No idea what the presence of a team in Las Vegas has to do with a team in Phoenix.
But Vegas is only around the 40th largest tv market, whereas Phoenix is about 11 or 12 and likely to rise still?
I'll have to double check.
NHL probably still needs Phoenix, just like it needs Houston and Atlanta. Can't realistically have no teams, or just one team, in all of Phoenix, Houston and Atlanta for the next tv deal.
Yes, Vegas could rise, but why still only the 40th largest tv market after so much migration there in recent decades? Buffalo is about the same sized tv market. Heck, Portland, Sacramento (I think), Tampa, Miami, Pittsburgh, Raleigh, Columbus, St. Louis, Salt Lake City are much bigger tv markets than Vegas! (Austin is about a smallish 40th also, fyi.)
Most important, Phoenix already has a small but established fan base, for decades, and great potential if they can ever play in a desirable location and arena (never had both at once ..ever) and for once, qualified owners. It can and will likely be a relative success there. By then, won't the population be even larger, even if only 2 percent would care about hockey.
Denver was a failure with the NHL Colorado Rockies, a horrible short existence in the 70s, but given another chance as the metro grew, won immediately and it's been a success (other than several bad attendance years before the recent Cup )
Phoenix part 2 might sort of mirror Atlanta's population rising so much since the Thrashers’ departure? From what we always read here, Atlanta is already a different and bigger region now versus then, same with Phoenix in 10+ more years.
Plus, most of the stigma of the Coyotes will likely have dissipated in 10 or more years, and the city will hopefully want to embrace a brand new toy.
Hmmm...but...by the time
the
NHL can get back there, won't the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury be even more popular than now, especially with the sudden ascent of the WNBA?