Post by jason on Jan 12, 2006 15:18:15 GMT -5
It's becoming more and more likely every day that the Penguins will relocate in 2007.
Now then, 7 cities have expressed in buying the team (which were mentioned in another thread). The only 3 cities with a shot though, appear to be Houston, K.C., and Winnipeg.
Winnipeg is the best choice, of course- see my previous posts for details why.
And because Winnipeg is the best choice to put an NHL team, I expect there to be a massive backlash against the NHL if the Penguins move to Houston or Kansas City.
You see, I don't think those cities will support an NHL team, long-term at least. And even if they ARE supported, they will ALWAYS be "overshadowed" by football, baseball, basketball, and college sports (maybe even NASCAR) in those cities. ALWAYS.
So they will be, for lack of a better term, "experiment franchises"- a team in a city that the NHL hopes will "fall in love" with NHL hockey.
Anyone know what's happened in the past when the NHL has done this? 2 times out of 7 will they be successful. (San Jose and Dallas being the 2; the 7 "failures" you all know). The odds aren't with them.
If the Penguins go to K.C. or Houston and NOT Winnipeg, despite an ownership group here and an NHL-ready arena, there will be many people ticked off- and not just in Canada. The backlash will be overwhelming. It will be like the CFL expanding to an American market a year or two after they folded all of their American CFL teams.
Now then, if the Penguins go to Winnipeg and NOT K.C. and Houston- how many people do you think will be really mad and upset? I say "few".
The (few) hockey fans in K.C. will shrug their shoulders and say "Well, at least we have the Royals, Chiefs, and an awesome College sports scene."
The (few) hockey fans in Houston will shrug their shoulders and say "Well, at least we have the NFL, NBA, MLB, college sports, the AHL, and NASCAR."
Now then, 7 cities have expressed in buying the team (which were mentioned in another thread). The only 3 cities with a shot though, appear to be Houston, K.C., and Winnipeg.
Winnipeg is the best choice, of course- see my previous posts for details why.
And because Winnipeg is the best choice to put an NHL team, I expect there to be a massive backlash against the NHL if the Penguins move to Houston or Kansas City.
You see, I don't think those cities will support an NHL team, long-term at least. And even if they ARE supported, they will ALWAYS be "overshadowed" by football, baseball, basketball, and college sports (maybe even NASCAR) in those cities. ALWAYS.
So they will be, for lack of a better term, "experiment franchises"- a team in a city that the NHL hopes will "fall in love" with NHL hockey.
Anyone know what's happened in the past when the NHL has done this? 2 times out of 7 will they be successful. (San Jose and Dallas being the 2; the 7 "failures" you all know). The odds aren't with them.
If the Penguins go to K.C. or Houston and NOT Winnipeg, despite an ownership group here and an NHL-ready arena, there will be many people ticked off- and not just in Canada. The backlash will be overwhelming. It will be like the CFL expanding to an American market a year or two after they folded all of their American CFL teams.
Now then, if the Penguins go to Winnipeg and NOT K.C. and Houston- how many people do you think will be really mad and upset? I say "few".
The (few) hockey fans in K.C. will shrug their shoulders and say "Well, at least we have the Royals, Chiefs, and an awesome College sports scene."
The (few) hockey fans in Houston will shrug their shoulders and say "Well, at least we have the NFL, NBA, MLB, college sports, the AHL, and NASCAR."