NHL EXPANSION

[GannonFan]

Nope - new arena plans are in the works. Move it downtown, attendance will shoot up.

28 NY Islanders 12,076

I agree with 89 on this - just moving it closer isn't going to make thousands of people a night more likely to go to a hockey game. If they were interested in hockey, and if they were going to go night in and night out to hockey, they'd find a way to get there. The Flyers play in South Philly and most Flyer fans in the area are suburbanites or are from Jersey - takes anywhere from 30-60 minutes every time to get to those games, and yet people come. Convenience doesn't make hockey fans, at least not recurrent ticket purchasing hockey fans.

[clenz]

Nope - new arena plans are in the works. Move it downtown, attendance will shoot up.

28 NY Islanders 12,076

I'm not entirely sure that building should be hosting hockey games.

From the game/highlights I've seen it just looks awkward.

[dbackjon]

I agree with 89 on this - just moving it closer isn't going to make thousands of people a night more likely to go to a hockey game. If they were interested in hockey, and if they were going to go night in and night out to hockey, they'd find a way to get there. The Flyers play in South Philly and most Flyer fans in the area are suburbanites or are from Jersey - takes anywhere from 30-60 minutes every time to get to those games, and yet people come. Convenience doesn't make hockey fans, at least not recurrent ticket purchasing hockey fans.

Will disagree. It very much is an issue with the fanbase here. And many of the former season ticket holders lived even further east than I do, so you are looking at 60-90 minutes to make a 7 pm game (plus 45-60 minutes home at 10pm after game).

[bandl]

I agree with 89 on this - just moving it closer isn't going to make thousands of people a night more likely to go to a hockey game. If they were interested in hockey, and if they were going to go night in and night out to hockey, they'd find a way to get there. The Flyers play in South Philly and most Flyer fans in the area are suburbanites or are from Jersey - takes anywhere from 30-60 minutes every time to get to those games, and yet people come. Convenience doesn't make hockey fans, at least not recurrent ticket purchasing hockey fans.

Will disagree.

How dare you! Now you're gonna get it!!!!!

[dbackjon]

Will disagree.

How dare you! Now you're gonna get it!!!!!

I know. The revenge of the chickens

[bandl]

How dare you! Now you're gonna get it!!!!!

I know. The revenge of the chickens

I was thinking



But without the humor

[93henfan]

I'm not entirely sure that building should be hosting hockey games.

From the game/highlights I've seen it just looks awkward.

Have read on BR that the sight lines in the building are terrible for hockey. They built them to see end to end on a basketball court, which is much smaller than a hockey rink.

Plus, their ticket base lived in Long Island. Now you're asking them to drive the murderous LIE all the way west to the city and through Queens and Brooklyn. Plus I'm sure the ticket prices probably skyrocketed.

The Flyers analogy from Ganny is not terrible, but I think he underestimates the number of Flyers fans from South Philly and the ones who have a quick drive from just across the Whitman bridge in near S Jersey or up from DelCo. Those folks can make it in under 30 min easy.

[89Hen]

How dare you! Now you're gonna get it!!!!!

I know. The revenge of the chickens

Not really. Isles attendance and lease sucked so they move to Brooklyn in a year when the team is the best they've been in recent memory and attendance is down. Miami Marlins... all we need is a new stadium and attendance will skyrocket... they were 28th of 30 last year. The easy out for fan bases is "our stadium sucks". Unfortunately the Field of Dreams method of boosting attendance doesn't always work. They should move the Coyotes to Las Vegas, let them fail a few years there, then move them to Canada.

[93henfan]

Example. Hey, that sounded like a nice goal. Let's hope they show a replay so we can see it.

[clenz]

Example. Hey, that sounded like a nice goal. Let's hope they show a replay so we can see it.

Video board is also over one of the blue lines....not center ice.

[89Hen]

Example. Hey, that sounded like a nice goal. Let's hope they show a replay so we can see it.

[CAA Flagship]

Example. Hey, that sounded like a nice goal. Let's hope they show a replay so we can see it.

Thanks, Dickhead, for posting a picture of the Devils losing.

[clenz]

Example. Hey, that sounded like a nice goal. Let's hope they show a replay so we can see it.

Video board is also over one of the blue lines....not center ice.

[tribe_pride]

Never seen sightlines so bad at a hockey arena before. That is horrible and attendance won't improve with those issues even if Islanders continue to play well.

Also, capacity is only about 15,800 so it's not like they will ever get huge attendance.

[GannonFan]

Never seen sightlines so bad at a hockey arena before. That is horrible and attendance won't improve with those issues even if Islanders continue to play well.

Also, capacity is only about 15,800 so it's not like they will ever get huge attendance.

They are bad, yet I'm sure most fans will agree that it's a better experience than it was in Nassau Colisuem, the other place where fans didn't show up at.

[dbackjon]

I know. The revenge of the chickens

I was thinking



But without the humor

[89Hen]

Last year, Phoenix finished last in average attendance and played to second lowest percentage capacity in the NHL. Only Florida had a lower percentage. It's all about what has happened lately. Both franchises are on thin ice -- pardon the pun.

A lot of that is a result of the ownership mess - fans didn't know if the team was going to be here this year. Give it a couple years to see if a stable ownership gets us back to the 15K level.

I wish Jon were still around. Maybe this is why he really left.

28 Arizona - 12,949
29 NY Islanders - 12,829
30 Carolina - 12,025

[Rob Iola]

A lot of that is a result of the ownership mess - fans didn't know if the team was going to be here this year. Give it a couple years to see if a stable ownership gets us back to the 15K level.

I wish Jon were still around. Maybe this is why he really left.

28 Arizona - 12,949
29 NY Islanders - 12,829
30 Carolina - 12,025

Treason!!!

[Grizalltheway]

Sounds like Seattle might actually be getting close to an arena. Seems like that's been the case for at least 5 years, but apparently Chris Hansen finally said fuck it on trying to get public funding.

[89Hen]

Sounds like Seattle might actually be getting close to an arena. Seems like that's been the case for at least 5 years, but apparently Chris Hansen finally said fuck it on trying to get public funding.

Hard to imagine them getting a team before Quebec City, but hey, they put in another desert team so...

[clenz]

Sounds like Seattle might actually be getting close to an arena. Seems like that's been the case for at least 5 years, but apparently Chris Hansen finally said fuck it on trying to get public funding.

Hard to imagine them getting a team before Quebec City, but hey, they put in another desert team so...

I think the NHL is taking the approach of "We are going to sell a shit load of suites at massive mark ups because every casino is going to have one for their high rollers" and also the approach that visiting fans may make a trip out of it because it's fucking Vegas.

[Wildcat Ryan]

It's times like this it SUCKS to live in Utah where no new professional franchise will ever be built. Glad we already have the two lamest pro sports out there (soccer and NBA).

Would love to see a pro Hockey team in Northern Utah.

[clenz]

It's times like this it SUCKS to live in Utah where no new professional franchise will ever be built. Glad we already have the two lamest pro sports out there (soccer and NBA).

Would love to see a pro Hockey team in Northern Utah.

You at least have teams.

Iowa will legitimately never have a team.

Thankfully we have Chicago, St. Louis, Kansas City Minnesota and then the Wisconsin teams to pick from depending what your preference is. Since we don't have a team of our own the fan bases of each of those teams (in all sports) in our state are pretty hard core into them.

We do have a ton of minor league sports though. The Twins (low a ball in Cedar Rapids), Wolves (just purchased the D League team in Des Moines) and Wild (AHL franchise in Des Moines and share a building with the D League team) all have lower league teams in Iowa. Iowa also has the Cubs AAA franchise in Des Moines and the Caridnals low a ball team in Davenport.

From my house I'm less than 5 hours from
All professional Chicago franchises
All Minnesota pro franchises
All St. Louis franchise
All Kansas City franches
The Brewers, Bucks and Packers
About 7 Low A MiLB teams
3 or 4 USHL teams
3 NBA D league teams
4 AHL teams.

Sadly, I'm still 4 hours from every pro franchise I follow. I can get to the Twins Single A affiliate in about 20 minutes and the Wolves and Wild affiliates in about 2.5 hours.

[Grizalltheway]

It's times like this it SUCKS to live in Utah where no new professional franchise will ever be built. Glad we already have the two lamest pro sports out there (soccer and NBA).

Would love to see a pro Hockey team in Northern Utah.

Is there some rivalry between SLC/Denver that prevents you from being an Avs fan? If so, EFF you.

[89Hen]

From my house I'm less than 5 hours from
All professional Chicago franchises
All Minnesota pro franchises
All St. Louis franchise
All Kansas City franches
The Brewers, Bucks and Packers
About 7 Low A MiLB teams
3 or 4 USHL teams
3 NBA D league teams
4 AHL teams.

Give me 5 hours and I can get to:
Washington Redskins
Washington Nationals
Washington Capitals
Washington Wizards
Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Orioles
Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Flyers
Philadelphia Sixers
New York Jets
New York Giants
New Jersey Devils
Brooklyn Nets
New York Islanders
New York Knicks
New York Rangers
New York Yankees
New York Mets
Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Penguins
Carolina Hurricanes

Durham Bulls
Lehigh Valley IronPigs
Norfolk Tides
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
Altoona Curve
Bowie Baysox
Harrisburg Senators
Reading Fightin Phils
Richmond Flying Squirrels
Trenton Thunder
Buies Creek Astros
Carolina Mudcats
Down East Wood Ducks
Frederick Keys
Lynchburg Hillcats
Potomac Nationals
Salem Red Sox
Wilmington Blue Rocks
Delmarva Shorebirds
Greensboro Grasshoppers
Hagerstown Suns
Lakewood BlueClaws
Aberdeen IronBirds
Brooklyn Cyclones
State College Spikes
Staten Island Yankees
West Virginia Black Bears
Williamsport Crosscutters

Hershey Bears
Lehigh Valley Phantoms
Willes Barre/Scranton Penguins
Norfolk Admirals
Reading Royals