Seattle Oilers?

[89Hen]

http://espn.go.com/nhl/story/_/id/84220 ... relocation

EDMONTON, Alberta -- With plans for a new arena in doubt, the Edmonton Oilers say they are keeping their options open.

Oilers owner Daryl Katz, team president Patrick LaForge and president of hockey operations Kevin Lowe were in Seattle on Monday for meetings about a possible relocation to the city.

The Oilers said in a statement that they still hope to reach a deal with Edmonton on a new arena. But with talks at an impasse and the team's lease at aging Rexall Place set to expire in 2014, the Oilers have started to look elsewhere.

"As the City of Edmonton is aware, the Katz Group has been listening to proposals from a number of potential NHL markets for some time," the statement read. "After more than four years of trying to secure an arena deal and with less than 24 months remaining on the Oilers' lease at Rexall Place, this is only prudent and should come as no surprise."

The team added it would not comment on discussions with other potential markets.

The visit by Oilers brass came the same day that the Seattle City Council approved hedge-fund manager Chris Hansen's plan for a $490 million arena that both sides hope will be home to an NBA and NHL team.

Seattle's hockey market is limited to the Western Hockey League's Thunderbirds. The city hasn't had a professional team since the Metropolitans, who won a Stanley Cup in 1917, were disbanded in 1924.

[SDHornet]

Wow. Seattle could land an NHL franchise (Oilers) and an NBA franchise (Kings) in one fell swoop. That would be amazing.

[89Hen]

Do people in Seattle who like hockey generally root for the Canucks?

[Grizalltheway]

Do people in Seattle who like hockey generally root for the Canucks?

For the most part, yes.

I don't know what Edmonton would do without a hockey team, the place is a God-forsaken shit hole.

[89Hen]

Do people in Seattle who like hockey generally root for the Canucks?

For the most part, yes.

I don't know what Edmonton would do without a hockey team, the place is a God-forsaken shit hole.

They still have the Eskimos.

[Grizalltheway]

For the most part, yes.

I don't know what Edmonton would do without a hockey team, the place is a God-forsaken shit hole.

They still have the Eskimos.

Insult to injury.

[DSUrocks07]

Seattle and Portland should both have NHL teams.

[Grizalltheway]

Seattle and Portland should both have NHL teams.

Not so sure about Portland. Seems like more of a baseball/soccer town.

[89Hen]

Seattle and Portland should both have NHL teams.

I really don't know much about either city, but it seems Seahawks fans are pretty rabid. I think the Trail Blazers are usually pretty high in the attendance rankings, but since the NBA and NHL are coinciding seasons, can they support both? Seattle might be hungry for a Nov-May sport, but could be that Portland is already spoken for.

[Chizzang]

Seattle and Portland should both have NHL teams.

I really don't know much about either city, but it seems Seahawks fans are pretty rabid. I think the Trail Blazers are usually pretty high in the attendance rankings, but since the NBA and NHL are coinciding seasons, can they support both? Seattle might be hungry for a Nov-May sport, but could be that Portland is already spoken for.

I do not see Hockey making it here...
Basketball YES / Hockey No
Soccer works here because of a few critical factors
we (King County) has the largest number of open quality soccer fields in America
There are Sprint turf lighted fields all over the place / probably 12 in Redmond alone and another dozen in Bellevue

So this contributes to leagues
We've got soccer leagues out the zinger / I was in one of Redmond over 40 leagues for a while and it was PACKED with old farts like me

Plus we've got foreigners / sh!tloads of 'em
You can't swing a dead cat without hitting some kind of European or Russian
So King Country is soccer crazed

[DSUrocks07]

I really don't know much about either city, but it seems Seahawks fans are pretty rabid. I think the Trail Blazers are usually pretty high in the attendance rankings, but since the NBA and NHL are coinciding seasons, can they support both? Seattle might be hungry for a Nov-May sport, but could be that Portland is already spoken for.

I do not see Hockey making it here...
Basketball YES / Hockey No
Soccer works here because of a few critical factors
we (King County) has the largest number of open quality soccer fields in America
There are Sprint turf lighted fields all over the place / probably 12 in Redmond alone and another dozen in Bellevue

So this contributes to leagues
We've got soccer leagues out the zinger / I was in one of Redmond over 40 leagues for a while and it was PACKED with old farts like me

Plus we've got foreigners / sh!tloads of 'em
You can't swing a dead cat without hitting some kind of European or Russian
So King Country is soccer crazed

So Hockey wouldn't work for those same reasons?

[Chizzang]

I suppose it has a chance
But the local population of Seattle hipsters & gringo's won't buy a ticket

Note: Hipsters like soccer, it makes 'em feel Euro
Hockey just feels a little too Canadian and Minnesota (Hipster kryptonite)

[89Hen]

I do not see Hockey making it here...
Basketball YES / Hockey No
Soccer works here because of a few critical factors
we (King County) has the largest number of open quality soccer fields in America
There are Sprint turf lighted fields all over the place / probably 12 in Redmond alone and another dozen in Bellevue

So this contributes to leagues
We've got soccer leagues out the zinger / I was in one of Redmond over 40 leagues for a while and it was PACKED with old farts like me

FWIW, I'd say 98% of the folks who pack the Verizon Center for Caps games don't play hockey and probably 90% can't even stand on skates. Isn't that the case for most fans of their given sport though?

[Ivytalk]

I've never thought of Seattle as a great pro sports town, outside of football. The Mariners draw dick nowadays, and they've already lost one NBA team and one earlier MLB team. I doubt hockey can make it there.

[GannonFan]

Seattle and Portland should both have NHL teams.

I really don't know much about either city, but it seems Seahawks fans are pretty rabid. I think the Trail Blazers are usually pretty high in the attendance rankings, but since the NBA and NHL are coinciding seasons, can they support both? Seattle might be hungry for a Nov-May sport, but could be that Portland is already spoken for.

Seattle leads MLS in attendance - something like 30k per game for the Sounders. MLS starts up in Feb/Mar so that's right when hockey is starting to get serious after the first 4 months of pre-season play. Might be a tough sell.

If they do go to Seattle, though, look for that bright green to be added to the uniforms - seem you can't be a team in Seattle anymore without that color.

[griz37]

I would love for Seattle to get an NHL team, but the last thing the league needs to do is move another Canadian franchise to an untested US Market. The best thing for the league would be to move teams from Tampa, Dallas, Nashville & Phoenix to places like Hamilton, Quebec, Hartford & maybe even a 2nd team in Toronto or Montreal.

[Grizalltheway]

I've never thought of Seattle as a great pro sports town, outside of football. The Mariners draw dick nowadays, and they've already lost one NBA team and one earlier MLB team. I doubt hockey can make it there.

Of course the Mariners draw dick now, they've been the AL West cellar dwellers for close to a decade now. Back when they were even a half-decent team, they were drawing 45K per night.

[Ivytalk]

I've never thought of Seattle as a great pro sports town, outside of football. The Mariners draw dick nowadays, and they've already lost one NBA team and one earlier MLB team. I doubt hockey can make it there.

Of course the Mariners draw dick now, they've been the AL West cellar dwellers for close to a decade now. Back when they were even a half-decent team, they were drawing 45K per night.

Frontrunners. Hipsters. Starbucks addicts. Domestic terrorists.

[Grizalltheway]

Of course the Mariners draw dick now, they've been the AL West cellar dwellers for close to a decade now. Back when they were even a half-decent team, they were drawing 45K per night.

Frontrunners. Hipsters. Starbucks addicts. Domestic terrorists.

Speaking of frontrunners, how was the phailies' attendence before they won a trophy and got a new ballpark?

[Chizzang]

Of course the Mariners draw dick now, they've been the AL West cellar dwellers for close to a decade now. Back when they were even a half-decent team, they were drawing 45K per night.

Frontrunners. Hipsters. Starbucks addicts. Domestic terrorists.

Ivy you've picked up your game quite a bit..!!!

Anyway - I've cleaned up the coffee I just spit all overt the place
All Sports in the North West have to compete weekly with some other very (very) popular things
Biking Capital of America / Both street and Mountain / Lakes and Rivers that draw peoples interests / Soccer Leagues / basically outdoor stuff...

I've lived on the east coast
And I can assure you people around here do more stuff - just in general
I hear - we're all going for a hike on Rainer you wanna come
We're hitting the lake this after noon
We're doing some trail riding today
Etc. Etc.

People are more OUTDOOR active in the North West than they are on the East coast (fact)
In New England and in Baltimore when the Ravens or Patriots play EVERYBODY is watching
out here there are the season ticket holders and some Seahawks fans for sure but a huge percentage of Seattle people couldn't give a flying crap about Baseball or Football (of any kind)

[SuperHornet]

Wow. Seattle could land an NHL franchise (Oilers) and an NBA franchise (Kings) in one fell swoop. That would be amazing.

I thought Anaheim had the upper hand for getting the stupid Maloofs. Seattle makes MUCH more sense given that they would be the only (pro hoops) show in town, while the Anaheim Royals would be third banana to the Lakers and the Clip Show despite being in a completely different county.

That said, I'd MUCH rather see the Kings sold to a local owner who keeps them in Sac. Get rid of the Maloofs NOW!!!!!

[Ivytalk]

Frontrunners. Hipsters. Starbucks addicts. Domestic terrorists.

Ivy you've picked up your game quite a bit..!!!

Anyway - I've cleaned up the coffee I just spit all overt the place
All Sports in the North West have to compete weekly with some other very (very) popular things
Biking Capital of America / Both street and Mountain / Lakes and Rivers that draw peoples interests / Soccer Leagues / basically outdoor stuff...
I've lived on the east coast
And I can assure you people around here do more stuff - just in general
I hear - we're all going for a hike on Rainer you wanna come
We're hitting the lake this after noon
We're doing some trail riding today
Etc. Etc.

People are more OUTDOOR active in the North West than they are on the East coast (fact)
In New England and in Baltimore when the Ravens or Patriots play EVERYBODY is watching
out here there are the season ticket holders and some Seahawks fans for sure but a huge percentage of Seattle people couldn't give a flying crap about Baseball or Football (of any kind)

All the Seattle folks I've met agree with you, Chizz. Your active outdoor lifestyle and your randy charm with the ladies will ensure that you outlive me by at least 30 years. I really like that big fish market you have there. Smells like the Cowboy cheerleaders' locker room! Me likey!

[SDHornet]

Wow. Seattle could land an NHL franchise (Oilers) and an NBA franchise (Kings) in one fell swoop. That would be amazing.

I thought Anaheim had the upper hand for getting the stupid Maloofs. Seattle makes MUCH more sense given that they would be the only (pro hoops) show in town, while the Anaheim Royals would be third banana to the Lakers and the Clip Show despite being in a completely different county.

That said, I'd MUCH rather see the Kings sold to a local owner who keeps them in Sac. Get rid of the Maloofs NOW!!!!!

I think the Maloofs will take the Kings anywhere that gives them a sweetheart deal on an arena lease. Moving to Anaheim will require a huge relocation fee. Moving to Seattle or KC will not. Plus moving to Seattle gives them the basketball TV market all to themselves (if there is a basketball market in Seattle). It's pretty much a guarantee the Maloofs take the Kings away from Sac. Also pretty sure they will not sell unless they are financially forced to, and even then the new owners could relocate the Kings.

[SuperHornet]

True dat, SD....

[89Hen]

If they do go to Seattle, though, look for that bright green to be added to the uniforms - seem you can't be a team in Seattle anymore without that color.

I actually like the unity in team colors.