NHL ponders 2 teams in Toronto
- Thread starter Avro
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I sat at a business supper with the President of Northlands a few years ago. He said that Edmonton was in the same boat as Winnipeg. If the Oilers said "build us a new rink or we are gone", Edmonton would now have an AHL team. It was a different era back then as governments were aggressively trying to balance budgets. Spending millions on a new facility was just not an option back then...especially with the lack of a decent agreement with the players and a free-falling dollar. Winnipeg now has their new arena and there are plenty of teams in the US that could move north. I foresee an additional four teams in Canada within the next five years.
How many will that new rink hold, and do they have corporate suites?
I would love to see a team back there.
Yeah, I agree, and he is part owner of the coyotes as well. Atlanta, Nashville,
Florida, and Carolina are in trouble too.
Canucks own their facility, makes it so much better for them.
Phoenix has to pay the city of Glendale a percentage of every ticket they sell, plus
they don't own the rink, lots of overhead in a rink that isn't full.
MTS Centre / True North Sports & Entertainment Ltd.
I'm not a big believer in the bigger is better mentality. Baseball has learned that ambiance is very important, hence the "retro ballpark" move in the 90's. A great facility with great sight lines will do well. Luxury boxes and TV is where the real money is. I know in Calgary and Edmonton, when the teams are doing poorly, it's hard to give away nosebleed seats.
I think it would be better to fix up Copps and have a nearby team in Hamilton.
Fan busses would be huge, would be a great shot in the arm to Hamilton tourism and rejuvination AND would avoid the ridiculousness of the Lakers/Clippers set up.
Hamilton alone is an okay sized market. Add in a few million people within a one hours drive, and hopefully MUCH cheaper tickets, and would be a nice outing for the family!
Fan busses would be huge, would be a great shot in the arm to Hamilton tourism and rejuvination AND would avoid the ridiculousness of the Lakers/Clippers set up.
Hamilton alone is an okay sized market. Add in a few million people within a one hours drive, and hopefully MUCH cheaper tickets, and would be a nice outing for the family!
The MTS center is too small, what does it hold, 14,000?
That said, selling out 14,000 and selling a whack load of merchandise, has to be better for the bottom line than having a half empty arena of discounted seats ... ie half the American teams.
Plus, this time around, Winnipegers would be forced to get behind the 2nd iteration of the Jets, or risk losing any hope at a credible pro-sports team for ever!
That said, selling out 14,000 and selling a whack load of merchandise, has to be better for the bottom line than having a half empty arena of discounted seats ... ie half the American teams.
Plus, this time around, Winnipegers would be forced to get behind the 2nd iteration of the Jets, or risk losing any hope at a credible pro-sports team for ever!
Sunbelt NHL teams are losing millions, so some may travel. But I like the idea of a Seattle franchise though, it would be a great rivalry for the Canucks.
Yeah, I find it puzzling that seattle hasn't had a franchise long ago, not sure
why that is, perhaps they just don't have the local interest, or the desire to
put that much money into a facility, but when the sonics come back, which I
imagine they will, they will build a new building for them, could be a combo
for hockey arena as well.
I think it is the sonics they lost isn't it, and also the seahawks too?
What's happening in that city, where has their spirit for sports gone.
I know they have the seattle 'junior' hockey team, but they could move to
another washington city if nhl came to town.