Buffalo is 78 miles from Hamilton, Toronto is within Hamiltons fifty mile radius. Regardless, Burke brought in Detroit and other teams in the east that Hamilton would, "harm" so again, speculation.
I'm not denying it would be a hurdle, there are many hurdles when discussing Hamilton. But in the end it would be a profitable franchise so in theory there should be a team there.
Actually, it appears to be 56 miles from Buffalo:
Regardless, if one were to draw a circle with a radius of 50 miles around Buffalo and around Hamilton, they would certainly overlap. That could very well be all the NHL is looking for.
1. How many times do i have to tell people on these boards that in order for the panthers to move a multi-bilionaire would have to pay several hundred million ALONE just to break our forty year lease with the bank atlantic center. This figure does not include the sale price of the team by itself.
How did the supposedly 'unbreakable lease' work out for Elaine Scruggs, the city council, and the residents of Glendale, Arizona?
First of all, MLSE would never, and I do mean NEVER EVER permit a 2nd team to set up shop in Downsview, Mississauga, Vaughan, anywhere within the boundaries or radius of the GTA, and I completely agree with their stance. Hamilton on the other hand is just far enough away to be practicable without infringing on & hence devaluing the Maple Leaf brand & or MLSE business operations through the ACC with Concerts & Events etc.
The area from Hamilton to Oshawa is a completely developed, and continuous urban region. Aside from historical divisions, census tracts, and a medium sized bridge, there is nothing separating the Greater Toronto Area (Burlington) from Hamilton. Why would MLSE simply draw what would amount to be an imaginative line to determine where a competing franchise would be located?