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Post by Pitbull on Feb 10, 2005 5:28:54 GMT -5
If there is a prolonged lockout will the NHL still be the premier league in the world? I believe so since we all know what the NHL is and it's been around for such a long time.
I hear people say the NHL is done. Well, the league is quite old and full of history. The names and trademarks are worth enough and the Stanley Cup is one of the most recongnized trophies in the world.
A year or two or three without the NHL will cause a huge drop in fan support for which they'll spend a decade trying to regain at least but I don't think the NHL will disappear.
The WHA could startup again and a team could come to Winnipeg yet we wouldn't think they're the same as the NHL Jets. While the NHL talent pool is diluted, it's still where we'll find the premier players in the world. Well, at least up until last year.
Once the new CBA is done, we could see another league starting up giving more money to some players that would now make less in the new NHL but I think the NHL is the game, it's what every kid playing hockey wants to be in when they're older.
This isn't so much of a question but things I've thought of recently.
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Post by dreamcatcher on Feb 10, 2005 10:48:14 GMT -5
I don't think we have to worry about the league being done Pitbull. I am interested in seeing how the CBA eventually pans out though.
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Post by Pitbull on Feb 10, 2005 13:53:49 GMT -5
I know that. But haven't you heard that from other people? I just think it's all silly.
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Post by NewJets on Feb 11, 2005 11:27:34 GMT -5
A New NHL should minus the following:
Columbus Nashville Phoenix Tampa Bay Florida Anahiem Pittsburgh Atlanta
And then add the following:
WINNIPEG!!!!!
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Post by blackthorne on Feb 11, 2005 11:41:06 GMT -5
(sigh) Columbus is a great market I'm tired of hearing people say Columbus should relocate or fold... look- just because you've never heard of the city doesn't mean it isn't a great hockeytown!
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Post by Pitbull on Feb 11, 2005 14:14:23 GMT -5
I think Winnipeg and Portland should get teams.
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Post by RemyShanx on Feb 11, 2005 14:18:51 GMT -5
A New NHL should minus the following: Columbus Nashville Phoenix Tampa Bay Florida Anahiem Pittsburgh Atlanta And then add the following: WINNIPEG!!!!! Columbus?!? They sell out every night... If I'm not mistaken... Great young team with experience where it counts. Tampa, I'm kinda split on... With the Stanley Cup win... it could cause a hell of a lot more people to attend games in the next few years. I think it could spark the interest and that interest could last quite a few years. even if they start to go downhill. Although, it won't be a long lasting market if the team starts to drop. It will be based on performance after a few years. The buzz wears off, and people again stop attending. I agree, yet disagree with Tampa... I dunno... I'm an idiot that way ;D
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Post by NewJets on Feb 11, 2005 14:24:11 GMT -5
(sigh) Columbus is a great market I'm tired of hearing people say Columbus should relocate or fold... look- just because you've never heard of the city doesn't mean it isn't a great hockeytown! Great market? ? Hello? ? Columbus is out dude. Don't worry, I've heard of the city and even went so far as to have GONE there, bud. However, I know a 'hockey town' when I see one and Columbus ain't it. Besides, we all want the Jets to be back, right? So, what do you care if Columbus stays or goes?
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Post by Pitbull on Feb 11, 2005 14:31:06 GMT -5
Give Columbus a few years chance though. I truly never knew or understood why they got an expansion team yet Winnipeg was never considered, but then I do understand.
We'll know about Columbus when the NHL starts back up again.
Go Jets Go
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Post by RemyShanx on Feb 11, 2005 14:45:35 GMT -5
Great market? ? Hello? ? Columbus is out dude. Don't worry, I've heard of the city and even went so far as to have GONE there, bud. However, I know a 'hockey town' when I see one and Columbus ain't it. Besides, we all want the Jets to be back, right? So, what do you care if Columbus stays or goes? Selling out 56 nights in a row (18,000) isn't a great hockey town? They are making a profit. Look at the team they have... a salary of 24 Million USD. Thats pretty damn good. It will be a few years like Pitbull said. They aren't making the playoffs yet, but still selling out. The demand is there, a great fan base. Imagine when they DO make the playoffs! It is a great market for hockey...
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Post by blackthorne on Feb 11, 2005 14:47:05 GMT -5
They have one of the best NHL arenas too.
Light-years ahead of the MTS Centre... check it out on the 'net.
No I don't care if Columbus stays or goes, but they're not going anywhere. They are a great NHL hockey city.
It shocks me too, it really does.
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Post by RemyShanx on Feb 11, 2005 14:53:16 GMT -5
Ahhh, thats what I forgot to add. A great new facility to play in!
Personally, when the 4 teams were expanded into the NHL (Atlanta, Nashville, Columbus, Minnesota) Columbus was always my favourite. Something about the croud and the way they played.
I would be a bit angry if they left, but it wouldn't be such a big deal. We had our team ripped away with wicked attendence. They sell out 18,000!! 56 times in a row I might add. They aren't even a contender yet. Just imagine the hurt they would have...
Imagine what could be from Columbus!!
but still.. GO JETS GO!
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Post by blackthorne on Feb 11, 2005 14:55:22 GMT -5
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Post by NewJets on Feb 11, 2005 17:07:14 GMT -5
Who cares.
Hockey doesn't need Columbus.
Maybe there is nothing to do there so people shell out cash to see hockey.
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Post by Pitbull on Feb 11, 2005 17:27:47 GMT -5
Hey, as long as people are shelling out cash to see their home team, they deserve a team. If Columbus is selling out each game, then that means they want and deserve one.
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Post by Ducky on Feb 11, 2005 19:51:56 GMT -5
(sigh) Columbus is a great market I'm tired of hearing people say Columbus should relocate or fold... look- just because you've never heard of the city doesn't mean it isn't a great hockeytown! Yeah, doesn't anyone follow hockey? What I hear Columbus has more money and industry in contrast to Cleveland. I think the NHL landed themselves a gem of a market there, seriously. THey established a fan base before any other pro sports league will. Besides Ohio does know there hockey and it ain't a southern american team. I do still think however a big city like Houston will land a team if Dallas stays around. And either Portland or Seattle will have a franchise.
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Post by Ducky on Feb 11, 2005 20:04:18 GMT -5
I also think the players association may get into partnership with the WHA or start another league.
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Post by Yar on Feb 11, 2005 21:42:09 GMT -5
columbus is a great nhl market. i never thought they would be but they are. i think that franchise has a bright future with a franchise player like rick nash. they will do good. the only wuestion is how will the long lockout effect the city's support for the team?
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Post by Hardcoresuperstar on Feb 12, 2005 16:57:45 GMT -5
My brother was in Columbus for the World Cup exhibition, Canada vs US. I believe he said it was a sell out. But, there were a ton of Canadian fans. I am quite sure that Columbus has a high Canadian population. I am not quite sure if this is the reason why they have had such good attendance...because there are a lot of old Canadians in Phoenix and Florida and we know how they sell down there. Columbus might also have great attendance because they are in one of he most highly populated states.
To me, Columbus is not much more different than Philly, Chicago, Detroit, or New Jersey. People always lump them with Florida, Tampa, Nashville, Anaheim when they should not. Take a look at a map, they are close to Southern Ontario, relatively speaking. I group them with the Northeastern US teams, where I believe that hockey has a place in the lives of people like you and me.
If they have sold out 50 some straight times, with a crappy hockey team, I would say that they deserve it.
Also, we hear over and over again about the attendance in the South. Yet, attendace has sucked in Chicago for years, basically since the United Center was built. Yet, no one has ever mentioned that the Blackhawks should move. Shouldn't we be lumping Chicago into the categories with Carolina and Florida??
Basically, my point is that because they are a new franchise, it doesn't mean that they do not deserve hockey. They have proved to the NHL that they belong.
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Post by jetblood on Feb 13, 2005 16:28:43 GMT -5
Thats true i see no problem with Columbis if they have die hard hockey fans that sell out everynight then they deserve to be kept there. Teams like Nashville, Tampa, Phonix, etc. give me a break.
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