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NHL Regular Season 2017-18

#421
MJ5150 said:
The Seattle NHL team talk picks up some steam today after the owner of the Senators mentions possible relocation.
Considering how crappy basketball fans felt after the Sonics moved away, I can't imagine being happy about this option.

-Mike
Click to expand...

How do you think the Ottawa situation affects Seattle? They've applied for a expansion team, not a relocation team.

And Melnyk doesn't get it, if he wants that team to make money, he's got to move that arena to get people there. I used to have a gf in Napean (apparently I only date women that live in NHL cities) and that arena is out in the boondocks. And in winter, people don't want to make that drive.

I'm guessing he's looking at Quebec City. It's only a few hours away, NHL ready arena, still in Canada, the fans are dying for a team.
 
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#422
DerekW said:
How do you think the Ottawa situation affects Seattle? They've applied for a expansion team, not a relocation team.

And Melnyk doesn't get it, if he wants that team to make money, he's got to move that arena to get people there. I used to have a gf in Napean (apparently I only date women that live in NHL cities) and that arena is out in the boondocks. And in winter, people don't want to make that drive.

I'm guessing he's looking at Quebec City. It's only a few hours away, NHL ready arena, still in Canada, the fans are dying for a team.
Click to expand...
I'm down for that
 
#423
DerekW said:
How do you think the Ottawa situation affects Seattle? They've applied for a expansion team, not a relocation team.
Click to expand...

Bettman didn't rule out relocation in his comments about Seattle being invited to apply for an NHL team.
Seems convenient to me Melnyk brought up the subject a few days later. I figure he's just posturing for a sweet deal from Ottawa. Owners of sports teams do it all the time in an attempt to get what they want from the city they're in.

-Mike
 
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#425
DerekW said:
As far as Seattle, their application was strictly for an expansion team, not a relocation team, at this point anyway. The NHL wants another team in the west to balance out the conferences.
Click to expand...

While I don't disagree with you the goal at this point is to expand, the door is open for relocation. I'm quite sure Melnyk is aware of this quote from Bettman.......
"It is envisioned that the terms of an expansion agreement, would it go forward, would basically be the same as Las Vegas -- except the price," Bettman said, speaking at the league's Board of Governors meeting. "If we decide for whatever reason for the 2020 season, instead of expanding, using an existing franchise, that's always an option. But that's not something we're focused on right now. Because we're not anticipating anybody moving right now."
Source: Bettman: Seattle invited to apply for NHL bid

-Mike
 
#426
MJ5150 said:
While I don't disagree with you the goal at this point is to expand, the door is open for relocation. I'm quite sure Melnyk is aware of this quote from Bettman.......
"It is envisioned that the terms of an expansion agreement, would it go forward, would basically be the same as Las Vegas -- except the price," Bettman said, speaking at the league's Board of Governors meeting. "If we decide for whatever reason for the 2020 season, instead of expanding, using an existing franchise, that's always an option. But that's not something we're focused on right now. Because we're not anticipating anybody moving right now."
Source: Bettman: Seattle invited to apply for NHL bid

-Mike
Click to expand...

Gotcha. My take on it is, if they are already ok with the $650m to start a team, the only way they wouldn't follow through is that either the arena deal doesn't go through for some reason, or they can't get enough support with pre-sold season tickets. And if either of those is the case, then that clearly shows that the city isn't ready for a team at all.

And now that I'm all jaded, I now assume that anything anyone says regarding moving a team, is all just leverage to pressure existing cities to accommodate owners for their arena needs, lol. Like the Calgary owners being pissed they can't make a deal with the city on the new arena, so Bettman says "well.... I guess a western team could move to Seattle. Ps, you listening Arizona, as I visit Houston."
 
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#427
Also, on the note of watching the sad Leafs game in Detroit, and the empty seats, here's something I'd like to point out.
I went to see Kid Rock open the new arena and got tickets off StubHub. I was in the section directly above the benches. I found out that that entire lower bowl section (and the one on the opposite side of the arena) from glass to top, are "club sections". Included with those seats are vip parking, concierge, free beer, wine bar and food and bathrooms. All-inclusive, if you will. Basically they are $300 tickets, or more.

So they are mostly owned by rich season ticket holders and large corporations. Why there's never anyone in them, I have no idea, unless they just didn't sell many. Or rich people don't actually go to the games.

Ps, I didn't get any of that stuff with our stubhub tickets, so maybe it doesn't apply to concerts.
 
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#428
I don't think the NHL will work in Seattle.
While its new and shiny, it'll work. After that, forget about it.
People here are fair weather beyond belief. At one point, the baseball team had three HOF'ers, and they still couldn't pack the ballpark.
I imagine the Seattle arena will be just like the one in Detroit with all the lower level seats reserved for big money corporations. It'll be a business expense, and when people do sit in those seats, it'll be more to be seen than anything else.
Sad.

-Mike
 
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#429
I agree it's sad. You put a team in Quebec City, it it will be jammed every night. I really don't understand this point of putting hockey in "non-traditional" markets.
You could put a team in Q.C. And another team in Hamilton Ontario, which has an NHL ready arena, and sell those games out for decades. Even somewhere like Cleveland or Indianapolis, and I think they would do well. Mind you, I think Ontario or Quebec deserve a second team before Ohio does, lol
 
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#430
Every time I go to a Pens game, I see a Flyers fan. This guy I found in his native habitat....

ofsjtw.jpg


-Mike
 
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#434
DerekW said:
I agree it's sad. You put a team in Quebec City, it it will be jammed every night. I really don't understand this point of putting hockey in "non-traditional" markets.
You could put a team in Q.C. And another team in Hamilton Ontario, which has an NHL ready arena, and sell those games out for decades. Even somewhere like Cleveland or Indianapolis, and I think they would do well. Mind you, I think Ontario or Quebec deserve a second team before Ohio does, lol
Click to expand...

The perennial problem in Ottawa is not the lack of hockey fans. It's the lack of Senators fans overall. Allegiances in this town are primarily split between the Leafs and the Habs. Always has been, always will be. The Sens have been a 25 year side show. Putting the arena out in Kanata was a bad idea from the get-go and has cost this city untold millions. Maybe relocating to LeBreton will fix some of the attendance issues, but won't change fans' allegiances. Add to that the relative small market, the exchange rate (tickets sold in $CDN, players paid in $USD) and it's a hard go for anyone - even one with deep pockets. Doesn't help that the team is currently slumping and hung over from the loss of some marquee players in recent years.

I wouldn't be surprised to see them in Hamilton or Quebec City. Although a move by a group willing to pay the $650M fee might be attractive for Melnyk to move the team and perhaps relinquish full ownership.
 
#435
MJ5150 said:
I don't think the NHL will work in Seattle.
While its new and shiny, it'll work. After that, forget about it.
People here are fair weather beyond belief. At one point, the baseball team had three HOF'ers, and they still couldn't pack the ballpark.
I imagine the Seattle arena will be just like the one in Detroit with all the lower level seats reserved for big money corporations. It'll be a business expense, and when people do sit in those seats, it'll be more to be seen than anything else.
Sad.

-Mike
Click to expand...

I don't know if times have changed or not in terms of putting bums in the seats, but there is a LOT more money around Seattle as you well know, with the amazing growth of tech. What was it, 15 years ago they had Griffey/Arod/Ichiro (looking at you, extremely gaudy 2001 116-46 record). The Seahawks are an amazing seat filling machine franchise, but I don't remember it always being that way. I suppose having winning teams has a lot to do with that too, no surprise. If they were going 4-12 (2008) do you think they'd still be filling the place?
 
#436
Gawd, what a bunch of whiners. The ScotiaBank arena is a whole 15 miles from Ottawa city center.

Our Glendale Arena is at least 15-20 miles away from where most hockey fans live, and up to 35 miles from Coyote fans who live in the East Valley (Mesa/Gilbert) or north Scottsdale. Couple that with a crappy team, and that explains those empty seats here in the desert.
 
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#438
DirtDog said:
The perennial problem in Ottawa is not the lack of hockey fans. It's the lack of Senators fans overall. Allegiances in this town are primarily split between the Leafs and the Habs. Always has been, always will be. The Sens have been a 25 year side show. ... .
Click to expand...

Similar issue here with the NFL Cardinals. They came here in '88 and at that time Arizona was pretty much Cowboys or Raiders fans, and even a few Chargers fans (just like in San Diego!) But in those nearly 30 years, we're now into our second generation who have grown up with a local NFL team, and it shows with the support.

I know Leafs/Canadiens loyalty in Canada is more deep-rooted than most, but you're not too far behind our situation time-wise. Hopefully the Sens stay in the Ottawa area and can carve out their own niche with those who grew up with them.
 
#439
dwm74 said:
Gawd, what a bunch of whiners. The ScotiaBank arena is a whole 15 miles from Ottawa city center.

Our Glendale Arena is at least 15-20 miles away from where most hockey fans live, and up to 35 miles from Coyote fans who live in the East Valley (Mesa/Gilbert) or north Scottsdale. Couple that with a crappy team, and that explains those empty seats here in the desert.
Click to expand...

You mean Canadian Tire Centre, right? :) About half the population in this area lives within 15 miles of the arena, the other half live within 15 to 25 miles away. And with our one crappy freeway here, it can take up to an hour to travel those 15 miles on a game night.
 
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