Canadian teams
- Thread starter Ditsy
- Start date
If anyone here is a hockey fan of the NHL then you have to thank your lucky stars that the US city teams in the north eastern seaboard of North America have NHL franchises that are keeping the league alive. If you wanted to have an NHL of only Canadian teams then you would have the equivalent of a hockey CFL with only 7 or 8 teams of which no one would even care or know about this particular league except for a small market of about 35 million Canadians.
In the southern or western US (except for a LA which is a huge market and can sustain anything) no one cares anything for the NHL. If it went away they wouldn't even notice because they don't even know that it is presently there.
This is why if you're a hockey fan you should embrace the success of teams in Boston, Chicago, New York, Detroit or any others in those time zones. Teams in big markets with huge TV rights and fan bases that only 3 Canadian cities can match.
Enjoy it while it lasts before the inevitable decline and demise of the NHL arrives.
I have no issues at all with what you say except for the fact that I think you are underestimating the contribution of the Canadian teams to the financial welfare of the NHL.
The NHL is an attendance driven league, since the TV audiences pale compared to the other North American team sports (plus NASCAR is huge). The Canadian teams consistently sell out their games and if I'm not mistaken at one point most Canadian teams were contributing to the league equalization fund. Those cities are big markets but they don't have the same level of interest, including TV. On the other hand look at the billions Rogers paid for Canadian broadcast rights.
I believe it is more of a symbiotic relationship between the Canadian teams and the strong American ones. They need each other.
Shack, I couldn't agree more with what you say. If the NHL was in any way responsible, dedicated or even admiring of the sport of hockey, the league (and I believe even the sport) would be in much better shape. Why is there not another team in Toronto, where it would thrive and succeed? (We all know the pitiful and corrupt answer to that.) Teams in Hamilton, Kitchener/Waterloo, Milwaukee and Seattle would vastly change the league for the better. Frankly speaking, the reduction of the league to 24 teams would also be a huge benefit to the structure now.
The teams in USA cities now (such as Nashville and Carolina) are being subsidized by Tax payers dollars for a public that cares nothing about the sport in those markets. You can bet some of that cash flow finds its way easily to some bastard politician and Bettman's along with his cronies. There's a lot of corruption in all sports everywhere but these guys are rewriting the definition of 'Disgust'.
So long as the fans keep watching though....well, you all know the answer to that. I hope to think fans will use their intelligence and not just their pride.
Are you really suggesting k/w and Milwaukee before Quebec city?
Also not sure how Milwaukee and Seattle are stellar markets. These cities have proven they have no interest in investing in a modern basketball / hockey facility.
You would think the league is about dead based on your post.
Quebec City,...indeed!
Along with the aforementioned cities, that would make 5 the total of markets where an NHL franchise is wanted and would be easily supported. Markets comparable or even better examples of Winnipeg and the move from Atlanta.
The truth is that in Canada, being surrounded by the love and admiration that hockey has, it seems that hockey is a big sport. It is not. However, there is no reason why it cannot thrive and turn a neat and tidy profit if the NHL would establish franchises in markets that would support the sport. If it doesn't, then it will surely decay and fade into memory. It is up to the NHL but so far it is fighting against the rise of hockey and perpetuating its decay. Do these rich owners care? Hardly. When they have to, then they will make the move to Seattle, Quebec City, Milwaukee, Hamilton and if Justice should prevail, Vaughan or Richmond Hill.
In the meantime, they will take naive fans and tax subsidies as far as they possibly can. Money is more important to these greedy hogs than Quality of Sport.
I would love to see a team in the 905 area code. I would then buy my second hockey jersey and cheer louder than you can ever imagine.
1. I still don't see Milwaukee as that good of a potential market. The Bradley Center (or whatever new name it has) is an old outdated NBA facility, and I don't think there is any interest in a new facility.
2. I don't think Hockey being in Milwaukee/Seattle or Markham / Quebec City instead of say Florida/Phoenix improve the quality of the game. While the latter two teams are poor revenue generators they are still capable of putting quality teams on the ice.
I can see your point if teams were contracted. But by moving to better markets / expanding to good markets will not really improve the quality of the game. You still have the same number of players in the league.
3. League wide revenues in the NHL are now very similar to the NBA, so I wouldn't call it small time league or ignore the fact that their has been significant growth in Hockey in recent years despite a few shaky markets. Both leagues have a Salary Cap based on league wide revenues, and the Caps for both leagues are going to be similar next year.
There are good markets outside of those you claimed earlier in the thread. You said LA was the only solid western market, but San Jose/Anaheim/Minnesota have proven to be very solid franchises. St. Louis/Colorado/Dallas/Colombus are certainly sustainable at this point.
Yes there are some stinkers -- but other than the NFL, all major leagues have some as well. All leagues have typically chosen to stay in troublesome markets as long as possible, and are resistant to change. NHL is not really different.
4. Not that I expect you disagree... A second team is only coming to Toronto once
a) The Maple Leafs get significant compensation. As they are the biggest revenue share team in the league, other teams will vote with what the Leafs want, and
b) A significant relocation or expansion fee will be needed for the market.
The league is not adverse to having another team in Southern Ontario despite what people claimed in the Balsillie era. But the $$ demands must be met for key parties, and Jim Balsillie was unwilling to play by the rules. Is it greed, is it just business... whatever it is some large cheques will need to be cut to get another team in the GTA.
