6 Canadian teams account for 31% of league revenue

[Barrie 900]

Winnipeg would work better than southern Ontario for geographical reasons. Hamilton or K/W would have to deal with a population already solidly in Leafs territory, plus the Sabres are within close proximity as well. A team there would have to pay additional expenditures to both of those teams for potentially lost revenues due to stealing their fanbase territory. Winnipeg has no nearby NHL contenders, ergo it dosen't need to spend more money on a franchise than necessary.

There's enough pissed off Leaf fans that would switch in a second to a Southern Ontario team. Toronto/Sourthern Ontario could support 3 NHL teams no problem. There's about 7 million hockey crazed people here.

Ottawa would be fine, since it's a 5 hour drive away. The team it would hurt the most, due to a declining population, is the Sabres.

[Coolio Mendez 7]

First of all, the report mentioned was made public, and was for the 2005-2006 season. In 2006-2007 US ticket revenue increased and there was a further increase in 2007-08

Second of all. Montreal and Toronto are the biggest providers of that ticket revenue. The economies in those two cities, and the fans propensity towards the game have allowed them to have the highest ticket prices in the league.

No other cities in Canada have the economies to sustain the ticket revenues of Toronto and Montreal.

Again, one of the owners of the Winnipeg Jets tried to make a case for buying the Pittsburgh Penguins. In order to make it viable, he needed $90 average tickets. That is higher than Toronto's $88 and Montreal's $83. Nobody in Winnipeg would pay $37 15 years ago, and nobody in Winnipeg will pay $90 today.

[Cern 0]

No other cities in Canada have the economies to sustain the ticket revenues of Toronto and Montreal.

Bouncing between Vancouver and Calgary, I beg to differ. The Flames' ticket prices have skyrocketed along with the cities economy, and it costs me about 120 bucks for an upper-bowl ticket at GM Place to watch the Canucks play the Wings.

[Coolio Mendez 7]

Bouncing between Vancouver and Calgary, I beg to differ. The Flames' ticket prices have skyrocketed along with the cities economy, and it costs me about 120 bucks for an upper-bowl ticket at GM Place to watch the Canucks play the Wings.

What I meant to say was the 6 Canadian teams left in the NHL are all that Canada can support. Tornoto and Montreal are at a whole new level.

Toronto is the hockey media capital.

Toronto is the location of the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Toronto is the location of the NHL Canadian head offices.

Toronto has sold old their arena every game since World War II it is claimed.

Toronto is the most financially successful sport franchise in the country.

Montreal is just as dedicated. Taking nothing away from Vancouver and Calgary there also up there but those 2 cities are what generate most of the Canadian revenue.

Edited May 30, 2008 by Coolio Mendez

[betterREDthandead 58]

The problem with Winnipeg is that its metro is roughly the size of Akron or Knoxville, and has 300,000 fewer people than the smallest NHL market, Raleigh. Plus there is absolutely nothing in the surrounding regions that even resembles a population center. Nobody is gonna drive in from friggin' Brandon or Fargo on a Tuesday night in January to watch the classic showdown between Winnipeg and Columbus, they're 200 miles away.

The list of cities that should be in line in front of Winnipeg to get an NHL team is very long, quite distinguished, and includes such names as Grand Rapids and Albany.

[ThreeRiversFan 0]

Two teams in Florida is oversaturation...Tampa has potential...move the Panthers...

But please...for the love of GOD...dont expand...just relocate

[hockeysattva 8]

A very incomplete story is told when you look at just a part of the picture. In this case a teams profitability is being given based on ticket sales alone, and that is hardly the whole story.

It does make it clear that hockey is a much bigger sport in Canada than it is here, but I don't think that should be a news flash to anyone...

[StayStevieStay 0]

I remember Bettman said a while back that if Canada was to get a new team, Winnipeg would be the first choice. I live in the K/W area and I see just as many Habs fans compared to Leaf fans nowadays. Then again they could just be in disguise right now

[RockyMountainWingGal 108]

Two teams in Florida is oversaturation...Tampa has potential...move the Panthers...

But please...for the love of GOD...dont expand...just relocate

Ditto on the two teams in Fla. I have pretty much never figured out why the Panthers exist in the first place. And being a fan of a West team, they pretty much don't exist for me: not on the schedule, never on tv, unlikely to ever meet in the POs.....

[lfd250 1]

Umm you guys are missing the point, (IMO) There's nothing to do in Canada in the winter except watch hockey. 1 the arena's are warmer and there's beer, 2 it's on every Sat night at home, in the heat, and there's beer. Finally drink enough beer, you won't care how cold it is outside, or how much you're spending at the game. People go to Florida and AZ in the winter because it's warmer, there's girls in bikini's, and you don't have to shovel snow. Why would you travel xxx miles to sit in a cold arena because it has to be below freezing just to keep the ice from melting. I'm all for relocation as well. Everyone move West so the Wings can move East. They want Hockey in Vegas, fine make it two game weekend for every team and sell it as a package. Fly in watch Fri and Sat night, fly home on Sunday. That's a nice weekend. (For some that can afford it)