NHL Expansion back on agenda?

[GreenHornet]

atlanta LOL just leave that awful place permantly already oh well quebec city by 2050 if atlanta comes cause we know it wont last AGAIN.

Oy, THIS crap again.

 

[Bixby Snyder]

Put a team in Quebec City. Right that wrong, once and for all.

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.

 

[BMN]

They want Houston and Atlanta, circumstances are lining up that they'll have owners, so that's why they're going to open up now. I still have a mild amount of skepticism about both (skepticism not about the markets "working" or anything like that, just ownership logistics). But is there anywhere else anyone here can think of that opening up a process would be catered to?

atlanta LOL just leave that awful place permantly already oh well quebec city by 2050 if atlanta comes cause we know it wont last AGAIN.

Oy, THIS crap again.

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..."

 

[aqib]

Can we not talk about Quebec

Feel free to ignore Quebec posts. Freedom of speech is still a thing.

 

[GKJ]

It doesn’t feel like it was never not on the agenda

 

[Melrose Munch]

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.

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.

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]

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.

 

[GindyDraws]

Fertitta is worth 10 billion. He can afford it. I think he wants a new arena, and Houston and Harris County told him there won't be one without an NHL expansion team.

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]

I'd be surprised if it's an actual "process" like it was for LV round.

I think the NHL has targeted Hou and ATL. They want those markets after they have basically exhausted all non NBA markets (got into LV and SEA before NBA did).

Houston, really 2 questions. 1 will Fertitia pay the price the NHL wants which is going to be over $1 billion USD. Second is the arena. Will a big renovation be around the corner as the arena is 21 years old now or will they build a new one. Think it is located in the right place, so a reno should be all that is needed to secure another 25 years.

ATL, as I understand have 2 parties looking at building a new arena. NHL is going to have to pick from one of those.

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.

 

[HockeyScotty]

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.

And proof that the snub of the Aeros being a part of the merger was short sighted.

 

[Bixby Snyder]

And proof that the snub of the Aeros being a part of the merger was short sighted.

Yeah Houston was the WHA market the NHL should have brought in but that was how the NHL rolled with Zeigler in charge.

 

[Melrose Munch]

He CAN afford it. The question is will he actually pay the money, or will he just go buy another casino or steakhouse chain.

He'll pay. Does he want a new arena? Because sounds like that's the deal.

Yeah Houston was the WHA market the NHL should have brought in but that was how the NHL rolled with Zeigler in charge.

There was no proof Houston would work.

 

[voyageur]

Yeah Houston was the WHA market the NHL should have brought in but that was how the NHL rolled with Zeigler in charge

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]

Will they be upset at Bettman, or the BoG? Or the myriad of groups out there that *could* provide PKP with additional financial backing (something he has been begging for since 2018), but haven't? Or, how 'bout that CAD hovering at around $0.74 to every $1 USD? If I recall, currency value was cited as a factor during the last attempt made to bring an expansion team to QC.

In this way, fans there *can* be pissed if they want, but it's a poor use of ones time and energy.

They're pissed at the wrong guy..... the one they should all be pissed at is this guy....

 

[TheLegend]

Feel free to ignore Quebec posts. Freedom of speech is still a thing.

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.

4) Threadjacking/OT/Politics: Posts that waste space or time on the site, annoy users due to characteristics or repetition, disrupt the site functionality, or cause threads to veer off topic may be considered “threadjacking/OT”. This also applies to signatures, user titles, avatars, profile fields, and so forth. Stay on topic as much as possible. Post new threads in the appropriate forum only. Political discussion is not permitted on the forums except within the narrowly defined scope of hockey-related matters.

Now y'all can continue on this course as you want to, but then again..... FAFO.

 

[hockey20000]

Oy, THIS crap again.

yep fails in atlanta everytime you dont deserve a 3rd shot sorry

 

[GKJ]

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..."

We wouldn’t have half the US markets we have right now if they didn’t try it more than once.

 

[BKIslandersFan]

Actually I don’t think QC should be mad. Even if we assume team 35 is reserved for AZ, who is going to be team 36? They are not leaving it at 34 teams.

 

[HockeyScotty]

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.

If Atlanta, Houston, and Phoenix are the next 3 cities to get teams then I don't think the divisional format gets adjusted. Atlanta seems like a fit in the Metro but it most likely ends up in the Atlantic, Houston to the Central, Phoenix to the Pacific. However, the 36th team is where it could become a little bit of musical chairs.

If Portland Oregon or San Diego, California gets it then Phoenix goes to Central and probably Nashville gets moved over to the Metro and Atlanta goes to the Atlantic.

If it's a midwestern/central city like Kansas City, Milwaukee, San Antonio, New Orleans then it is similiar with Phoenic in Pacific, Houston and new team to Central with Nashville to Metro and Atlanta to Atlantic.

If it is an Eastern city then it is much easier; just depends on where it is located and the geographic/demographic proximity. Baltimore, Charlotte, or a Connecticut team would be Metro. A second GTA team could actually be fun if placed in the Metro (and might actually be preferred by the Leafs).

 

[hockey20000]

Actually I don’t think QC should be mad. Even if we assume team 35 is reserved for AZ, who is going to be team 36? They are not leaving it at 34 teams.

Kansas city maybe? i really dont think there gonna give quebec a team only chance is if one fails again and needs to be moved quebec has arena already waiting then.

 

[sneakytitz]

yep fails in atlanta everytime you dont deserve a 3rd shot sorry

Well tough titties because we're getting a 3rd shot.

 

[hockey20000]

Well tough titties because we're getting a 3rd shot.

yep for 15 years max lol enjoy it. i know i will when you forced to move again cause i will be hear saying itold you so

 

[Salsero1]

Ed from Ed, Edd, and Eddy said it best:

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...wqsBegQIEBAE&usg=AOvVaw0cx48WVKAxGpitU2hXXm7S

 

[Dynamite Kid]

Quebec is definitely in the mix. I believe another expansion round will end at 36 teams. One team per geographic location. Of the current three everyone is talking about, Arizona, Atlanta and Houston, only Houston would have an NHL ready arena to play in....barely. An upgrade would be needed. Quebec has the arena, but people speculate their isn't an owner with deep pockets. Luc Poirier is that guy. He has a net worth of $10 Billion and is an avid hockey fan. He has discussed the return of the Nordiques and it is possible he has had talks with PKP. Quebec fits in nicely geographically into the Atlantic division and I believe will be the 36th team.........or the 33rd team as the arena is already to go.

 

[Melrose Munch]

Actually I don’t think QC should be mad. Even if we assume team 35 is reserved for AZ, who is going to be team 36? They are not leaving it at 34 teams.

They might if the play quality dips. And I think Phoenix and Quebec City are in the same boat right now.