Here we go Again?

[Scott]

http://www.tsn.ca/blogs/bob_mckenzie/?id=356192

[kyuss]

can't wait for that to happen!

[Shep]

Jeez.

[Tony]

Just do it and get it over with ... enough with this teasing shit

[The BBKL Insider]

I agree with Tony

enough talk, they know the NHL works here....hell we could toss a team in Halifax (population: 650,000) and we'd still sell 15,000-18,000 tickets per game. When the NHL went to a lockout we were selling tickets (for that league that never actually got off the ground - i forget the name).....i'm pretty sure we sold out the first 2 months worth of games...LOL

Give the Manitoba their team back.....frig

[bills09]

They dont know the nhl will work there, because it clearly didnt last time.
yeah they have fans, but they lack a large general population, and the corperate sponsors to get it done. Alson their arena only holds 15,000 currently, would be the smallest arena in the league..
As a fan and a Canadian id love for this to happen but realistically I dont buy it.

[armandtanzarian]

They dont know the nhl will work there, because it clearly didnt last time.
yeah they have fans, but they lack a large general population, and the corperate sponsors to get it done. Alson their arena only holds 15,000 currently, would be the smallest arena in the league..
As a fan and a Canadian id love for this to happen but realistically I dont buy it.

Hey...you can't go using real facts and general common sense in this argument. Not Canadian. We need more teams.

[Nick]

Billy is right though.


It also amazes me how quickly people forget... it wasn't that long ago that the NHL was saving and exploring every possible option for MOST of the Canadian teams...I like that they are exploring every possible opportunity to keep the teams where they are.

[armandtanzarian]

I agree it is great that Bettman will do anything in his power to save franchises in which he had a big part in creating but with this economy and the lack of interest in such markets as PHX, ATL, FLD, how can they be sustainable? Where are these owners going to come from? There is a sufficient sample size in all these places to say that hockey just doesnt work. Atlanta is just terrible for fans...I went to a couple PHX games and while it wasnt sold out(obviously), it was still an awesome environment. Mind you half of the fans were BlackHawks fans . It would really suck if Phx left though becasue that arena and outdoor complex is truly amazing. Plus i want to be able to go to games when i go visit my mother and father in law...

[Shep]

The reason it didn't work in Quebec and Winnipeg was also helped with the fact that the Canadian dollar was at like $0.67 at the time and REALLY hurt these two teams specifically.

[armandtanzarian]

The reason it didn't work in Quebec and Winnipeg was also helped with the fact that the Canadian dollar was at like $0.67 at the time and REALLY hurt these two teams specifically.

yea...Quite a disadvantage when a Canadian owner is paying his players in American currency that is valued that much higher.

[Scott]

LOL at corporate sponsors.. this is Canada & hockey we're talking about here. I'm sure there are a TON of businesses that would gladly put up big bucks to be associated with a new team here. Bettman may be doing what he can to keep teams where they are.. why didn't he try that in the first place? Attendance was above average.. it was 100% the Canadian dollar at the time of relocation. Just bring teams to Quebec City & Winnipeg and be done with it.. it's going to happen sooner or later.