http://www.theprovin...0984/story.html

 

 

Sources close to the situation have indicated Las Vegas is a done deal, the only thing to be determined being which owner will be entitled to proclaim that he brought the first major league sports franchise to Sin City.

 

ProHockeyTalk on the story.

 

So...Vegas and Seattle? Name the teams.

Does Vegas have enough of a 'permanent' population to sustain workable attendance for a major sports team?  That's the part I've always doubted.

 

But we already have the Devils, why not call Vegas' team the Sinners?  I'm guessing Seattle would go with the Metropolitans given their history.

Does Vegas have enough of a 'permanent' population to sustain workable attendance for a major sports team?  That's the part I've always doubted.

 

But we already have the Devils, why not call Vegas' team the Sinners?  I'm guessing Seattle would go with the Metropolitans given their history.

 

I'd wager (haha) they do, since LV has been the fastest growing city in America for like the last 20 years or so. But does that population, made up of casino workers -- not to mention transients -- have enough income to support a team?

 

I'd also wager (haha) that much of the attendance from any LV sports team would come from tourists and away-team fans. I'd be very easy to say "Hey, our team is playing LV next month. Let's go out there and see them play in between craps and blackjack."

Does Vegas have enough of a 'permanent' population to sustain workable attendance for a major sports team?  That's the part I've always doubted.

 

But we already have the Devils, why not call Vegas' team the Sinners?  I'm guessing Seattle would go with the Metropolitans given their history.

 

They don't have enough that can afford luxuries like season tickets to a sports team....BUT it doesn't really matter cause a HUGE % of their tickets are going to be bought by the casinos and given away to guests anyway.

 

It's kinda like the Nats, a LARGE chunk of their tickets are corporate. Same kind of scene out there, but far fewer seats to sell.

Apparently there was a second report yesterday that the NHL is going to expand by four, including Quebec City and a second team in Toronto in addition to the two mentioned.

 

They'll have added 28 teams in just over 50 years.

Apparently there was a second report yesterday that the NHL is going to expand by four, including Quebec City and a second team in Toronto in addition to the two mentioned.

 

They'll have added 28 teams in just over 50 years.

 

That will be pretty terrible I think. Can't afford to water down the product even more.

 

You expand when you look around the league and see tons of teams with NHL talent that can't break into the bigs. You don't expand when you can't sell tickets in a bunch of arenas and offense is down around the league because rosters are thin.

Apparently there was a second report yesterday that the NHL is going to expand by four, including Quebec City and a second team in Toronto in addition to the two mentioned.

They'll have added 28 teams in just over 50 years.

Meanwhile, the force-feeding of NHL hockey to fan bases in hotbeds like Florida and Phoenix (haha) continues unabated. An NHL team in Las Vegas will be lucky to outdraw Cirque du Soleil.

A team in Seattle would be successful though I think, at least from a business perspective. That one makes sense to me.

They've tapped out in the US. Except maybe Seattle.

 

They should give more teams to Canada.

Meanwhile, the force-feeding of NHL hockey to fan bases in hotbeds like Florida and Phoenix (haha) continues unabated. An NHL team in Las Vegas will be lucky to outdraw Cirque du Soleil.

 

Deadspin had a post about it, and they made the point that all of this expansion, especially in the southern U.S., is all about extra markets for negotiating TV deals and the league couldn't care less if the Panthers play next to a mall practically in the Everglades or the Coyotes can't draw flies in Phoenix or Glendale (and why they fought so hard to keep them there). And, honestly, that makes perfect sense as long as they can sustain the quality of play.

 

Even in this case, it makes sense. They add two entirely untapped hockey markets in the US--one which would have no pro competition at all and the other currently without any in-season--add a second team in the league's biggest market (and competition for a centerpiece franchise that seems awfully lazy and content), and throw a bone to a tiny Canadian market with a rabid fanbase and a history of supporting the Nordiques.

Meanwhile, the force-feeding of NHL hockey to fan bases in hotbeds like Florida and Phoenix (haha) continues unabated. An NHL team in Las Vegas will be lucky to outdraw Cirque du Soleil.

Deadspin had a post about it, and they made the point that all of this expansion, especially in the southern U.S., is all about extra markets for negotiating TV deals and the league couldn't care less if the Panthers play next to a mall practically in the Everglades or the Coyotes can't draw flies in Phoenix or Glendale (and why they fought so hard to keep them there). And, honestly, that makes perfect sense as long as they can sustain the quality of play. Even in this case, it makes sense. They add two entirely untapped hockey markets in the US--one which would have no pro competition at all and the other currently without any in-season--add a second team in the league's biggest market (and competition for a centerpiece franchise that seems awfully lazy and content), and throw a bone to a tiny Canadian market with a rabid fanbase and a history of supporting the Nordiques.

The first part would be a little more plausible had they not just bailed on Atlanta, which is a larger TV market than S Florida or Phoenix. If watering down competition was no concern, I could certainly understand Seattle, Toronto II, and even Quebec City. Not feeling Vegas at all....relatively small TV market, devastated perhaps more than any other city by the housing bubble/recession, and pretty much entirely reliant on tourism (a fickle industry with mostly low-wage service jobs). Which probably puts it at the top of Gary Bettman's wet dreams.

William Foley, the billionaire who aims to park an NHL franchise right on the Las Vegas Strip, will meet with the NHL this week to begin setting up the parameters for an enormous gamble — a season-ticket drive to gauge whether Sin City’s locals crave a major pro sports league.

 

http://www.startribu.../285726101.html

ProHockeyTalk: NHL, Coyotes deny report that team is moving to Vegas

ProHockeyTalk: Quebec City, Vegas advance to final phase of NHL expansion process

 

Final announcements could come as early as next month.

ProHockeyTalk: Quebec City, Vegas advance to final phase of NHL expansion process

 

Final announcements could come as early as next month.

 

Why does Seattle always get screwed?

Why does Seattle always get screwed?

 

They don't have an owner or an arena. They have possibilities, but they tend to relate to successfully acquiring an NBA franchise.

Why does Seattle always get screwed?

 

My understanding is they never went through the full application process for an expansion team. And like DJ said, they appear to have much more interest and momentum behind getting the NBA back, even though the NHL seemed like a more realistic possibility at this point.

Looks like it's Vegas.

Fingers crossed the Caps can trick Vegas into taking Orpik in the expansion draft!

These three were registered as several different domain name by the owner's company: Desert Hawks, Red Hawks, Nighthawks.

 

Can't imagine Chicago will be happy about that.