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Post by sawchuk103 on Mar 21, 2005 2:21:14 GMT -5
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Post by blackthorne on Mar 21, 2005 2:49:13 GMT -5
Yikes.
I'd be lying if I said this article didn't worry me...
One comment in particular:
"...a ready-made agreement with the minor-league Aeros and the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority that provides for seamless NHL entry into Houston."
(BlackThorne bites his nails nervously)
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Post by jamiebez on Mar 21, 2005 10:09:53 GMT -5
That's odd... in the last round of expansion, Les Alexander (the Rockets owner) claimed he didn't want a team competing with the Rockets for the fans' attention. I guess he's changed his tune.
If this is true, then I hate to admit it, but Houston becomes the prime spot for potential relocation. Yes, even ahead of Winnipeg. They have a huge market, a huge corporate base, a HUGE state of the art arena, a ready-made rivalry with Dallas, and a long history of supporting pro hockey - from the WHA to the Aeros of the AHL.
Sad but true. This is bad news for us. I still think we'll be seeing more than one team relocating, but this may delay our timeline more than I hoped. I guess we'll see what comes to pass.
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Post by Yar on Mar 21, 2005 14:09:30 GMT -5
no worries guys. there's at least 4-5 teams that will be looking at relocating once this lockout ends. winnipeg and houston will both end up with teams.
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Post by AO8/EM71 on Mar 21, 2005 17:19:00 GMT -5
Exactly what Yar said. 1 down 3-4 others to go!
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Post by KillerBrew on Mar 21, 2005 20:04:53 GMT -5
So Winnipeg is second best, no shame in that...
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Post by joelzillmanwpg on Mar 22, 2005 8:13:49 GMT -5
If this is true, then I hate to admit it, but Houston becomes the prime spot for potential relocation. Yes, even ahead of Winnipeg. They have a huge market, a huge corporate base, a HUGE state of the art arena, a ready-made rivalry with Dallas, and a long history of supporting pro hockey - from the WHA to the Aeros of the AHL. This is what I've been saying all along. Houston is the #1 relocation spot right now. Winnipeg is #2. However, chances are there will be at least 3 teams relocating by 2010.
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Post by bigchris on Mar 22, 2005 17:52:12 GMT -5
Actually it was Les Alexander that came within a hair of moving the Oilers to Houston in the mid 90's. He's wanted into the NHL for years.
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Post by cbjDavid on Mar 22, 2005 17:59:52 GMT -5
If I remember correctly, there were two separate ownership groups in Houston submitting bids during the last round of expansion.
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Post by Paul on Mar 23, 2005 3:33:35 GMT -5
Guys, don't worry about this. As I said before, as long as Winnipeg eventually gets a team, that's all that matters.
BigChris and cbjDavid are correct in their statements. Houston came very close on two occasions in the 1990s in getting an NHL team.
Even though I did not mention Houston as a preference of mine, it's true that it's a prime relocation destination. Houston is the 4th largest city in the United States, so the revenue potential (business-wise) and potential fan base is there. Not many care down there about the Aeros though, but then again we're talking about the AHL here.
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Post by jamiebez on Mar 23, 2005 8:48:09 GMT -5
A story on Houston's expansion bid in 1997: slam.canoe.ca/97NHLExpansion/zexhou.htmlHouston loses out on NHL bid HOUSTON (AP) -- Houston was passed over Tuesday in its bid for an NHL expansion franchise, but the owner of the city's minor-league hockey team isn't giving up. Aeros owner Chuck Watson, who bid for an expansion team with his business partner Bob McNair, said their efforts to bring major league hockey to Houston will depend on a November referendum. Mayor Bob Lanier is seeking voter approval for a new arena for the NBA Houston Rockets and an NHL franchise. "If the city doesn't support a new arena, it is like saying the Rockets can leave in 2003 and that they aren't interested in hockey or basketball in Houston," Watson said. The Rockets have a lease to play in The Summit through 2003. The International Hockey League's Aeros currently play there as well. The NHL on Tuesday tentatively approved expanding to Nashville, Tenn.; Atlanta; Columbus, Ohio; and Minneapolis-St. Paul in the next four years. Houston and Oklahoma City lost out. "There were three issues the NHL looked out with reference to expansion: ownership, the location and the state of an arena," McNair said. "The NHL was very satisfied with Chuck and I as owners and they certainly are interested in the Houston market, but the issue of an arena was a concern." Watson said the NHL wanted a "firm commitment" on a new arena. "They had commitments from four other cities that were not contingent on a referendum at a later date to provide a new arena," he said. Rockets owner Les Alexander is strongly opposed to sharing a new arena on an equal basis with the hockey franchise. Last week, he said he was trying to buy the financially troubled Edmonton Oilers and move them to Houston. Lanier said he would press forward despite the NHL's decision. "We'll keep the process going to see if we can't find an agreement between Alexander and Watson that will allow for both the hockey and basketball franchise to occupy the arena," Lanier said. Watson is also optimistic about the future. "We have every indication from the NHL that the league is supportive of Houston's efforts to bring the NHL to the city and will be supportive of our efforts to pursue other options," Watson said. "Over the next couple or three months, we will be actively looking at opportunities," he said. "It would be bad for Houston not to continue with its plans for a new arena." ====================== I guess Alexander would sing a different tune if he was the owner.
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Post by joelzillmanwpg on Mar 23, 2005 12:22:59 GMT -5
Houston has always been shafted by the NHL for some strange reason. In 1978, the Houston Aeros of the WHA told the NHL to admit them that season, or they would fold. The NHL refused, and the Aeros never played in the final WHA season.
In the 80's, Houston was the frontrunner for an expansion team. There was even talk in the mid 80's of adding Houston as a expansion franchise to balance out the NHL schedule, and conferences, since there were only 21 teams.
The ultimate insult to the city of Houston would be supporting the reincarnated version of the IHL Aeros for years, while watching the NHL put teams in Florida, Georgia, Tennesse, North Carolina, and Arizona. Especially after the overwhelming sucess of the Dallas Stars, a city with LESS hockey history than Houston.
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Post by HartfordWhalers on Apr 3, 2005 10:46:31 GMT -5
I dont think Houston is a prime spot for an NHL franchise any time soon. The Houston Texans are King right now in that city, followed by the Astros/Rockets. I dont think the NHL will want to put itself in a situation where they will always be behind the other "Big 3" sports.
Now you may say "Look at the Dallas Stars. There doing great." Yes, but take my word for it, Houston does not have sports fans like Dallas does. Remember Houston let the NFL Oilers (a team that was always pretty competative) leave in the mid 90's. If one of the biggest cities in North America that happens to be in a state where football is the "Alpha and Omega" lets its NFL team leave, what makes anyone think they will always be there to support hockey.
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Post by joelzillmanwpg on Apr 3, 2005 14:46:57 GMT -5
I dont think Houston is a prime spot for an NHL franchise any time soon. They are in a prime spot for NHL relocation. I don't think the NHL cares. As long as the team is sucessful, it wouldn't matter if they were 6th (behind Arena Football and Soccer) in terms of competing for the cities entertainment dollar. The bottom lines is if they are making money or not. Besides, it could be argued that most NHL teams are 4th out of the BIG 4 leagues, in terms of support in their respective communities. Big Deal. Los Angeles arguably is the largest metro centre in the US, when you factor in all the illegal immigration to southern California. Yet, the city has lost both their NFL teams. It was not due to poor attendance either. The city would not build the Raiders or Rams new stadiums, so they packed up and left. It's ridiculous to say that Dallas has better sports fans than Houston, because that just is not true. It's like saying "Cleveland has terrible sports fans and thats why the Browns left", which is completely false..
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Post by HartfordWhalers on Apr 4, 2005 9:46:01 GMT -5
In regards to the NHL in Houston...
I just dont think the NHL is dumb enough to plop yet another team in the deep south/west for there next franchise move/expansion.
Agree with me or not, Its just my opinion that Houston's sports fans are not as dedicated as Dallas is. ATM football is back and doing well but when the original Oilers left there was little fight to stop them or much of an uproar from fans. Unlike Houston, in Cleavland you had fans showing up to every game (even after it was annouced that they were leaving) and on the last game they trashed the stadium. Ripped up the bleachers and tossed them on the field, etc... As any fan in Hartford could tell you, no matter how loyal the fans are that wont stop an owner from taking the team away from them.
There are to many hockey market cities open for a franchises, I cant beleive the NHL would would want to move to an already over-crowded market. How are the Thrashers doing? How are the Hurricanes doing in College Basketball/NASCAR country? If there is one thing the NHL needs right now its to be in a place where people (braise yourself for this one) actually love the game of hockey, ala Winnipeg, Hartford.
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Post by joelzillmanwpg on Apr 4, 2005 19:52:47 GMT -5
In regards to the NHL in Houston... The state of Texas has proven time and time again that it CAN support pro hockey, unlike states like Florida, Arizona, Gerorgia, Carolinas, Tennesse, etc.. Putting a team in Dallas, TX was a bad idea and?...... The Houston Texans have proven that NFL football is stronger than ever in the region. The Aeros AHL team constantly draws better crowds than most of the teams in the league, the WHA Aeros were one of the more sucessful teams, and the Houston CHL teams were sucessful. I wouldn't be bragging about Cleveland fans trashing their own stadium. I'm sure some of those "fans" were the same morons who tossed beer bottles, weapons, etc. on the field because of a reverse call in the 4th quarter during a 2001 NFL game. If I can remember correctly, the game was called off with 3 minutes left, because the players and referees feared for their lives. How classy! Dallas Stars are doing fine in football country. The Bruins are doing fine in RedSox nation. You should put hockey where it works. Houston has proven time and time again that a pro hockey team would be a sucess. The same cannot be said for markets in Phoenix, Atlanta, Miami, Anaheim, Raleigh, Nashville, and Phoenix. You are comparing apples to oranges...
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Post by thebandit on Apr 4, 2005 22:12:10 GMT -5
Actually the Aeros aren't very popular in Houston.
And I don't really blame Houston sports fans for that. Why should they care about the Minnesota Wild prospects? And they're a big-league town for sports... not a little league one.
There are rich people who want the NHL in Houston, and that should concern us a great deal.
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Post by HartfordWhalers on Apr 5, 2005 8:16:22 GMT -5
You are comparing apples to oranges...[/quote]
The same could be said for you. Your entire argument is if a city supports minor league hockey then they will (w/out any doubt) support an NHL franchise.
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Post by joelzillmanwpg on Apr 5, 2005 20:35:24 GMT -5
The same could be said for you. Your entire argument is if a city supports minor league hockey then they will (w/out any doubt) support an NHL franchise. The WHA was "minor league"? News to me....
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Post by joelzillmanwpg on Apr 5, 2005 20:43:59 GMT -5
Actually the Aeros aren't very popular in Houston. Whats your point? The Moose aren't very popular in Winnipeg, the Roadrunners are not popular at all in Edmonton, the Wolfpack is not popular in Hartford... I agree. However, they are 12th of the 28 AHL teams in average attendance. Not bad for a city that "won't support hockey". I wish the people of Houston all the luck of the world in landing an NHL team, along with our Jets. Winnipeg and Houston deserve NHL teams! For further info. for the naysayers, check out this website about Pro Hockey in Houston: www.houstonhockey.net
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