19 replies to this topic

[Rwarky]

Which Western city should get a NHL franchise, and would support it the best?


I believe Las Vegas should get a NHL team.

Edited by Rwarky, 16 October 2006 - 08:58 PM.

[jdkacz]

I voted Seattle. It seems like a natural fit, plus its close proximity to Vancouver gives it a natural rival.

[ZachariahDaMan]

I would like to see one in Seattle also.

[Randy@Tacoma]

Seattle... totally dude.

[jdkacz]

ZachariahDaMan, on Oct 20 2006, 12:46 PM, said:

I would like to see one in Seattle also.

Randy@Tacoma, on Oct 20 2006, 08:23 PM, said:

Seattle... totally dude.

Seattle's got only two votes, which one of you fella's forgot to vote!

[Mith242]

I also think Seattle is a good fit and an interest rival for Vancouver.  But I won't be surprised to seeing more sports franchises going to Vegas.  It continues to post impressive growth and it won't be a place that people can overlook.

[jdkacz]

I think Vegas would've had a sports franchise by now, if not for the gambling issue. I think its a matter of when, not if, a major sports league decides to make the jump to put a team in Las Vegas.

In any scenario, I think the NBA would be first to go there rather then the NHL.

[FromCityToRural]

Vegas...maybe, but Phoenix seems to have a pretty good lock on those fans. Seattle I agree would be good. The LA area has both the Kings and Mighty Ducks (yes, they're still Mighty to me), the Bay Area already has my team, the Sharks, and I'm not sure Portland is large enough to support an NHL team. I could possibly also see Salt Lake, as with the skiing, etc. they have a fairly good winter sports culture there and a hockey team might fit in there.

I doubt the NHL is seeking to expand right now, not too far out of the strike, I'd say if anybody is going to get a team it'd be one of the struggling teams like the Lightning or the Blue Jackets moving into a new place.

[Mith242]

I don't know I think Vegas is getting big enough that it can support a sports franchise even with Phoenix.  I do think the gambling issue probably has more of an effect than anything.

[FromCityToRural]

Mith242, on Oct 25 2006, 07:20 PM, said:

I don't know I think Vegas is getting big enough that it can support a sports franchise even with Phoenix.  I do think the gambling issue probably has more of an effect than anything.

Yeah...it's on the border of perhaps being big enough...I don't know, I haven't been there since about 2000 or so, I assume it's grown substantially since then but I don't know by how much. I'm surprised they don't have a team there already as its financial influence far exceeds its population size and it's a city so in love with entertainment. Maybe the problem is that entertainment is geared towards a transient tourist base rather than residents and the mentality there is the same? I don't know...in any case, I agree I'd think they'd get either an MLB or NBA team, maybe even NFL, before the NHL would look to invest in Vegas.

[Mith242]

FromCityToRural, on Oct 26 2006, 02:18 PM, said:

Yeah...it's on the border of perhaps being big enough...I don't know, I haven't been there since about 2000 or so, I assume it's grown substantially since then but I don't know by how much. I'm surprised they don't have a team there already as its financial influence far exceeds its population size and it's a city so in love with entertainment. Maybe the problem is that entertainment is geared towards a transient tourist base rather than residents and the mentality there is the same? I don't know...in any case, I agree I'd think they'd get either an MLB or NBA team, maybe even NFL, before the NHL would look to invest in Vegas.

I'm pretty sure Vegas is the fastest growing metro in the country.  I haven't heard of it slowing down any yet.  I haven't thought much of all the tourists that go there.  But yeah I'm not sure if people going to Vegas are going to want to go to a game instead of all the other 'attractions'.  So it might have to rely more on residents.

[colin]

Las Vegas is very connected to LA, not Phoenix. People are more likely to be Lakers/Kings fans than Suns/Coyotes fans there.
Also the communities within 100 or so miles of Vegas are really more connected to other cities than they are to Vegas (Kingman, Flagstaff, Cedar City, etc). This is in contrast to most other major league cities including Phoenix.
Seattle has an impressive metropolitan population, but I think that a Vegas NHL team would create a general mystique surrounding it especially since it would be the first major team Vegas has had (not counting XFL which doesn't count anyway). It could also certainly serve as a tourist attraction since there's really nothing there in the way of sports except minor league baseball and UNLV stuff. Even in Phoenix people will suggest D'Backs games as a tourist attraction.

[FromCityToRural]

Hmm...strange. Most folks I knew there were Coyotes fans (don't follow basketball so I can't speak for the Fakers or Suns)

[Inkdaub]

I still say that Portland should get a NHL team and Seattle should get a MLS team.  I doubt it would actually work but that's what I would like to see.

[Front_Range_Guy]

I voted for SLC weeks ago lol. Cities like Phoenix and Vegas just don't scream hockey to me, and I think a hockey rivalry beteween SLC and Denver could be interesting. Colorado and Utah already having something of a Ski industry rivalry.

[dgreco]

if seatlle looses basketball ue the arena for a hockey team?

[jdkacz]

dgreco, on Dec 8 2006, 09:41 AM, said:

if seatlle looses basketball ue the arena for a hockey team?

Looks like if it goes through the state legislature, the team will get a new stadium in Renton or Bellevue.

[dgreco]

^ since LV was such a hit, maybe LV can save the NHL?

[richyb83]

I would definetly have to give Seattle the most consideration over Las Vegas.

[jdkacz]

richyb83, on Jun 23 2007, 03:28 AM, said:

I would definetly have to give Seattle the most consideration over Las Vegas.

Neo, on Feb 23 2008, 04:23 PM, said:

We'll wait for traffic to pick up a bit more before going forward with a dedicated Seattle forum.

With a potential new ownership group for the Sonics a part of the plan is a renovated arena that can be suited for the NHL as well. Unfortunetly I dont think this will take place as the NBA wants the Sonics in OKC.