will they move?
where?
i say hamilton
2007-05-26 07:16:59 · 10 answers · asked by SEAN AVERY!!! 2 in Sports ➔ Hockey
probably not, the NHL doesnt want a team there, and the owner wants to put it in Waterloo, which the NHL hates even more...I think the team will probably end up staying in Nashville for a while, but if the owner wants to move the team soon, look for Kansas or Winnipeg...
2007-05-26 08:45:11 · answer #1 · answered by Sens Enforcer 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A lot will depend on the arena lease in Nashville...most cities make teams sign longterm deals with huge financial penalties if they break the lease. I believe the Nashville deal is through the 2010 season (not positive but I am pretty sure) so moving in 2 or 3 seasons seems the most likely. The new owner is known to want to move a team to Canada (Hamilton specifically) which is why he didnt buy the Penguins so it seems like a good bet he will attempt to move them to Hamilton as soon as it makes financial sense. The wildcard will be the other owners and Hamiltons proximity to other NHL cities....they get a say in any move and if any team fears losing fans to a team in Hamilton then he has a fight on his hands (and Buffalo and Pittsburgh will surely bring this issue up). Eventually the team will end up in a Canadien city because A: who the new owner is....and B: they dont get a lot of support in Nashville to begin with. Now it is a matter of getting a stadium to meet the NHL standards and getting approval to move from a majority of the other owners with Hamilton being the frontrunner and Manitoba and Winnepeg also getting consideration.
2007-05-26 08:48:09 · answer #2 · answered by viphockey4 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I bet they move. Basically, to be allowed out of their lease, they have to have 2 consecutive season averaging under 14,000 in paid tickets. This year they averaged about 13,500, but their numbers rose towards the end of the year. I'm betting Balsillie will gut the team, similar to the way St. Louis did a couple years ago. This will pretty much guarantee that they stay under the 14,000 average and make them able to move before the 2008/2009 season.
Balsillie supposedly ducked out of the Pittsburgh deal because the NHL wouldn't allow him to move the franchise. Now if Balsillie wanted to buy a franchise and keep it where it was, why would he get Nashville. They were one of the best teams in the league and still couldn't make money. They had no corporate support, and I could never imagine Nashville being a good hockey town.
Think about it. We know he was interested in moving a team to Canada. He bought a team with a lot of young potential. He bought a team that can easily be moved after one season. Can you think of any reason why he would keep this team in Nashville?
As far as where the team will be moving though, I have no clue. I think he would like to move them to the Waterloo/Kitchener area, but there is no way the NHL will allow anyone to tamper with the Toronto fan base. My best guess is that they go to Winnipeg.
2007-05-26 10:35:20 · answer #3 · answered by redwingsrthebest19 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They will move.
If Basillie buys them they will most likely to Southern Ontario. There is a rumor that RIM bought a big piece of land just off the 401 in Cambridge (Kitchener-Waterloo region).
To those who think Winnipeg is a better option than Southern Ontario needs a lesson in Canadian popualtion distribution. I would love to see a team in Winnipeg but it is going to have to be a Winnipeg billionare to bring one there.
I have heard that the league is against a second team in Southern Ontario but it may be hard for the league to explain to the other owners why they ruined a deal that would stop equalization payments to Nashville and set the value of NHL franchises at 220 million.
2007-05-26 13:36:50 · answer #4 · answered by sensfantodd 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree there is no way they move to Hamilton. Way to close to Toronto and Buffalo. Plus that would make 3 teams in south eastern Ontario. I think the best bet is Winnipeg. Winnipeg would be considered the western conference right?
2007-05-26 10:51:06 · answer #5 · answered by Thy Sens Fan 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think the Predators are going anywhere. Look for the Edmonton Oilers to move to Kansas City. Houston has a slim outside chance.
2007-05-26 10:22:17 · answer #6 · answered by Awesome Bill 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Balsilie will move the team to Winnipeg after a feasability study shows Kitchener-Waterloo wont work.
2007-05-26 09:12:43 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Kitchener-Waterloo Waterbuffalos anybody?
2007-05-26 08:48:40 · answer #8 · answered by mAD~mOD 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It looks like the Owners will approve the sale then he is free to move them wherever he wants. Sad but True. My guess is Quebec City or Winnipeg
2007-05-26 09:49:38 · answer #9 · answered by Doc Hollywood 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
i think that they'll stay in nashville for a few years and then possibly make a move. winnipeg or kansas city are my guesses
2007-05-26 07:36:19 · answer #10 · answered by shwubbster 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋