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Apr 6, 2005 10:04:45 GMT -5
Post by RemyShanx on Apr 6, 2005 10:04:45 GMT -5
Winnipeg, Hartford, Quebec, and even Hamilton...
do you think any other Canadian cities could survive in a new NHL?
Maybe Victoria picks up a team? I've heard people mention Saskatoon/Regina...
Any cities on the east coast?
I'm just curious as to what other cities, or why you think some of the cities I mention would or would not work...
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Apr 6, 2005 13:05:45 GMT -5
Post by jamiebez on Apr 6, 2005 13:05:45 GMT -5
Actually, I don't think Hamilton or Quebec cut it either Hamilton could probably support a team - even in Copps Coliseum (with upgrades), but Buffalo will prevent it from happening. Quebec has no suitable arena. And not to knock the fans there, but they didn't do nearly as much to keep their team as we did, either. I could be wrong, but I feel like their attitude is the same as a lot of naysayers in Winnipeg: "We had a team once & it was awesome, but we could never afford one again, so why bother". They need a Darren Ford to drum up support. ;D Saskatoon, Regina, Victoria, Halifax, London, etc just don't have the population base to support more than the CHL. And PS: Remi, Hartford's not in Canada, dude.
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Apr 6, 2005 21:29:06 GMT -5
Post by joelzillmanwpg on Apr 6, 2005 21:29:06 GMT -5
Actually, I don't think Hamilton or Quebec cut it either sure they could. In the state the NHL is in right now, they will completely ignore any "territorial" issues arising. that could change in the next 5 years... correct. None of these cities would have a hope in landing an NHL team. And PS: Remi, Hartford's not in Canada, dude. [/quote]
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Post by thebandit on Apr 7, 2005 0:34:27 GMT -5
The POPULATION of a city has nothing to do with an NHL team. It's how many die-hard hockey fans you have. (Isn't that what you guys tell people who say Wpg can't get a team back because it's "too small"?)
It would have sounded a lot better if you had said they don't have the corporate support or arena for an NHL team.
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Post by USApegger on Apr 7, 2005 3:43:39 GMT -5
Population is a huge determing factor almost regardless of fans. Take Sask vs KC. to me this is a no brainer, i would rather have it 1/2 to 3/4 full than depend on the next fundraising drive for the team there. Population is corporate and fans.
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Post by jamiebez on Apr 7, 2005 9:28:49 GMT -5
The POPULATION of a city has nothing to do with an NHL team. It's how many die-hard hockey fans you have. (Isn't that what you guys tell people who say Wpg can't get a team back because it's "too small"?) It would have sounded a lot better if you had said they don't have the corporate support or arena for an NHL team. The higher the population of a city, the larger the corporate support (in general), so saying the population is too small is the same as saying the corporate support isn't there. This is one thing that I actually disagree somewhat with Darren on. Population IS somewhat relevant, because it goes hand-in-hand with corporate support. People seem to neglect the fact that corporations buy more than just luxury suites and club seats. Large companies buy significant numbers of seats as swag for employees and customers. It's not just hockey fans buying tickets - its the big corporations, too. This is how Carolina stays (barely) alive - they have huge high-tech and tobacco industries that are buying tickets, because the Canes are the only pro game in town. No doubt, Winnipeg with 700,000 people and a good-sized corporate base will be fine. My point is, I don't think you can go any smaller than this and still make a go of it.
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Post by jamiebez on Apr 7, 2005 9:35:15 GMT -5
sure they could. In the state the NHL is in right now, they will completely ignore any "territorial" issues arising. I've gone off on the Hamilton thing before, and I still don't think they have a chance. I lived there for two years. The big pluses are that they have an arena that is a good size, and can be renovated. And they have a large number of potential local owners. The big minuses are that the City of Hamilton (not counting Burlington) is only about 450,000, and the average income is quite low. People in Burlington, Oakville, etc associate themselves with Toronto, not Hamilton. They'll probably wind up at Leafs or even Marlies games more often. Plus, the corporate base in Hamilton is smaller than most cities of that size, because of their proximity to Toronto and Mississauga. And Buffalo blocked Hamilton in the 1992 Ottawa/Tampa expansion. If Hamilton gets a team, they'll wind up paying territorial rights fees to both Buffalo and Toronto. What motivation does the league have to waive those fees?
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