More speculative articles on ESPN about the Coyotes moving. I think they'll be in Quebec in a few years, but I've heard Milwaukee and Seattle as possible markets too.
Uhhh, Milwaukee would be rough. It's basically in the dead center of the Wings/Hawk/Wild territory, and has an AHL team the admirals(Preds) that pulls only about 6k in attendance.
That said UW(madison) has a pretty decent hockey program(not this season, but in general), So if they can get onto the Madison basic-cable network, you may be able to lure in the college kids who watch UW, into watching pro games. And the rink the AHL plays in(and the Bucks too) is already built and has no debt to worry about, even if it only seats about 18k.
And there's rumors that the Bucks(NBA) may get sold at some point, which would leave a wide open gap of nothing to watch time.
After the Coyotes, what's the next likely team to be moved (perhaps to a Canadian market?) in the next five or so years?
There was a big hubbub about Saskatoon in the last month and it's got me curious. I seriously don't think we'd be a serious contender for a move the next season, though.
Here is the inside scoop, no one in Kansas cares about Hockey. Penguins might've done good here, since they were a good team, but the yotes? No chance.
I really don't see what Vegas gets you.To start with its half the size of the Phoenix metro, so just to get the same crappy attendance they'd need to double their community engagement, and its not any better of a hockey location demographically as best I can tell. Unless they are just hoping a whole lot of fans from else-where will fly in to watch their team on the cheap, and have some gambling fun a long with it.
I can't see a team working in Vegas. If the arena was in town it'd be another attraction that tourists there would see, no solid fanbase for long term support. If they build it off the main drag it'd be more likely to have locals as fans, but they couldn't attract any tourists for quick sales. That's even assuming those tourists don't already have teams in their home towns, the Vegas team would have to be good enough to get people that either aren't interested in the sport or already have a preferred team going to the games.
I really don't see what Vegas gets you.To start with its half the size of the Phoenix metro, so just to get the same crappy attendance they'd need to double their community engagement, and its not any better of a hockey location demographically as best I can tell. Unless they are just hoping a whole lot of fans from else-where will fly in to watch their team on the cheap, and have some gambling fun a long with it.
Vegas is less than half the size of Phoenix, but Vegas's population density is 50% greater than Phoenix's. At the end of the day, I'd be inclined to agree that it's probably not an ideal market for ice hockey, but the problem with looking at the straight up population in a metropolitan statistical area without taking into account the population density of the city is that, sure, you might wind up with a large media market to advertise in, but your fans may have to drive a couple of hours just to fill a seat in your little arena.
I really don't see what Vegas gets you.To start with its half the size of the Phoenix metro, so just to get the same crappy attendance they'd need to double their community engagement, and its not any better of a hockey location demographically as best I can tell. Unless they are just hoping a whole lot of fans from else-where will fly in to watch their team on the cheap, and have some gambling fun a long with it.
Vegas is less than half the size of Phoenix, but Vegas's population density is 50% greater than Phoenix's. At the end of the day, I'd be inclined to agree that it's probably not an ideal market for ice hockey, but the problem with looking at the straight up population in a metropolitan statistical area without taking into account the population density of the city is that, sure, you might wind up with a large media market to advertise in, but your fans may have to drive a couple of hours just to fill a seat in your little arena.
Seattle makes the most sense to me.
Right, but even with the population, Vegas isn't a traditional market in the first place. I think there's a good reason they don't have any sports teams there.
Quebec will certainly be getting a team, probably the Coyotes. Seattle would be next in line in my opinion.
Edit - Johnson looks alright in net. Did they ever say what he was actually out so long with?
He's not completely floundering. Looks like at least some of the Pens defense showed up to the game, hopefully the rest will get there between periods.
Well, Avs at least killed Calgary's playoff hopes and played like they had something to play for. They aren't mathematically out of it yet, but man do they need help. 5 days off until they play their last 2 games of the season... so as the rest of the teams catch up to the same number of games played, that'll tell whether the last 2 games mean anything or not.
I went on a little bar crawl after the game last night. At one point we had a bartender that was from Philly, so we talked hockey with him. He agreed that Pens/Flyers would be the most exciting playoff series, but regardless of who won, that team would probably be too battered to do much else in the playoffs.
I went on a little bar crawl after the game last night. At one point we had a bartender that was from Philly, so we talked hockey with him. He agreed that Pens/Flyers would be the most exciting playoff series, but regardless of who won, that team would probably be too battered to do much else in the playoffs.
So Canada pretty much completely shit the bed today, eh?
Canadian teams were 4-2 tonight.
I know, but Ottawa blew a 3-0 lead and then let the Flyers get a point in the shootout, and Montreal lost to the Capitals while Toronto beat the Sabres.
And I guess Winnipeg let Stamkos score in OT but that really doesn't matter. The other guess was meaningless for me. Clearly I am saying all this for entirely selfish reasons.
I don't think I'd agree that they played even 40 minutes of good hockey. They were offensively strong during the second period, but their defensive game and special teams play was not impressive.
So Canada pretty much completely shit the bed today, eh?
Canadian teams were 4-2 tonight.
I know, but Ottawa blew a 3-0 lead and then let the Flyers get a point in the shootout, and Montreal lost to the Capitals while Toronto beat the Sabres.
And I guess Winnipeg let Stamkos score in OT but that really doesn't matter. The other guess was meaningless for me. Clearly I am saying all this for entirely selfish reasons.
I dunno. I thought it was a pretty good night. I mean, the Flames were eliminated and everything.
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That said UW(madison) has a pretty decent hockey program(not this season, but in general), So if they can get onto the Madison basic-cable network, you may be able to lure in the college kids who watch UW, into watching pro games. And the rink the AHL plays in(and the Bucks too) is already built and has no debt to worry about, even if it only seats about 18k.
And there's rumors that the Bucks(NBA) may get sold at some point, which would leave a wide open gap of nothing to watch time.
Vegas/Kansas City (joke)/Seattle are the US markets I've heard most commonly.
There was a big hubbub about Saskatoon in the last month and it's got me curious. I seriously don't think we'd be a serious contender for a move the next season, though.
Here is the inside scoop, no one in Kansas cares about Hockey. Penguins might've done good here, since they were a good team, but the yotes? No chance.
Vegas is less than half the size of Phoenix, but Vegas's population density is 50% greater than Phoenix's. At the end of the day, I'd be inclined to agree that it's probably not an ideal market for ice hockey, but the problem with looking at the straight up population in a metropolitan statistical area without taking into account the population density of the city is that, sure, you might wind up with a large media market to advertise in, but your fans may have to drive a couple of hours just to fill a seat in your little arena.
Seattle makes the most sense to me.
Right, but even with the population, Vegas isn't a traditional market in the first place. I think there's a good reason they don't have any sports teams there.
Quebec will certainly be getting a team, probably the Coyotes. Seattle would be next in line in my opinion.
Edit - Johnson looks alright in net. Did they ever say what he was actually out so long with?
Looks like he's still got it
He's not completely floundering. Looks like at least some of the Pens defense showed up to the game, hopefully the rest will get there between periods.
They're so fucked in the playoffs.
Flyers in the first round?
Should be some good hockey
These things really do write themselves.
I went on a little bar crawl after the game last night. At one point we had a bartender that was from Philly, so we talked hockey with him. He agreed that Pens/Flyers would be the most exciting playoff series, but regardless of who won, that team would probably be too battered to do much else in the playoffs.
Just like in 09!
Fun fact: he (the Stars fan, not Lehtonen) used to play goal for my rec league team...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=XGvMur9Qtos
Pens/Flyers always gives my heart a little bit of a flutter when I think back to their quarterfinals series in 2000.
Now he can tell everyone he stopped a shot by Kari Lehtonen!
I know, but Ottawa blew a 3-0 lead and then let the Flyers get a point in the shootout, and Montreal lost to the Capitals while Toronto beat the Sabres.
And I guess Winnipeg let Stamkos score in OT but that really doesn't matter. The other guess was meaningless for me. Clearly I am saying all this for entirely selfish reasons.
Getting into playoff form early!
Coach fight!
Winnipeg fan?