[News] Update: NHL green lights season-ticket drive for Las Vegas

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by getbak

If you're counting every market the NHL has entered, or re-entered since 1990, you also have to include Dallas, Colorado, and Winnipeg. Although Dallas and Colorado have had some struggles in attendance recently, I think you'd have to count all three markets as wins.

I was only looking at expansion, but sure, those I'd count as wins. My point though was that just because the league officials have deemed Vegas to be a good idea, that it doesn't mean we all just agree without question. They've made their fair share of mistakes when it comes to expansion and ownership....and situations like with John Spano makes you wonder how much vetting there really is.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Table 5

I was only looking at expansion, but sure, those I'd count as wins.

You included Arizona and Carolina, which were both relocations.

[Table 5]

Yep, you're right, I did a fairly quick list so missed those. Still ignoring my point though.

[Fire]

Originally Posted by Itse

. How many here took the time to see a hockey game last time you were in New York? Or anywhere. (And this is a site with mostly pretty hardcore hockey fans.)

I always make it a point to go to a hockey game anytime I'm travelling during the NHL season. Why wouldn't a hockey fan do that? I went to 4 games in the New York area when I was there. Went to NHL games in Chicago, Anaheim, Los Angeles and will be going to a couple of NHL games when I'm in Florida next year.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Yep, you're right, I did a fairly quick list so missed those. Still ignoring my point though.

Your point was that half of the new markets the NHL has entered since 1990 have failed. To make that point, you left out a bunch of definite successes. Which means that your point has no point.

[Itse]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

People go to New York and LA for different reasons. Your assessment on the fact that tourists don't do it in LA or NY with better hockey clubs or iconic buildings is fair..............but it's not really the comparable to the Vegas experience.

I could go to the casino here in Calgary, but I don't. I do when I go to Vegas. I could have gone to the Casino in Montreal when I was there but I didn't, but I do in Vegas. I could go see a show or a concert when I visit almost any city I travel to, but I don't, but I do when I'm in Vegas.

Different destinations offer desires and behaviours from the tourists. Vegas is all about attracting people down to see show's, exhibitions, events, then stay the weekend and get drunk and gamble. Hockey would be a part of this event entertainment package. Fair to question whether it will have enough appeal, but comparing the behaviour of NY and LA tourist patterns is pretty much irrelevant.

True, but then again tourists are important part of the customer base for casinos everywhere. Same goes for museums, exhibitions, shows etc. There's a reason they advertise that stuff in hotels.

I've never heard of a sports club anywhere in the world that makes a significant part of it's income off tourism. Maybe FC Barcelona or Real Madrid could do it under some circumstances, but NHL is just not going to be that kind of attraction.

To me the math just doesn't add up either. There's 39 million tourists in Vegas every year. That means a little more than 100,000 visitors per day. How many of those are likely to be hockey fans on any level? Let's be very generous and say 10%? How many of those hockey fans are you going to attract to a game between a terrible expansion franchise and some random team they're not likely to be fans of? I think getting even 10% of those people would be surprising. At which point we're still talking only about 1,000 extra fans every night. It's a nice boost, but not going to keep a franchise in the black.

A team in Las Vegas needs to live off their local fan base and TV deals, just like any other sports franchise in the world.

[troutman]

The Coyotes rely on tourism. Big time.

[Itse]

Originally Posted by troutman

The Coyotes rely on tourism. Big time.

That's just another way of saying they don't have fans of their own. How many tourists actually go to see a game per night?

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Table 5

I was only looking at expansion, but sure, those I'd count as wins. My point though was that just because the league officials have deemed Vegas to be a good idea, that it doesn't mean we all just agree without question. They've made their fair share of mistakes when it comes to expansion and ownership....and situations like with John Spano makes you wonder how much vetting there really is.

John Spano was nearly 20 years ago. Should we judge the Flames drafting today on what they did in the mid-90s too?

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

John Spano was nearly 20 years ago. Should we judge the Flames drafting today on what they did in the mid-90s too?

How about Boots Del Biaggio lll about 7 years ago.

[Itse]

Originally Posted by Fire

I always make it a point to go to a hockey game anytime I'm travelling during the NHL season. Why wouldn't a hockey fan do that? I went to 4 games in the New York area when I was there. Went to NHL games in Chicago, Anaheim, Los Angeles and will be going to a couple of NHL games when I'm in Florida next year.

Obviously there's going to be someone. But how many of you are even on this site?

[Party Elephant]

Originally Posted by Itse

Obviously there's going to be someone. But how many of you are even on this site?

I saw the Rangers play Ottawa at MSG. Was a great game though I have no investment in either team.

[GomerPile]

Originally Posted by Itse

Obviously there's going to be someone. But how many of you are even on this site?

I try to see a game if I am in a city Montreal, Edmonton, Vancouver so far for out of town NHL rinks. Although as a hockey fan and my old job was a bit more Western Canadian based. I definitely took in as many WHL games as I could whenever I was around: Red Deer, PG, Medicine Hat, Regina, Moose Jaw, Lethbridge. I don't go to the Hitmen games very often, as I go to the Dome to see the Flames.

I think there is a lot of people that go to games of the sport they love even if their team isn't playing. Personally I would rather go to a NHL game in Vegas then another Cirque show.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Itse

Obviously there's going to be someone. But how many of you are even on this site?

I'm working through seeing games at every NHL arena. Of the 8 rinks I've been to, I've seen the Flames play in four - Calgary (duh), Edmonton, Tampa Bay and New Jersey. But I've gone to games in Chicago, Phoenix, Long Island and Manhattan, as well as Vancouver's Heritage Classic even though the Flames were not involved. And I am hitting up Montreal, Ottawa and St. Paul in the spring, even without the Flames involved.

For a Vegas team, I would try to get tickets to their inaugural home opener, and would definitely catch a Flames game there too. After that though, no great need or desire to go back to Vegas. And that is why the local people know they can't just cater to tourists. It's not sustainable.

[Hockey Fan #751]

Las Vegas Black Knights looks like the frontrunner for team name.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Hockey Fan #751

Las Vegas Black Knights looks like the frontrunner for team name.

Where did you hear this?

[Finger Cookin]

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by flameswin

Where did you hear this?

I heard it from the potential owner in the CBC pre game broadcast. He was in the Army and IIRC that's their team name.

[Machiavelli]

Originally Posted by Hockey Fan #751

Las Vegas Black Knights looks like the frontrunner for team name.

Bad ass.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Hockey Fan #751

Las Vegas Black Knights looks like the frontrunner for team name.

Isnt that the team from "Any Given Sunday?"