Could you see an NHL team in Anchorage, Alaska? Why or why not?

Question

Anchorage, Alaska only has one professional sport team, the Anchorage Aces which is a minor league hockey team which is affiliated with the West Coast Hockey League. They currently play at Sullivan Arena that can host around 6,400 guest per game.

My question is, could you see a NHL team in Anchorage, Alaska? Why or why not?

If you say yes, why do you think an NHL team could be beneficial to Anchorage?

If you say no, why do you think an NHL team could not be beneficial to Anchorage?

Answer 1

No, for a couple reasons:

1. Not a big enough fan base. Last time I checked Caribou we really not all that big of fans
2. Corporate Sponsors, Oil companies can only do so much. Again Caribou aren't that big of fans
3. Players. Unless you want washed up garbage not that many high end players would want to sign that far away. Can you imagine a road trip from Alaska to Florida. Way to long. On the other side of it, what team would want to fly all that way
4. The NHL and NHLPA would'nt buy into it. They want large market, where their franchises will make tonnes of money. That is all happening on the eastern seaboard of the US. Winnipeg will be the most north you will see a new team.

Answer 2

While I don't think it is likely, I think Anchorage could be a diamond in the rough.. The Aces have won 2 Kelly Cups since 2006 and rank second in the ECHL in term of playoff victories with 76.. While it is true that there isn't a huge fan base up there, something makes me want to say if you give Anchorage an NHL team it would have no problem supporting it, hockey is pretty big up there considering what the weather is like in the winter in that state. Putting an NHL team in Anchorage would give the people something to do something to support, if Seattle get's awarded a team (which I think they will), it will create an obvious rivalry with an Anchorage team and Vancouver and I think that the 3 markets are far enough apart not to effect each other in terms of television ratings. Now, as far a travel is concerned I see your point as it is a fair one. For Seattle and Vancouver I don't think it would be too big of a deal, even the flight from LA to Anchorage or Denver to Anchorage is not bad seeing as I've made both many times. In terms of playing the teams down south or in New York, that's a bit different. The team would probably have to do a road series hitting all the teams in that area consecutively before coming back home. I think it is a slight road block but one that could be overcome. We will have to wait and see, but I think if you gave that city a chance with any Pro Team it would have to be Hockey. And in terms of players signing to play in Anchorage...Ever been to Alaska in Summer, it's absolutely gorgeous, personally I would gladly accept an opportunity to play in a city that has untamed wilderness out side your back door, but I'm slightly biased considering my parents worked and lived in Denali and attended as many Aces/UAA hockey games they could.

Answer 3

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RE:
Could you see an NHL team in Anchorage, Alaska? Why or why not?
Anchorage, Alaska only has one professional sport team, the Anchorage Aces which is a minor league hockey team which is affiliated with the West Coast Hockey League. They currently play at Sullivan Arena that can host around 6,400 guest per game.

My question is, could you see a NHL team in...

Answer 4

They couldn't put a team there. If a team was there it would have to be able to draw over 15,000 people per game. This would most likely not happen due to the population on anchorage. ITravel for a new team and the rest of the other teams in the NHL would also be a problem. It is over 1300 miles from the closest current NHL team. A NHL team would be beneficial to Anchorgage if it could stay in business but it wouldn't be beneficial to the NHL so there will never be a team there.

Answer 5

No, it's the corporations that lease luxury boxes that pay the bills for NHL teams. Joe 6-pack who buys a walk-up ticket in the nosebleed section is just there to add some atmosphere. Anchorage is just not a head-office type town. A city like Columbus make not be so large, but it's got plenty of companies that need to take people out on the town.

Answer 6

I say no not because of Anchorage but because of the NHL, if the team is not in a big US market therefore the jerks at the NHL would not want to give one to Anchorage. Think of it this way there are many Canadian cities that can support an NHL team better than most American cities (not saying Americans fans are bad but Canadian fans would fight for tickets to see a bad team) but because the NHL wants teams to go to big American markets with big tv contract those Canadian cities don't get a team. now while Anchorage could support an NHL team I don't see a big tv contract coming from a team there.

Answer 7

Unless there is another gold rush and discovery of oil up in those parts, and the population of Anchorage grows increasingly faster than that of Las Vegas, then no major league franchise whatsoever can exist there. The NHL would require at least 17,000 fans or more to support it, based on the population of the city. The Aces are about as much as the city can support.

Go Aces, Go

Answer 8

Team Alaska Hockey

Answer 9

No, first off they don't have a biggest enough arena, or not enough support and likely both, by your numbers. The NHL would NEVER give a city a team for 6,400 fans. Second they don't have a pro sports team; you said it is a MINOR league team, that isn't pro. Last they wouldn't get one because the travel aspect alone.

Answer 10

It is just not realistic to think that they would put a NHL team there. Population and the desire to play there would be huge factors against it.

They could put and AHL team there, because those games usually draw 8500-10,000 people. The AHL is the best affaliate minor league.