Expansion

[Mike A. S.]

Now that there is 31 teams and three divisions with 8 teams and only one with 7, it's inevitable that there will be another expansion soon, right? But which city will it be and when will they do it?

 

[Comeds]

As long as it's not Portland I don't care.

 

[davnlaguna]

I think the NHL wants a northwest US team.
I think they slapped Quebec in the face this last time.
Don't know all the reasons the are against the return of the Nords but it seems they had their best opportunity already and that door was shut

 

[Mike A. S.]

I think the NHL wants a northwest US team.
I think they slapped Quebec in the face this last time.
Don't know all the reasons the are against the return of the Nords but it seems they had their best opportunity already and that door was shut

I hope! The geography of the league is very heavily shifted to the east already...so I really hope that the next expansion is also in the west. They need it for more geographic balance.

Especially since all they've done to help reduce traveling. If they can add another western team then that will help by itself.

 

[dash]

At the risk of repeating myself (haha), Seattle will only build a new arena if they land a NBA team, and until they have a suitable arena, they won't get an expansion team.. Kansas City has an arena, but the city doesn't seem to be all that enamored with the NHL. Houston is interesting, they had a successful WHA team in the Aeros back in the 70s and I guess they could play at the same arena that the Rockets call home.

For selfish reasons, I'd like to see Quebec City get a team, as the rivalry with the Habs was one of the best in hockey.

 

[juliansteed]

It seems likely that it would have to be somewhere in the west.

I think Quebec's best bet for a team would probably be the relocation of the Panthers.

 

[davnlaguna]

I personally don't care if or when they expand. I have a team and if they fail I can watch NHL hockey at an arena that is actually closer to my house.
I don't care about if the divisions are balanced or if they serve pizza at the games.

Heck I kind of wish less people would buy tickets.
I remember going to games and getting $5 student tickets. They sold them after warmups started. $5 and you got a random unsold seat. Could be on the glass ( never got that) or top row.

 

[Mike A. S.]

I'd like to see Seattle or Houston get it. Houston is too big of a market to not have one and it would fit right in with the Central division. Also it would finally give Dallas a nearby rival. If Seattle got one they'd have to be in the Pacific and move someone (Probably Arizona) to the Central. Either way another expansion needs to happen and it needs to be a team in the geographically in the west already.

 

[BGDave]

Addition by subtraction.

 

[BGDave]

Geography should be irrelevant to the issue. Vacant land will not buy tickets, people do. Matching teams with population makes sense. since most of the people live east of the Mississippi, then most of the teams should be there.

 

[Mike A. S.]

Geography should be irrelevant to the issue. Vacant land will not buy tickets, people do. Matching teams with population makes sense. since most of the people live east of the Mississippi, then most of the teams should be there.

True, but most of the teams will still be there anyway. There is plenty of people in Houston, if I'm not mistaken it's like the fourth of fifth most populated city in the US. I agree that selling tickets and making fans should be the main issue, but I think they should try hard to make it somewhere in the west...it will be best for the league in my opinion.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

As long as it's not Portland I don't care.

Agreed. Maine is far too small a market for pro sports.

 

[dash]

As long as it's not Portland I don't care.

*ducks*

 

[davnlaguna]

I want to say I don't care if teams or the league make money or "grow fans".
But if they have a work stoppage then I care.
Put teams wherever they want. Heck put a second team in Phoenix.
As long as I can cheer my noble team on and boo all your cheating, over hyped, diving, show boating teams I am good

 

[Mike A. S.]

Agreed. Maine is far too small a market for pro sports.

Has there actually been talk about an expansion in Portland?!

 

[elocomotive]

I'd like to see a team in Reno called the Black Knights and the arena is really just an extra large Medieval Times. Also, they wouldn't play hockey there. So I guess really just another Medieval Times franchise.

 

[elocomotive]

Has there actually been talk about an expansion in Portland?!

Some people are saying there should be a team in Portland. But the lightweights in the NHL offices won't make promises. Sad.

 

[BGDave]

True, but most of the teams will still be there anyway. There is plenty of people in Houston, if I'm not mistaken it's like the fourth of fifth most populated city in the US. I agree that selling tickets and making fans should be the main issue, but I think they should try hard to make it somewhere in the west...it will be best for the league in my opinion.

You could make the argument that Houston would have been a better destination for the North Stars.

 

[Duke of Douchington]

Has there actually been talk about an expansion in Portland?!

They couldn't even keep an AHL club there after robbing the city blind, when the Hockey Expert Computer Boys sold the team practically overnight without telling anyone last summer.