonton Oilers have to have a new arena. There's no question about it. They're not going to stay in this building."

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by Sidney Crosby's Hat

If it's the same owner, a relocation fee is unlikely. Last time an owner moved a team while retaining ownership, they didn't pay a fee (Minnesota to Dallas).

I think that would depend on where the destination is. If the team where to move to Ontario (i.e. Leafs territory), I would expect the NHL to put a high price tag on relocation (assuming they approve such a move in the first place).

Dallas wasn't really a hockey market or had significant impact to any other NHL franchise.

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Originally Posted by BlackRedGold25

Why? Are the Oilers not in the upper half of NHL franchises when it comes to revenue even with an outdated building? And that's with icing the worst team in the league!

If there was no team in Edmonton, the NHL would not approve a new team moving to Edmonton if there was no new arena coming. Rexall Place is not up to NHL standards. Bettman said this in the link I provided above.