also, as i was reading an ESPN article (which made a lame attempt to try to cover the subject ... which is kinda why i'm taking the lazy route and asking the question ... but i also want to know your opinions and rumors), i came across an interesting "claim" ...
Canadian teams account for a third of the league’s revenue. Surprising? Not at all. I’m just impressed w/ that number. Just further evidence supporting a team in Hamilton vice K.C.
2007-07-23 05:25:53 · 4 answers · asked by you 6 in Sports ➔ Hockey
Btw, please do not infer that I am supporting that the Preds leave Nashville. I think they have some very loyal fans. I just wish they had more so that this wouldn’t be an issue. However, if they DO move, I think Hamilton is a tremendous (and obvious) choice.
2007-07-23 05:53:26 · update #1
If I think an article is lame, then it is lame. And it's entire body of evidence to support its claims. Only the teams know what percentage of the league revenue is attributed to the Canadian teams.
Economics aren't as simple as stating that the supposed truth of that statement is any reason for a team to be placed in Hamilton. The numbers that I think that are more telling are uninterpretable. The city of Hamilton has not had an NHL team since 1924 despite 11 cycles of expansion.
Balsillie is losing credibility by the minute. He is losing it where it counts most for him - among the team owners. If he was really taken seriously, there would be new Reebok Edge jerseys being sold in Hamilton. Besides, the Maple Leafs would not make it easy for him to place a team there.
The Predators will stay in Nashville just as the Penguins are staying in Pittsburgh.
Congratulations Nashville fans!
2007-07-23 07:12:23 · answer #1 · answered by Awesome Bill 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Well You, one thing that comes immediately to mind is the crazy amount of money that Balsillie was willing to pay for Nashville or for an expansion team. What was it for Nashville, like 220 million or something, WAY over market value, not to mention the peanalty fees he would have had to pay to re-locate. Therefore, it drives up what the value of each NHL team is. Some owners I would have to think were infuriated.
Also, it would have given the owners more money, if, as rumored they expand with 2 more teams. It would have driven up the rate of the expansion fee considerably as well.
I think Hamilton and Winnipeg need teams and those who say that Winnipeg has already failed don't understand the logistics of the whole matter.
Also, remember that Nashville has been a cash cow for the other owners, taking out of their pockets to keep them afloat.
Another reason the owners must be pi$$sed. All, except probably Toronto that is.
I have also read this "claim" about the 30% somewhere but I can't recall where. Is does make sense though since alot of revenue is generated through TV (look at the NFL) and the Canadian markets have deals with CBC, TSN and CBC. Meanwhile, I think versus paid a mere 50 million for rights and NBC paid ZERO, the NHL just made them a "partner" which is why during the play-offs, they switched over to a horse race, NBC was paying big money for that coverage.
2007-07-23 13:22:03 · answer #2 · answered by Bob Loblaw 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Last I read is that Balsillie claimed that Bettman was telling Nashville's current owners to put their talks on hold since he didn't want the possibility of the team to move a reality.
There's also a local effort in Nashville to sell more tickets for the upcoming season called "Our Team".
Personally I don't think Nashville should have a team. If they finish 3rd in the NHL and can't even bring in a solid 14k per game, then why bother pushing hockey into a market which for the most part doesn't even acknowledge it.
I live in Boston and we finished nearly last in our Conference, have been a struggling franchise the last few years, yet we bring in at least 16k per game I'm sure.
I'm all for bringing a team back to Canada. Maybe even cutting two teams out of the league. Though all I hear is Bettman wanting to expand, which makes absolutely no sense. Despite the cap going up, the league is still a mess. Some of the rules should be changed back and this trapezoid behind the crease has no business in hockey.
Bettman has to focus on advertisement and making the game look appealing to the general public. Forcing the game into markets like Las Vegas makes little sense to me. Sure they have an ECHL team... but that's the ECHL. Unless they can prove to have an interested market like Dallas has become, I don't see why the NHL should expand any more.
2007-07-23 13:11:24 · answer #3 · answered by m4t5000 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The latest I heard is that Balsille is preparing a restraint of trade lawsuit against Bettman.
2007-07-23 19:50:09 · answer #4 · answered by michinoku2001 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋