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Post by JETStender on Sept 23, 2009 3:12:23 GMT -5
Could the Seattle area host an NHL franchise?10:41 PM PDT on Tuesday, September 22, 2009 By CHRIS DANIELS / KING 5 News Video: Fans would love to see professional hockey in Seattle www.nwcn.com/video/index.html?nvid=401033EVERETT, Wash. – Some fans are asking that question. "I'd like to see Washington get one," said one fan at Tuesday night's National Hockey League exhibition game between the Phoenix Coyotes and Tampa Bay Lightning. The Coyotes set up the game at Everett's Comcast Arena, the first such exhibition contest in the region in more than a decade. "We had a couple players that played here," said Phoenix GM Dan Maloney. "It's one of the best junior markets in the region." "I think it's a wonderful market," agreed GM Brian Lawton, his counterpart with Tampa Bay. But both men say it's above their pay grade to talk about whether the NHL would be interested in moving a team to the region, or holding exhibition games here on a regular basis. "I think this whole Northwest area is ripe for an NHL team," said Maloney, "whether it's Seattle, Portland, here, between, good fans." "One day," said Lawton, "you never know, it's a great market, I think it would be wonderful." Don Rodenhizer of Everett, a Silvertips season ticket holder, however, is realistic about the future for the NHL in this region. KING The NHL exhibition game was between the Phoenix Coyotes and Tampa Bay Lightning. "If Seattle gets an arena that can hold hockey, you're talking about a 20,000-seat arena," said Rodenhizer. "That's the big drawback." Phoenix is currently going through bankruptcy proceedings, and a judge could allow the team to be liquidated, held, or purchased and moved. An Ontario billionaire wants to move the team to Hamilton, if the judge rules in his favor.
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Post by ianf825 on Sept 25, 2009 10:29:38 GMT -5
Portland makes more sense - it already has an NHL arena. Seattle lost the Sonics because they could not get a new arena built. Portland is a bit smaller, but it is also the largest US market with only one pro team (and larger than several others, including Kansas City, with multiple teams). I won't say there are as many hard core fans as in Winnipeg, but support for youth, high school, and junior hockey is pretty good in Portland. Don't worry, I still think Winnipeg should be #1 on the relocation list.
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Post by Ric O. on Sept 25, 2009 18:03:55 GMT -5
Require 20,000 Seats? I hope they keep believing that!
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Post by seahawksniper on Sept 30, 2009 18:11:32 GMT -5
Portland makes more sense - it already has an NHL arena. Seattle lost the Sonics because they could not get a new arena built. Portland is a bit smaller, but it is also the largest US market with only one pro team (and larger than several others, including Kansas City, with multiple teams). I won't say there are as many hard core fans as in Winnipeg, but support for youth, high school, and junior hockey is pretty good in Portland. Don't worry, I still think Winnipeg should be #1 on the relocation list. Let's be honest. Seattle lost the Sonics because David Stern screwed Seattle over. Seattle could definitely get a new arena built in an honest deal.
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Post by mrconfusion87 on Sept 30, 2009 20:44:07 GMT -5
MUCH BETTER than the likes of KC and many cities that currently have one in the southern US...
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Post by jaylon1970 on Sept 30, 2009 20:57:51 GMT -5
Portland makes more sense - it already has an NHL arena. Seattle lost the Sonics because they could not get a new arena built. Portland is a bit smaller, but it is also the largest US market with only one pro team (and larger than several others, including Kansas City, with multiple teams). I won't say there are as many hard core fans as in Winnipeg, but support for youth, high school, and junior hockey is pretty good in Portland. Don't worry, I still think Winnipeg should be #1 on the relocation list. Let's be honest. Seattle lost the Sonics because David Stern screwed Seattle over. Seattle could definitely get a new arena built in an honest deal. it wasn't stern but the people in seattle, who did not want taxpayer money to build an arena for millionaires and billionaires...
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Post by seahawksniper on Oct 1, 2009 1:55:25 GMT -5
Let's be honest. Seattle lost the Sonics because David Stern screwed Seattle over. Seattle could definitely get a new arena built in an honest deal. it wasn't stern but the people in seattle, who did not want taxpayer money to build an arena for millionaires and billionaires... Bull. Seattle offered to renovate KeyArena, but Stern and his butt-buddy Clay Bennett said it wasn't good enough. Bennett put forth only one proposal, a $500 million arena paid for entirely by taxpayers. No city would approve that, since that's about $180 million more than the Penguins' new arena will cost. Since Seattle wouldn't give in to that ridiculous proposal, Stern decided to teach them a lesson by taking their team. After the move to Oklahoma was all but a done deal, Stern said the renovations that Seattle had been willing to pay for would have worked all along. Stern's a liar and a thief, and Seattle deserved better.
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Post by ianf825 on Oct 1, 2009 12:12:43 GMT -5
Actually agree with both of you. Bennett lied to everyone, and everyone knew he was lying, including Stern. I always respected David Stern until that Seattle fiasco - really nothing more than a display of power by a petty dictator. The people of Seattle did not support a new arena in part because of the large cost overruns they already had to pay for with Safeco Field and Quest Field. The fact that a renovation to Key Arena wasn't good enough for Bennett or Stern was another reason. I still think Portland makes more sense because they could play NHL games at the Rose Garden tomorrow if they had to, and because Portland is such an underserved sports market. However, I think the NHL could succeed in both cities. How about the Coyotes to Winnipeg, the Thrashers to Quebec, the Predators to Hamilton, the Lightning to Portland, and the Panthers to Seattle (or any variation thereof)?
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Post by mrconfusion87 on Oct 22, 2009 8:23:18 GMT -5
Actually agree with both of you. Bennett lied to everyone, and everyone knew he was lying, including Stern. I always respected David Stern until that Seattle fiasco - really nothing more than a display of power by a petty dictator. The people of Seattle did not support a new arena in part because of the large cost overruns they already had to pay for with Safeco Field and Quest Field. The fact that a renovation to Key Arena wasn't good enough for Bennett or Stern was another reason. I still think Portland makes more sense because they could play NHL games at the Rose Garden tomorrow if they had to, and because Portland is such an underserved sports market. However, I think the NHL could succeed in both cities. How about the Coyotes to Winnipeg, the Thrashers to Quebec, the Predators to Hamilton, the Lightning to Portland, and the Panthers to Seattle (or any variation thereof)? While Stern should be given credit where it was due (for helping the NBA become the most popular of the 4 US Major League sports on a GLOBAL SCALE), I will never forget what he did to sabotage hockey - sending that douchebag with the initials GB to the NHL and nearly run it down to the ground! Having him allow the Seattle Supersonics move is another reason to dislike him!
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Post by jaylon1970 on Oct 22, 2009 23:21:37 GMT -5
it wasn't stern but the people in seattle, who did not want taxpayer money to build an arena for millionaires and billionaires... Bull. Seattle offered to renovate KeyArena, but Stern and his butt-buddy Clay Bennett said it wasn't good enough. Bennett put forth only one proposal, a $500 million arena paid for entirely by taxpayers. No city would approve that, since that's about $180 million more than the Penguins' new arena will cost. Since Seattle wouldn't give in to that ridiculous proposal, Stern decided to teach them a lesson by taking their team. After the move to Oklahoma was all but a done deal, Stern said the renovations that Seattle had been willing to pay for would have worked all along. Stern's a liar and a thief, and Seattle deserved better. i agree about the stern comment....he's a rat... now i know why bettman acts the way he is...
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Post by jaylon1970 on Oct 22, 2009 23:35:04 GMT -5
Actually agree with both of you. Bennett lied to everyone, and everyone knew he was lying, including Stern. I always respected David Stern until that Seattle fiasco - really nothing more than a display of power by a petty dictator. The people of Seattle did not support a new arena in part because of the large cost overruns they already had to pay for with Safeco Field and Quest Field. The fact that a renovation to Key Arena wasn't good enough for Bennett or Stern was another reason. I still think Portland makes more sense because they could play NHL games at the Rose Garden tomorrow if they had to, and because Portland is such an underserved sports market. However, I think the NHL could succeed in both cities. How about the Coyotes to Winnipeg, the Thrashers to Quebec, the Predators to Hamilton, the Lightning to Portland, and the Panthers to Seattle (or any variation thereof)? While Stern should be given credit where it was due (for helping the NBA become the most popular of the 4 US Major League sports on a GLOBAL SCALE), I will never forget what he did to sabotage hockey - sending that douchebag with the initials GB to the NHL and nearly run it down to the ground! Having him allow the Seattle Supersonics move is another reason to dislike him! it was the owners that wanted bettman.....blame the owners then...
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