70 replies to this topic

[ZeroGravityFat]

I don't know why you all go running to the relocation wagon as soon as we have any interest. The worse case in my mind is that he knows we are a successful franchise in a very large market area so he will push on the 3rd 4th jersey, kovie doing the opening bells at wall street, etc marketing bonanza on the team, which lou would pack up and leave for. my only concern is that he hopefully is a manager with enough good ideas to make the team a real tri-state force while not whoring it out to make it as unbearable as say rags or crosby.

[Devil Dan 56]

To add to this whole relocation thing... The NHL would be HIGHLY opposed to losing a team from the New York market. They would fight very hard to keep the Devils right where they are.

[NewarkDevil5]

To add to this whole relocation thing... The NHL would be HIGHLY opposed to losing a team from the New York market. They would fight very hard to keep the Devils right where they are.

I don't know if I agree with you there. The only reason why there is still a NJ franchise IMO is that we won the Stanley Cup in 1995 and McMullen's heart got all soft with age. Honestly I can think of at least 3 separate occasions in my lifetime where there were very strong rumors and possibilities of the Devils moving out of state.

[vadvlfan]

I'm wondering if JVB is thinking wow, I have a great opportunity now to recoup some $$$, in a few months, if I'm in deep shizzle, the offer might have moved on. Say for example buy the club now for 200 mil, or 150 mil when you as an owner is in the crapper if you can't raise the $$. Is this a good investment as a minority owner?? Hell no

[Chuck the Duck]

To add to this whole relocation thing... The NHL would be HIGHLY opposed to losing a team from the New York market. They would fight very hard to keep the Devils right where they are.

In 1995, Bettman basically stated a preference for the Devils to move when he said that the NY market might not be able to support 3 teams. I know he was posturing to help the team get a new lease at the Meadowlands with more favorable terms, but this team came damn close to defending its first Stanley Cup Championship in Nashville.

Basically, the Devils and Islanders are not un-movable, like the Rangers, Bruins, Canadiens, Toronto, etc. With the right market conditions and certain guarantees from a desperate city looking to bring the team in (Quebec City), the monetary advantages of being in the "NY market" can be overcome, especially in a league that is heavily dependent on ticket revenue like the NHL.

[Devils731]

Basically, the Devils and Islanders are not un-movable, like the Rangers, Bruins, Canadiens, Toronto, etc. With the right market conditions and certain guarantees from a desperate city looking to bring the team in (Quebec City), the monetary advantages of being in the "NY market" can be overcome, especially in a league that is heavily dependent on ticket revenue like the NHL.

The Devils are one of the higher revenue teams in the league, great tv deal and high ticket prices. If the league is looking at maximizing total team revenue then the league wouldn't want the Devils moving.

The league also doesn't want to move a team that just built a brand new arena, it sets bad precedence for getting new arenas built in the future using public money.

[Daniel]

In 1995, Bettman basically stated a preference for the Devils to move when he said that the NY market might not be able to support 3 teams. I know he was posturing to help the team get a new lease at the Meadowlands with more favorable terms, but this team came damn close to defending its first Stanley Cup Championship in Nashville.

Basically, the Devils and Islanders are not un-movable, like the Rangers, Bruins, Canadiens, Toronto, etc. With the right market conditions and certain guarantees from a desperate city looking to bring the team in (Quebec City), the monetary advantages of being in the "NY market" can be overcome, especially in a league that is heavily dependent on ticket revenue like the NHL.

There are a lot of other teams ahead of the Devils and Islanders. Coyotes (obviously), Ducks, Columbus. If Nashville takes a serious nosedive in the standings, they would be ripe for the picking (I don't even think all of their games are televised locally).

Looking at things objectively, relocation is rare, and a last resort. In the past 20 years there have been four of them. One of those teams, Hartford, played in a mall. Atlanta was dead on arrival. Minnesota and Winnipeg are viable hockey markets that eventually got their teams back.


Never say never, but it would take a ten year stretch of non-playoff and resulting 6000 a night attendance for the team to move.

If the league is fighting tooth and nail to keep the Coyotes where they are, they won't let the Devils move because a billionaire wants his own team somewhere in Canada.

[Chuck the Duck]

While everything you say is true (although I've never heard of Anaheim being in danger of relocation), the one other factor you missed is the lack of a buyer willing to keep the team in NJ. At the end of the day, that is the deciding factor. Like with Atlanta, if the Devils are put up for sale and nobody comes forward with an acceptable offer that is willing to keep them here, the league has no choice and, as a last resort, they will have to be moved. I don't think this team is going anywhere anytime soon, but you never know.

I also agree that the League doesn't want to move any of its franchises that have recently built an arena (especially an arena that was created to serve 1 professional sports tenant like the Rock). It makes the League look terrible and will hamper their ability to strong-arm other communities to continue to build publicly financed buildings in the future. I/M/O, that is one of the biggest reasons why Phoenix still has a team.

[Marv4Life]

Atlanta and NJ are 2 totally different situations. A team who never won a playoff game, barren arena more times than not despite cheaper prices, a horrible box office draw, of course future ownership would be hesitant in keeping a team in a place where it hasn't worked out on and off the ice. Didn't help that previous ownership wasn't committed to Phillips Arena.

[TheMazz]

Not sure about any of you but if the Devils ever did move my days of following the NHL would be over. Without question.

[SMantzas]

Not sure about any of you but if the Devils ever did move my days of following the NHL would be over. Without question.

Same. Although I'd still buy the video game lol

[Chuck the Duck]

Not sure about any of you but if the Devils ever did move my days of following the NHL would be over. Without question.

I'm not sure how I'd react. I think that I would watch but, with no real vested interest in any team, I definitely wouldn't watch nearly as much as I currently do (much to the delight of my wife).

[devilsfan26]

Not sure about any of you but if the Devils ever did move my days of following the NHL would be over. Without question.

No way, hockey will always be a big part of my life regardless of if New Jersey has an NHL team. I would probably continue to root for them wherever they move to. I think if we lose the Devils, NJ would be able to support an AHL team so I would definitely go to those games too.

[ThreeCups]

No way, hockey will always be a big part of my life regardless of if New Jersey has an NHL team. I would probably continue to root for them wherever they move to. I think if we lose the Devils, NJ would be able to support an AHL team so I would definitely go to those games too.

If the Devils somehow moved, I would definitely continue to be a fan of the team wherever they were. I am sure there are some Thrashers fans that now are Jets fans.

[Zubie#8]

If the Devils somehow moved, I would definitely continue to be a fan of the team wherever they were. I am sure there are some Thrashers fans that now are Jets fans.

Same here, I would go to MSG, the Island, Pittsburgh, Boston, Washington, Philly, Montreal to watch them play.

Edited by Zubie#8, 22 August 2012 - 02:48 PM.

[Daniel]

While everything you say is true (although I've never heard of Anaheim being in danger of relocation), the one other factor you missed is the lack of a buyer willing to keep the team in NJ. At the end of the day, that is the deciding factor. Like with Atlanta, if the Devils are put up for sale and nobody comes forward with an acceptable offer that is willing to keep them here, the league has no choice and, as a last resort, they will have to be moved. I don't think this team is going anywhere anytime soon, but you never know.

I also agree that the League doesn't want to move any of its franchises that have recently built an arena (especially an arena that was created to serve 1 professional sports tenant like the Rock). It makes the League look terrible and will hamper their ability to strong-arm other communities to continue to build publicly financed buildings in the future. I/M/O, that is one of the biggest reasons why Phoenix still has a team.

You're right that there isn't anything out there about Anaheim relocating. But from what I have observed, it's a money losing operation with a relatively small fan base in a crowded sports market. If the Ducks go through a really rough losing stretch things could deteriorate to the point of relocation being a distinct possibility. That series of events is more likely to occur than the Devils relocating, at least in my off the cuff opinion.

[Satans Hockey]

If they somehow moved id be the opposite of you guys. Id root for them to have nothing but failure and not because of the players but because I would want whatever city that got them to fail.

That being said, ill be dead before this ever happened.

[Colin226]

If they somehow moved id be the opposite of you guys. Id root for them to have nothing but failure and not because of the players but because I would want whatever city that got them to fail.

That being said, ill be dead before this ever happened.

Agreed.. I'm a fan of the "New Jersey Devils" not some franchise started back in 1974.. If they move I'll be pissed, it'll be like they shot a family member right in front of me

That said, I'll root for the Islanders.. If they were to also move, yeah I'm not going to share what other close team I'd root for cause you guys will hate me but they don't wear red or blue

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

I honestly don't know what I'd do if the Devils moved. I love hockey too much to just say "fvck the NHL", and I just can't see myself rooting for another team. I'd probably still root for the Devils, but much of the enthusiasm would be sapped for sure. And the abuse from just about every other local fanbase would be brutal..."you couldn't even keep your hockey team!"...Ranger and Flyer fans would take great delight in this one. One of my customers grew up in Baltimore, and he told me first hand how it ripped his and several other Baltimore Colts fans' hearts out when the Colts bolted for Indianapolis one dark snowy night. And for those who haven't seen it, check out a show called "The Ghosts of Flatbush"...it's about the Brooklyn Dodgers, and how much it killed the Dodger faithful when they lost their team...even now you can see how some of those fans are STILL affected by the Dodgers going to LA.

[Beck27]

In the horrible hypothetical situation of the team moving, I could never root for another NHL team. I'd still follow the NHL because I love the sport, and my hatred of the rags, flyers, and pens would remain, but my fan interaction would be reduced to rooting against teams; and I'm sure I'd be bitter for the rest of my life, as sad as it sounds.


Even taking the hypothetical further, if another franchise moved here under a different moniker, it still wouldn't be the same. I'd be happy as pie to get a team back in state, but it could never compare to the Devils.