Coyotes (NHL)

[Anie]

So what is your view of the current situation of the Coyotes? Do you think it's right for them to be moved to Hamilton, Ontario or do you think that'll be a bad idea, especially for the Buffalo Sabres since a new NHL team in that area would mean less revenue for the Sabres. Then again Canadians generate at least 40% of the revenue for the NHL, that is only from six teams compared to what... 30! :willy_nilly:

Do you think that Balsillie is doing this the wrong way, should he have tried a different approach to getting a team? He's been trying for a few years now but Bettman has stopped him before, this time Balsillie might have his team moved, depending on how much it'll cost for the Phoenix Coyotes to be moved which could be 100 million...

Is Bettman trying to save his ass for a failed experiment on getting hockey more popular in the USA or is the team's fault on sucking for years and not getting a good product on the ice.

Here is a TSN story... Judge says NHL entitled to fee if Coyotes move to Hamilton

 

[Tangerine]

While I applaud the efforts to grow hockey in the US, there are certain markets where it just doesn't make econimic sense. Phoenix seems like one of them. They are caught in the catch-22 that many teams in all pro sports fall into: Losing = light attendence + small TV viewership = low revenue = no money for better caliber of players/coaches = more losing.

I see nothing wrong with Hamilton taking the Coyotes. They will be a stronger franchise and be more profitable for the league as a whole. Sadly, I live in a city that is falling into the same trap, and the Thrashers have already started dumping payroll - which is the first step in the process of relocating the team. And here in Atlanta, there are plenty of hockey fans who migrated in - it's not a "non-hockey" market, it's simply a sucky team that no one wants to pay to watch lose.

 

[canidae]

Phoenix was a decent move in the first place betting on the majority of residents are from other places in the US and Canada, which generates a possible fan base, in that natives wouldn't be all that interested in hockey. I think it's has more to do with the fact that they're losing, and have been for long enough to erode their fan base. In that way the non-natives are seen as as detriment, as they have no real ties to a team like Detroit fans have, so they won't stick it out though the losing seasons.

If Hamilton can provide a consistent fan base, then I think the move is warranted.

 

[Anie]

The Coyotes have been losing a ton of money since their move down south, I think it was around the 300 million mark. TV coverage is very bad in the USA, period. The numbers on Versus have improved slightly but not so significantly, maybe up 4% than the past year or so, yeah very huge number eh? I heard that ESPN might cover a few hockey games next season but it will be a slight issue because of Versus.

I don't know how I feel about getting hockey more popular in the USA, that is the huge focus for the NHL but who knew the hindsight of how the teams would turn out, I mean come on... how many franchises aren't in good shape, I can easily name 5 or 6 off the top of my head. I can't blame the teams though, the draft is a crap shoot and it's all about scouting and management in that department on them improving to be a better team or not. I just find it more illogical that we have so many teams in the NHL, I was thinking of maybe taking out a few teams and at least take it from there as a start.

Hamilton will have the people to go in there but I highly doubt there would be any loyalty, it takes awhile to adapt to a new team and those who are fans of a team already tend to stick to that team no matter what. I know that the people in Hamilton will only care about... oh hey, least we get to watch the Leafs or another team playing in a more convient area than to travel to the USA or attempt to get a ticket in Ontario or Quebec (ha, good luck)

Also there is a lot of talent in the NHL, it's a matter of depth of what a team has to make them truly sucessful and the NHL cap is supposed to help in this area to make it a bit more fair but how is it looking so far with the teams that are still struggling, which aren't highly marketable, aren't getting media coverage, aren't getting people to sit in those damn seats. It's been a few years but where is the improvement???

Also a team in Hamilton will really screw up the Sabres... that would be very unfortunate

 

[Lord Stanley]

Bettman just does not get it, you cannot rum the NHL like the NBA, it is not big enough stateside, it ranks a lolwy fourth behind NFL, NBA and MLB, in some markets the WWF and MMA are more popular, his experiment to grow the sport in the southern states has failed, (however Carolina seem to do well when in the palyoffs)

Balsillie was bang on to take this approach, it is obvious that bettman has a personal grudge against balsillie fiollowing previous attempts to take Pittsburgh and Nashville...there was zero possibility of Balsillie gettign a franchise by playing the game the way the NHL wants it played and I know the coytoes will do wekllin Hamilton and i dont think the move will have much of a negative impact on either Buffalo nor Toronto

I guess the stickiing point now is the transfer fee, i gather Balsillie will walk away if the Judge allows the NHL to impose this,

BTW this is headline news and the hot topic in Canada, I wonder if the story is big in the states, even in Phoenix