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

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Another similar article here:
https://www.vegaswantshockey.com/new...l?recordNum=30

Foley no longer views his long-stated goal of the team beginning play in the 2016-2017 season as feasible. He said, “It’s got to be ’17-18 right now. We can’t get ready for ’16 in time.”

Everyone who purchases season tickets will be extended the opportunity to submit a name of their choice. “And we’re going to take the top 10 or so to the league and say, ‘Can we use these teams?’” Foley explained. He said the league would whittle down the choices before a final decision was made. Foley is set on the team colors — black, gold and gray — as well as using Las Vegas instead of Nevada in the name.

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Dp

[SuperMatt18]

That is pretty good for an American city with no guarantee of a team.

Especially the 735 suites sold.

[troutman]

I read that poker star Daniel Negreanu is involved and might become a minority owner. He has won over $30 M playing poker. Seems like a snake to me.

https://news.sportsinteraction.com/s...pansion-49197/

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

http://www.thehockeynews.com/blog/pr...00-seats-sold/

11,500 seats sold to individuals, 1000 to corporations, 735 in suites.

If those suites are in fact in the range of $1 million with 10 year commitments they could almost operate off those and walk-ups alone. I think this city is unique in that they will get a lot of walk up attendance from Canadians/US hockey fans visiting over the winter as well as non-Vegas residents attending through casino purchased tickets. They really only need a fair to small sized season ticket fan base from actual residents to have a fairly full building. I would hope they would find the right hockey people to run the team from the get go to avoid a Blue Jackets type situation as it's important the organization doesn't take forever to make it's first playoff appearance as the NHL playoffs really sells a lot of casual fans on the product.

[polak]

BJ's still draw well. Frankly for what those fans have had to put up with, any team would be lucky to have a fanbase like Columbus.

[CroFlames]

[Locke]

Now the other shoe has to drop to get the West to 16 teams.

[Coach]

Florida to Seattle please.

[Jacks]

Originally Posted by troutman

I read that poker star Daniel Negreanu is involved and might become a minority owner. He has won over $30 M playing poker. Seems like a snake to me

Negreanu isn't bad, he made a ton of money as the face of Pokerstars. He's been a decent ambassador for the game. He's also won a lot more than 30M, that's just his tournament winnings.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by polak

BJ's still draw well. Frankly for what those fans have had to put up with, any team would be lucky to have a fanbase like Columbus.

I agree and I wasn't putting down Jackets fans. As you said they have had to put up with a poorly run team for a long time and my point was that the Vegas owners need to ensure they bring in the right people to get the franchise started on the right foot rather than start with a guy like MacLean that had no business running a hockey team.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

If those suites are in fact in the range of $1 million with 10 year commitments they could almost operate off those and walk-ups alone. I think this city is unique in that they will get a lot of walk up attendance from Canadians/US hockey fans visiting over the winter as well as non-Vegas residents attending through casino purchased tickets. They really only need a fair to small sized season ticket fan base from actual residents to have a fairly full building. I would hope they would find the right hockey people to run the team from the get go to avoid a Blue Jackets type situation as it's important the organization doesn't take forever to make it's first playoff appearance as the NHL playoffs really sells a lot of casual fans on the product.

Well, the question of the suites is how much of their purchase price gets allocated to the team. That is especially relevant for CBA cap calculation purposes. In LA, for instance, I believe the suite revenue used to be 33% each to the Lakers, Clippers and Kings - and that may still be the case. Was a hell of a deal for the Kings and Clippers when it was the Lakers driving all those sales.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by MattyC

Florida to Seattle please.

IMO, If the Panthers relocate, it's Quebec City or GTA2.

There's still going to be another expansion team in the west.

[Jets4Life]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

IMO, If the Panthers relocate, it's Quebec City or GTA2.

There's still going to be another expansion team in the west.

I personally think a better idea, is pay off Columbus to join the West, if Florida moves to Quebec. They may be forced to if the Coyotes move east, as Detroit's not going to return.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

IMO, If the Panthers relocate, it's Quebec City or GTA2.

There's still going to be another expansion team in the west.

Or just wait two years and the NHL can roll back their #### up and move the Las Vegas team to one of the above. Then the NHL can look at moving into real sports/hockey markets like Seattle and Portland. Las Vegas is going to be an epic disaster, giving the NHL a black eye that will be tough to live down, like the California Seals.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by New Era

Or just wait two years and the NHL can roll back their #### up and move the Las Vegas team to one of the above. Then the NHL can look at moving into real sports/hockey markets like Seattle and Portland. Las Vegas is going to be an epic disaster, giving the NHL a black eye that will be tough to live down, like the California Seals.

I doubt that. I think the NHL has a real shot in Vegas.

Look at those numbers so far of season ticket deposits. And they don't even have a guarantee that a team is coming.

[Tyler]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

I doubt that. I think the NHL has a real shot in Vegas.

Look at those numbers so far of season ticket deposits. And they don't even have a guarantee that a team is coming.

Yeah pretty decent

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Jets4Life

I personally think a better idea, is pay off Columbus to join the West, if Florida moves to Quebec. They may be forced to if the Coyotes move east, as Detroit's not going to return.

Columbus wanted the hell out of the West as much as Detroit did.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by New Era

Or just wait two years and the NHL can roll back their #### up and move the Las Vegas team to one of the above. Then the NHL can look at moving into real sports/hockey markets like Seattle and Portland. Las Vegas is going to be an epic disaster, giving the NHL a black eye that will be tough to live down, like the California Seals.

When it comes to people with a bitter hatred of non-traditional markets, the entire concept of a franchise relocation being a "black eye that will be tough to live down" is something I have always found hilarious.

The California Seals were forgotten about 19 seconds after they relocated in 1976. The NHL as a business simply shrugged and moved on. Exactly as it did when the North Stars, Whalers, Jets and Nordiques relocated.

The NHL is a business, and operates as such. It has never held the same prejudices against cities that xenophobic fans do. They will try Vegas. If it ultimately fails, then the NHL will do exactly what it did with the Seals. Shrug, approve a relocation, and move on.

[Lanny_McDonald]

^^^. Which makes your league look weak and second rate. There are reasons no other league has gone into Vegas. The NHL should consider those same issues before going down this road.

I also don't hate non-traditional markets, seeing as I live in one, but I am very aware of the challenges these teams face in staying relevant in a city where the game is a mostly unknown. I am also very aware of the challenges these locations present to players, which Vegas would just intensify. It would be much more beneficial to the league to fortify the west coast, creating a very natural geographic zone for rivalries and travel, than to expand into the desert and an economically challenged city.