Lots of reports Atl -> Wpg is a done deal

[DaBoltsNIsles]

I'm assuming because the league has money invested in them now. It is real fucked up that they are taking a massive chunk of the sale amount from Atlanta to fund Phoenix.

How does the Phoenix deal work? Are the other 29 teams paying the bills?

 

[SLY]

I'd assume so. I dont pay too much attention to the politics of the NHL. I imagine revenue sharing weighs heavily on Phoenix. And I read somewhere that the massive relocation fee that Winnipeg is paying to Atlanta is getting gobbled up by Bettman to fund Phoenix this next season I guess.

 

[puckhead]

The one thing I find so interesting about this is Bettman doesn't seem to care if the Thrashers move to Winnipeg. Are Atlanta & Phoenix really that different?

the only difference is that Ponnix still has someone (city council) willing to pour more money into the team.
NHL had two near term problems (with rumours of up to four more on the hgorizon) with only one turn-key solution available. Glendale's pockets saved him a year or two to have other locales step up and build arenas or put together ownership groups.

i still think it is hugely inappropriate that the league itself owns a team.... that wold have been the first issue i would have tried to remedy, but then no one is paying me $7mil a year for my opinion.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

the only difference is that Ponnix still has someone (city council) willing to pour more money into the team.
NHL had two near term problems (with rumours of up to four more on the hgorizon) with only one turn-key solution available. Glendale's pockets saved him a year or two to have other locales step up and build arenas or put together ownership groups.

i still think it is hugely inappropriate that the league itself owns a team.... that wold have been the first issue i would have tried to remedy, but then no one is paying me $7mil a year for my opinion.

If Hulsizer has pulled out what's the point of keeping the Yotes in Phoenix for another season? I know they're trying to build an arena in Quebec, but it wouldn't be ready for the season after next anyway. If nobody wants to keep the team in Phoenix it's bascially a lame duck franchise.

So I guess the question is where will they end up after next season?

 

[beantownmaniac]

the only difference is that Ponnix still has someone (city council) willing to pour more money into the team.
NHL had two near term problems (with rumours of up to four more on the hgorizon) with only one turn-key solution available. Glendale's pockets saved him a year or two to have other locales step up and build arenas or put together ownership groups.

i still think it is hugely inappropriate that the league itself owns a team.... that wold have been the first issue i would have tried to remedy, but then no one is paying me $7mil a year for my opinion.

I can pay you that. I'm just gonna be $6,999,999 short for a while

 

[beantownmaniac]

If Hulsizer has pulled out what's the point of keeping the Yotes in Phoenix for another season? I know they're trying to build an arena in Quebec, but it wouldn't be ready for the season after next anyway. If nobody wants to keep the team in Phoenix it's bascially a lame duck franchise.

So I guess the question is where will they end up after next season?

I hear Atlanta has a rink that's not being used.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

I hear Atlanta has a rink that's not being used.

Actually Portland, OR. would be a solid choice. However since Paul Allen already owns the Seahawks he can't be the owner. Maybe his partner Bill Gates could step in. Or how about Phil Knight? You're looking live at the Rose Garden where the Vancouver Canucks are getting set to face off against the Portland Thunder. It's next on Hockey Night in Canada sponsored by NIKE!:

 

[SLY]

Wisconsin should get a team. Do they have an NHL ready arena?

 

[beantownmaniac]

Wisconsin should get a team. Do they have an NHL ready arena?

I don't know if they do, but hockey is huge up there. It's one of the things that has surprised me all these years, no team in Milwaukee or Madison. Wisconsin is big into HS and college hockey. The only team working against it would probably be the fact that most of the people are probably longtime Hawks or maybe Wings fans

 

[elocomotive]

Wisconsin should get a team. Do they have an NHL ready arena?

The Milwaukee Admirals (AHL) play at the Bradley Center (also shared by the Bucks). It seats nearly 18,000 for hockey, so yeah, it would appear so.

I would imagine the difficulty is that it's a smaller-sized city and already supports a basketball team, a football team, and the NHL would have competition with college hockey as well.

 

[beantownmaniac]

The Milwaukee Admirals (AHL) play at the Bradley Center (also shared by the Bucks). It seats nearly 18,000 for hockey, so yeah, it would appear so.

I would imagine the difficulty is that it's a smaller-sized city and already supports a basketball team, a football team, and the NHL would have competition with college hockey as well.

The Packers play in Green Bay

Edit: It's bigger than some cities that already have sports/hockey teams.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_cities_by_population

 

[elocomotive]

The Packers play in Green Bay

Yes, but people from Milwaukee go to games, buy jerseys, etc. It's competition for the spending dollar even if not right in town.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

They love hockey in Wisconsin. It would make a lot of sense putting a team in Milwaukee. They'd already have rivals in Colombus & Minnesota.

 

[SLY]

NHL in Wisconsin Campaign

 

[beantownmaniac]

Yes, but people from Milwaukee go to games, buy jerseys, etc. It's competition for the spending dollar even if not right in town.

I was keeding

 

[dare2be]

The Packers play in Green Bay

Edit: It's bigger than some cities that already have sports/hockey teams.

List of United States cities by population - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You can't look at just the downtown/city limits population, due to urban/suburban sprawl. Try the MSA list (Metropolitan Statistical Area), there's a big difference:

Table of United States Metropolitan Statistical Areas - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Where is Green Bay on that list?

 

[elocomotive]

You can't look at just the downtown/city limits population, due to urban/suburban sprawl. Try the MSA list...

Where is Green Bay on that list?

I wasn't looking at the city limits. Milwaukee is 39th on that list. That is pretty small. Looks like Buffalo would be the only MSA that is smaller in the U.S. among NHL teams.

I'm not saying they wouldn't be successful or a great market, I was just noting some considerations (population and competition). Another is that I would guess Milwaukeeans support the Hawks, so if they are already buying their gear, watching them, etc., it seems unlikely to me the NHL would put a franchise there. Just my opinion.

 

[beantownmaniac]

You can't look at just the downtown/city limits population, due to urban/suburban sprawl. Try the MSA list (Metropolitan Statistical Area), there's a big difference:

Table of United States Metropolitan Statistical Areas - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Where is Green Bay on that list?

I wasn't talking about Green Bay except for the Packers. I was talking about Milwaukee when talking about the list. I think hockey is very popular in Wisconsin and would probably do better than most southern cities when it comes to attendance figures.

 

[johnnytata]

it's my understanding that the bradley center was built with hockey in mind. wisconsin/miwaulkee had a chance to campaign for an nhl team (i wanna say) in the early 90's. i think the concern was that the blackhawks were so close.

i've been to several admirals games at the bradley center, wisconsinites love their hockey. i think it would be tight, but milwaukee could potentially support a team. when i lived there, i don't remember meeting a lot of blackhawks fans. even so, people in wisconsin are very loyal to wisconsin teams and would support a team from milwaukee over any team from chicago.

 

[johnnytata]

plus wisconsin and illinois people have genuine hatred for each other. would be a fun rivalry.