Why does everyone want an NHL team in Winnipeg? And Québec City, too, for that matter?

Question

I understand that Canadians want another NHL team or two, but neither Winnipeg nor Québec City could support an NHL team before. I'm not sure anything's all that different these days.

Putting a team in Halifax or Hamilton's not exactly brilliant, either. Why not put an NHL team in Regina or St. John's, while you're at it?

Personally, no matter what the current CBA/salary cap may do for them now, the fact that they left in the first place doesn't inspire a lot of confidence in me. There's a reason the teams moved in the first place, you know? And I don't think that's changed much, over the years.

Just because it's Canada isn't good enough. Give me a logical reason why there should be teams moved back to Winnipeg and Québec City. Thanks.

To Drmosesisdead:
I've been to Winnipeg. It's not any more hockey mad than the rest of Canada. And, by the way, the population of metropolitan Winnipeg is 711,000 and not expected to top 800,000 before 2015, at least.

Answer 1

Why are you just pointing to the Canadian cities for this question? I understand your point, but if you used that philosophy, then we wouldn't have the current Minnesota or Atlanta franchises, both of which previously lost teams to other cities.

I think Canadian cities like Winnipeg and others are at least on a little more equal footing than they have been in the past couple of decades simply because the Canadian dollar is competitive again. It used to be that paying players in American dollars meant a lot of extra money being spent, but it's not nearly as bad anymore.

I don't want the NHL to expand, because I think there are already too many teams. However, if they do, I think Quebec City - and maybe Winnipeg - should be given as much a shot as a city like Cleveland or a larger Western American city. I wouldn't go crazy and start putting them in smaller markets like Regina or a maritime city - or even Hamilton, since Ontario doesn't need another team - but I think the two you've used would have a shot.

Minnesota and Atlanta both seem to be doing okay the second time around, so who's to say that Winnipeg and Quebec City would fail?

My two cents, although it may be worth less than that.

Answer 2

Everyone? Doubt the NHl does as those markets are not any bigger relative to the smallest NHL markets.

Canadians do not "want" another team. Some Cdns or the media but people in Vancouver are not clamouring for the Jets and Nords to return.

The only logical economic reason would be Winterpeg now has a new modern rink which was what they were lacking. In Quebec City's case, that one is hard to sell. I love the passion of their fans but unless this CBA holds for the next 20 years, what will happen if the players regain the power and QC is again thought to be too small.

I wish both cities luck as the NHL is poorer off....but it's also poorer off w/o the Hartford Whalers, the Minnesota North Stars (the Mild are boring!), Boston Garden and Chicago Stadium.

Answer 3

The improved Canadian dollar and salary cap bode well for a team in Winnipeg.

Winnipeg is also expanded and gaining in population, so much so that the Winnipeg metro area is probably going to hit 800,000 sometime in the near future.

Winnipeg also has a new arena that could be expanded to NHL capacity althoguh selling it out as is gives it a capacity of 15,501 or something like that which would give them enough attendance to be approximately 20th in NHL attendance.

The Winnipeg based Manitoba Moose also lead the AHL in average attendance which clearly indicates that this town can support hockey.

All it takes is a visit to this city thoguh to realize that this is a hockey town, through and through.

Answer 4

I don't think it should be anything personal over Canada because i think certain cities in Canada could support a team better then some American teams (Carolina), it should be more the fact that the NHL has enough teams and does not need anymore. In the future if a team has to get moved then I dont think some cities in Canada should be ruled out. Again the NHL has enough teams so it should not be anything against Canada

Answer 5

I would desolve the NHL and create a new all Canadian league with teams in all of the cities you mentioned.
Anaheim, Florida, Dallas, Raleigh, Tampa,.... give me a break.

Otherwise, economic factors do change, why else did Minnesota get another team ? And teams are doing much better with the new CBA.

Answer 6

Quebec Already had a hockey team like 30 years ago and Minnisota sucks! Wisconsin rules

Answer 7

I agree with you. They can't support a hockey team even with the new cba. just too small a market \.