Sports in Canadian culture - Page 181

GlassCity · #**3601** Posted **Jun 24, 2015, 9:15 PM**

^Haven't heard anything about it yet (I'm just copying stuff from Twitter)

Portland and Milwaukee have apparently both shown interest lately as well.

Berklon · #**3602** Posted **Jun 24, 2015, 9:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by esquire

Anyone stepping up for Hamilton/GTA?

Well for a while there was a rumour that there's some rich guy that wants to bring a team to Hamilton (not Balsillie) and he was just keeping a very low profile.

If he's real, we should be hearing about him pretty soon. Otherwise, the dream is officially over - even though most Hamiltonians considered it dead after the whole Coyotes/Balsillie fiasco anyway.

osmo · #**3603** Posted **Jun 25, 2015, 4:04 AM**

This is all rigged for Vegas to enter the league.

Oilkountry · #**3604** Posted **Jun 25, 2015, 6:01 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Berklon

Well for a while there was a rumour that there's some rich guy that wants to bring a team to Hamilton (not Balsillie) and he was just keeping a very low profile.

If he's real, we should be hearing about him pretty soon. Otherwise, the dream is officially over - even though most Hamiltonians considered it dead after the whole Coyotes/Balsillie fiasco anyway.

They wont move a team into First Ontario Centre. A commitment would have to be made for a new Arena. Good luck getting Hamilton on board with that. especially when The city itself would be quit low on the NHL's scale to begin with.

mistercorporate · #**3605** Posted **Jun 25, 2015, 6:05 AM**

First Quebec City, then Vegas I would imagine (not a hockey expert, but I am a betting man!!)

JHikka · #**3606** Posted **Jun 25, 2015, 6:06 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by osmo

This is all rigged for Vegas to enter the league.

Nothing is rigged. It's an outstanding possible market.

Quote:

Anyone stepping up for Hamilton/GTA?

Seems unlikely at this point, however; because the NHL is simply opening the process it means, theoretically-speaking, nothing is stopping a possible owner from going to the NHL with $500M and an NHL-arena to play in. Doesn't have to be currently standing, but it needs to have thorough plans.

Vegas and Quebec are the only two places right now with ownership, arena, and enough money to directly sway the NHL for expansion. The biggest issue right now is resolving the issue in Phoenix and whether the Coyotes relocate to one of these two cities prior to expansion or to a possible third suitor after expansion.

Trevor3 · #**3607** Posted **Jun 25, 2015, 1:55 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by osmo

This is all rigged for Vegas to enter the league.

Obviously the NHL is really big on Las Vegas, and for good reason. It's a large market with a huge tourist presence that attracts a lot of visitors from the northern states and Canada and has no major professional sports franchise.

In that sense it's similar to Columbus, Ohio when they were awarded the Blue Jackets. A metro of 1+ million people that was completely forgotten on the pro sports landscape. The NHL moves in and gains that market. Will hockey work in Vegas I have my doubts. It is failing in Phoenix, which is much larger, and in south Florida, not to mention Atlanta x2. Struggled to survive in places like Raleigh, Nashville, etc...

The thing about expansion processes is that they open the door to some crazy things. We all know that Vegas, Seattle, and Quebec City are on the table, and someone will emerge as a bidder from Toronto/Hamilton. But once the door is opened and the NHL starts accepting bids, potential owners wake up and get involved. Cities emerge that weren't on the table before - like Norfolk in 1997.

Hartford is/was looking at a major stadium redevelopment which could give a glimmer of hope to a Whalers rebirth, unlikely as it is. But the willingness of the city to look at major spending on a stadium could give it a leg-up on a place like Seattle.

Houston and Oklahoma City were 2 others that lost out in 1997. I don't see either as likley this time around but we could see bids from Kansas City or Portland (as mentioned by posters earlier). Maybe some unconventional bids could come forward like Austin, TX.

Once formal expansion begins, all bets are off. Stuff gets real once there's a legitimate shot at bringing a major pro team to town.

esquire · #**3608** Posted **Jun 25, 2015, 2:15 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trevor3

Maybe some unconventional bids could come forward like Austin, TX.

That would make sense, while at the same time being hilarious as the NHL would then be the pro sports league that specializes in being a sideshow to major NCAA programs in places that are 100% committed to college sports (Columbus and Raleigh are already in this category).

Let's face it, genuine interest in the NHL is marginal in those two markets, and it would be in Austin too. As hard as it may be for many Canadians to believe, people in those places don't really care about the "MAJOR LEAGUE" label and will continue to obsess over their college teams while the NHL provides a way for expats and bored locals to kill time in the NCAA offseason.

Acajack · #**3609** Posted **Jun 25, 2015, 2:45 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by esquire

That would make sense, while at the same time being hilarious as the NHL would then be the pro sports league that specializes in being a sideshow to major NCAA programs in places that are 100% committed to college sports (Columbus and Raleigh are already in this category).

Let's face it, genuine interest in the NHL is marginal in those two markets, and it would be in Austin too. As hard as it may be for many Canadians to believe, people in those places don't really care about the "MAJOR LEAGUE" label and will continue to obsess over their college teams while the NHL provides a way for expats and bored locals to kill time in the NCAA offseason.

Yessir. There are a number of markets in the U.S. where the local NCAA football team rivals the local NFL team for popularity.

esquire · #**3610** Posted **Jun 25, 2015, 6:41 PM**

Raptors D-League team is going to be in Mississauga, playing at the Hershey Centre

http://www.torontosun.com/2015/06/24...-d-league-team

This minor league affiliate in the same town as the parent club thing is really catching on...

bomberguy · #**3611** Posted **Jun 26, 2015, 12:58 AM**

Trey Lyles from Saskatoon drafted #12 in the 2015 NBA draft.

Mister F · #**3612** Posted **Jun 26, 2015, 1:16 AM**

Vegas is a terrible market for the NHL. There's a reason that no other professional sports teams are there. The vast majority of fans that show up to NHL games are locals. You can't build a professional team on expats and tourists.

Expanding isn't going to fix the Phoenixes and Floridas of the league, especially if it's to a basketcase-in-waiting like Vegas. And in 2025 when the NHL expands to Albuquerque and Reno it's not going to help either.

esquire · #**3613** Posted **Jun 26, 2015, 3:15 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mister F

Vegas is a terrible market for the NHL. There's a reason that no other professional sports teams are there. The vast majority of fans that show up to NHL games are locals. You can't build a professional team on expats and tourists.

Expanding isn't going to fix the Phoenixes and Floridas of the league, especially if it's to a basketcase-in-waiting like Vegas. And in 2025 when the NHL expands to Albuquerque and Reno it's not going to help either.

A team in Vegas today is a team that's in North York or Saskatoon in 10 years. We as Canadians should be applauding this and encouraging expansion to smaller and smaller sunbelt outposts!

Welkin · #**3614** Posted **Jun 26, 2015, 3:28 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by JHikka

Nothing is rigged. It's an outstanding possible market.

Seems unlikely at this point, however; because the NHL is simply opening the process it means, theoretically-speaking, nothing is stopping a possible owner from going to the NHL with $500M and an NHL-arena to play in. Doesn't have to be currently standing, but it needs to have thorough plans.

Vegas and Quebec are the only two places right now with ownership, arena, and enough money to directly sway the NHL for expansion. The biggest issue right now is resolving the issue in Phoenix and whether the Coyotes relocate to one of these two cities prior to expansion or to a possible third suitor after expansion.

There is a reason that Vegas does not have a major sports team. Vegas has the greatest entertainment options in the world. The competition for the entertainment dollar is more intense in Las Vegas than any place on the globe. Sports teams do not survive off tourists. You need a committed base of loyal, long-term fans. Vegas is not a town for long-term residents. It is a get-in-make-money-leave type of town. Also, most NHL, NBA, MLB events are geared towards fans going to games after work, but in Vegas most people work in the evenings. No, Vegas is great for one-off big events (All-Star games, Boxing matches, etc.) not trying to fill 18,000 seats, 41 times a year. Will Vegas get a team? Sure, they have lots of money and they gave a team to Miami, so the NHL has no standards. However, just like Phoenix, Atlanta and Miami it will have very poor attendance and loose tons of money. But hey, except for the house, loosing tons of money on foolish endeavors is what Vegas is all about.

JHikka · #**3615** Posted **Jun 26, 2015, 5:20 AM**

Quote: