Why are people so bitter to teams that move to southern part of the U.S.?

Question

All today's sports are about money, face it. Look at Basketball. I think Hockey is the one of the better sports, but not pure anymore.

I miss the Whalers, Nordiques, Northstars, etc. But the money is mostly in warmer climates.

I live in L.A., but people of the North and East think we don't know anything about hockey. So untrue, well maybe Ducks fans.

Go Kings!!!

Answer 1

Something everyone seems to forget is due to the economic forces of the late 70's, 80's and 90's there are a lot of northern born people living in the south. I'm one myself, I grew up watching hockey in in the 60"s and 70's. Admittedly the southern fans don't have the background about hockey, but many of the southern states support their teams just as fervently as Northerners and yes EVEN Canadians.

And why do people always think you have to "know something about hockey" in order to be able to watch or enjoy it? I would think hockey fans would be happy that their sport is growing, but apparently many would prefer to stick their head in the sand. Instead of complaining about it, why don't all you northern hockey "experts" help to educate others about hockey?

I'm sitting here watching the Stars - Canucks play in Dallas and you can't tell me that the fans aren't supporting or enjoying the game.

Answer 2

Because people don't know how to do research and because humans are emotional beings.

The fact of the matter is the team with the worst home attendance over the last 6 years is the NY Islanders and Chicago. Yeah, yeah, they have a crappy team, but that doesn't stop Habs fans from coming out year after year.

Know who else is in the bottom 10? New Jersey, Boston, Pittsburgh...

Guess who's in the top half of the league: Los Angeles, Columbus, Tampa Bay, and Dallas.


Ok, ok you want now, not history, I hear ya. The bottom 6 teams this year for home attendance, in order from lowest:
St. Louis
Chicago
NY Islanders
Washington
New Jersey
Boston

You ask me, the people of New Jersey don't deserve a hockey team. They've had one of the best teams over the last decade and they can't be bothered to show up.

You want to retract?

Retract from the teams with 100 year histories with fans that can be bothered to support them. Yeah, Atlanta doesn't have great attendance but we're talking about a team that's been around for less than 20 years.

Canada and the North and Midwest had a shot at making Hockey something more than 12 hicks beating the crap out of each other for 100 years and they couldn't. Let's see if someone else can enjoy the sport.

Answer 3

I live in Florida, and was born into a family that lives and dies by the Baltimore Orioles, baseball is a way of life for them. But for me I latched onto hockey since I was a little girl I grew up watching Red Wings games with my grandfather. We would sit and talk for hours he taught me about the things that make hockey so much more special than any other sport out there. The traditions and superstitions. The shere athletisism pure power and grace. Things like the code among players and sometimes we would just sit in awe watching a player's skates. But most of the time it was about some of the hockey greats. The rest of my family thanked god for Cal Ripkin Jr. I worshiped guys like Steve Yzerman and Jean Beliveau. So it is true that sports like Baseball and Football come first in Southern areas, but you can't stereotype the whole region and say that they don't deserve to have teams and don't understand the sport because there are some of us here that do live and die by hockey. Some of us who save money for months for a new pair of skates (we do have rinks here) Who spend all of their savings for season tickets and can go toe to toe with anyone on hockey facts and trivia. I have played and loved hockey since I was young and will continue to be a huge fan wherever I live. I believe that everyone has the right to enjoy one of the last pure sports left.

Answer 4

I'm with you. I live in Florida, and there are some great fans here, but you wouldn't know it listening to people up north. Some of it is stereotyping and prejudice against southerners. Mostly it is jealousy. For one thing, Carolina, Tampa, and Dallas have won three Cups since 1999. Their teams didn't those years, so they are mad. Second, some of their teams moved, and they are bitter. Nevermind the fact that Winnipeg and Quebec moved because they couldn't support their teams when they had them. Winnipeg hardly ever sold out until they found out their team was moving to Phoenix. Go figure. Then they people will go and argue that southerners don't support their fans. Well you know what? Since 2003, the Montreal Canadiens average the most fans per game. You know who is second? TAMPA!! The teams that have problems are the ones that suck, and that goes for the teams up north. Success makes a team make money. Location has little to do with it. That is why Winnipeg and Quebec failed. That is why Pittsburgh almost moved (if not for Crosby, I guarantee you they would be gone). The same thing will happen to some of the southern teams (Florida, Phoenix) if they don't turn it around, but being in the south has nothing to do with why. It is all regional bias and jealousy that spurs the whiners on about it, and that about sums it up.

Answer 5

First of all let me say I'm a Bruins fan always will be- but I'm from Connecticut. I miss the Whalers big time and I hate to see teams going to Nashville, Carolina, Florida, etc.. where they couldnt sell out a game if the franchise depended on it. Up here in the Northeast we love our hockey, more than I could say for the Southeast.

Answer 6

heres another southern point of view. first off axel6886 nailed it and congrats (your sharks beat my preds-LEGITIMATELY not afraid to admit it)... there are probably 1 too many teams in the southeast but would hate to make a call of who should go.. the L.A. area has 1 too many teams. can you justify 3 NYC area teams even though they have the fan support for them?? florida--do they have enough for 2 teams.. now thats a few perspectives based on geographics but i would hate to see any fan lose their team because my team the predators near future is still in question... this being said, this is the only city i can defend in this question.. i attended about 20 games this year and attendance was at 85% at worst at all games and this was usually thru the weekdays.. hockey is still in infancy here but i can tell you when this baby cries he is one LOUD mother f@#$%... NCAA football, NFL(titans) and NASCAR dominate the fan base obviously here, but none compare to the heckling, volume, team color and knowledge (YES I SAID KNOWLEDGE) of their respective sport as do the predator fans of the nhl... only a handfull of other teams chants can be heard over tv and radio (and im not talking about right after a goal--im talking about consistantly thru the game) as do the prednation... to any fan who says we do not deserve a team, PLEASE come to 501 broadway and see a game before you pass judgement.. after all we are the only team to incorporate country music with hockey and you should see how it has been done.. if you come, come on a night when we dont play your team that way bias will be less a factor.. now i know that seems unrealistic, but northerners and canadians seem southern hockey is unrealistic also.. but look at other sports that are moving north to expand the market NASCAR, NBA both have been successful with the exception of the nba grizzlies OUCH.. i see the lifelong hockey fans point , but take this from a relatively new fans point of view... these expansions and moves were done to broaden the market.. have they worked, maybe not in all places but as for nashville the problem isnt getting fans to the game, the problem is CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP... we have a BEAUTIFUL arena , passionate and knowledgeable fans and a market hungry for pro sports.. ALL these could be better so i will use the old addage "give it time"... so my suggestion is move a few teams around to the hungriest cities.. SALT LAKE CITY IS THE ONLY LOGICAL CHOICE FOR AN EXPANSION IN THE US NOW AS A NEW START UP TEAM... give hartford back a team (u guys got screwed) along with winnipeg and a wisconsin or northwest us team... then expand the league to about 34 teams by putting 3to 4 teams in canada where they are wanted, needed and well deserved .... after all if 16 teams are in the playoffs at least that many or more should be going home after the season so the better half of the teams are moving on.. nashville isnt exactly a hot hockey bed, but as long as we are in the playoffs and consistantly successful, hockey here should continue to grow.. the real test will come when we hit those years like the flyers had this year and they will come some day.... that should be nashvilles testament

Answer 7

I live in the south as well, and the "fans" in the south (I use this term comically) DON'T know cr*p about hockey, they cheer when their team ices the puck for crying out loud, lol. The fact is the southern teams are hated because they do NOTHING for the sport, and don't bring in money. It's stupid to move teams in hockey beds like Winnipeg to southern states, and if you disagree with this then I question your knowledge about hockey or lack there of. I'm a realist when it comes to this topic, and economically, a team in the south isn't as logical as a team in the north, which has a climate than can accommodate more fans of a sport played on ICE.

Answer 8

im from san jose area, and we are passionate about our sharks, were not that dumb to cheer for an icing either. I grew up watching hockey and playing it as well since I was 4 years old. I have never played another sport in my life either, and I am still playing hockey in a Jr.A team. I do admit california has one too many teams, the sharks sellout all the time I believe they sold out 46 of 49 home games something like that. I mean for god sakes we change the name of the street to stanley cup drive for playoffs where the sharks play, a lot of people in the bay area play hockey, and i mean a lot, whether its roller or ice hokcey is common out here and more kids choose to play it. I do agree that such teams like winnepeg deserve a team, but I know if my sharks ever left san jose that will be the day I move with them to their new city lol, thats how much we love hockey out here we get crazy at the tank. stop generalizing everyone please your only making yourself look jealous or like an azz

Answer 9

Because there is no market for Hockey like in the North.They are more comfortable with the Left Turn Sports.Hockey is a game of skill ,agility and speed.You have to turn right too.People in the North grow up playing Hockey in backyard rinks and corner arenas throughout the long winters.It's a part of their life growing up and into adulthood.There are many Northern city's that should have teams but don't I mean Three in California,Two in Florida One in Texas and Phoenix etc..? What's up with that!Think about it.GO WINGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 10

Hockey "purists" think there should only be six teams in the NHL -the original 6. They think southerners don't know anything about hockey. Especially in Tennessee. They think everyone here is like the characters in Hee Haw. There was a poster on the Preds boards that suggeted there were on 3 family lines among the 17,000 fans. How ignorant! THey just don't like hockey being in the "south"

Answer 11

It's just this...when you're Canadian...you probably LIVED hockey. You or one of your siblings probably played league hockey. You played street hockey everyday. You watched them on TV. Hockey is Canadian. But when you see LA and Florida having teams...it's like, WTF? Those people have sun and warm beaches. You don't have hockey rinks. It's a very pathetic generalization, but it just seems like hockey is the north. We've lived and breathed it up here, and having a hockey team in some warm place that wouldn't even have known what hockey was if they didn't have indoor rinks is insulting.