Quebec City trying to keep the flame alive

[Yukon Joe]

No, a Coyotes move to Quebec would not "maximize revenue.' For one thing, if the Coyotes moved to Quebec, Detroit and Columbus would try to veto the move, considering one of the teams would have to move back to the Western Conference (each team is dead set against this).

Most importantly, Houston and Salt Lake City have expressed a strong desire to land an NHL team. The market size in either of those cities is far larger than Quebec, and is more appealing in terms of US TV contracts, and what not.

Come on man - give your head a shake. While I suspect SLC could be an ok NHL market, the idea that it is remotely appealing in terms of US TV contracts is laughable. ESPN is not going "if only the NHL was in SLC our national ratings would be so much better!".

 

[garbageteam]

Come on man - give your head a shake. While I suspect SLC could be an ok NHL market, the idea that it is remotely appealing in terms of US TV contracts is laughable. ESPN is not going "if only the NHL was in SLC our national ratings would be so much better!".

Yeah, I can see great arguments for Houston, or keeping the team in Phoenix, or even Atlanta3 over Quebec but putting out Salt Lake City as a superior ice hockey market to Quebec City is beyond laughable. Rumors or not that market shouldn't factor into NHL plans unless we are talking about an expansion to 36 teams.

 

[Yukon Joe]

Yeah, I can see great arguments for Houston, or keeping the team in Phoenix, or even Atlanta3 over Quebec but putting out Salt Lake City as a superior ice hockey market to Quebec City is beyond laughable. Rumors or not that market shouldn't factor into NHL plans unless we are talking about an expansion to 36 teams.

Just to be clear I'm not trying to rank SLC vs QC as a "better" NHL market.

I was just commenting on the fact that SLC isn't going to drive national TV ratings. The whole of Utah has 3.2 million people, roughly 1% of the US total population. So having a SLC franchise won't make a blip in national TV ratings.

 

[edog37]

The last 2 NFL teams were added one at a time. They had an odd number of teams for 3 years.

That being said the NFL's 1995 expansion was done after a long process where cities could apply. They announced expansion and then cities developed bids. At the start everyone thought St Louis and Baltimore were the favorites. While the Browns 2.0 were awarded in a special process (the city was guaranteed a team but expansion was only agreed to after several other cities got new stadiums using Cleveland as leverage), the Texans where added after a process where LA and Houston were both submitting proposals.

The NBA's late 80s expansions involved applications from multiple cities and presentations. Toronto was added after receiving interest from various groups in the city and Vancouver was paired with them when they expressed interest. But the next round I can guarantee there will be a process where many cities are given consideration. They won't just say "we're going to Vegas and Seattle" that's why they mention all these other cities. There are easily 6-7 markets that could support an NBA team. Its just a matter of how many rosters that could be filled out and not dilute the product (like it was in the 90s). So they will probably have some sort of process to vet those cities.

MLB 's 1993 expansion had applications from 10 cities and 1998 expansion had 9.

Just saying only the NHL starts from the end and works backwards.

There’s nothing inherently wrong with that approach.

 

[edog37]

As long as Bettman is around, QC has zero chance of getting another NHL team.

Contrary to what you believe, he isn’t the one preventing it. It’s QC’s market size. The BoG already know this.

Come on man - give your head a shake. While I suspect SLC could be an ok NHL market, the idea that it is remotely appealing in terms of US TV contracts is laughable. ESPN is not going "if only the NHL was in SLC our national ratings would be so much better!".

guaranteed SLC would appeal more to US TV ratings than QC.

 

[AmabileCassarole]

Contrary to what you believe, he isn’t the one preventing it. It’s QC’s market size. The BoG already know this.

Nah, man, Bettman clearly has it in for Canada. Decades of Canadian teams being mismanaged, market sizes not being sufficient enough, the fact that hardly anyone showed up for a Save the Nordiques rally back in the day....all fake news.

 

[Jets4Life]

Come on man - give your head a shake. While I suspect SLC could be an ok NHL market, the idea that it is remotely appealing in terms of US TV contracts is laughable. ESPN is not going "if only the NHL was in SLC our national ratings would be so much better!".

Perhaps you should give you own head a shake, considering everything you have posted in incorrect.

 

[Headshot77]

No, a Coyotes move to Quebec would not "maximize revenue.' For one thing, if the Coyotes moved to Quebec, Detroit and Columbus would try to veto the move, considering one of the teams would have to move back to the Western Conference (each team is dead set against this).

Most importantly, Houston and Salt Lake City have expressed a strong desire to land an NHL team. The market size in either of those cities is far larger than Quebec, and is more appealing in terms of US TV contracts, and what not.

If you move Arizona to QC, then expand to two western cities you get an even split again.

But if the NHL were to do this then most likely they would go to Atlanta

 

[waitin425]

If you move Arizona to QC, then expand to two western cities you get an even split again.

But if the NHL were to do this then most likely they would go to Atlanta

Quebec has a more passionate hockey base, but Atlanta is much bigger. For selfish reasons, I would want it to be Quebec.

Then add teams in Houston and Salt Lake City for the West.

After that the NHL needs to cool it for 10 years plus.

The only expansion I would want to see beyond 34 is a European Conference.

London, Paris, Berlin, Stockholm, Helsinki, Prague, Bratislava, Moscow, St Petersburgh, Munich

But that is a discussion for another day

 

[IDEKWTM]

No chance they push for a team in QC in this Economy... 0 f***ing chance.

 

[ponder719]

Quebec is almost certainly going to be exactly what it is now: the outlet if a situation devolves so quickly that the league can't facilitate a different landing spot. The "In case of ASG, break glass" option. If they can make a more optimal move from a growth perspective, they'll choose that over QC every time, but if something happens so quickly that they can't control the outcome, Quebec will be the fallback plan.

QC trying to keep themselves in the spotlight makes sense from a number of perspectives, but I just don't see it happening other than as an emergency escape valve.

 

[Lackhalak]

Quebec has a more passionate hockey base, but Atlanta is much bigger. For selfish reasons, I would want it to be Quebec.

Then add teams in Houston and Salt Lake City for the West.

After that the NHL needs to cool it for 10 years plus.

The only expansion I would want to see beyond 34 is a European Conference.

London, Paris, Berlin, Stockholm, Helsinki, Prague, Bratislava, Moscow, St Petersburgh, Munich

But that is a discussion for another day

I would love a euro division. I think the NHL would have to expand to 36 in North America first. 3 divisions of 12 in North America and 1 in Europe (probably not Russia- politics and it would be hard to get players to want to play there).

1-Stockholm
2-Gothenberg
3-Helsinki
4-Zurich
5-Prague
6-Berlin
7-Cologne
8-Munich
9-Vienna
10-Copenhagen
11-London
12-Paris

Division games - 11x4= 44 games
play every other team once = 36 games
total = 80 games (add 2 games to get to 82)

Biggest hurdle would be Euro teams playing 18 games in North America

 

[waitin425]

I would love a euro division. I think the NHL would have to expand to 36 in North America first. 3 divisions of 12 in North America and 1 in Europe (probably not Russia- politics and it would be hard to get players to want to play there).

1-Stockholm
2-Gothenberg
3-Helsinki
4-Zurich
5-Prague
6-Berlin
7-Cologne
8-Munich
9-Vienna
10-Copenhagen
11-London
12-Paris

Division games - 11x4= 44 games
play every other team once = 36 games
total = 80 games (add 2 games to get to 82)

Biggest hurdle would be Euro teams playing 18 games in North America

It would be a challenge for sure. By then, the Concorde will make a return, getting players from Europe to NA in ~4 hours!

Current Geo-politics dictate no Russia, but by the time this ever happens, hopefully they are back in the good graces of the rest of the world.

Would be super cool to see some imagined names and logo designs for some of the potential Euro teams.

1-Stockholm SPIRIT
2-Gothenberg FIGHTING BEAVERS
3-Helsinki HELLCATS
4-Zurich MOUNTAINEERS
5-Prague CITADEL
6-Berlin ICE BEARS
7-Cologne FOXES
8-Munich LIONS
9-Vienna ORCHESTRA
10-Copenhagen GREAT DANES
11-London ROYALS
12-Paris CATACOMBS

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

Looks like the Quebec government shelling out $7M in public funds for the LA Kings is turning into quite the political firestorm...

Québec solidaire will ask auditor general to investigate L.A. Kings visit

“It’s concerning when the government starts fiddling with public funds on the whim of the Premier who really likes hockey," Vincent Marissal said.

www.google.com

Quebec government slammed for subsidizing L.A. Kings pre-season games in Quebec City - Montreal | Globalnews.ca

The Quebec government is facing backlash for subsidizing two L.A. Kings NHL preseason games in Quebec City for between five and seven million dollars.

www.google.com

yeah its embarassing , absolute clown show

 

[ForumNamePending]

Dishing out upwards of $7 million to have an NHL team hang out in your city for a few days seems like a waste... And why the Kings? Seems random.

Perhaps you should give you own head a shake, considering everything you have posted in incorrect.

IMHO he is more or less correct... When it comes to drawing relatively strong national viewership in America, the NHL is highly dependent on a handful of markets, and the teams in those markets, being good and/or compelling. Moving forward, at this point, any market the NHL expands or relocates to, isn't going to move the needle or be a game changer on a national level in the US.

With solid ownership and competent management, a NHL team in Houston, SLC, Atlanta (or Phoenix for that matter) should do fine, but anyone thinking a SC or Conference final featuring some combination of those markets is going to be good news for any of the league's media rights holders is probably going to end up disappointed.

As far as expansion to Europe goes (its been a while... the BoH board does feel due for another expansion to Europe thread)... For all sorts of reasons (money, logistics, existing leagues, labour laws?, etc) that is really unlikely, like more unlikely than the Nordiques returning unlikely.

 

[Blue Warriors]

The Kings arena will not be available because of a refurbishment at the end of the next training camp.

 

[Jumptheshark]

I would love a euro division. I think the NHL would have to expand to 36 in North America first. 3 divisions of 12 in North America and 1 in Europe (probably not Russia- politics and it would be hard to get players to want to play there).

1-Stockholm
2-Gothenberg
3-Helsinki
4-Zurich
5-Prague
6-Berlin
7-Cologne
8-Munich
9-Vienna
10-Copenhagen
11-London
12-Paris

Division games - 11x4= 44 games
play every other team once = 36 games
total = 80 games (add 2 games to get to 82)

Biggest hurdle would be Euro teams playing 18 games in North America

London does not have a viable NHL arena, the O2 is one of the most popular venues in the UK and Europe for several reasons.

There are no hockey ready arenas in the UK that can seat over 10000.

 

[Jumptheshark]

I can see why the Quebec people are pissed at how much they are spending to host games that mean nothing

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

I can see why the Quebec people are pissed at how much they are spending to host games that mean nothing

It came out that the Habs offered to play there for free.


The NHL is pretty much putting Quebec in that zone where people put exes that still love them, like there might be a chance if this happens, but have no intention of actually getting back with them

 

[Lackhalak]

London does not have a viable NHL arena, the O2 is one of the most popular venues in the UK and Europe for several reasons.

There are no hockey ready arenas in the UK that can seat over 10000.

almost all, outside of a few (Cologne and Prague), would need a new arena.

 

[edog37]

Nah, man, Bettman clearly has it in for Canada. Decades of Canadian teams being mismanaged, market sizes not being sufficient enough, the fact that hardly anyone showed up for a Save the Nordiques rally back in the day....all fake news.

100%. People have this irrational belief about Bettman.

 

[edog37]

yeah its embarassing , absolute clown show

But…but…it’s Canada

 

[edog37]

Yeah, I can see great arguments for Houston, or keeping the team in Phoenix, or even Atlanta3 over Quebec but putting out Salt Lake City as a superior ice hockey market to Quebec City is beyond laughable. Rumors or not that market shouldn't factor into NHL plans unless we are talking about an expansion to 36 teams.

Haven’t made the case for QC as a smart choice. It was a throw in when the NHL-WHA merged. If the league could’ve done it over, QC doesn’t get in.

 

[Yukon Joe]

London does not have a viable NHL arena, the O2 is one of the most popular venues in the UK and Europe for several reasons.

There are no hockey ready arenas in the UK that can seat over 10000.

Small arenas is a problem with all European markets.

List of European ice hockey arenas - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Looking at the markets suggested above:

Stockholm: 13,850
Gothenburg: 12,044
Helsinki: 13,349
Zurich: 12,000
Prague: 13,150
Berlin: 14,200
Cologne: 18,500
Munich (not even on the list, had to google: 11,250
Vienna (also not on the list): 7,022
Copenhagen: 12,500
London: as you say, there's literally nothing remotely appropriate in London itself. You could maybe go elsewhere in England, but not at over 10k (unless you wanted to go to Belfast, they seem to have an 11,000 seat arena)
Paris: 13,877

Other than Cologne, none of them are NHL-sized (other than Mullett of course)

 

[BlueSeal]

100%. People have this irrational belief about Bettman.

All the moves Bettman made have been undone with the only exception being the Nordiques. He clearly has a grudge with QC and from where I sit it might be because giving the Nordiques back would complete undoing all the moves he did.