Per Friedman: Coyotes players told team moving to Utah starting next season (Mod warning post #50)

[dalewood12]

Out of one bad arena into a worse one.., sure it has more seats , but it will automatically be the 3rd oldest rink in the league

Maverik Center was built in 1996, which isn't *that* old. That's the same year as Bridgestone Arena, Bell Centre and Amalie Arena.

 

[Empoleon8771]

What is SLC going to do about the arena? From my understanding, it's terrible for hockey (a la Barclays in Brooklyn).

They've already gotten funding approved for a new arena. They were planning on building it already for the 2034 Winter Olympics.

I figure the hockey team plays in Delta Center for 3 or so years and then move to a new arena.

 

[Jason316]

Players aren't going to be climbing over each other to play hockey in Utah but it's still better than playing for a Canadian team so we'll see how this all works out.

More people will want to play In Utah than places like Jersey or Columbus or Pittsburgh lol

I saw on ESPN+ Bobby Ryan and another American player saying they prefer playing in Vancouver(obviously because it's beautiful) + it's close to Montana, Idaho.

If players like Montana and Idaho and the Dakotas they will LOVE Utah!!!!

 

[purdy44]

They've already gotten funding approved for a new arena. They were planning on building it already for the 2034 Winter Olympics.

I figure the hockey team plays in Delta Center for 3 or so years and then move to a new arena.

Thanks for the insight

 

[JeffreyLFC]

Quebec City's GDP was $40.1 billion Canadian in 2022, which is about $30 billion in USD. Salt Lake City's GDP in 2022 was $111 billion USD.

Sure, convert that great SLC GDP into tangible income to the NHL before dragging down a market with no major professional sport franchise. You clearly forget that NHL is still driven by gate revenues unlike other sports.

 

[GKJ]

Sure, start by translating that great Utah economy into big bucks before talking shit about a market you know nothing about.

Quebec has one of the highest growing economy in Canada but you won't know that because you are fixated about 800k.

Quebec has way more growing potential than Winnipeg for instance but they are always used as comparable for some reason.

Timing is everything. Utah had it and no one else does. Not Quebec, not anyone.

 

[Sergei Shirokov]

So what team is next great satan by Canadian fans?

The new Atlanta & Arizona expansion teams of course

 

[Ted Hoffman]

Weird how it's nothing for them... But yet they force tax payers to put up the vast majority of funding or they threaten to leave the city.

Must not be nothing.

You don't become a billionaire by always spending your own money.

 

[yeaher]

Time the NHL had the Lakers

 

[joelef]

Not that hard, they would have concepts already in place. Winnipeg/TNSE didn't know if the Jets were gonna be the Jets or the Moose or the Polar Bears or the Falcons when the sale went through.

L

The new Atlanta & Arizona expansion teams of course

tsn is already going after Salt Lake City

 

[JeffreyLFC]

The new Atlanta & Arizona expansion teams of course

I will be real, I do not mind american bringing down canadian market because they are very small market but what I don't get is that in Canada, NHL/Hockey is everything and there are no other major sports in all these markets unlike in the USA when all the major market have 4 or 5 leagues + college.

 

[lionsDen]

How do they possibly rebrand a team and get set up in a brand new city between now and the start of next season? Will they just play as the Yotes for next year then reveal the actual SLC team for 2025-26?

The Avs did it

 

[Kimota]

No, it's completely right. The Habs already have such a dominant stronghold in Quebec City through TV deals and it would be extremely challenging for a new Quebec City team to break into that. Not only from a fan interest perspective, but what the Habs would charge to lose that TV income.

lol Naaa. The Habs had a most more dominant stronghold in the province when the Nords came in in the league. At the time, the Habs were multi times Stanley Cup champions. And the Nords had to scratch like mad men to get a voice and they finally got one. Now the people in the province are starving for a competition in the province mainly cause the Habs have disappointed the people so much. Also the Canadian NHL deal is with Quebecor would manage the Videotron Center in Quebec and they would be the potential owners. These guys are loads. People have no idea how much more crazy money th NHL would make with the Nords returning.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Sure, convert that great SLC GDP into tangible income to the NHL before dragging down a market with no major professional sport franchise. You clearly forget that NHL is still driven by gate revenues unlike other sports.

You can try to twist it all you want, but the reality is that Quebec City has the economy of a tiny city in the United States. That's why the NHL has no interest in going back to Quebec City.

Quebec City's has the same population and a smaller economy than Dayton, Ohio. I'd bet a majority of people on here have never even heard of Dayton, Ohio.

 

[Thallis]

How do they possibly rebrand a team and get set up in a brand new city between now and the start of next season? Will they just play as the Yotes for next year then reveal the actual SLC team for 2025-26?

New jersey deal starts, and they have 6 months to get branding in order.

 

[JeffreyLFC]

You can try to twist it all you want, but the reality is that Quebec City has the economy of a tiny city in the United States. That's why the NHL has no interest in going back to Quebec City.

Quebec City's economy is smaller than Dayton, Ohio.

Again, maybe stop focusing on the "market" and look more into the appeal of the sport from the population. Anyway I am done arguing because it's f***ing useless the NHL are never coming back to Quebec City anyway.

Green Bay has a NFL team, how is that possible? Well they breathe and live for Football just like canadian with hockey.

 

[Kimota]

Why? Hockey is not Canada's birthright.

Teams have to make money. The end.

But they don't make money. Bettman doesn't know how. They will never get a lucrative TV deal. They would make money over fist in Quebec.

 

[HarrySPlinkett]

I still call BS on how many players are saying this.

First off who does Gord Miller talk too? Second the timing of it was odd, players really getting on their phones to let Gord Miller know they hate SLC when the season is still ongoing?

Guy probably heard one guy bring it up and is making a story out of nothing.

Gord Miller has been covering the NHL for close to 40 years.

 

[DudeWhereIsMakar]

So I read that Salt Lake City is going to try and be a contender this off-season. Wonder if they try to be the team that lands Stamkos as the first captain and signs big names like Guentzel, Marchessault or Montour. Or land a star goaltender. Matt Duchene is another name I see considering his wife is from Colorado which is close.

Mind you, it'd be nice for Salt Lake City to get Celebrini.

I have pitched the name Stingers for the team name. But if not, I pitch Utah Unicorns.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Again, maybe stop focusing on the "market" and look more into the appeal of the population. Anyway I am done arguing because it's f***ing useless the NHL are never coming back to Quebec City anyway.

The "appeal of the population" means nothing if they can't afford to buy tickets and the team gets no sponsorship money from a poor city.

 

[Oilslick941611]

Sure, start by translating that great Utah economy into big bucks before talking shit about a market you know nothing about.

Quebec has one of the highest growing economy in Canada but you won't know that because you are fixated about 800k.

Quebec has way more growing potential than Winnipeg for instance but they are always used as comparable for some reason.

Quebec is heavily subsidized by the rest of Canada. its a house of cards. Also is there a buyer willing to pay 1.2 billion for the new team? QC is not a viable NHL city. The numbers don't work.

 

[John Price]

sad for Arizona but it's been a whirlwind since they left Glendale

 

[biturbo19]

why do people not like Ryan Smith? I know nothing about him outside of him owning the Jazz. And it doesn’t seem like he’s that rich tbh

2.2 billion is pocket change these days

I think it's more broadly about the fact he's one of those overnight tech billionaires who got lucky in a "right place, right time" sort of way off of some software that doesn't contribute anything appreciable to the world. And is now quite outspoken in a very, "i'm smarter than everyone else" sort of way as a result. He can be a bit...abrasive and aggressive in marketing his personal ideas and beliefs in a bit of a condescending way. That sort of profile and personality has a tendency to rub a lot of people the wrong way.

But honestly...how many NHL owners are truly beloved? lol.

They've already gotten funding approved for a new arena. They were planning on building it already for the 2034 Winter Olympics.

I figure the hockey team plays in Delta Center for 3 or so years and then move to a new arena.

Yeah. The Olympics have to definitely be a factor in this whole thing in general. With that whole thing moving along, you have to imagine that factors into the long-term plans for the city, the team, the arena plans, and the NHL in general probably wanting to capitalize on that momentum.

 

[Sergei Shirokov]

I will be real, I do not mind american bringing down canadian market because they are very small market but what I don't get is that in Canada, NHL/Hockey is everything and there are no other major sports in all these markets unlike in the USA when all the major market have 4 or 5 leagues + college.

Do you mean from a 'why do they care only about hockey' standpoint, or that we should have something else?

Vancouver definitely has an appetite for NBA returning, like-wise with Montreal & the MLB (perhaps NBA too).

tsn is already going after Salt Lake City

TSN is stupid. Arizona's situation is not viable but that team/franchise will have a very bright future in SLC - despite still needing a new arena.

 

[Spring in Fialta]

So I read that Salt Lake City is going to try and be a contender this off-season. Wonder if they try to be the team that lands Stamkos as the first captain and signs big names like Guentzel, Marchessault or Montour. Or land a star goaltender. Matt Duchene is another name I see considering his wife is from Colorado which is close.

Mind you, it'd be nice for Salt Lake City to get Celebrini.

I have pitched the name Stingers for the team name. But if not, I pitch Utah Unicorns.

I wonder how all those LTIR contracts are going to work for them, like Weber's.