Another Quebec team? even if they aren't the nordiques, could you see another team in Quebec? what about a team in the Maritimes? how about in Winnipeg? Could Kansas City REALLY actually support a hockey team?
i know, a lot of questions at once, but just go for it :P
2007-11-19 15:37:42 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Hockey
Well Chris, I've said all along that I think it would be great if more Canadian cities had an NHL team. I don't think the NHL has anything against the idea either. And the notion that the reason more teams are popping up in the southern USA for "new" dollars isn't the complete reason. I've looked at the populations of cities that I think should have teams (Saskatoon, Victoria, Windsor, Halifax, Quebec City, Winnipeg) and found that they are smaller than most American cities.
I'm collating data for one of my spreadsheets and will send it to you when its done.
2007-11-19 19:32:46 · answer #1 · answered by Awesome Bill 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
We'll assume your 4 cities are
Kansas City, Missouri
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Quebec, Quebec
Halifax, Nova Scotia
First thing first
Kansas City is larger than the other 3 cities combined
Kansas City has the largest arena
Kansas City has the largest corporate base
Quebec and Winnipeg both supported their teams, it was due to other factors that the teams were not financially viable. Winnipeg has since built an arena which is slightly smaller than the old one. Neither city is much larger than they were 10 years ago, nor has the corporate landscape changed (and in Quebec it has actually worsened).
Kansas City on the other hand
- has doubled since the NHL left in 1976
- has successfully supported minor league hockey
- has an arena that seats 18,000
- has had a corporate renaissance in the last 20 years (the Chiefs have made money every year of their existance)
The problem with Kansas City............it doesn't support losers. The Kansas City Scouts made money, but in their second year, the fans stopped coming. In the 1970s and 1980s, the Kansas City Royals were one of MLB's most successful franchises on the field and at the bank. Recently, they have been struggling both on the field and off the field.
Kansas City has had a long history of supporting hockey - Michel Plasse scored the very first professional goal as a goaltender for the Kansas City Blues in the early 70s, the Kansas City Blades were a successful minor leagu franchise for the San Jose Sharks in the mid 90s.
Of the four you mentioned, Kansas City has what it takes to be successful.................but will they?
2007-11-20 00:06:50 · answer #2 · answered by Like I'm Telling You Who I A 7 · 4⤊ 3⤋
First off, the NHL doesn't need expantion, it needs to get rid of a few teams. And put teams into markets that are hockey savy. Quebec and Winnipeg would be ideal locations, seeing as both lost teams that where not losing fans. It was cost that killed both. But now with the revenue sharing, both cities would have successful franchises.
Now, I hope KC can get a team. That would help Detroit get into the Eastern Conf. where they belong. I was rooting for the Pens to move, just for that reason alone.
2007-11-20 05:48:47 · answer #3 · answered by Justin R 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I can see another team in Quebec, but whether it'll happen or not in the next decade, I don't know. Maritimes....maybe. But I don't think too many people on EST or PST would watch a hockey game when the sun would be up. It'll be too much of a change too suddenly, I think. But then again, not too many people in the Maritimes to give up money to support the team. Maybe they should adopt what the Leafs are doing and have a specialty channel devoted solely on that team. I think the people there will buy into that. At least then, it'll be to keep a product running and not just to get money for the sake of being richer.
Kansas City, no way. Not as many people and definitely not as many people who even knows what hockey is. It'll never sell there.
I've lost track of this, but the Manitoban Conservatives said that they would bring an NHL team back to Winnipeg if elected in their provincials back in spring. I don't have a clue who won...maybe I should look it up. lol
2007-11-19 23:45:15 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
I don't think Kansas City could support an NHL team in the long run. I would love Winnipeg or Quebec City to get their teams back, or even Hamilton to get a NHL franchise (if Jim Ballsille ever gets approval to buy a team). Here is the catch though. If expansion came to be, U.S. cities may get the nod over Canadien cities. One reason is to get a better U.S. TV deal. The other is to allow financial stability to U.S. markets. If you put a team in a prosperous Canadien city (with the strength of the Canadian dollar) revenues for the leauge will skyrocket. That means the salary cap will increase as well as the salary cap floor, the bare minimum that teams must spend to ensure that the players get 55% of the revenues as agreed upon in the new CBA. Some teams in the U.S. may file for bankrupcy if too much revenues come into the leauge because fan support isn't there (Nashville, New Jersey, Florida, St. Louis).
2007-11-20 00:41:06 · answer #5 · answered by tdogg29 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
lity i have to disagree with you. as someone that has lived in the area and has strong family ties in the area i have to say they will not support a NHL team for long. corp sponsorships with sprint and such may help it last longer but it will be with Nashville in attendance. in many ways size of the city doesn't matter. can have a city of 40000 fill a arena nightly if the desire is there. as with any city there hockey fans there but not 20000 worth that will pay to see every game. i remember during the lock out on a fri night going to a outlaws game and maybe there was 1000 people there but that would be high estimate and tickets where basically given away. know the corp money isn't there in other cities but fans are. how do we convince ownership of this. that its the fans that its really about.
2007-11-20 04:00:28 · answer #6 · answered by Jay Argentina 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Quebec? Sure, why not.
Maritimes? If they can support one, then more power to them.
Winnipeg? I think I'd be doing backflips if Winnipeg got another shot.
KC? Possibly. Probably would depend on a few variables falling in the right spots.
2007-11-19 23:45:14 · answer #7 · answered by trombass08 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Well then, LITY covered all of that.
But 288, you'd be surprised to know how many hockey fans there are in Kansas City.
As always though, I maintain my position that I'd love to see another team in Canada... but if the means are not there, they're not there. Sad truth.
2007-11-20 00:41:16 · answer #8 · answered by Erica 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋