NHL NOLA expansion?
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godot
Registered User
NOLA's arena is barely suitable for the NBA much less the NHL. This is pure fluff
Well, at least if they decided to expand there, they'd for sure have a better shot at being more successful than either Atlanta or Phoenix.
Voight
#winning
As I said in the main board thread, its a football city. Pelicans are basically irrelevant and they've been there for 20 years (even when they had the likes of CP3 & Anthony Davis).
Smoothie King Center was originally built for hockey (NOLA ECHL team) so not sure if the ice making equipment is still in there given its been twenty years.
A team there would no doubt fail tremendously.
Smoothie King Center was originally built for hockey (NOLA ECHL team) so not sure if the ice making equipment is still in there given its been twenty years.
A team there would no doubt fail tremendously.
Tawnos
A guy with a bass
The NHL will listen to anyone willing to make them a pitch. It doesn’t mean they came away from it thinking they like the idea.
StlBigFly
Registered User
- Mar 29, 2012
- 494
- 302
An issue with new Orleans is that its population is somewhat water locked kinda far from downtown which is only served by one major highway. Large portions of folk you would need to attend games have a really really really long bridge they have to cross or otherwise could have a rough commute. I don’t think New Orleans has the population to support the regular season home games with enough regularity, let alone that the market has very little exposure to ice hockey (there is 1 rink in the whole city and it’s trash unless they’ve built more since I left)
Real story:
About 10 years ago a major park held its annual Christmas events - you bought a ticket and could shop, look at Xmas lights, ride a few rides, etc.
They had “ice skating”.
Instead of ice they brought plastic waffle flooring. They then charged people 9 dollars to walk around on the plastic floor with ice skates I shit you not.
Real story:
About 10 years ago a major park held its annual Christmas events - you bought a ticket and could shop, look at Xmas lights, ride a few rides, etc.
They had “ice skating”.
Instead of ice they brought plastic waffle flooring. They then charged people 9 dollars to walk around on the plastic floor with ice skates I shit you not.
KevFu
Registered User
As a former NOLA resident, those people are out of their minds if they think the NHL would work in NOLA.
I'm a firm believer that you can sell hockey in SEC football country if you just market it right. That's not the problem. The problem is market size, sports saturation and lack of wealth.
NOLA is the #54 CSA market in the US. It's the size of Buffalo and the Sabres are one of the bottom six economically in the NHL, and they HAVE a rich tradition in hockey NOLA doesn't.
NOLA also has an NBA team, which Buffalo doesn't. Per capita, each fan in Buffalo has to give their two major sports teams $371.40 per year for their teams to reach league-average revenue. (For comparison, Pittsburgh $242, Nashville $225, Tampa Bay $204, Seattle $145, Boston $111, LA $100).
New Orleans NOW with NFL/NBA is $406. And with the NHL would be $494.
Of course, the money doesn't all come from the fans, it also comes from corporate sponsorship; and NOLA has ONE Fortune 500 company, which is the power company with a monopoly in the region.
I'm a firm believer that you can sell hockey in SEC football country if you just market it right. That's not the problem. The problem is market size, sports saturation and lack of wealth.
NOLA is the #54 CSA market in the US. It's the size of Buffalo and the Sabres are one of the bottom six economically in the NHL, and they HAVE a rich tradition in hockey NOLA doesn't.
NOLA also has an NBA team, which Buffalo doesn't. Per capita, each fan in Buffalo has to give their two major sports teams $371.40 per year for their teams to reach league-average revenue. (For comparison, Pittsburgh $242, Nashville $225, Tampa Bay $204, Seattle $145, Boston $111, LA $100).
New Orleans NOW with NFL/NBA is $406. And with the NHL would be $494.
Of course, the money doesn't all come from the fans, it also comes from corporate sponsorship; and NOLA has ONE Fortune 500 company, which is the power company with a monopoly in the region.
No Fun Shogun
34-38-61-10-13-15
Nothing wrong with meeting potentially interested parties, especially if they're not scared off by the expansion price tag, but I have my doubts that this'll go anywhere.
StickShift
Puxsonnetey Petey saw his shadow
Isn’t the metro population of New Orleans quite small? Surely it would be the smallest US market and it barely has any pre-existing hockey culture.
I suspect we’ll see a few more other interested cities mentioned here and there if the NHL feels like any of their preferred expansion cities (Atlanta, Houston, Phoenix) are dragging their feet.
KC, Milwaukee, Hartford, and Quebec are all surely do a cursory report of interest in the next year or two, I bet.
I suspect we’ll see a few more other interested cities mentioned here and there if the NHL feels like any of their preferred expansion cities (Atlanta, Houston, Phoenix) are dragging their feet.
KC, Milwaukee, Hartford, and Quebec are all surely do a cursory report of interest in the next year or two, I bet.
Hartford is a no..... good luck trying to eject the Rangers from that market.... Milwaukee is also a no since the loss of the Bradley Center and FISERV. being designed as a Bucks/Marquette only facility..... Kansas City is a no as previously discussed in numerous threads here
StickShift
Puxsonnetey Petey saw his shadow
That’s sort of my point. The NHL will keep cycling through these markets with significant challenges—even if only to put pressure on their ideal markets to make their intentions and plans more concrete.
dj4aces
An Intricate Piece of Infinity
NOLA is a small market (~1.3m). However, there was talk last year of a group in NOLA having stated to the press there that they wanted to bring the league to the region, so this really doesn't surprise me.
From where I sit, we have Atlanta and Houston penciled in as expansion locks, and two of Kansas City, Quebec City, San Diego, Cincinnati, and now New Orleans as the others on expanding to 36 total teams.
From where I sit, we have Atlanta and Houston penciled in as expansion locks, and two of Kansas City, Quebec City, San Diego, Cincinnati, and now New Orleans as the others on expanding to 36 total teams.
what does your point of bringing Hartford/Milwaukee/KC up when it's been widely known that it's not realistic there...... Kansas City leadership doesn't want a pro sports team in their metro.... and if u read the reports from there.... both GEHA @ Arrowhead (Chiefs) and Kauffman Stadium (Royals) are looking to be replaced near-term if not sooner, if not relocating outright to the Kansas side of Kansas City, not Missouri
tarheelhockey
Offside Review Specialist
I don’t see one single advantage to going with NO over Atlanta or Phoenix. Literally all of the indicators, all of them from size to economics to sports culture to geography to history with hockey, are even worse.
If anyone wants to object with “less competition”, that’s absolutely not the case when you understand just how much that city is dominated by football compared to Atlanta or Phoenix.
Yukon Joe
Registered User
Utah paid $1.2 billion to enter the NHL. Undoubtedly the NHL will want even more for the next expansion franchise.
If someone in NOLA can write a check that large then all kinds of things are possible. I would note though that the news reports to do not name who is behind this effort.
I agree with all the comments that NOLA is not only a non-traditional market, but is really small. But stranger things have happened in the past and money talks, so who knows.
If someone in NOLA can write a check that large then all kinds of things are possible. I would note though that the news reports to do not name who is behind this effort.
I agree with all the comments that NOLA is not only a non-traditional market, but is really small. But stranger things have happened in the past and money talks, so who knows.
how many threads have we had on this forum and others discussing Kansas City, Baltimore (remember the Carolina forum thread had they not retained Chicago (Rosemont) until this past offseason).... I cannot see San Diego either unless there's an upgrade in arena there..... Cincinnati is a red flag unless you want to turf pro hockey in that city.... after what THE Ducks did coming there from Baltimore to compete w/ the Cyclones, and luckily, Cincinnati survived the 2 team/league "experiment"
Tawnos
A guy with a bass
Phoenix is on that list. I don't see a scenario where New Orleans is, no matter how big of a check they want to write.
dj4aces
An Intricate Piece of Infinity
qc14
Registered User
- Jul 1, 2024
- 1,006
- 1,668
I don't think NOLA would work as an NHL market for a variety of reasons, but it's definitely interesting and a good sign for the league that there is interest in a franchise, no matter how serious. The size and corporate base are bigger issues than some of the other interested American cities but the arena situation (while not great) is probably the best out of any besides Houston.
I would say that the two who can get their arena built/pony up the $1.5B first out of Atlanta, Houston, and Phoenix are locks. The other of those will be in the next wave with the best of KC/Cincinnati/NOLA/Omaha or another American market that hasn't had confirmed interest yet. As long as franchise valuations keep going up, expansion will keep happening until at least 36 teams, probably 40.
They will not be going back to Quebec City or anywhere else in Canada though unless there are some pretty big macroeconomic changes.
you will not see NHL Expansion to any market in Missouri just to have a cross rivalry w/ St. Louis.... doubtful you'd see Cincinnati either..... that market almost became a footnote to hockey history after Anaheim forced their affiliate into that market after being no less than 40 miles from Monumental Sports and the Capitals.....
GreenHornet
Registered User
As a one-time Louisiana resident (about two hours away in Lafayette), I agree. I can definitely see NOLA taking another crack at the ECHL one day. The Brass actually did fairly well there until they got kicked out of the Smoothie King Center when the Pelicans (then the Hornets) came in, and the old Municipal Auditorium was essentially destroyed by Katrina (plus, it was in probably the worst section of town anyway), which left them with no place to play.
I can also see them taking a shot at the AHL, and can see that working if it's done right. The NHL is a whole different situation, though. Way to much money involved, and I don't think there's enough corporate support to make it sustainable in the long run.
dj4aces
An Intricate Piece of Infinity
The cities I listed as possibly being in the running were based off of cities the league has mentioned within the last year or so, plus NOLA. It's not an indicator of what I personally feel would be a good fit for the NHL. The good fits still remains to be Houston, Atlanta, and Phoenix. Every other city has been mentioned, in one way or another, by Bettman or Daly as having shown interest.
Could NOLA work? In its present situation, not at all. In 10-20 years, should the city attract more corporate growth, more population in general, and build a new barn, perhaps.
the problem w/ the AHL option in New Orleans is the league bylaw that requires an NHL Partner..... doubtful Crelin can be convinced about a return there similiar to how St. John's collapsed w/o a resolution even though T/R continued once DSE collapsed afterall the infighting w/ SJSE WHICH is the primary reason the Leafs bolted for Coca Cola Coliseum
qc14
Registered User
- Jul 1, 2024
- 1,006
- 1,668
They didn't force them to Cincinnati, the team and owner in Baltimore was losing money and sold. That whole saga is more than 20 years old at this point too -- Monumental Sports wasn't a thing and Leonsis didn't even own the Caps. A whole lot has changed in those 20 years in the NHL and pro sports in general, and the fate of a minor league team in the 90s doesn't mean anything about the long-term viability of hockey in a market.
I'm sure STL would be annoyed by a KC franchise, just like Dallas would with a Houston one, but money talks and those issues could be ironed out.
The NHL has proven it can not just survive but thrive in mid/small size American markets such as Columbus, Vegas, San Jose, and Raleigh. What you need is 1) serious owners willing to spend 2) a good stadium and 3) a sufficient corporate base. I don't think any of the potential expansion candidates, even Houston and Atlanta, have all 3 right now. It certainly doesn't mean that they couldn't at some point in the future.
BKarchitect
Registered User
If we were to believe Kevin Weekes every time he took to social to parrot some big news about some random city or some random potential ownership group wanting an NHL team or “seriously trying to get an NHL team”, the league would have 64 teams by now.
