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Bettman meeting with Ryan Smith, owner of Utah Jazz and Real Salt Lake (upd: Smith asks NHL to open expansion process)

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The fact that Smith is doing this publicly must mean that something is happening. He has enough of a good relationship with Bettman and the NHL that he wouldn't have to do this as a publcity stunt or to try to push something. He must have the league's OK for such an announcement.

Very interesting.

GKJ said:
Very interesting day to do this!
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What am I missing as to the significance of this day?
 
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Tom ServoMST3K said:
Call me cynical, but the timing of this is too suspicious to be a coincidence.
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It would be very on-brand of the NHL. Bettman notoriously wants people to keep quiet about this stuff. But today? Right now? Well, now, this is definitely a good time to talk about where the Coyotes may be playing next year.
 
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Yup this announcement and the push from TSn, Sportsnet and the US counterparts is being done to keep the NHL players involved in 2018 a bit more quiet. Good strategy in my opinion. The NHL has done nothing wrong in the 2018 WJC issue, thats on Hockey Canada.
 
oldunclehue said:
Yup this announcement and the push from TSn, Sportsnet and the US counterparts is being done to keep the NHL players involved in 2018 a bit more quiet. Good strategy in my opinion. The NHL has done nothing wrong in the 2018 WJC issue, thats on Hockey Canada.
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If that was only about Ryan Smith wanting to get out there, he’d have waited until next week when everyone is together for the all-star game.
 
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Mightygoose said:
Has their ever been a time when an prospective ownership group asked the league to start an expansion process?

Foley didn't, Bonderman and his group didn't. The being available next season is interesting
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Yes, the fact that the NHL responded positively to this statement, when there is no chance of a team there next season via expansion, says more than anything.
 
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Mightygoose said:
Has their ever been a time when an prospective ownership group asked the league to start an expansion process?

Foley didn't, Bonderman and his group didn't. The being available next season is interesting
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League knew Foley was interested though. Even had a season ticket campaign before the league even opened the process.

He just didn't count on how long it would take.

www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/las-vegas-quebec-city-nhl-expansion-bill-foley-owner-gary-bettman-naive-timeline
 
Yukon Joe said:
Quite possibly. But Quebec does not have an owner who can afford a team.


The "next season" is definitely interesting news, and definitely points at Arizona...
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I didn't want to be the first to say this explicitly, but I am afraid of the truth of this post.
 
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MNNumbers said:
I didn't want to be the first to say this explicitly, but I am afraid of the truth of this post.
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Well you have a billion dollars of expansion money (which goes to the owners) against a couple hundred million in play here.

And you have Atlanta knocking on the door.

Putting all market loyalties aside and looking at this from a pure business perspective..... Which way do you think the BoG would want to go??
 
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TheLegend said:
Well you have a billion dollars of expansion money (which goes to the owners) against a couple hundred million in play here.

And you have Atlanta knocking on the door.

Putting all market loyalties aside and looking at this from a pure business perspective..... Which way do you think the BoG would want to go??
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It's been a long time since the last relocation, but it did introduce the notion of a relocation fee. When the Thrashers moved to Winnipeg the sale price was $170 million - but $60 million of that was a relocation fee going to the league.

Obviously franchise values have increased dramatically from 2011, but let's speculate here. If the Coyotes were to be relocated to Utah - $1 billion sale value, with $500 million in a relocation fee (and $500 mil to Meruello)?
 
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joelef said:
Quebec fans are going to be mad
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If they have a ready owner and arena plan, they shouldn't be.

I don't know what their situation is.

For SLC, this is huge. Also highlights how important it is to have a dedicated owner$hip. Says they've been meeting for two years (if that's true).
 
Yukon Joe said:
It's been a long time since the last relocation, but it did introduce the notion of a relocation fee. When the Thrashers moved to Winnipeg the sale price was $170 million - but $60 million of that was a relocation fee going to the league.

Obviously franchise values have increased dramatically from 2011, but let's speculate here. If the Coyotes were to be relocated to Utah - $1 billion sale value, with $500 million in a relocation fee (and $500 mil to Meruello)?
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Depends on two things…

Alex Meruelo willing to sell. And what value he puts the franchise at.

Because he has tens of millions invested out of his pocket on top of whatever debt took on.

May end up being cheaper for Smith to go the expansion route.
 
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TheLegend said:
Well you have a billion dollars of expansion money (which goes to the owners) against a couple hundred million in play here.

And you have Atlanta knocking on the door.

Putting all market loyalties aside and looking at this from a pure business perspective..... Which way do you think the BoG would want to go??
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Also, it's the potential Utah owners that are stating that they would be ready for next year, showing their enthusiasm. It's not like that line came for the NHL. If they can squeak out another couple expansion fees before dealing with the Coyotes, all the better for the owners.
 
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