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Post by Ducky on Jan 30, 2005 18:29:12 GMT -5
Here is an exerpt from inside hockey for why Hamilton can support an NHL team:
"Though the Maple Leafs would likely bristle at the possibility, it's also clear that Southwestern Ontario could support a second team, especially if the New York City area can support three. A move to Hamilton would be just what the doctor ordered for the Florida Panthers, whose talented young team would immediately captivate the attention of Leafs-haters throughout the area and foster another much-needed hockey rivalry.
Terry Whitehead was part of the group that bid for an NHL team on behalf of Hamilton back in the late 1990s. The NHL ultimately chose Columbus, but Whitehead and the city of Hamilton have not yet given up hope.
"People here in Canada take their hockey seriously. [When we were bidding for an expansion team] we sold approximately 14,000 season tickets in 24 hours."
"There are over 50 million people within 100 miles of Hamilton," Whitehead said. "It's very difficult to get tickets to Leafs games, and so there is a lot of pent up demand. Rivalries drive interest in hockey, and if there were a team in Hamilton, it would immediately generate two tremendous new rivalries. Also, many fans in Southwestern Ontario love to hate the Maple Leafs, and they would love to have another team to root for.""
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Post by TytotheG on Jan 30, 2005 19:20:37 GMT -5
Winnipeg and Hamilton, that would be sweet!
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Joker
Veteran Member
got it back
Posts: 183
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Post by Joker on Jan 31, 2005 0:24:33 GMT -5
Hamilton would need a new rink. Next to no suites.
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Post by Laurier on Jan 31, 2005 11:43:32 GMT -5
Yeah i don't know why they would build Copps colliseum and not put in luxury suites. Seems pretty dumb. Does anyone know the reasoning?
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Post by blackthorne on Jan 31, 2005 14:53:41 GMT -5
Hamilton needs MILLIONS in renovations to Copps before it's declared "NHL quality".
Furthermore they've tried 3 times I believe? In the past to lure an NHL team. All 3 times have failed.
And thirdly, T.O., Buffalo, and probably Detroit are dead-set against a Hamilton team joining the league. It's too close... and many Hamilton hockey fans make the trek to Detroit, T.O., Buffalo for games.
I'd like to see it happen, but I just don't think it will.
Sure, there may be several NHL cities who want to relocate in the next few years... but aside from Wpg., there are many cities in the states with NHL-quality arenas that I'm sure would like a team.
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Post by gee on Jan 31, 2005 20:33:05 GMT -5
the possible upside to hamilton is that the city seems willing to bend over backwards for a potential nhl owner. they appear to be willing to spend the dough on the renovations and fork over control of copps. this fall there was talk of the wha going into hamilton and i recall officials with the city not being very responsive but when one business man wanted to talk about nhl they were readying a deal in principal for handing over the arena and footing the bill for renovations IF he could get the other aspects into place.
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Post by jamiebez on Feb 1, 2005 14:04:21 GMT -5
the possible upside to hamilton is that the city seems willing to bend over backwards for a potential nhl owner. they appear to be willing to spend the dough on the renovations and fork over control of copps. this fall there was talk of the wha going into hamilton and i recall officials with the city not being very responsive but when one business man wanted to talk about nhl they were readying a deal in principal for handing over the arena and footing the bill for renovations IF he could get the other aspects into place. I was living in "the Hammer" when this happened. Most people didn't really take the whole thing too seriously, since they thought the guy was just full of hot air (he refused to say what team he represented). But, you're right, I think the city would hand over the lease if the NHL was a possibility. Renovations might be another story, though... I still maintain Hamilton won't get a team, for the following reasons: 1. The local economy can't support it. Hamilton's true population is about 670,000, and mostly blue collar types. People with higher incomes live in Burlington, Oakville or Mississauga. Those places are only 30-40 mins away, but they more associate themselves with Toronto (and therefore the Leafs), NOT Hamilton. There's also far fewer corporate headquarters there than you'd expect, since most business are in Toronto. 2. Copps Coliseum needs SERIOUS renovations. Like I said, the city may do this, but it's still something that needs to be taken care of (unlike Winnipeg ) 3. Buffalo and Toronto would kill the deal - especially Buffalo. At least 25-30% of Buffalo's attendance is from Hamilton/Niagara/Toronto. They'd never give that up - it would kill that franchise.
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Post by NutsaboutCanucks on Feb 1, 2005 16:47:51 GMT -5
Yeah i don't know why they would build Copps colliseum and not put in luxury suites. Seems pretty dumb. Does anyone know the reasoning? They do have suites. They are at the top part of the lower seating boul
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Post by gee on Feb 5, 2005 14:39:49 GMT -5
They do have suites. They are at the top part of the lower seating boul how many?
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Post by hawker14 on Feb 6, 2005 3:29:42 GMT -5
i'd be very, very surprised to see hamilton ever get an nhl team.
i just can't see the sabres agreeing to share what would basically be the same market.
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Post by NutsaboutCanucks on Feb 6, 2005 5:41:43 GMT -5
quite a few, but I guess they could use some more?
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Post by joelzillmanwpg on Feb 6, 2005 7:10:18 GMT -5
i'd be very, very surprised to see hamilton ever get an nhl team. i just can't see the sabres agreeing to share what would basically be the same market. You won't. There is a great chance the Sabres will relocate to Hamilton once a new CBA is reached. Unfortunately, hockey in Buffalo will be limited to the AHL shortly. The franchise has no solid ownership, and is bankrupt.
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Post by gee on Feb 6, 2005 16:19:11 GMT -5
You won't. There is a great chance the Sabres will relocate to Hamilton once a new CBA is reached. Unfortunately, hockey in Buffalo will be limited to the AHL shortly. The franchise has no solid ownership, and is bankrupt. doesn't buffalo have a new billionaire owner?
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Post by hawker14 on Feb 6, 2005 19:26:59 GMT -5
doesn't buffalo have a new billionaire owner? yes, buffalo is owned by tom golisano who's a billionaire.
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Post by joelzillmanwpg on Feb 6, 2005 21:13:20 GMT -5
Oops! My mistake. I must have confused the Penguins with the Sabres.
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Post by hatrick007 on Feb 6, 2005 21:40:44 GMT -5
Oops! My mistake. I must have confused the Penguins with the Sabres. Yup! lol. Buffalo could lose big $$$, they will stay in Buffalo for years to come, because of their billionaire owner, who is very commited to keeping the team there.
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Post by jetblood on Feb 7, 2005 5:25:53 GMT -5
WINNIPEG WILL BE THE NEXT CANADIAN CITY TO GET A TEAM. BOTTOM LINE, WE PAYED OUR DUE'S IF HAMILTON WAS TO GET A TEAM IT WOULD BE A HUGE SLAP IN THE FACE.
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Post by hawker14 on Feb 7, 2005 7:55:47 GMT -5
i agree winnipeg will be the next canadian team to get an nhl team.
as joezillman posted, the only way hamilton would get a team before winnipeg is if Buffalo relocated, which won't happen.
i'd like to see a team in hamilton, but if another team is relocating i doubt they'd rather pay the Sabres US$ 25 million for their territorial rights fee to settle in hamilton, when they could go to Winnipeg for free.
This argument also applies to Milwaukee's chances of getting a team as well, as that crook 85 miles south would never let a team enter his territory.
realistic destinations in my view for the next round of relocations are: Winnipeg, Houston, Kansas City and the Pacific Northwest (either Portland or Seattle). Of course Winnipeg is the best choice of the four !!!
;D ;D ;D
If it wasn't for Buffalo's proximity in location, I'd definitely have Hamilton on the list.
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Dave74
Veteran Member
Posts: 239
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Post by Dave74 on Feb 7, 2005 23:35:07 GMT -5
Wpg will be first in line.
This season is done, it's all but official. IMO, after this lockout there will be so much damage to the fan base of untraditional markets that the NHL CANNOT afford to experiment with untested waters again. Wpg be a sight for sore eyes.
it's either that or contraction. I would have to beleive that Wpg would be a better alternative to Car, Pitts(if they don't get there arena), Nash, Ana, Phx, Atl, Flo, and TB. I Doubt that the NHL will drop to 22 teams, so we SHOULD have a good chance.
AND this is not my bias speaking either. KC only had a team for a REALLY short period (wpg has a better track record) and Houston might work (like Dallas) but it's honestly unknown. PLUS we are in a better arena situation the Hamilton.
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Post by JETStender on Feb 11, 2005 9:31:10 GMT -5
Saturday, January 25, 2003
Sheila Copps loves the idea of moving the Ottawa Senators to Hamilton. That being said, TheScore is reporting that Copps Coliseum needs ONE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS to upgrade it to NHL standards (so much for the "Hamilton has an arena ready for a team" argument). There are a total of seven luxury boxes, no club seats and some other problems that would need to be fixed before the NHL would even consider the move.
Sports business experts were skeptical of any bid to move the team to Hamilton, mostly due to numerous hurdles - including getting the NHL to approve granting a franchise to a city on the doorstep of competitors in Toronto and Buffalo. "I don't know what they're thinking," Jeff Citron, a Toronto-based corporate lawyer who has dealt with the NHL in the past, said of the Hamilton talk. Citron said the NHL's biggest concern would be that the Toronto Maple Leafs' television revenue would be sliced in addition to its southern Ontario fan base. The NHL is already trying to help the financially struggling Buffalo Sabres and wouldn't want to reduce the value of the Leafs - one of few teams in the league enjoying great financial strength. "It would really dilute (the Leafs') marketplace to have a team there, whether it be for just fans attending games or the television audience," Citron said. "I don't know that it makes much sense or that they'll ever get past that hurdle."
I think it has the same chance to move to Saskatoon as it does to Hamilton.
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