Comments on: Quebec City’s hopes of landing an NHL team improve after council approves naming rights deal

By: bsputnik

bsputnik — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 17:16:13 +0000

As I breath a sigh of relief that Sid will be returning at some point but with no time-table, I do agree. The arena should be built to show how serious the city/providence is. With the respective dollars of Canada and US coming together, there is no reason to not move teams north. Too many franchises are losing money. This year’s revenue will be higher because there are now Jets where there had been Thrashers. Quebec will sell out every game, that is more than the Panthers can say. A second Toronto or Hamilton team will sell out every game, the Coyotes will not (along with 9(?) other teams). The year the Coyotes move, a significant jump in revenue will occur. Losing $50 million to making $50 million is $57 million more to players, nearly +$2 million in cap space/team. The players would and should not put up with that when there are markets that are hockey hungry that will better support teams. I don’t like seeing teams move, but it only makes sense. You need the arena to get a team, so take care of that and get hockey back to a great city (that I would love to visit one day, but I don’t speak French).

By: kellyb9

kellyb9 — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 13:30:55 +0000

@bsputnik – I agree, it is a big gamble, but on the other side of the coin, I think Bettman, if he has any sense, should be paying attention. Here we have cities and fanbases that are itching at the prospect of getting an NHL team so much so, that they are willing to build an arena without any strong commitment for a team. Meanwhile, we have teams that aren’t drawing in non-traditional hockey markets.

By: doctorrosenrosen

doctorrosenrosen — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 12:43:13 +0000

I’d love to see a team back in Quebec City, and the way the Canadian dollar has appreciated, I think Gary Bettman might too.

By: bsputnik

bsputnik — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 04:49:48 +0000

I am generally one to not have a problem with tax-payer subsidies for sports facilities. Major league teams are luxury items and that is the cost of having them. I voted in favor of paying for Heinz Field and PNC Park and later was in support of Consol Energy Center. Generally speaking, nearly half of all residents in an area are for spending the money. But this is a huge gamble. If the arena were to be ready for next year, that would be no problem, you just buy the Coyotes. But come 2015, that likely won’t be an option. Are there going to be more teams available? Possibly. But I wouldn’t gamble $400 million dollars on it. Especially with KC trying to bring the Scouts back in an arena that is ready to go. Additionally, as great as it is that Winnipeg got to use the Jets name, Colorado is not owned by the NHL. I do believe that the owners of the Avalanche still own the Nordiques name and logo. That is the Kroenke clan. They may not want to give that property up and if they do, I’m sure it won’t come cheap. If Quebec does come back, it may not be as the Nordiques, further twisting the knife that was the 1996 Stolen Cup. But good luck to the people of Quebec. I would love to see the team return as the Nordiques(2). Then all we need to do is get the Whalers back in Hartford and all will be right with the world.