thecoffeecake Posted June 24, 2015 Share Posted June 24, 2015 http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=771975&navid=nhl:topheads So it looks like 32 teams is a matter of formalities and a few years. I've said for years I really wanted Quebec and Seattle, and to move Columbus or Detroit back to the west, but it seems pretty certain Las Vegas is in. For some reason I thought their ticket drive didn't go as well as hoped, but they're up to 11,500. Quebec's window may have closed, which is sad to me. They had a ton of momentum and fan support, built that stadium, but I think I heard that the Canadian dollar isn't as strong, and Quebec would be the smallest market in the league I believe. Maybe they can still get it done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jagknife Posted June 24, 2015 Share Posted June 24, 2015 I still could see a current franchise be moved up Quebec, so don't give up hope. As much as Bettman insists Coyotes aren't in trouble, he's a lying sac of sh!t to begin with. Vegas isn't going to be as successful as the troll hopes it will be but, whatever, they'll be moved in a decade or two too. Seattle deserves a team, imo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devlin Posted June 24, 2015 Share Posted June 24, 2015 (edited) I just can't wrap my head around a team in Vegas...nothing about it makes any sense. I can see it being a novelty but short lived at the most. Sent from my TAB2 using TapaTalk Edited June 24, 2015 by Devlin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DH26 Posted June 24, 2015 Share Posted June 24, 2015 http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=771975&navid=nhl:topheads So it looks like 32 teams is a matter of formalities and a few years. I've said for years I really wanted Quebec and Seattle, and to move Columbus or Detroit back to the west, but it seems pretty certain Las Vegas is in. For some reason I thought their ticket drive didn't go as well as hoped, but they're up to 11,500. Quebec's window may have closed, which is sad to me. They had a ton of momentum and fan support, built that stadium, but I think I heard that the Canadian dollar isn't as strong, and Quebec would be the smallest market in the league I believe. Maybe they can still get it done. Moving Columbus west kills them since they're in the eastern time zone and getting more popular with people being able to watch at normal times. Detroit got promised to move east so they aren't going back. Only hope for QC is probably the Coyotes or the Vegas team being a quick disaster like Atlanta became in the last few years Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Posted June 24, 2015 Share Posted June 24, 2015 Apparently Vegas is up to 13,000 season tickets sold. What might make it work is it being the first and only pro sports team in the area. I can't imagine that it's any less a pro sports market than a place like Oklahoma City, but if you're the only pro team in town it seems to help. I guess the key would be for the Vegas team to get good pretty quickly, which means entering the league in the right draft year and not ending up with Patrik Stefan, Pat Faloon, or even a good, but not franchise type player like Jovanovski or Hamrlik. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
William D'Aquila Posted June 24, 2015 Share Posted June 24, 2015 Quebec already filed. Vegas would be a disaster. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devlin Posted June 25, 2015 Share Posted June 25, 2015 What I really want to know is how did they come up with 500mil for entry?? No way is that inline with the economy. Sent from my TAB2 using TapaTalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'7' Posted June 25, 2015 Share Posted June 25, 2015 http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=771975&navid=nhl:topheads So it looks like 32 teams is a matter of formalities and a few years. I've said for years I really wanted Quebec and Seattle, and to move Columbus or Detroit back to the west, but it seems pretty certain Las Vegas is in. For some reason I thought their ticket drive didn't go as well as hoped, but they're up to 11,500. Quebec's window may have closed, which is sad to me. They had a ton of momentum and fan support, built that stadium, but I think I heard that the Canadian dollar isn't as strong, and Quebec would be the smallest market in the league I believe. Maybe they can still get it done. FWIW Quebec City's metro area is larger than Winnipegs, and Winnipeg has been a resounding success despite a 15,000 seat arena. Vastly more successful than Atlanta whose metro area is larger than QC and Winnipeg combined. Detroit belongs out west. Not sure if Vegas will succeed. Too many other things to do there, the area is very transient Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadDog2020 Posted June 25, 2015 Share Posted June 25, 2015 (edited) Here's a question: would games involving the Vegas team be off the board at the casinos? This is uncharted territory for pro sports. Edited June 25, 2015 by MadDog2020 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thecoffeecake Posted June 25, 2015 Author Share Posted June 25, 2015 FWIW Quebec City's metro area is larger than Winnipegs, and Winnipeg has been a resounding success despite a 15,000 seat arena. Vastly more successful than Atlanta whose metro area is larger than QC and Winnipeg combined. Detroit belongs out west. Not sure if Vegas will succeed. Too many other things to do there, the area is very transient Thanks for clearing that up. I wasn't sure if Quebec or Winnipeg was a smaller metro. Does Winnipeg do OK revenue wise with media deals and corporate sponsorship? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onddeck Posted June 25, 2015 Share Posted June 25, 2015 I honestly can't believe there'd be a pro team in vegas. That city is full of tourists... that have interest in other cities teams. I see this as a complete disaster Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'7' Posted June 25, 2015 Share Posted June 25, 2015 Well the NHL will get a ton of publicity for putting their necks on the line and being the first pro sports league in Vegas. So they see that as a plus There will be some initial intrigue, but it will fade quickly. People go to Vegas to gamble, to see Britney Spears, Celine Dion, or some other concert experience, for Cirque du Soleil and Penn and Teller, for drunken debauchery. Not to see a Gamblers/Panthers game. That's going to be way way down on the pecking order. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'7' Posted June 25, 2015 Share Posted June 25, 2015 Thanks for clearing that up. I wasn't sure if Quebec or Winnipeg was a smaller metro. Does Winnipeg do OK revenue wise with media deals and corporate sponsorship? Not sure if it's published how much revenue each individual team brings in, but when it comes to franchise value they're ahead of the Devils according to Forbes. They are totally maxing out in that small city and tiny arena. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onddeck Posted June 25, 2015 Share Posted June 25, 2015 I'm just not buying it. If I'm in Vegas I wl not wanna watch a game, and I'm a huge hockey fan. I just can't see this as even a decent idea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thelastonealive Posted June 25, 2015 Share Posted June 25, 2015 Moving Columbus west kills them since they're in the eastern time zone and getting more popular with people being able to watch at normal times. Detroit got promised to move east so they aren't going back. Only hope for QC is probably the Coyotes or the Vegas team being a quick disaster like Atlanta became in the last few years Detroit is in the eastern time zone as well. Both they and Columbus wanted to be eastern conference teams because being in the eastern time zone but playing in the west meant that a large chunk of their road games were being played well after the traditional 7/730 start times, rather than the 5 or 6 teams like NJ have to deal with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thecoffeecake Posted June 25, 2015 Author Share Posted June 25, 2015 Detroit is in the eastern time zone as well. Both they and Columbus wanted to be eastern conference teams because being in the eastern time zone but playing in the west meant that a large chunk of their road games were being played well after the traditional 7/730 start times, rather than the 5 or 6 teams like NJ have to deal with.I wouldn't sacrifice a market for the convenience of Detroit fans Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadDog2020 Posted June 25, 2015 Share Posted June 25, 2015 (edited) I have no doubts that Vegas will quickly become the favorite road city of visiting players. I also have no doubts that it will be the least favorite road city of coaches and management lol. Edited June 25, 2015 by MadDog2020 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derlique Posted June 25, 2015 Share Posted June 25, 2015 I actually dont think it will be a total disaster attendance wise. A lot of the hotels/casinos will buy seasons and offer them as comps. Where I think they will get killed is local tv numbers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadDog2020 Posted June 25, 2015 Share Posted June 25, 2015 I actually dont think it will be a total disaster attendance wise. A lot of the hotels/casinos will buy seasons and offer them as comps. Where I think they will get killed is local tv numbersApparently Foley has secured 13,000 season ticket deposits. Not bad. Bottom line is the team needs to win. It won't win right away, and I think people will understand that... But in order for there to be long-term interest and growth, they'll need to have a quality product. If 5-7 years in the team still sucks, it could get ugly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devilsfan118 Posted June 25, 2015 Share Posted June 25, 2015 I dunno - I'm kinda on the opposite side of the spectrum with my opinion on Vegas. I think it's going to be an incredible success.. mostly for the following reasons: 1) As others have said, it'll be the only professional sports team in the area. That will matter to tourists and regulars alike. 2) Already 12,000+ season tickets sold. That's pretty much on par with the Jets, isn't it?3) Sports betting. If it'll be legal to bet on the Vegas team.. you're going to have a ton of viewership in the casinos/bars/restaurants/etc in Vegas. Not to mention those that'll actually want to attend the game. 4) Similar to the Florida teams - you'll probably have tourists from all over the place that'll want to watch their teams play. I bet the big market teams will draw very well. 5) Players will love playing and living there. I doubt the team will have a hard time attracting free agents. With some competent management, the Vegas team should hopefully be at least competitive. I guess I'm optimistic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadDog2020 Posted June 25, 2015 Share Posted June 25, 2015 (edited) And contrary to popular belief, there ARE people who live in the Vegas area who are from there and didn't move from somewhere else- don't discount the civic pride aspect of those people to support the first and only major pro sports team in Vegas history. Edited June 25, 2015 by MadDog2020 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmann422 Posted June 25, 2015 Share Posted June 25, 2015 I honestly don't see the gambling being an issue for Vegas expansion. I mean other countries have national legal gambling on everything and don't have any issues. U.S. Needs to enter the modern times and drop the archaic regulations. That being said I don't think a Vegas experiment would succeed long term. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derlique Posted June 25, 2015 Share Posted June 25, 2015 And contrary to popular belief, there ARE people who live in the Vegas area who are from there and didn't move from somewhere else- don't discount the civic pride aspect of those people to support the first and only major pro sports team in Vegas history. If it's anything like NJ, I bet there are a decent amount of Kings/Ducks fans who wouldnt support the new team Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devs3cups Posted June 25, 2015 Share Posted June 25, 2015 (edited) Since I live in Quebec, I would love to have a team here. (Even though I'll always be a Devils fan heheh) It would be great for the city. But from what I've heard, most people won't be willing to pay "Bell Centre" prices to go see the team, which could be a problem from the start. Most of the people that would go see games are regular workers and tax payers who can't afford to pay hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars on a regular basis to go see games. Quebec doesn't have as much population and compagnies who buy tickets and/or lounges as it's neighbour Montreal. All of this could be a problem for Quebec IMHO. Edited June 25, 2015 by Devs3cups Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thecoffeecake Posted June 25, 2015 Author Share Posted June 25, 2015 (edited) I dunno - I'm kinda on the opposite side of the spectrum with my opinion on Vegas. I think it's going to be an incredible success.. mostly for the following reasons: 1) As others have said, it'll be the only professional sports team in the area. That will matter to tourists and regulars alike. 2) Already 12,000+ season tickets sold. That's pretty much on par with the Jets, isn't it? 3) Sports betting. If it'll be legal to bet on the Vegas team.. you're going to have a ton of viewership in the casinos/bars/restaurants/etc in Vegas. Not to mention those that'll actually want to attend the game. 4) Similar to the Florida teams - you'll probably have tourists from all over the place that'll want to watch their teams play. I bet the big market teams will draw very well. 5) Players will love playing and living there. I doubt the team will have a hard time attracting free agents. With some competent management, the Vegas team should hopefully be at least competitive. I guess I'm optimistic. Similar to Florida teams is my exact concern. Outside the Dolphins and now the Lightning, at least for the time being, no one cares about Florida sports. The Rays are perennial contenders, and it's usually not even close attendance wise between Tampa and whoever comes in at 29th. And it's probable that Miami is in that 29th conversation yearly. The Panthers might as well not exist. Edited June 25, 2015 by thecoffeecake Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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