Potential Atlanta NHL Expansion Team Thread

[JMCx4]

Nice to have some sort of news, since it's been rather quiet for a few months now. ...

As The Gathering F/B page puts it: "Keep up-to-date on our website ..."

 

[AtlantaWhaler]

Good for Atlanta.

I can see Atlanta being one of two teams to be granted NHL expansion franchise, whenever the NHL gets around to doing so, along with Houston or Salt Lake City. With the right ownership group, NHL hockey could be a resounding success.

Correct me if I am wrong, but didn't the Thrashers start to become irrelevant, once the ASG purchased them. If Ted Turner had not merged his companies with AOL, the Thrashers could have been as sucessful as any other team. If hockey can work in Nashville and Carolina, I see no reason that a team cannot succeed in the area.

Yeah, you're right. Pre-Spirit, attendance generally hovered around 15-16K despite terrible play. Think it peaked around 16 or 17K the "playoff year". When A$G bought the team and outwardly proclaimed they didn't want the hockey just the basketball and arena, the attendance dropped an average of 1K each year over a 5 or 6-year period.

Wouldn’t it be something if Winnipeg relocated back to Atlanta? Financially, the Jets are in trouble up there in Winnipeg. It’s just not a major league market.

I just don't see any way the ownership, who is flush with cash, would let that happen on their watch.

 

[AtlantaWhaler]

 

[Fatass]

Yeah, you're right. Pre-Spirit, attendance generally hovered around 15-16K despite terrible play. Think it peaked around 16 or 17K the "playoff year". When A$G bought the team and outwardly proclaimed they didn't want the hockey just the basketball and arena, the attendance dropped an average of 1K each year over a 5 or 6-year period.

I just don't see any way the ownership, who is flush with cash, would let that happen on their watch.

Wouldn’t the Coyotes be most likely if a club relocated to Georgia?

 

[AtlantaWhaler]

Wouldn’t the Coyotes be most likely if a club relocated to Georgia?

While the Yotes appear to desperately need a home, they keep finding a way.... going on 12 years plus.

Also, IF the Yotes were to move, last I read was that SLC was the front runner to get a relo/expansion team based on the biggest need for any team...willing ownership with $$.

 

[Fatass]

While the Yotes appear to desperately need a home, they keep finding a way.... going on 12 years plus.

Also, IF the Yotes were to move, last I read was that SLC was the front runner to get a relo/expansion team based on the biggest need for any team...willing ownership with $$.

It just seems the completion date matches with the expiring Coyote lease at Mullet. Plus, isn’t the newly hired project manager associated with Mullet and the Coyotes? Just appears stuff is lining up for the relocation.

 

[AtlantaWhaler]

It just seems the completion date matches with the expiring Coyote lease at Mullet. Plus, isn’t the newly hired project manager associated with Mullet and the Coyotes? Just appears stuff is lining up for the relocation.

Yeah, it's an interesting move to bring in the ASU manager, but until a true owner steps forward, I will hold off on any excitement on a potential Atlanta team.

 

[GreenHornet]

As The Gathering F/B page puts it: "Keep up-to-date on our website ..."

Appropriate emoji you use, since the latest update was in May.

Wouldn’t the Coyotes be most likely if a club relocated to Georgia?

I doubt it, based on Atlanta Whalers post (or repost of the NHL to Atlanta tweet). That says that groundbreaking for the new arena isn’t expected for another year, with a hopeful completion date by fall of 2026. Given that the Atlanta Gladiators of the ECHL just announced a four-year lease extension to play at Gas South Arena yesterday, there’s really no place for any potential relocation team to play until the Gathering is completed.

Atlanta Gladiators extend lease with Gas South Arena

DULUTH — Just under three months ago, the Atlanta Gladiators made major announcements about the club’s immediate future.

www.gwinnettdailypost.com

 

[hangman005]

Appropriate emoji you use, since the latest update was in May.

I doubt it, based on Atlanta Whalers post (or repost of the NHL to Atlanta tweet). That says that groundbreaking for the new arena isn’t expected for another year, with a hopeful completion date by fall of 2026. Given that the Atlanta Gladiators of the ECHL just announced a four-year lease extension to play at Gas South Arena yesterday, there’s really no place for any potential relocation team to play until the Gathering is completed.

Atlanta Gladiators extend lease with Gas South Arena

DULUTH — Just under three months ago, the Atlanta Gladiators made major announcements about the club’s immediate future.

www.gwinnettdailypost.com

And then it's just a matter of hoping the yotes don't hire Carmen San Diego before then.

But on a seriously note, I would absolutely love to see a successful Phoenix and Atlanta team in the NHL.

 

[Fatass]

Appropriate emoji you use, since the latest update was in May.

I doubt it, based on Atlanta Whalers post (or repost of the NHL to Atlanta tweet). That says that groundbreaking for the new arena isn’t expected for another year, with a hopeful completion date by fall of 2026. Given that the Atlanta Gladiators of the ECHL just announced a four-year lease extension to play at Gas South Arena yesterday, there’s really no place for any potential relocation team to play until the Gathering is completed.

Atlanta Gladiators extend lease with Gas South Arena

DULUTH — Just under three months ago, the Atlanta Gladiators made major announcements about the club’s immediate future.

www.gwinnettdailypost.com

Isn’t the Coyotes lease on Mullet up Fall 2026? Just seems the one rink is ready as the Coyotes need a home.

 

[GreenHornet]

Isn’t the Coyotes lease on Mullet up Fall 2026? Just seems the one rink is ready as the Coyotes need a home.

You may be right, but I think either work will have already begun on a new rink in the desert or the 'Yotes will move elsewhere before that lease runs out. I just don't see it dragging out until the end of the lease.

 

[AtlantaWhaler]

Isn’t the Coyotes lease on Mullet up Fall 2026? Just seems the one rink is ready as the Coyotes need a home.

I mean, I do agree that the Gathering's choices are interesting, but until I see the money, I'll still consider the NHL in Atlanta a far way away.

 

[Gabe Kupari]

Isn’t the Coyotes lease on Mullet up Fall 2026? Just seems the one rink is ready as the Coyotes need a home.

SLC is ready now. Keeps the east west balance. Then you expand to eastern city ATL and West team Houston but Atlanta needs an owner and probably the Atlanta hawks to agree to play there also cuz I mean nobody building a 1 billion $ rink for 41 nights a year. Seems like a pipe dream honestly regardless of who they hired.

 

[AtlantaWhaler]

SLC is ready now. Keeps the east west balance. Then you expand to eastern city ATL and West team Houston but Atlanta needs an owner and probably the Atlanta hawks to agree to play there also cuz I mean nobody building a 1 billion $ rink for 41 nights a year. Seems like a pipe dream honestly regardless of who they hired.

Honestly, every time I see relocation/expansion discussed, this comes up. I really don't think alignment makes that much of a difference.

In the end, if there is an owner willing to pay whatever is asked, with an arena ready, it doesn't matter if the west or east has an extra team or not.

 

[Tawnos]

Honestly, every time I see relocation/expansion discussed, this comes up. I really don't think alignment makes that much of a difference.

In the end, if there is an owner willing to pay whatever is asked, with an arena ready, it doesn't matter if the west or east has an extra team or not.

They certainly made a big deal about alignment before. Not sure what would have changed.

 

[AtlantaWhaler]

They certainly made a big deal about alignment before. Not sure what would have changed.

It's certainly a consideration, especially with expansion. But overall, money talks. If threre happens to be money that makes alignment work out, bonus...but if some rich bastard is willing to pay those crazy expansion fees or can pay and support a team that needs to move...they'll make it work

 

[BKIslandersFan]

SLC is ready now.

No the hell it is not. Have you seen the Jazz arena?

 

[nhlfan79]

The newly hired executive overseeing the development of The Gathering makes it explicitly clear in a new interview with the AJC that the intent is to land an NHL expansion franchise, not relocation.

GDPR Support

 

[GKJ]

I really don’t think expansion vs. relocation will be an issue because the league will gladly dissolve a team if they’re getting $1B+ to expand.

 

[sh724]

I really don’t think expansion vs. relocation will be an issue because the league will gladly dissolve a team if they’re getting $1B+ to expand.

People on here like to throw around the idea of dissolving a team but its really not that simple. The owners aren't willingly going to give up their asset either and will want paid for it at fair market value. Even if you take the least valuable team in the league that is still $500MM+ that would have to paid out just to the owner. Player contracts would have to be bought out. Arena contracts have to be bought out. Staff contracts are going to have to be bought out. TV contracts have to be bought out. Sponsor contracts have to be bought out. Then there is most definitely going to be lawsuits that pop up as well.

It would likely cost $1B+ just to get rid of a team in the modern era, so no the league would not gladly dissolve a team just to break even at best.

The only way a team, in any league (minus MLS), could realistically be dissolved is if the owner willingly gives up the charter and doesnt want to be fairly compensated

 

[GKJ]

People on here like to throw around the idea of dissolving a team but its really not that simple. The owners aren't willingly going to give up their asset either and will want paid for it at fair market value. Even if you take the least valuable team in the league that is still $500MM+ that would have to paid out just to the owner. Player contracts would have to be bought out. Arena contracts have to be bought out. Staff contracts are going to have to be bought out. TV contracts have to be bought out. Sponsor contracts have to be bought out. Then there is most definitely going to be lawsuits that pop up as well.

It would likely cost $1B+ just to get rid of a team in the modern era, so no the league would not gladly dissolve a team just to break even at best.

The only way a team, in any league (minus MLS), could realistically be dissolved is if the owner willingly gives up the charter and doesnt want to be fairly compensated

The outgoing owner would definitely be made whole.

 

[Fish on The Sand]

People on here like to throw around the idea of dissolving a team but its really not that simple. The owners aren't willingly going to give up their asset either and will want paid for it at fair market value. Even if you take the least valuable team in the league that is still $500MM+ that would have to paid out just to the owner. Player contracts would have to be bought out. Arena contracts have to be bought out. Staff contracts are going to have to be bought out. TV contracts have to be bought out. Sponsor contracts have to be bought out. Then there is most definitely going to be lawsuits that pop up as well.

It would likely cost $1B+ just to get rid of a team in the modern era, so no the league would not gladly dissolve a team just to break even at best.

The only way a team, in any league (minus MLS), could realistically be dissolved is if the owner willingly gives up the charter and doesnt want to be fairly compensated

The biggest thing would be quite simply that the NHLPA would shut that down, just like the MLBPA shut down the Expos/Twins contraction plan.

 

[tucker3434]

SLC is ready now. Keeps the east west balance. Then you expand to eastern city ATL and West team Houston but Atlanta needs an owner and probably the Atlanta hawks to agree to play there also cuz I mean nobody building a 1 billion $ rink for 41 nights a year. Seems like a pipe dream honestly regardless of who they hired.

This is Atlanta. Building unnecessary sports venues is kind of our thing.

 

[LPHabsFan]

I guess the old adage is true that there are suckers born every minute.

 

[BKIslandersFan]

This is Atlanta. Building unnecessary sports venues is kind of our thing.

WHich is funny because I believe Atlanta Olympic was the only profitable Olympic ever.