NHL Expansion back on agenda?
- Thread starter uhlaw97
- Start date
Bixby Snyder
IBTFAD
The wrong was righted when Nordiques left, Quebec should never have gotten the an NHL team in the first place. That whole WHA merger was a bullshit move by idiot Zeigler.
To be fair, @GreenHornet , we also have half this thread $#!++!ng on the idea that Quebec City could work but we're basing that on hypotheticals also. Let no one say this board doesn't love a good flogging.Oy, THIS crap again.
Re: "this crap again" whenever the topic of Atlanta pops up, it's really hard to frame the conversation correctly. As some of us have said in other threads, if the league grants Krause (or Carter) a franchise, this isn't even like going back to Atlanta the third time.......it's going to north metro for the FIRST time. But it's hard to frame it in those terms for a national or international discussion.
It's a lot like if the NHL decided to go to Cleveland. If someone told me "well it didn't work the first time," I'd reply "Richfield didn't work the first time..."
Feel free to ignore Quebec posts. Freedom of speech is still a thing.
But seriously a us poster brought it up to mock Canadians. Do you think the league wants to go there? They pretty clearly want Houston and Atlanta.
It was the right move to prevent another WHA. Hockey was still (is) a Canadian Sport based in Montreal.
But it was 40 years ago. Let's move on.
ORRFForever
Registered User
- Oct 29, 2018
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GindyDraws
#HutchOut
He CAN afford it. The question is will he actually pay the money, or will he just go buy another casino or steakhouse chain.
voyageur
Hockey fanatic
- Jul 10, 2011
- 9,950
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I think you are dead on. The NHL has been choosing its markets since it began the expansion process in 2015. Vegas was a shoe-in. Seattle would have been in earlier, but the NHL had to wait out all the red tape around retrofitting Key Arena.
The NHL have been sniffing out Houston for at least the last 5 years. I think Ryan Smith getting the Coyotes might have been the wakeup call for Fertitta that he will get passed over if he doesn't pony up. TNT getting back into hockey bodes well for Atlanta. Guaranteed that the league is looking at some big time corporate sponsors in both cities to add to the league brand.
And let's face it, there are 3 Canadian teams struggling to fill their rinks this year, where you see non traditional markets, that are winning regularly, becoming among the attendance leaders in the league. The landscape of hockey is changing. And if nothing else expansion fees keeps the profit margins going from top to bottom.
It's a matter of time.
I really hope expansion subsequently changes the current divisional format and playoff format.
And proof that the snub of the Aeros being a part of the merger was short sighted.
Bixby Snyder
IBTFAD
Yeah Houston was the WHA market the NHL should have brought in but that was how the NHL rolled with Zeigler in charge.
He'll pay. Does he want a new arena? Because sounds like that's the deal.
There was no proof Houston would work.
voyageur
Hockey fanatic
- Jul 10, 2011
- 9,950
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The landscape of the late 70s NHL was entirely different. There was no U.S. TV money keeping the league going. Molson's ran the league. CBC subsidized it, with 3 Canadian owners taking in all that revenue. Bankruptcy was problem for several U.S markets: Washington, Pittsburgh, St. Louis. K.C moved to Denver and were epicly struggling. Cleveland folded, which was the franchise I believe Houston's owner was trying to purchase before he folded the Aeros, realising the NHL wasn't going to take him in. Atlanta moved 2 years later. There was no guarantees beyond Chicago and L.A in the West, in the U.S at that time, and I am not surprised the NHL owners didn't want to take that gamble, as Texas wouldn't have only increased travel costs for everyone, with little guarantee of profits.
TheLegend
Hardly Deactivated
They're pissed at the wrong guy..... the one they should all be pissed at is this guy....
TheLegend
Hardly Deactivated
JMNSHO.......
"Free speech" is one of the most mis-applied and abused terms in the universe. HFBoards is not a publisher and is not obligated to adhere to any concept of the US First Amendment.
The OP is clearly defining the current potential expansion to Houston and Atlanta. Therefore THAT'S WHERE THE TOPIC IS SUPPOSED TO BE. Quebec City is not the focus here, but a couple of people seem hell bent on making it that way, so I shall refer to HF's Terms and Service in regards to posting rules.
Now y'all can continue on this course as you want to, but then again..... FAFO.
hockey20000
Registered User
- Dec 23, 2018
- 4,562
- 2,722
Oy, THIS crap again.
yep fails in atlanta everytime you dont deserve a 3rd shot sorry
GKJ
Global Moderator
- Feb 27, 2002
- 190,903
- 42,404
We wouldn’t have half the US markets we have right now if they didn’t try it more than once.To be fair, @GreenHornet , we also have half this thread $#!++!ng on the idea that Quebec City could work but we're basing that on hypotheticals also. Let no one say this board doesn't love a good flogging.
Re: "this crap again" whenever the topic of Atlanta pops up, it's really hard to frame the conversation correctly. As some of us have said in other threads, if the league grants Krause (or Carter) a franchise, this isn't even like going back to Atlanta the third time.......it's going to north metro for the FIRST time. But it's hard to frame it in those terms for a national or international discussion.
It's a lot like if the NHL decided to go to Cleveland. If someone told me "well it didn't work the first time," I'd reply "Richfield didn't work the first time..."
