NHL Expansion back on agenda?

[GKJ]

Its not Bama or even BYU but its still something that draws some attention and dollars.

If you put an NBA team in Pittsburgh, I would bet that it would do fine. But one of my things I say about expansion is whether or not it expands the footprint. Not as much as other markets would.

 

[KevFu]

If you put an NBA team in Pittsburgh, I would bet that it would do fine. But one of my things I say about expansion is whether or not it expands the footprint. Not as much as other markets would.

Yeah, I think a major pro team anywhere in the top 75 markets would be "Fine" in terms of not going bankrupt. It's only a case of "are they making enough money relative to everyone else?"


Also, if you're Quebec and the NHL adds teams in Atlanta, Houston and Phoenix, you have to be NOT PISSED, but really happy that the NHL is 9-9-9-8 and has a HOLE in the east and not many major markets to possibly go to to fill that spot.

If you're the Quebec would-be owner, you start making calls to WAS, TB, FLA, ATL, CAR, CBJ, DET, CHI, NASH, BOS, NYR, NYI, NJD, TOR, BUF, DAL, HOU and point out that they'd prefer Quebec over an expansion team in

1C. Greater Toronto
20. Baltimore
21. Orlando
22. Charlotte
24. San Antonio
26. Austin
30. Cincinnati
33. Cleveland
34. Indianapolis - NBA arena seats 11,651 for hockey
37. Virginia Beach
38. Jacksonville
39. Providence
40. Milwaukee
43. Louisville
44. Richmond
45. Memphis
49. Grand Rapids
51. Hartford
53. Rochester
9C. Hamilton

Adding Atlanta and Houston moves Quebec closer, not further away.

 

[GKJ]

Yeah, I think a major pro team anywhere in the top 75 markets would be "Fine" in terms of not going bankrupt. It's only a case of "are they making enough money relative to everyone else?"


Also, if you're Quebec and the NHL adds teams in Atlanta, Houston and Phoenix, you have to be NOT PISSED, but really happy that the NHL is 9-9-9-8 and has a HOLE in the east and not many major markets to possibly go to to fill that spot.

If you're the Quebec would-be owner, you start making calls to WAS, TB, FLA, ATL, CAR, CBJ, DET, CHI, NASH, BOS, NYR, NYI, NJD, TOR, BUF, DAL, HOU and point out that they'd prefer Quebec over an expansion team in

1C. Greater Toronto
20. Baltimore
21. Orlando
22. Charlotte
24. San Antonio
26. Austin
30. Cincinnati
33. Cleveland
34. Indianapolis - NBA arena seats 11,651 for hockey
37. Virginia Beach
38. Jacksonville
39. Providence
40. Milwaukee
43. Louisville
44. Richmond
45. Memphis
49. Grand Rapids
51. Hartford
53. Rochester
9C. Hamilton

Adding Atlanta and Houston moves Quebec closer, not further away.

Cincinnati would be the one to worry about, because a group would likely own a new arena, and there is no NBA threat there.

 

[KevFu]

Cincinnati would be the one to worry about, because a group would likely own a new arena, and there is no NBA threat there.

Yeah, but the whole point of Columbus was you give the state of Ohio one team, and they can have fans from Cleveland to Cincinnati, and not have two "small market teams" like they are in baseball and football.

The NHL's expansion successes have been places that they either (a) got to first or second or (b) are massive markets getting their 4th team.

Being the third team in Cincinnati, Milwaukee, Indianapolis, etc makes no sense. Being the first team in Quebec makes a lot more sense.

Plus I think there's gonna be some "Legacy shopping" for Bettman on his way out. Like if he makes Quebec the #36 team, even if the NHL sacrifices opportunity cost selling an expansion team to someone else... then he's leaving behind a league with nine more markets than when he took over, only ONE city who lost a team, six Top 20 markets added, etc, etc.

It's the perfect thing to be his second to last announcement, with his last being retirement.

 

[GKJ]

Yeah, but the whole point of Columbus was you give the state of Ohio one team, and they can have fans from Cleveland to Cincinnati, and not have two "small market teams" like they are in baseball and football.

The NHL's expansion successes have been places that they either (a) got to first or second or (b) are massive markets getting their 4th team.

Being the third team in Cincinnati, Milwaukee, Indianapolis, etc makes no sense. Being the first team in Quebec makes a lot more sense.

Plus I think there's gonna be some "Legacy shopping" for Bettman on his way out. Like if he makes Quebec the #36 team, even if the NHL sacrifices opportunity cost selling an expansion team to someone else... then he's leaving behind a league with nine more markets than when he took over, only ONE city who lost a team, six Top 20 markets added, etc, etc.

It's the perfect thing to be his second to last announcement, with his last being retirement.

The idea that they think they can in an implicit shot over the bow that they do not identify with Columbus, and they have not been a good enough franchise, for 25 years now, to demand that attention. The Blue Jackets have been more invested in Cleveland.