Gary Bettman and NHL Unhappy Over Expansion Turnout.

[RP-29]

New Virginia Beach arena approved by city council

Friedman says in 30 Thoughts that they considered applying for an expansion team but didn't wanna pay the $2 schmill.

Hampton Roads is the 37th largest metro in the US, just behind Nashville.

A hockey hotbed like Virginia Beach should definitely excite Bettman.

 

[elocomotive]

New Virginia Beach arena approved by city council

Friedman says in 30 Thoughts that they considered applying for an expansion team but didn't wanna pay the $2 schmill.

Hampton Roads is the 37th largest metro in the US, just behind Nashville.

I can't imagine VA Beach getting a hockey team - larger cities in non-traditional markets have struggled, so how is VA Beach going to get traction (esp when I would guess they have Caps and Canes fans there already). Another important note is money. The median household income in the VA Beach-Newport News-Norfolk MSA is ranked 81st among metropolitan area. (Nashville is 67th) Which isn't to say you couldn't put a team there because Pittsburgh is ranked #153 and Buffalo is ranked #139. But those are cities where the winter is filled with cigarettes and watching football/hockey, not like VA Beach which has pretty mild weather. Then again, Vegas and VA Beach have nearly identical populations and median incomes, so...

Relatedly, if the NHL were going to move the Coyotes and add new expansion teams, why would they not move the Coyotes to Vegas and add expansion in Seattle and Hamilton?

Vegas is a 4.5 hour drive and a very fast plane flight from Phoenix and within the same region. I'm sure some of the Coyotes' fans would abandon them if they move. But wouldn't some of those fans still cheer for them as their closest hockey team and an excuse for a weekend jaunt up to Vegas?

That also makes me wonder if at some point we will see a hockey team (or any professional sports team) with a home that is TWO cities. Hmmmm...

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

That also makes me wonder if at some point we will see a hockey team (or any professional sports team) with a home that is TWO cities. Hmmmm...

I believe the Packers used to play 3 home games a year in Milwaukee until 1994.

The Leafs used to play a handful of home games at Copps in Hamilton, too. That ended when the ACC opened, though.

 

[Comeds]

But those are cities where the winter is filled with cigarettes

?

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

I also cannot see VA Beach getting an NHL team but I never thought Vegas would get a team either so...

 

[elocomotive]

?

Sayin' the winters are harsh so at times there ain't shit to do except smoke, drank, and watch sports!

 

[Comeds]

I was assuming autocorrect changed something to cigarettes.

 

[Puck082]

A VA Beach team would be quite sad. Doesn't most of the town hibernate in the winter?

 

[Puck082]

I was assuming autocorrect changed something to cigarettes.

Comeds, try typing "Lardass" and see what autocorrect does....that is, if you have an iphone.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

Comeds, try typing "Lardass" and see what autocorrect does....that is, if you have an iphone.

HOLY SHIT HJAHAAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAA

 

[forty_three]

Hampton Roads area already has a pretty decent youth hockey program (My cousins played against their travel teams), but they have a similar problem to Vegas in that a very large percentage of the population is very transient. Cities built on Military and/or tourism will make it pretty difficult to build a lasting fanbase.

People just don't stay there for 10+ years. Five and they are gone.

 

[dash]

Comeds, try typing "Lardass" and see what autocorrect does....that is, if you have an iphone.

I'm on an Android device, but I think I got the same answer (lol)

Edit: I should clarify, no autocorrect, but some funny suggestions.

 

[forty_three]

I'm on an Android device, but I think I got the same answer (lol)

I am on an android device and got no autocorrect.

I guess I use that word too much.

 

[DragonfromTO]

I am on an android device and got no autocorrect.

I guess I use that word too much.

You have to watch it carefully as you're typing, the one that they're laughing at isn't actually a suggested correction for "lardass" but for a truncated version of the word.

 

[DevilishWon]

Leagues shouldn't expand when there are teams in dire situations. Every team in the league should be strong before a league expands.

heretic

 

[obxyankeefan]

I can't imagine VA Beach getting a hockey team - larger cities in non-traditional markets have struggled, so how is VA Beach going to get traction (esp when I would guess they have Caps and Canes fans there already). Another important note is money. The median household income in the VA Beach-Newport News-Norfolk MSA is ranked 81st among metropolitan area. (Nashville is 67th) Which isn't to say you couldn't put a team there because Pittsburgh is ranked #153 and Buffalo is ranked #139. But those are cities where the winter is filled with cigarettes and watching football/hockey, not like VA Beach which has pretty mild weather. Then again, Vegas and VA Beach have nearly identical populations and median incomes, so...

Relatedly, if the NHL were going to move the Coyotes and add new expansion teams, why would they not move the Coyotes to Vegas and add expansion in Seattle and Hamilton?

Vegas is a 4.5 hour drive and a very fast plane flight from Phoenix and within the same region. I'm sure some of the Coyotes' fans would abandon them if they move. But wouldn't some of those fans still cheer for them as their closest hockey team and an excuse for a weekend jaunt up to Vegas?

That also makes me wonder if at some point we will see a hockey team (or any professional sports team) with a home that is TWO cities. Hmmmm...

Something to consider with Va Bch is the price of the tickets. Having lived and grown up in the area I have seen the way the locals are with their money. The Admirals came to town in 1989 as an ECHL team and sold the Norfolk Scope out almost every game, but when they moved up to the AHL 5 or 6 years later and raised the prices most people were saying that $15 was too much to pay to go see hockey. I love the area as it is my hometown, but there is a reason that it is and should always remain a minor league area.

 

[obxyankeefan]

The Hampton Roads area is also used quite often by the big 4 in expansion or relocation talks. Some of the ones I can remember are

Hampton Roads Rhinos NHL expansion team who finished third in the running for two teams
The Timberwolves of the NBA were suppose to move there, but Minnesota built them a better arena
The Astros of the MLB were suppose to move there until Houston built them a new stadium
The Expos were suppose to move there until they decided to move to DC
Last year it was the Kings of the NBA that was in talks to move there, but Sacromento kept them.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

The Hampton Roads area is also used quite often by the big 4 in expansion or relocation talks. Some of the ones I can remember are

Hampton Roads Rhinos NHL expansion team who finished third in the running for two teams
The Timberwolves of the NBA were suppose to move there, but Minnesota built them a better arena
The Astros of the MLB were suppose to move there until Houston built them a new stadium
The Expos were suppose to move there until they decided to move to DC
Last year it was the Kings of the NBA that was in talks to move there, but Sacromento kept them.

Had no idea that they were that far in on an NHL franchise.

I think the league would consider them but being on the east coast hinders them when there are two gold mines in Quebec City and Toronto just waiting for the league to start mining.

 

[forty_three]

I still don't know what the autocorrect hilarity is all about.

 

[obxyankeefan]

I still don't know what the autocorrect hilarity is all about.

When you type Lard ass into an IPhone it auto corrects to Kardashian