NHL & Vegas Part Deuces Wild: Betting it all on Black (Knights)

[Brodie]

I'm fully expecting the NHL to announce an expansion at the awards show in Vegas. Only question will be how many years in the future it'll be (2016-17 is the earliest for their new arena) and if they'll announce another market at the same time or not.

I think this depends on how much momentum Seattle has in May after the FEIS is done. If they think they can make an announcement for both at once sometime in 2015, they will hold off. If things there are still in the byzantine negotiations stage, they might as well just go for the 2016-17 one off announcement.

The only way Houston gets an NHL team is if

A. The Coyotes are moving AND
B. the league wants them in the Central Division AND
C. Barroway is willing to sell AND
D. the price is low enough that Les Alexander could make it happen

 

[Sens Mile]

Quick question, if an expansion is complete, do they hire a GM as soon as possible or what is the timeline for that?

 

[HanSolo]

Might take a couple weeks.

 

[IceAce]

Quick question, if an expansion is complete, do they hire a GM as soon as possible or what is the timeline for that?

I'd assume the first "hockey" position would be a Director of Hockey Operations type position and that would come sometime after the office staff is established.

First thing you really need is all the back office folks in place so you can focus on hiring, promotions, sales. scheduling, etc. After that you'd then see Hockey Ops, GM, Scouts, etc.

 

[decma]

Those numbers ARE probably skewed by the mass amount of bars, casinos, and sports books we have but regardless it at least refutes the absolute BOGUS that Kelly character put out that you can't find a single screen playing hockey games in Las Vegas.

But that's not what he put out. He wrote that at one particular bar, "a few years back", one particular bartender was unable to find an NHL game on TV.

Its a pretty meaningless anecdote, but its not refuted by recent data on Vegas TV ratings.

 

[LadyStanley]

I'd assume the first "hockey" position would be a Director of Hockey Operations type position and that would come sometime after the office staff is established.

First thing you really need is all the back office folks in place so you can focus on hiring, promotions, sales. scheduling, etc. After that you'd then see Hockey Ops, GM, Scouts, etc.

Depends on if ownership already has some ideas for key positions (i.e., COO/President, GM, etc.), and how they want to structure their organization. Those key positions might be filled before the rest of the office is.

They will need scouts not only to begin the amateur scouting process, but also to access the other teams in the league to help put together a list of players for their expansion draft wish list.


http://www.sportingnews.com/nhl/story/2015-03-17/las-vegas-making-final-push-for-nhl-franchise

Sporting News with article on "final push"

 

[PCSPounder]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/spor...s-wants-an-nhl-team-bad-idea/article22905291/

Putting an NHL team in Vegas is incredibly stupid, not to mention, crazy.

No, this makes the Las Vegas point... unwittingly, of course. From the article:

Fewer than a quarter of Nevada residents were born in the state. It’s a transient place, and no spot within it is more transient than Vegas. Once you get off the Strip, it’s amongst the most depressing cities in the United States. It’s hot as hell most of the year.

Exactly.

And how else do you think people who aren't native of a hot spot will react at the notion of spending $100 a pop for 3 hours in a refrigerated environment? Especially as opposed to potentially spending 3 times as much on gambling in a third of the time in a somewhat climate-controlled off-strip casino?

For all the things I've brought up about issues with Vegas, this is exactly NOT it.

 

[BattleBorn]

But that's not what he put out. He wrote that one particular bar, "a few years back", one particular bartender was unable to find an NHL game on TV.

Its a pretty meaningless anecdote, but its not refuted by recent data on Vegas TV ratings.

Yesterday I mentioned in this very thread that Vegas was the ninth best NHL market in the US according to Nielsen. I was asked for my source and I provided it.

Since your statement here states something counter to my previous, sourced statement, I'd like to see your source showing Vegas has poor NHL TV ratings.

Thanks in advance.

 

[IceAce]

Really pulling for you guys to get a team, but hands off Cizikas!!!!

 

[Terry Yake]

stupid idea. probably won't work but bettman will give up his kidneys to do whatever he can to make it look like it's working. much like he has in phoenix

30 teams is enough. anything over that and the parity in this league will just keep decreasing

 

[rojac]

Yesterday I mentioned in this very thread that Vegas was the ninth best NHL market in the US according to Nielsen. I was asked for my source and I provided it.

Since your statement here states something counter to my previous, sourced statement, I'd like to see your source showing Vegas has poor NHL TV ratings.

Thanks in advance.

I don't think he's saying that Vegas has poor TV ratings. He's saying that the post about being unable to find hockey on TV in Vegas was actually the story of one particular bartender in one particular bar being unable to find an NHL game on TV. And that that story (of the particular bartender in that particular bar) was not refuted by your reports of good TV ratings for hockey in Vegas. He wasn't taking you to task for your claim of good TV ratings. He was taking you to task for getting the original anecdote wrong.

 

[Shrimper]

If they announced a team at the Awards show this year I assume it would be for the 2016/17 season. When would the expansion draft take part? After the draft?

 

[pucky]

When I read that article a month ago, I didn't have to get past the first paragraph to know what the content was going to be. Canadian doesn't like the idea of hockey in the desert? Color me surprised.

What is really funny about the article is how little thought actually went into it, and yet here we are, having it linked for the nth time in a little over a month. There's a lot of points to be made about why Vegas might not be a good fit for the NHL. There's a lot of points to be made about why it will work.

The fact that that article doesn't touch on any of them either way and is mostly just a platform for yet another person to feel short changed by the league because Hamilton is waiting/Quebec deserves it/Portland is the bee's knees and express his displeasure is unsurprising.

There's no shortage of those stories on the internet.

'yet another person to feel short changed by the league because Hamilton is waiting/Quebec deserves it/Portland is the bee's knees and express his displeasure is unsurprising. ' -> Total BS and uncalled for. It's not about disgruntled Canadian or even Portland fans not getting a team. It's about how Vegas is unsuitable and the many reasons why. There's no points about why it will work. None that I would agree with, anyway. It's in another hot place with virtually no hockey culture or history. I don't care if one bartender couldn't find the game. How many fans in these places are even asking to put on the game? People go there to gamble, not watch hockey.

I don't think he's saying that Vegas has poor TV ratings. He's saying that the post about being unable to find hockey on TV in Vegas was actually the story of one particular bartender in one particular bar being unable to find an NHL game on TV. And that that story (of the particular bartender in that particular bar) was not refuted by your reports of good TV ratings for hockey in Vegas. He wasn't taking you to task for your claim of good TV ratings. He was taking you to task for getting the original anecdote wrong.

The ratings in other American cities which have a somewhat more popular following than Vegas even struggle to maintain good ratings.

With this data, you think Vegas is a good spot for hockey?

The only reason the NHL is pursuing it, is Bettman's obsession with pushing hockey in the USA at all costs. Plus, rich people with money to throw away want in. They are in denial about it not working out in certain places even if all the facts support it as failing.

Again, I reiterate, Vegas is an incredibly ridiculous location for NHL hockey let alone hockey in general. Btw, there's no other pro teams there and that point is often brought up. So, why would one of the less popular sports - compared to pro basketball/football/baseball succeed? It's absolutely ludicrous to think it would.

 

[HanSolo]

But that's not what he put out. He wrote that at one particular bar, "a few years back", one particular bartender was unable to find an NHL game on TV.

Its a pretty meaningless anecdote, but its not refuted by recent data on Vegas TV ratings.

Exactly. It's a personal anecdote used to make a generalization. Like "hey I went to Vegas and couldn't watch the game. Look at what kind of city this is!"

 

[Spade]

If they announced a team at the Awards show this year I assume it would be for the 2016/17 season. When would the expansion draft take part? After the draft?

The last time expansion occurred, the expansion draft happened in the week leading up to the Entry Draft.

 

[IceAce]

'yet another person to feel short changed by the league because Hamilton is waiting/Quebec deserves it/Portland is the bee's knees and express his displeasure is unsurprising. ' -> Total BS and uncalled for. It's not about disgruntled Canadian or even Portland fans not getting a team. It's about how Vegas is unsuitable and the many reasons why. There's no points about why it will work. None that I would agree with, anyway. It's in another hot place with virtually no hockey culture or history.

Sort of like Los Angeles in 1967 or Tampa in 1992 or Dallas in 1993 or.....

I don't care if one bartender couldn't find the game. How many fans in these places are even asking to put on the game? People go there to gamble, not watch hockey.

And people go to New York for Broadway, and people go to San Jose to sell their tech start-up, and people go to DC to see the monuments.....

Again, I reiterate, Vegas is an incredibly ridiculous location for NHL hockey let alone hockey in general. Btw, there's no other pro teams there and that point is often brought up. So, why would one of the less popular sports - compared to pro basketball/football/baseball succeed? It's absolutely ludicrous to think it would.

Hockey is least popular in every city in the US. LV is no different in that regard, they just have less competition there which is to their advantage. It's a simple concept. Even a team like Nashville that competes directly with the NFL and college football in it's region, can be successful.

 

[danishh]

that cbc report aired last night. Here's a link, not sure if yankees can watch: http://www.cbc.ca/player/News/ID/2659167554/

basically he takes a very skeptical view, perhaps being derisive at times. Goes up to a bunch of tourists (who seem to be from germany/eastern europe) and asks them their thoughts, only to be surprised that they have no idea what the NHL is. Also plays the las vegas posse anthem singer screwing up the canadian anthem. Goes to daniel negraneau, a vegas wants hockey member, and emphasizes his "what else is there to do in winnipeg" comment. Goes to a trailer park where both people he talks to support bringing an nhl team.

Finally, he ends with the former president of the wranglers booster club, at a local rink where he is SHOCKED that this hockey fan will not be buying season tickets, on the basis he cant budget $150 for a hockey game with a young family.


very disappointing work from the CBC.

 

[gstommylee]

I think this depends on how much momentum Seattle has in May after the FEIS is done. If they think they can make an announcement for both at once sometime in 2015, they will hold off. If things there are still in the byzantine negotiations stage, they might as well just go for the 2016-17 one off announcement.

The only way Houston gets an NHL team is if

A. The Coyotes are moving AND
B. the league wants them in the Central Division AND
C. Barroway is willing to sell AND
D. the price is low enough that Les Alexander could make it happen

I doubt they will restricted it to central division only.

If its low enough price Paul Allen and Portland are going to come knocking and the NHL will not ignore a chance to get Portland a NHL team and have the 3 way rivalry in the NW.

 

[tsanuri]

that cbc report aired last night. Here's a link, not sure if yankees can watch: http://www.cbc.ca/player/News/ID/2659167554/

basically he takes a very skeptical view, perhaps being derisive at times. Goes up to a bunch of tourists (who seem to be from germany/eastern europe) and asks them their thoughts, only to be surprised that they have no idea what the NHL is. Also plays the las vegas posse anthem singer screwing up the canadian anthem. Goes to daniel negraneau, a vegas wants hockey member, and emphasizes his "what else is there to do in winnipeg" comment. Goes to a trailer park where both people he talks to support bringing an nhl team.

Finally, he ends with the former president of the wranglers booster club, at a local rink where he is SHOCKED that this hockey fan will not be buying season tickets, on the basis he cant budget $150 for a hockey game with a young family.


very disappointing work from the CBC.

That sounded more like a hit piece than a hard new story to me.

 

[Major4Boarding]

that cbc report aired last night. Here's a link, not sure if yankees can watch: http://www.cbc.ca/player/News/ID/2659167554/

basically he takes a very skeptical view, perhaps being derisive at times. Goes up to a bunch of tourists (who seem to be from germany/eastern europe) and asks them their thoughts, only to be surprised that they have no idea what the NHL is. Also plays the las vegas posse anthem singer screwing up the canadian anthem. Goes to daniel negraneau, a vegas wants hockey member, and emphasizes his "what else is there to do in winnipeg" comment. Goes to a trailer park where both people he talks to support bringing an nhl team.

Finally, he ends with the former president of the wranglers booster club, at a local rink where he is SHOCKED that this hockey fan will not be buying season tickets, on the basis he cant budget $150 for a hockey game with a young family.


very disappointing work from the CBC.

I was able to view it. Seems "selective".

 

[BattleBorn]

that cbc report aired last night. Here's a link, not sure if yankees can watch: http://www.cbc.ca/player/News/ID/2659167554/
.

Watched it. Immediately disputed the charge for my ticket deposit and put my house on the market.

What a depressing story.

The funny thing is, if he'd have driven an extra mile or two down Tropicana he'd have been right in the middle of the hockey demographic instead of dodging Mr. Lahey at the Vegas version of Sunnyvale. Wouldn't have made as good a story, though.

 

[Fenway]

 

[VanIslander]

I just finished watching the CBC "report".

These days journalism is looking more like blogging: tons of attitude, camera on oneself constantly, a smattering of real info.

Ugh.

If you haven't seen it, you're missing nothing really.

 

[BattleBorn]

I just finished watching the CBC "report".

These days journalism is looking more like blogging: tons of attitude, camera on oneself constantly, a smattering of real info.

Ugh.

If you haven't seen it, you're missing nothing really.

I personally loved having the flag getting in the way of the shot while he was interviewing the lady in the trailer park. [MOD]

ETA: sorry, on the tablet. Didn't have the patience to deliver the line with my normal nuance.

 

[HanSolo]

I don't like the on the street passerby interview style of reporting. You could interview 100 Las Vegans and ask them if they'd support NHL hockey and get 70 yes' and 30 no's and then just edit the shot so that you have 30 no's and misrepresent it to make it seem as though everyone in Vegas doesn't care.

It's like the videos where people look for idiots on the street to show how dumb Americans are. I guarantee you they found intelligent people and just didn't show them.