Is there a point in having NHL teams in cities that would rather watch NASCAR?

Question

I think some cities just need to give up their team and let a real city that knows at least what a hockey puck is get the team

Answer 1

I totally agree with you. Teams like the Florida Panthers can't even make it to the playoffs or sell out their games. Its getting ridiculous. You can either make a new team in Canada or maybe even Las Vegas as Bob said in a different question. There's plenty of cities that will support their team who works hard for them and doesnt drive a car around a race track 500 times

Answer 2

First, how would anyone wanna watch NASCAR over hockey. NASCAR is the same thing for 3 hours. Hockey is so much more exciting. So yes they should get rid of their team for a more dedicated city. Drop The Puck Already

Answer 3

Not related to the NASCAR part of the question, but the NHL should retract a few teams - 20-24 teams max.

I do think more Canadian teams should exist.

Okay, I'll play hockey commissioner for a moment - here are the teams to play next year in the NHL:
Vancouver, Los Angeles, Colorado, Calgary, Edmonton
St Louis, Chicago, Detroit, Minnesota, Winnipeg
Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Quebec City, Buffalo
New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Boston, Tampa Bay

Answer 4

Some teams in those areas have done well.

Lylin M: I'd hate to break it to you but California has roughly 7 times as many people as Minnesota does, 36 million compared to 5 million. Your only city that can support a team (they do an excellent job) already has a team.

Drop the puck already!

Answer 5

Panthers can't make it to the playoffs? Who did the Avs beat for the '96 cup again? Anyways, a city needs to be chosen on whether it can draw fans and do it consistently. Who cares about the IQ (general or relating to the sport) of the city? Most of us can probably name a city with a team that we think has the dumbest fans ever, but if they have a large fan base then i would consider the franchise doing well. I don't claim to know the attendance records of most Southeast division teams, but if they were all struggling to bring fans in, rumors of them relocating would be everywhere.

Answer 6

Is there a point in having this debate everyday? Money is money, doesn't matter if it is in Raleigh NC or Pittsburgh PA. Why don't you just live with it and enjoy the game?

It is all about economics. Sure you up in Rochester, Minnesota may love hockey, but be real. LA can support four teams before you could support one.

Answer 7

Gee, you don't happen to live in Hamilton, Ontario, do you?

The bottom line is, there clearly is room for both. I do believe a team should, at some point, return to Winnipeg.

The growth of the NHL into non-traditional markets is the end result of people from the northeast and north-central US into the south and west.

Answer 8

Because Hockey Is Way Better Than Nascar watching cars go in circles...... Hockey!!!!

Answer 9

Yes, money. The Carolina Hurricanes draw great. Go look at attendance figures. Heck, Tampa is top 5 in attendance. Even Nashville draw 16,000+ a game (it's corporate sponsors that is the sticking pt there).

I love how fans and media whine about these new markets. The WORST markets last season were Chicago, Boston and St. Louis. How about concerning yourself with trad markets with bad owners (OK, StL is getting their act together slowly)?

Answer 10

Any place that would rather watch NASCAR than hockey is too dumb to be allowed to live.

Then again, there are people who go to races hoping for a crash, just as there are people who go to hockey games not caring who wins, just as long as there's a fight. These people might as well be NASCAR fans. Yes, Don Cherry, you pompous, bigoted gasbag, I'm talking about you!

Hockey is for people who can think. Unless you're a Ranger fan, in which case nothing I say here is going to do any good. (Susan Sarandon, you still look great at 61, but that blue jersey you wear is the anti-Viagra!)