Next expansion team in Las Vegas - How does everyone feel about it?

[alko]

It seems, that the next expansion team will be in Las Vegas.
Now im asking the Canadians, what they thought about it? Are you mad? Not another team in Canada, but somewhere in USA desert.
There was talk about second team in Toronto, another in Quebec, but the NHL delivered a strong kick in your .... with this.

Click to read more...

 

[Seatoo]

I think it's stupid to put a team there. Expansion has to happen in the west or else DET and CLB have to be moved back west.

 

[Quarter]

I'm not, but I'd prefer to see Seattle or Portland get a team before Vegas (or along with, if that's the case). The 14/16 split we have going on limits two expansion slots to the West meaning only four cities can really be chosen from. Quebec City, Toronto, Hamilton, Kitchener/Waterloo, etc are out of luck.

I don't see a Canadian city getting awarded a team unless it's through relocation.

 

[Vesa Awesaka]

I like it...kinda. Admittedly i have limited information on the topic but from what i understand the team is basically guranteed to make the league money. They are more concerned about the optics of having an empty arena. I also really like the idea of having successful non traditional hockey markets. It really can expand the growth of the game world wide.

 

[Diamondillium]

I'm all for it.

 

[Cancuks]

As a Canucks fan I'd rather see Seattle but Vegas would be great to be a team to beat up on for years and years. Hockey will never survive in Vegas.. too many distractions and no fan base other than tourists cheering on their visiting teams.

 

[Big Guy]

Québec clearly deserves a team over Las Vegas. Fans who live and breathe hockey as part of their national culture vs. casuals who won't fill a 10000 seat arena and couldn't care less about the sport.

But it's an easy choice for the commi$$ioner.

 

[Bps21*]

I think it's stupid to put a team there. Expansion has to happen in the west or else DET and CLB have to be moved back west.

This.

Seattle and Las Vegas. Even out the conferences.

 

[KPower]

The league is planning expansion teams before relocation.

It's all about the money.

Vegas has the money so they're first.

Quebec City is not interested in paying the expansion fee and will wait for the first crack at a relocating team.

 

[the4thlinegrinder]

Best case scenario they become a SJ Sharks/ TB Lightning success story. Worst case they're a Panthers/ Coyotes. I realize that the arena is going to be on the strip instead of suburbs like the Yotes and Panthers, but Quebec has a rich potential owner and a brand new arena in a hockey crazy market. Regarding the conference balance (or lack of), if the NHL actually cared about balanced conferences they wouldn't have gone to 16/14 after a decade+ of 15/15. Someone's idea of symmetry should not get in the way of expanding to strong hockey markets.

 

[Gormo]

Im not sure mad is the word, more like bewildered.

That is if the plan is consistent with what I have been hearing, and that is Las Vegas will subsist thanks to the fans of visiting teams.

Surely this cannot be right, because that sounds like a complete joke.

 

[KPower]

Im not sure mad is the word, more like bewildered.

That is if the plan is consistent with what I have been hearing, and that is Las Vegas will subsist thanks to the fans of visiting teams.

Surely this cannot be right, because that sounds like a complete joke.

Vegas will have no trouble selling out the arena, but actual people in the seats on game day is another story.

 

[VanIslander]

Now I'm asking the Canadians, what they thought about it? Are you mad? Not another team in Canada, but somewhere in a USA desert.

I have no connections anywhere near Toronto or Quebec (though I fondly recall the old rivalry as similar to NYR-NYI if not better).

Am I mad? To be able to see an NHL hockey game on a winter trip to Vegas for a sunshine getaway during the long Canadian winter? No more Hawaii trips for this B.C. boy! Vegas baby!

 

[Insomniac99]

More of Bettman's "experiment" crap. We keep putting these teams in weak markets. Why not put one in a decent market for once? Stick one in Seattle.

 

[gudzilla]

More of Bettman's "experiment" crap. We keep putting these teams in weak markets. Why not put one in a decent market for once? Stick one in Seattle.

almost every market at some point was a weak market. ducks/kings/sharks/stars/avs etc were all weak to very weak markets at the start of the franchise, but noone would suggest moving those since they ARE "weak markets"

winning games sell tickets, and if you do that anyway, well, look at edmonton/toronto/other canadian teams - no interest in maknig the team better since they sell tickets anyway

 

[danishh]

It's been painfully obvious that the NHL intends to balance the conferences with two more Western (non EST/EDT) teams. Seattle seems like an obvious location, and given its long hockey history Canadians can probably get behind it. After that, locations like Vegas, Houston, Kansas city, etc. May be non traditional markets, but they have a hell of a lot better chance at success than a Saskatchewan or a second Vancouver team. Canada's chances are in the east, and we understand that the east is already over loaded.

 

[Dr Pepper]

Oh, I sure it'll work out just fine.

Because moving a hockey team to the desert has been so successful over the years, right Gary?

 

[TheNewEra]

I don't mind that we are looking at other American markets, what I don't understand is why are we looking at expansion when there are teams that have clearly failed. Imo Expansion should only happen when most or all of the teams are stable in the league profit wise. With some teams primed for relocation and a few more teams that are struggling we should relocate instead of expand. Try American markets first for all I care but let's get out of the cities that have failed

 

[ucanthanzalthetruth]

Re Seattle: No arena, no one has an intention of building one for a hockey team, that's not happening for years till the NBA expands.

 

[Twitch]

As a Californian, I like it. It gives me another reason to drive to Vegas.

 

[Kojo]

Another USA team in a market that doesn't even know about hockey. A team who will survive from getting subsidy from the more successful Canadian markets? I'm not even mad, it's actually quite hilarious.

Perhaps ten years from now, this Las Vegas team, after they struggle for said ten years, will be relocated in Quebec City and win a cup. That would be justice.

But yeah. I don't even care.

 

[Dynamo81]

I'm mad the Panthers haven't been relocated yet.

I mean we have franchises in really difficult situations and they're talking about expansion...

This. get the current franchises in order before looking elsewhere

Don't see how Vegas will be a success. I would have thought Canada was destined for a new team, I mean they are the only nation that hockey mad in the World. Surely a less-risky venture could be found there. However, I have not really analyzed the potential for growth in Vegas etc.

 

[Lunatik]

I don't like Vegas expansion, but it doesn't make me mad. I just think there are better possible locations, namely Seattle, Portland, Houston and even Kansas City.

 

[Howboutthempanthers]

Another USA team in a market that doesn't even know about hockey. A team who will survive from getting subsidy from the more successful Canadian markets? I'm not even mad, it's actually quite hilarious.

Perhaps ten years from now, this Las Vegas team, after they struggle for said ten years, will be relocated in Quebec City and win a cup. That would be justice.

But yeah. I don't even care.

Justice? lol
That's the point we're at now?

 

[Smart Dunsparce*]

Who cares if Canadians are mad or not?
More reason to go to Vegas to see the Oil play there, I think its cool. I don't understand why people would get their jimmies rustled over this.