The NHL in Mexico?

[Jay Random]

You're forgetting one big hurdle: Language. How many hockey players speak Spanish?

Anyway, Mexico has its own major sports leagues (fútbol y béisbol in particular) and isn't waiting on the Anglos to save it from having no athletic entertainment.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

I'm all for it. Mexico is a real emerging economy in the western world. There's plenty of money and people to make it work, at least as a novelty until it actually catches on.

And to Jay Random I say this...translators. How did we have Russians without any knowledge of english in the league after the fall of the wall? It's just a transition point.

[Fozzie_DeBear]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I can't see the NHL expanding there before MLB, the NFL, or the NBA. MLB makes the most sense. It's great that hockey is gaining popularity there, but baseball is already very popular there and they don't have an MLB team yet.

...were you talking about Vegas?

[FlamesAddiction]

Re: Vegas

There were already 24 other teams in the USA when they expanded into Vegas. It wasn't as big of a leap as expanding into Mexico would be. The NHL wasn't the first of the big 4 pro-leagues going into America, so not really a good comparison.

The more prudent thing when entering a new country with so many unknowns would be to see how more traditional sports fare first. Just my opinion, but I think it makes the best sense.

[Eric]

I’m in Puerto Vallarta right now and I’ve been surprised at the amount of hockey I’ve seen on TV.

(Pre Allstar break)

[Gemnoble]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

You're forgetting one big hurdle: Language. How many hockey players speak Spanish?

Anyway, Mexico has its own major sports leagues (fútbol y béisbol in particular) and isn't waiting on the Anglos to save it from having no athletic entertainment.

How many speak French? Montreal manages.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

I'm all for it. Mexico is a real emerging economy in the western world. There's plenty of money and people to make it work, at least as a novelty until it actually catches on.

And to Jay Random I say this...translators. How did we have Russians without any knowledge of english in the league after the fall of the wall? It's just a transition point.

We didn't have entire teams of Russians, did we? It's a very different matter from going into a country where virtually no one in your league speaks the language.

Originally Posted by Gemnoble

How many speak French? Montreal manages.

The majority of Montrealers are bilingual, and even at that, the Habs are limited by having to have francophone coaches and GMs who can talk to their local media. And they are always on the lookout for bankable francophone stars.

Most Mexicans are not bilingual. Only about one in eight speaks English according to official statistics, and less than half of those are fluent.

[Barnet Flame]

Señoras y señores, sus Flames de Tijuana!

[icarus]

Mexico is currently 37th in IIHF men's rankings, behind Iceland and Belgium but ahead of Georgia and New Zealand. I'm not sure if any NHLers have emerged from any of those countries however so it might not bode well for long term success.

[The Fisher Account]

Originally Posted by Gemnoble

It's more likely then you think.


Obviously there are a lot of issues and it means ANOTHER border and countries COVID laws to manage so it's not going to happen soon but maybe in ten years, I wouldn't be surprised.

This post is just bananas.

[heep223]

This is a terrible idea. All of the reasons listed but perhaps the biggest is that few NHLers would want to play there. The travel schedule would be a nightmare, far from family and friends, isolating for wives and kids, different language, no fans and no local hockey programs. The Mexicans would look at it as a novelty not a pro sport.

[Moneyhands23]

Ya I can't see players being happy to sign a long term deal and have their families live in Mexico. Great country with awesone ppl and culture. But just to many issues in the day to day life.

[N-E-B]

Originally Posted by Eric

I’m in Puerto Vallarta right now and I’ve been surprised at the amount of hockey I’ve seen on TV.

(Pre Allstar break)

PV is a major tourist destination. It's there for you, not the locals.

[CroFlames]

There is a bar in Cabo called Shooters. Owned by Canadians. Flames fans, in fact.

They show all the hockey games and beers are only $2 haha. Awesome place.

[Yrebmi]

^^ thanked and noted!

[GoinAllTheWay]

YoYo Mo's (Nuevo Vallarta) also fits that bill. Fantastic little bar owned by a Calgarian. Always Stamp and Flames games on. And the pizza there is top notch.

Walking up the beach to watch a Flames game is one of my favourite memories of trips to Mexico.

[GioforPM]

If it’s the first step to eliminating anthems I say yes.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

You're forgetting one big hurdle: Language. How many hockey players speak Spanish?

Anyway, Mexico has its own major sports leagues (fútbol y béisbol in particular) and isn't waiting on the Anglos to save it from having no athletic entertainment.

When my daughter was playing minor hockey her Midget team played game against the Mexican National U-18 team.

[Gemnoble]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

If it’s the first step to eliminating anthems I say yes.

Why should anthems be eliminated?

[Boreal]

Originally Posted by Gemnoble

Why should anthems be eliminated?

Because it’s entertainment and the practice is needless and anachronistically stupid.

Imagine listening to the national anthem before a movie or a rock concert, it would make as much sense.