MacK_Attack 108 Report post Posted February 15, 2007 Arena deal may lure NHL to Seattle A $500 million multi-purpose arena proposal may be a stepping stone to a NHL franchise in the Seattle area. According to The Seattle Times, the Sonics have hired an independent research firm to determine if the Puget Sound market could support a National Hockey League franchise, principal owner Clay Bennett said Wednesday. "We are beginning to work on an analysis for the NHL in the market, understanding first and foremost, is the product viable and then at the same time model the NHL in the building relative to revenue sharing, expense sharing with an NBA team," Bennett said. "Does it work? Certainly, I think it will add to the building and probably add to the overall value to the [NBA] franchise." While true expansion is not really an option, the Seattle group hinted at a clause in the Nashville Predators ownership deal that would allow them to relocate if attendance numbers sagged to a certain point. The recent talk of the Penguins moving to Kansas City is also of interest to the Seattle group. Bennett said he hasn't been in contact with either franchise, but insinuated he's had recent talks with the NHL. http://www2.sportsnet.ca/blogs/hockey_hear...ure_nhl_to_sea/ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Barrie 900 Report post Posted February 15, 2007 I think Seattle would be a good NHL market. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
theman19 47 Report post Posted February 15, 2007 make it stop,..just give a team back to canada already,...... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MacK_Attack 108 Report post Posted February 15, 2007 Seattle would be a great fit, better than Nashville or Columbus. What makes Columbus such a bad market? Averaging nearly 17,000/game with a team that has never even competed for a playoff spot is pretty impressive. I think that's a pretty stable market for the time being. Do people just assume Columbus is a poor market because the team is bad and it's a recent expansion city? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
betterREDthandead 58 Report post Posted February 15, 2007 Do people just assume Columbus is a poor market because the team is bad and it's a recent expansion city? *sigh* yes, unfortunately. make it stop,..just give a team back to canada already,...... Oh give it a rest. If you think frickin' Hamilton's a better place for a team than Seattle you need your head examined. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Louisville 112 Report post Posted February 15, 2007 I always thought Seattle would be a great place for an NHL team, I think we can at least agree it would be a much better city than Vegas or Kansas City.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
betterREDthandead 58 Report post Posted February 15, 2007 I always thought Seattle would be a great place for an NHL team, I think we can at least agree it would be a much better city than Vegas or Kansas City.. Why? I think KC's credentials are just as good as Seattle's. Vegas is a special case and a whole separate topic worthy of discussion, but if you're gonna say no because it's in the desert, you need to re-evaluate. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Devereaux_21 0 Report post Posted February 15, 2007 (edited) The only thing I really know about Seattle comes from Grey's Anatomy but isn't Seattle a little close to Vancouver. Having to teams that close together can't really be a good thing Edited February 15, 2007 by Devereaux_21 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MacK_Attack 108 Report post Posted February 15, 2007 (edited) I think all of the major sports would like, no make that love, to be in Vegas, but they don't want to be the first one to go in there and get all of the gambling attention. I know that the ECHL team in Vegas sometimes play games at midnight to allow casino workers to get out to the odd game. It would certainly be an interesting market, that's for sure. The only thing I really know about Seattle comes from Grey's Anatomy but isn't Seattle a little close to Vancouver. Having to teams that close together can't really be a good thing Or it could be a fantastic thing for rivalries. Edited February 15, 2007 by MacK_Attack Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
betterREDthandead 58 Report post Posted February 16, 2007 The only thing I really know about Seattle comes from Grey's Anatomy but isn't Seattle a little close to Vancouver. Having to teams that close together can't really be a good thing The Kings and Ducks don't seem to mind. Nor do the Devils and Flyers. Or the Rangers, Devils, and Islanders. Or the Leafs and Sabres. Or the Flyers and Capitals. All of which are closer to one another than Seattle and Vancouver. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
auxlepli 17 Report post Posted February 16, 2007 I'd like to see a team in Seattle, as long as it's not owned by a Microsoft crony. I think a team would flourish there as opposed to KC, but what do I know. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
theman19 47 Report post Posted February 16, 2007 *sigh* yes, unfortunately. Oh give it a rest. If you think frickin' Hamilton's a better place for a team than Seattle you need your head examined. you realize that Seattle could be losing the sonics a team that's been in the area for 40 years due to dredful attendence and you think that an NHL market is going to be better? Besides, when the penguins went bankrupt a few years back before mario bought the team seattle was the rumored venue but that fell through. Now they want another crack at it,..fine. And no i don't think Hamilton is a good venue but I still believe Winnipeg is good NHL city. They just need managment that doesn't make poor business decisions and there fine. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BlakChamber 8 Report post Posted February 16, 2007 It's a cold weather city. That automatically means its a good market!!!111 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wingsgirl001 983 Report post Posted February 16, 2007 I think it would be a great place for a team. I'm sure there's a good hockey market there due to the proximity to Canada and Vancouver. The closeness of the two teams would probably make for a good rivalry as well. Now, if a team were to go there, would it be a new team (to make 31) or a team relocating from another city? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hockeytown Red Wings 245 Report post Posted February 16, 2007 Seattle would be a great fit, better than Nashville or Columbus. Columbus is a great hockey market that no one saw coming. Once this team get's it head out of it's collective ass you'll see that. The Wings attendance sucked in the 70s and early 80s, worse than Columbus' by far...should they have contracted us? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Devereaux_21 0 Report post Posted February 16, 2007 The Kings and Ducks don't seem to mind. Nor do the Devils and Flyers. Or the Rangers, Devils, and Islanders. Or the Leafs and Sabres. Or the Flyers and Capitals. All of which are closer to one another than Seattle and Vancouver. Yea, but the Kings, Ducks, Devils, Islanders, and the Capitals are in the bottom half of league attendance . http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/attendance?year=2007 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Barrie 900 Report post Posted February 16, 2007 Oh give it a rest. If you think frickin' Hamilton's a better place for a team than Seattle you need your head examined. Yeah I have to laugh when I hear people talk Hamilton. The Leafs alone wouldn't allow it, they own regional rights to Hamilton. Plus another team in Ontario would hurt The Sabers attendance. The NHL wouldn't want that. The only markets that could work in Canada are Winnipeg and Quebec City again, but I highly doubt it'll happen anytime soon. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
58Miles2Joe 12 Report post Posted February 16, 2007 Seattle, YES ! Detroit would get to move to the Eastern Conference ! woot ! / never happen Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Barrie 900 Report post Posted February 16, 2007 Yea, but the Kings, Ducks, Devils, Islanders, and the Capitals are in the bottom half of league attendance . http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/attendance?year=2007 Wow, check out Calgary, they're Capacity PCT% is 112.3%!? How does that work? Are people standing in the isles? It's sad the best team so far in the regular season, Nashville, is at 85.9%. Seattle, YES ! Detroit would get to move to the Eastern Conference ! woot ! / never happen Right, it'll never happen. We're to valuable in the West. Columbus will move East. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MacK_Attack 108 Report post Posted February 16, 2007 Wow, check out Calgary, they're Capacity PCT% is 112.3%!? How does that work? Are people standing in the isles? Calgary has some seats that were covered in previous years that are now in use that don't count towards their official seating capacity. Plus, standing room is usually not factored in when it comes to seating capacity. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aeothe Kaear 0 Report post Posted February 16, 2007 It's a cold weather city. That automatically means its a good market!!!111 Actually, it isn't really, it's very rarely below freezing here. I find this bizarre, though... there is absolutely no buzz about hockey here whatsoever, and word on the Sonics (who want a new building even though nobody here cares about them either, nor is there anything wrong with Key Arena) in the newspapers has been that they're going to relocate to [crappy suburb] Renton. This place is 100% Mariners and Seahawks all the time, even in the offseason. Nobody else rates. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
krudmonk v2.0 0 Report post Posted February 16, 2007 It's a cold weather city. That automatically means its a good market!!!111 That pretty much sums up every thread about Seattle/Portland and the NHL. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
betterREDthandead 58 Report post Posted February 16, 2007 Yea, but the Kings, Ducks, Devils, Islanders, and the Capitals are in the bottom half of league attendance . http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/attendance?year=2007 Well, I named 9 teams, and you say roughly half of those are in the bottom half of attendance. Since by definition, 50% of teams must be in the bottom half, I'd say that doesn't tell me anything at all. you realize that Seattle could be losing the sonics a team that's been in the area for 40 years due to dredful attendence and you think that an NHL market is going to be better? You realize that Vancouver lost their basketball team but their hockey team is as strong as ever, right? The Sonics play in the oldest and smallest arena in the NBA. Yes, Key Arena is older than even Madison Square Garden. They're a crappy team and they draw 93% capacity. That article mentioned an NHL team as a potential partner in a new arena, so you wouldn't have to worry about Key Arena holding back the team. Actually, it isn't really, it's very rarely below freezing here. I find this bizarre, though... there is absolutely no buzz about hockey here whatsoever, and word on the Sonics (who want a new building even though nobody here cares about them either, nor is there anything wrong with Key Arena) in the newspapers has been that they're going to relocate to [crappy suburb] Renton. This place is 100% Mariners and Seahawks all the time, even in the offseason. Nobody else rates. I disagree about the hockey buzz. Up here in Everett there's a reasonable amount of Silvertips support. I definitely hear more about the Silvertips and even the Thunderbirds than I ever did in Norfolk about the Admirals of the AHL. You want to see zero hockey buzz, check out Norfolk. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aeothe Kaear 0 Report post Posted February 16, 2007 I disagree about the hockey buzz. Up here in Everett there's a reasonable amount of Silvertips support. I definitely hear more about the Silvertips and even the Thunderbirds than I ever did in Norfolk about the Admirals of the AHL. You want to see zero hockey buzz, check out Norfolk. Ahhh, another western WA Wingnut... perhaps we'll have to drink some beers come playoff time, if I'm not already up at Friday Harbor. That's cool that you see that in Everett, but here in the city I never hear anything about the Thunderbirds or the NHL. It may be because I'm a scientist and thus constantly surrounded by pointy-headed people whose interests lie very much elsewhere, but there's really no hockey presence in my daily life here at all (Center Ice aside ) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mannysBETTER3434 1 Report post Posted February 16, 2007 I have family in Seattle, and last time I saw them was during the Stanley Cup Finals. They said hockey is way more popular in Seattle then you would expect. They are Canucks fans now, but if they got a team I'm sure that would change. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
