winnipeg can afford it and they alot of diehard fans,aka like me.
2007-04-03 08:22:12 · 12 answers · asked by Trey 2 in Sports ➔ Hockey
To the person who made that last point...The Minnesota North Stars existed in the early '90s and left after losing to the Pens in 92 during the Stanley Cup. Now there is the Minnesota Wild. Winnepeg needs a team, and so does Canada from an NHL stand point. Its a shame that the founding country only has 6 of 30 teams. Nashville has little hockey support and they were even thinking about moving to PIttsburgh if the Pens moved to KC, so the Preds are probably the closest to moving since the Pens have a deal now. I'd like to see Nashville move out to Winnepeg. And the great thing is, the NHL doesnt have to worry about moving teams around since Nashville is in the Western Conference and Winnepeg would be in the Western Conference again. Just dont be upset if they take 2 or 3 years to get acclimated. Good question.
2007-04-03 08:40:15 · answer #1 · answered by skeletonking83 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
With a salary cap in place now, Winnipeg would and could support a team. Same with Quebec. It was different ten years ago without the cap in place for the smaller Canadian cities. The fanbase was not the reason they were forced to move or be sold.
Unfortunately the league has more than enough teams right now. The only way Winnipeg will get a team is if one is moved. Since the Penguins look like they are now staying put, that leaves Florida, Tampa Bay, Atlanta as the most realistic teams.
2007-04-03 21:28:46 · answer #2 · answered by steve p 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It doesn't matter, unfortunately, if Winnipeg could afford to have a 25,000 seat auditorium with a state-of-the-art floor built from the T-1000 Terminator's liquid metal form and a luxury suite template to bring Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt to every game until the end of days.
The NHL has no interest in fans who like hockey, instead obsessing over those who have never been to a game and why they refuse to do so.
Bettman made it clear to Hartford fans that a team would be granted to them over his dead body, and I take it that such an invitation would be extended to other former WHA cities like Winnipeg and Quebec City. They are not locations that the NHL would ever consider putting a franchise. TV revenue (a huge factor) from Canada makes no matter to them.
Also, NHL marketing will refuse to move any of their more well-known stars to 'remote' markets outside of the USA. It's a reason why Sidney Crosby & the Penguins would not go anywhere other than Kansas City or perhaps Houston.
2007-04-04 01:39:20 · answer #3 · answered by nightbreak.geo 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Winnipeg fans deserve a hockey team, without question, but as fans for practically every sport have learned (and much to their dismay), its not about us... Hockey is a business, and while a loyal fan base is a major selling point (Nashville should be so lucky) its not enough to outweigh the benefits of other markets over Winnipeg.
The arena is not big enough, for starters. The television market is a fraction of other cities presently vying for a franchise, including St. Louis, Las Vegas, Portland/Seattle and lower Ontario.
I think the two no-brainers for the NHL are (1) moving a franchise to Vegas - a tremendous untapped market where casinos could build the biggest luxurious arena in the league without batting an eye, a big television market without competition from any other league; and (2) Ontario, within a few hours of Toronto - fans by the tens of thousands cannot find/afford Leaf tickets...and yet they have a waiting list for season tickets longer than the QEW. Thousands of true hockey fans making millions of dollars, yet they can't spend it on a hockey. Hmmm. Ask Buffalonians how much money they're offered for Sabres tickets for Leaf, Canucks, Flames, Oilers, Sens and Canadians games...
2007-04-03 16:23:52 · answer #4 · answered by jdb77 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would like to see another team in Winnipeg. I always enjoyed road trips when Flyers would visit the Minnesota North Stars, and Winnipeg Jets. There are too many cities in the US with teams nobody cares about including Columbus, Raleigh, Miami, Washington DC, and Long Island. The NHL would be much better if got back to around 24 teams. 30 is way too many.
2007-04-03 16:24:48 · answer #5 · answered by Bob D 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Winnipeg will get a new team when...
-They get a metro population over 750,000
-Build a new arena up to NHL standards
-Convert to the US Dollar
-Hell Freezes over.
They are not getting a team. Besides who would want to live in Winnipeg in the middle of winter? Good luck attracting free agents.
2007-04-03 16:55:23 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If Canada wants more teams they can only do one thing: have lots and lots of sex...
Large popular = larger market which will attract teams
2007-04-03 15:55:04 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
good move for the NHL if they do that
2007-04-03 15:29:50 · answer #8 · answered by LIGHTtheLAMP 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
canada needs another team : ).. i think they should definatley get one in Winnepeg!
2007-04-03 15:25:54 · answer #9 · answered by em 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
maybe sometime in the future, but I dont think now is the time. lol :) go leafs go! go habs go!
2007-04-03 15:33:58 · answer #10 · answered by gods creation 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋