Comments on: With expected return of NBA, Seattle’s NHL chances improve

By: elvispocomo

elvispocomo — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 16:53:02 +0000

nothanksimdriving123′s post further down seems to suggest otherwise for the Thunderbirds attendance. Again, not saying it wouldn’t work, but it’s definitely a factor to consider.

By: dbara43

dbara43 — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 01:37:26 +0000

Tod Leiwike (sp.?) used to be President of the Seahawks. Don’t think he’s not talking in his brother’s ear.

By: dbara43

dbara43 — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 01:34:54 +0000

Columbus, New Jersey, Dallas (owned by a Vancouver businessman and no natural rivals within several hundred miles), Anaheim, Carolina, Florida… anybody playing to less than 90% of capacity looks vulnerable to me.

By: dbara43

dbara43 — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 01:30:23 +0000

The WHL Thunderbirds and Everett Silvertips often have home games the same night and draw upwards of 15,000 on those nights for junior hockey. Support would not be an issue.

And I think we could get more than 7,000 for a season ticket base (I’m looking at YOU Columbus) and draw better than a lot of other cities that already have NHL franchises.

By: steelers88

steelers88 — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 22:00:57 +0000

How about instead of moving a team to a state or Province maybe the NHL should think about moving teams like Coloumbus, Florida, Anahiem, and Dallas to Europe.

By: ussportsfanuk

ussportsfanuk — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 11:18:22 +0000

I think Seattle could be a good destination for the NHL and that them and Quebec should be the first choices for a relocated franchise.

By: ussportsfanuk

ussportsfanuk — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 11:16:30 +0000

Think the Stars would be helped by being in a division with more interesting games and the chance to reignite old division rivalries. On my attempted realignment plan I have them in a division where they would be playing big market teams more regularly.

By: ussportsfanuk

ussportsfanuk — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 11:12:44 +0000

I think the travelling could be big issue for the Lightning. I’ve attempted a realignment plan on my blog which seems to be better for the southern teams in terms of travel.

By: badintent

badintent — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 07:33:11 +0000

Long lists of Vancouver folks that can afford tickets but are on waiting list.Plus , this willl be a natura,l great local rivalry between these teams like montreal and toronto, rangers and islanders,pens and flyers. Bettman has this on fast track, more NHLPA jobs more TV ratings, more $$$$$

Kiro5 news showed the proposed area , uses rain water collected from roof to create giant water fountains with lights to create great images. nice !

By: leeeroooyjeeenkiiins

leeeroooyjeeenkiiins — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 05:03:20 +0000

The Lightning are easily the best fanbase of the 3 teams down here. Rays fans are extremely fickle and too lazy to cross a bridge, while Bucs fans are equally fickle and the majority of the stadium is full of people who just show up to get sloshed. Obviously both fanbases have their dedicated fans too, but that applies to literally every team, and as one of those dedicated fans I am often finding myself very frustrated with my fellow Bucs and Rays “fans” who do a lot more whining than attending.

Lightning fans are not perfect by any means, but we’re certainly more dedicated and knowledgeable on average than the average Bucs/Rays fan, and the fanbase is growing. We lost about 100 season ticket holders during the lockout but gained 850. Excitement about the team is definitely growing and attendance is very solid.

Florida, on the other hand, obviously has major attendance issues. Unfortunately, moving them would of course make Tampa’s road trips even longer. We’re already getting moved to a conference with mostly northeastern teams, and if the Panthers move Toronto would actually be the closest team to us(assuming they don’t further adjust the conferences).

If such a move were to be made, the rarely mentioned Kansas City market might become a little more logical. Assuming 32 teams(2 expansions and at least a Panthers move), you could see something like Nashville and Carolina moving to our conference with KC replacing Nashville in that conference and perhaps a Quebec moving to replace Carolina. Personally I think there are several markets more deserving than Kansas City, but at some point logistics have to be considered if Florida gets moved.

By: really999

really999 — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 04:42:10 +0000

Yes. To Brooklyn in a couple years. So they are off the table.

By: canadabaseball

canadabaseball — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 04:25:12 +0000

Alright before we forget there is still places that have had NHL franchises that have been successfu. Qubec and I still think Hartford could work, I don’t know about saskatawoon or Halifax but I think all of those Mabye even Seattle would be better then Florida , Tampa , columbis , Dallas almost all southern us teams should move north

By: jkulha86

jkulha86 — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 01:35:38 +0000

Seems like the most logical choices to relocate would be Phoenix, Florida, and Dallas. Phoenix is pretty obvious, and even with a potential buyer in Jamison, he is having a hard time finding enough money to buy them, how can he maintain the yearly cost of owning a franchise year after year? Florida just has little fan support. Miami is focused on the Heat and the Dolphins. I think if Dallas builds a contender then obviously attendance will go up. They were among the leagues best in attendance when they had Modano and Brett Hull. No chance Carolina or Tampa move. I am born and raised in Pittsburgh, but lived in Raleigh for 5 years and Hurricane fans definitely pack the RBC Center. Also spent time in Tampa and I’ve been to Lightning games and they have a lot of dedicated fans, and the game day experience at Tampa Bay Times Forum is actually really good.

By: tegyorit

tegyorit — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 00:11:44 +0000

This is partly to do with the Seattle Metro area adding a second WHL team then (The Everett Silvertips). Everett and Seattle combine for almost 10,000 in attendance not including teams from nearby Tricities, or minor league teams in Wenatchee, Yakima, Tacoma…BCHL team in Bellingham and hockey fans in Portland (All of which regularly pack the houses for NFL and MLB).

The old NBA rivalry with Vancouver in the 90s, and the Cascadia Cup in MLS all but guarantees NHL fireworks between the border cities.

Seattle will support hockey with a fervor, bring on the team!

By: elvispocomo

elvispocomo — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 23:28:08 +0000

Not saying it can’t happen, but is it the most likely location to have success? Would Hamilton or Quebec City be better choices? What about Portland (no NFL or MLB)?

By: chelseax11

chelseax11 — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 23:20:38 +0000

Agreed. I actually live smack in the middle of Tampa and Sunrise/Miami. I see Lightning support almost every day, but I rarely see any Panthers stuff. It’s nothing like the big franchises, but Tampa just seems to have more support from my 2 year experience living here (I’m a Pittsburgh transplant/Pens fan). Tampa has better attendance and a longer shelf-life right now, imo. Stamkos is only beginning his ascent to superstardom. He’ll be an easier guy to market and he fits that bill of guys like Crosby, Toews, etc. that brought fans into their respective markets.

By: mnwildfan15

mnwildfan15 — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 23:07:58 +0000

Dallas(NORM GREEN STILL SUCKS), the panthers, San Jose,phoenix, pretty much anywhere that doesn’t have natural ice outside shouldn’t have a team.

By: misterchainbluelightning

misterchainbluelightning — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 22:56:48 +0000

Halifax can’t support a team

By: ethanmacleod1685

ethanmacleod1685 — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 22:31:16 +0000

Not Dallas!

By: tbbolts91

tbbolts91 — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 22:30:15 +0000

Oh yeah let’s just go and hate Tampa…

By: giantssb42champs

giantssb42champs — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 21:58:54 +0000

Will the islanders move?

By: steelers88

steelers88 — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 21:21:21 +0000

I think Tampa should stay and Florida and Anahiem should move. Tampa has a pretty good fanbase.

By: eastcoastcynic

eastcoastcynic — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 21:15:31 +0000

The Seattle area has a similar population size to the Denver area, which supports MLB, the NHL, and the NBA. Why not Seattle?

By: lesleyvissersfacelift

lesleyvissersfacelift — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 21:14:58 +0000

Phoenix out of the mix? If so, Florida is still out there. Then there’s Dallas, Anaheim, Tampa. Give Columbus a mulligan. But there’s still enough to move teams to Seattle and Quebec. Now, who will move to Portland or Saskatoon? Or Halifax?

By: nothanksimdriving123

nothanksimdriving123 — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 21:07:28 +0000

You can win a bar bet with this one: What was the first US city to be home to a Stanley Cup champion? Yup, Seattle. That said, Seattle fans can be pretty fickle. From what I can tell, 2001 was the most recent year that the WHL Thunderbirds averaged even 5,000 fans a game. Down in the low 4,000′s of late. Perhaps an NHL team would attract Vancouver area fans who can’t afford Canucks tickets.

By: steelers88

steelers88 — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 20:58:16 +0000

Um which team would the NHL move?

By: bo1210

bo1210 — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 20:47:42 +0000

Would make for a good “border war” with the Canucks, though a relocated team would make that a solid rivalry quicker than an expansion team would.

By: misterchainbluelightning

misterchainbluelightning — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 20:41:45 +0000

Again, CHL has been there since ’77, Seattle has been a member on the WHL for a long time.

By: mrteevee

mrteevee — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 20:30:32 +0000

There aren’t too many cities that go crazy for soccer and Seattle is one of them. I don’t see why they wouldn’t enjoy a niche sport like hockey.

By: jimw81

jimw81 — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 20:22:28 +0000

anyone notice the grin on bettman’s face about this issue at the post-lockout press conference?