Way OT: NHL’s Coyotes should relocate to Austin
- Thread starter HailToPitt725
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Hockey's real problem is that it expanded well beyond what it should have. It really needs to look inward at why it's growing less and less popular outside of dozen or so places.
This may sound really stupid on the first read but the NHL should adopt something akin to the English Premier League and relegate franchises in and out of the top tier. I know it will cut into their minor league development but there are plenty of ways they could facilitate player development while expanding the fan base and generating more excitement. Would also help to open up the game and get rid of goons but it seems more likely they'll open a franchise in Mexico City before they'd entertain something so radical.
This may sound really stupid on the first read but the NHL should adopt something akin to the English Premier League and relegate franchises in and out of the top tier. I know it will cut into their minor league development but there are plenty of ways they could facilitate player development while expanding the fan base and generating more excitement. Would also help to open up the game and get rid of goons but it seems more likely they'll open a franchise in Mexico City before they'd entertain something so radical.
Ok.
But SD is a horrible sports town and I cant see hockey working there. And Baltimore is too close to DC for the NHL to work.
Atlanta couldn’t keep the Flames, it’s true, but they do have a lot of people who’ve since relocated there from northern areas and who do appreciate the game. They have minor league hockey there and I understand it does pretty well. They might be good for another go by the NHL.
Yes and no. Far more of the southern franchises have succeeded than not. Yes we have Atlanta and Phoenix as failures, but Tampa Bay, Nashville, San Jose and Dallas have been big successes. Anaheim has been a great franchise with stable ownership and LA is one of the 10 oldest markets in the NHL and has always been stable despite clearly being far down the sporting pecking order. Carolina has never drawn consistently, but they have always had solid ownership and their arena lease is the best in all of the NHL, which makes it viable. Florida has had its issues, but current ownership has absolutely killed it in their decision making over the last 5-6 years. Their attendance will always be bandwagon, but they are set up for a great run this year and in the near future.
I don't disagree with any of that but relegation really wouldn't affect any of the franchises that are run well. Relegation really pushes owners. Imagine what happens to the Pirates if they were relegated out of the majors?
I do agree that the NHL expanded way too fast in the 90s. It seemed like it was trying to play catch-up to the other major sports leagues without any regard for other variables.
Personally, I love the idea of relegation but I think the biggest issue would be getting the owners on board. Vegas and Seattle didn’t pay $500M and $650M for a second-tier hockey club, for example. I’ve read that the MLS had the same issue when it floated relegation.
I disagree 100%. I think the NHL needs to be in almost every major American city. Why? No one in that city ever heard of the NHL unless there's a team there. I feel the same way about MLS. MLB, NBA, and NFL are mainstream. People watch without teams in their city. No one in KC or Austin has ever watched an NHL game. Its an entirely new market. I'd expand to 40 if I were them.
The long-term strength of the NHL is in capitalizing on markets where you can succeed. It makes all the sense in the world to move to Quebec City.
Probably one of those situations where some short-term sacrifices would be offset by long-term gain.
And you want Norfolk?? A small city with 40% African American not that far from DC or Raleigh?? You have been eating those sandwiches again.
I was wondering if his mom forgot to change the battery in the basement CO detector, again.
Its not just Norfolk. Its like 5 cities. That MSA is the largest in the country without a pro team. You bring up a good point about the high African-American population.
SD couldn't keep NFL or NBA team. The MLS wont even consider it. The Ducks are 90 miles up the road. Quite sure the NHL isnt going to work there.
Hockey has been played in the Tidewater region of Virginia since 1971. It's also 200 miles from DC and 185 miles to Raleigh. It should be very high on the NHL's list of potential expansion cities.
I think it can work in that area but I would wonder if the total demographics could support it. You mentioned megacities.
I wouldn't put it past Pittsburgh if the same scenario happened ... if you win in this city, you are a darling. If you lose (ahem Pitt basketball), nobody cares. It the Pens stink for 3 or 4 years, people aren't going to show.
I love baseball, but it is crazy that the Pirates continue to exist. I guess an amazing ballpark and the giveaways, plus reasonably priced tickets, goes a long way.
Baseball is separate from all the other sports. For one, 75% of its schedule, it has no competition. Secondly, W/L is not so important so they sell the family and nice day at the park.
The NHL and to a lesser extent the NBA, but especially the NHL is gate driven and prices are so high. 4 decent tickets to a regular season game against say the Caps is season tickets for Pitt football.
But no doubt the Pens will soon go through a rebuild. But Fenway ownership it won't be prolonged.
The ASU arena will make them more money if they meet all the wild-assed projections that they have made for it. Other people, ones non-affiliated with the Coyotes franchise or the guy running the league who is desperate for his baby to succeed, have estimated that they are going to be so far below the current worst team in the league in revenues that they will need binoculars to even see the next worst.
Well they've been right about that market all along.
But yeah, sure, the team playing in the 5,000 seat arena that will make almost no money from in arena sponsorships or luxury boxes is suddenly going to be rolling in the cash. Sure. Right. Makes complete sense.
By the way, what do you think of the playoffs so far Mr. Bettman?
Speaking of playoffs, staying up late to watch the Flames-Oilers series may be worth your time. Speed, scoring, great fans, aggression. Good stuff.
Tempe city council voted 5-2 in a marathon session to go forward with negotiations on a new arena for the Coyotes. Seems highly unlikely they would reject the action but merely are trying g to get the most out of the team and NHL for the city. Apparently there were around 80 speakers at the meeting and it ended around 11 pm. Gary Bettmanwas a virtual attendee.
Well I think moving them to Tempe is better because it’s more centrally located than Glendale.
The long-term benefit so far has been guys like Auston Matthews picking up hockey after watching the Coyotes play. They see it as an investment to develop more American-born talent in the sun belt states while also creating broader fan interest.
They’ve also been guaranteed a NHL Draft and All-Star Weekend if they build it.
I saw that as a rumor yesterday so I do not know if that is an absolUte truth.
There was a miscommunication. All they are going to get is a show in a Phoenix shopping mall by these guys…
Yeah I know that. But there are other cities, especially ones without say an NBA competing franchise and without so many transient folks like Austin, KC, where it would do the same. I get it, Phoenix is huge. But Phoenix is like so many sun belt cities, so many folks aren't from there.
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