No deadline set for Coyotes new franchise

[jstewismybastardson]

Glendal is nowhere near "off the grid" relative to Phoenix.

but from Scottsdale where that cake is? what an hours drive???

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

Also, there is actually more to do in South Florida than in Glendale so that probably takes away from part of the attendance too

Love this argument - there aren't better things to do in LA or Anaheim or SJ or NYC or Toronto or Vancouver? If "having better things to do" will affect hockey attendance, that place probably shouldn't have a hockey team.

The same Panthers who signed guys like Willie Mitchell, Derek MacKenzie and Jussi Jokinen along with building a really good young team and we're harping on one signing that isn't so good? At least they're not like a bunch of teams that have multiple players who are overpaid - every damn person knew it probably wasn't a good deal but they did it to show people that they want to win and how you can blame them for that is just crazy

Bolland might be the second-worst contract in the NHL right now. Yes, I am harping on them for that.

I would also argue that $4.5 million for Willie Mitchell is a bit much and I'm not sure why I'm supposed to be impressed by Derek MacKenzie?

 

[jstewismybastardson]

lets compare apples to apples .. are there better things to do in Glendale than Sunrise ? lol

 

[Cobiemonster]

Love this argument - there aren't better things to do in LA or Anaheim or SJ or NYC or Toronto or Vancouver? If "having better things to do" will affect hockey attendance, that place probably shouldn't have a hockey team.


Bolland might be the second-worst contract in the NHL right now. Yes, I am harping on them for that.

I would also argue that $4.5 million for Willie Mitchell is a bit much and I'm not sure why I'm supposed to be impressed by Derek MacKenzie?

I'm just tired of people ripping the Panthers when their teams aren't anywhere near perfect - a lot of the fans who rip them are fans of teams that have either not won anything significant in a long time or their teams have issues too and aren't necessarily the gold standards of the league either

Willie Mitchell made a major difference for the Panthers and anyone who doesn't think that needs to have an examination of their brain done - when you sign someone like that and your team has a 19 point improvement, how in the world is that an overpayment? When he went to the Kings, they immediately got better and when he left the Kings, their defense went to shit and couldn't cover for suspensions and injuries

 

[jstewismybastardson]

Love this argument - there aren't better things to do in LA or Anaheim or SJ or NYC or Toronto or Vancouver? If "having better things to do" will affect hockey attendance, that place probably shouldn't have a hockey team.

or a baseball team

Despite Spending Millions in the Off-Season, Marlins Are Still Last in Attendance | Miami New Times

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

I'm just tired of people ripping the Panthers when their teams aren't anywhere near perfect - a lot of the fans who rip them are fans of teams that have either not won anything significant in a long time or their teams have issues too and aren't necessarily the gold standards of the league either

Willie Mitchell made a major difference for the Panthers and anyone who doesn't think that needs to have an examination of their brain done - when you sign someone like that and your team has a 19 point improvement, how in the world is that an overpayment? When he went to the Kings, they immediately got better and when he left the Kings, their defense went to shit and couldn't cover for suspensions and injuries

Not saying he didn't make any difference, but when a team is paying $10 million for "glue guys" like Bolland and Mitchell I think it's fair to question if they're spending their money right. I guess it's worth the money for getting an extra 3 points out of $4.5 million Kulikov this season?

Also, if I recall correctly there was another defenceman on Florida who wasn't with the team the season before...

 

[Comeds]

Glendal is nowhere near "off the grid" relative to Phoenix.

Kanata on the other hand...

The problem is that there just arent enough hockey fans in AZ. Period. The drive time is not a valid reason in this case. It is an excuse that is covering up the real truth.

FWIW, I spent a week there in April. I asked 10 people about the Coyotes and hockey. Only one said they have been to a game, and he was a BOS transplant.

I do not disagree. However I have heard and read stories about how bad and long of a drive it is. It might look close on the map, but driving it especially during a mad rush to get to Coyote hockey games is supposed to be long and frustrating.

So I really do believe its a factor and a valid reason why some actual fans don't go or only go sporadically. That doesn't change my opinion that the team should have been moved years ago. I feel the same way about Florida.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

or a baseball team

Despite Spending Millions in the Off-Season, Marlins Are Still Last in Attendance | Miami New Times

Which is fine by me. Hopefully Loria goes bankrupt someday.

 

[dash]

Which is fine by me. Hopefully Loria goes bankrupt someday.

I too share that wish as I hated how he killed the Expos in Montreal...

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

I too share that wish as I hated how he killed the Expos in Montreal...

And then won a WS in Florida a year after he ditched his shares in that corrupt-as-all-fuck deal MLB cut between him and Henry.

 

[Davis_Mike]

It's obvious many of have no idea wtf you are talking about.

Glendale shares a border with Phoenix. The Arena is adjacent to the loop 101 freeway. Less than a mile. Think of the 101 as a giant oval that connects the whole valley. Unless you live in the extreme east valley, Mesa/Chandler, it won't take but 30 mins to get to a 7 pm game.

The main issue with attendance is that the valley is a transplant town. Meaning that residents move from other parts of the country & bring their team allegiances with them. So if you aren't winning, your attendance is going to be poor. Look at Suns & Dbacks for the evidence. Usually they are both bottom third in attendance. Until the Cardinals built a new stadium & started putting money into the franchise, their stadium was half filled with opposing fans. Now that we had a SB run & a few playoff runs, since 2006, we have sold out the Big Toaster for every game.

The issue has never been the location of the Arena, the issue has always been about a team that has trouble putting a winning product on the ice. This is not a Hockey town. If you aren't winning, you aren't drawing attendance.

 

[Davis_Mike]

but from Scottsdale where that cake is? what an hours drive???

30 mins at most.

 

[forty_three]

the people who get no pity from me are the dumbasses who decided to move the team out there as a pure real estate play in hopes of building up some super community that never materialized ... and to Bettman who never thought location location location mattered

This cannot be said enough.

It depends on what its worth to you. Three hours of fun bookended by at least a frustrating hour+ before and after the game is not worth it for me to do very often. I am sure to many people that means I am not a very good fan. Oh well.

There was a poster here from that area who detailed the distance to the arena traveling on roads that in many places could not handle the traffic of even sparsely attended games. It sounded like a long nightmare. Even in good hockey markets (which I dont think this is) that would hurt attendance.

I do not disagree. However I have heard and read stories about how bad and long of a drive it is. It might look close on the map, but driving it especially during a mad rush to get to Coyote hockey games is supposed to be long and frustrating.

So I really do believe its a factor and a valid reason why some actual fans don't go or only go sporadically. That doesn't change my opinion that the team should have been moved years ago. I feel the same way about Florida.

Some people will go through more than others, no question. But the difference is if there is a portion of the population that feel as you do, that sometimes it's not worth the hassle, then there needs to be a steady group of people who do think it's worth it. Chicago is a nightmare to get around. LA is too. Toronto? Fuck. A mess. And there are probably tons of people who love the game, but prefer to sit in their easy chair with a big TV. But the arena is still full of people who did decide it was worth it. That's what the desert lacks, it seems.

And who's to say that the same guy in Scottsdale who just doesn't want to bother will suddenly feel it's worth it when the game is 30 minutes closer? What if there's other stuff to do?

The experiment is a failure. Time to move on.

 

[tducey]

Is this current situation with this team the straw that finally broke the camel's back? I think it might be.

 

[Comeds]

I think the problem is that there is only one team in Phoenix. Add another one and the cross city rivalry would fill both arenas.

 

[jstewismybastardson]

I think the problem is that there is only one team in Phoenix. Add another one and the cross city rivalry would fill both arenas.

 

[forty_three]

I think the problem is that there is only one team in Phoenix. Add another one and the cross city rivalry would fill both arenas.

But that would jeopardize the Mole's plans for expansion teams in Las Vegas and Mobile, AL.

Unless of course, he moved the Bruins....

 

[dash]

But that would jeopardize the Mole's plans for expansion teams in Las Vegas and Macon, Ga.

Unless of course, he moved the Bruins....

Macon Whoopees.

 

[forty_three]

Macon Whoopees.

That's too silly for an NHL team.

 

[DevilishWon]

lets compare apples to apples .. are there better things to do in Glendale than Sunrise ? lol

Pretty good mall in Sunrise