Could the Detroit Red Wings actually be moved?

[2probert4 8]

Exactly.

Who gives a s*** if the pizza industry is good, its not the kids that make the pizzas that buy all the18,000 Red Wing tickets every night, its the people that work in the auto industry. Illitch doesn't take pizza money and pay Lidstrom with it. He takes the money made from the Red Wings, with the vast majority of it from ticket sales.

ANd BTW, Little Ceasars has closed 2,000 restaurants since the early 90's and has dropped to fourth place behind Pizza Hut, Dominos and Papa Johns.

And its not the guys that just lost $1,000 at Motor City Casino (Another Illitch company) thats gonna buy tickets either.

The Red Wings were at a $16million operating loss just before the lockout.

Mike Illitch is going to be 80 years old next July. I doubt that Chris Illitch would ever move the team he grew up with...but stranger things have happened. Who knows what goes on at Illitch Holdings, Inc.

And Michigan's evconomy is NEVER going to be what it was under Engler, NEVER AGAIN.

Of course there is a chance of them moving someday, don't be such Homer's, my God, man. Denial aint just a river in Egypt ya know.

Of course we don't want that to ever happen, it would be a travesty. But the historic Cleveland Browns moved. The historic Brooklyn Dodgers moved, the New York Baseball Giants moved, lots of historic teams move.

Bottom line is, to support a pro sports frnachise, you need a population with losts of discretionary income to blow on very expensive entertainment, and Detroit is losing that faster that Rosie Odonnel turns away from a treadmill.

It would be a shame, but of course it could happen someday.

Before the lockout, there was also the days of the 80 million dollar payrolls, and with first and second round lockouts, of course they weren't making their money back... In 2002 when the Wings won the cup, Illitch barely broke even with the team, due to the high salaries on the squad. 16 mill in losses thats lower than I had thought considering the 2 seasons before the lockout...Illitch makes somewhere in the neighborhood of 3 mill or so? for each home playoff game....Could be more, if Im off with that number, feel free to correct me....

[chrisdetroit 189]

It's not going to happen. This is a business and it is still making money. The Red Wings make a ton of money on Merchandising. You see all those Red Wing Jerseys at every home and away game. The Wings get a cut on every one sold. And how about those Stanley Cup DVD's that you bought.

Bottom line, the Wings are making money and that is especially true when they are in the playoffs which they have been for what 16 straight years.

For the Wings to move, they would have to have several years in a row of financial losses and I don't see that happening unless they stop being competative.

[OsGOD 3]

I have friends that live in downtown and go to every game they can.

Well then i will have to meet them so i can now say i have met a few people that actually live in detroit (they don't attend CCS or WSU do they?) cause that would just be living in detroit on accident lol

[NEpats1028 1]

I know for a fact that Mike Illitch only MAKES money if the Red Wings make it passed the 2nd round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

[SovietWings 0]

I find the scenario highly unlikely, and it could only happen after a lot of support from NHL had failed. The league would do everything it could to support an Original Six team. So much history would be lost if the Red Wings disappeared.

Then again, eventually the team would have to support itself, and if the auto industry never recovers it might happen. Apologies for being ignorant, but does Detroit have other industry that could emerge and replace the car makers?

[T.Low 1,011]

I find the scenario highly unlikely, and it could only happen after a lot of support from NHL had failed. The league would do everything it could to support an Original Six team. So much history would be lost if the Red Wings disappeared.

Then again, eventually the team would have to support itself, and if the auto industry never recovers it might happen. Apologies for being ignorant, but does Detroit have other industry that could emerge and replace the car makers?

...(long silence)...

[cirov19 1]

Lol.

There would be a riot.

[OsGOD 3]

Lol.

There would be a riot.

lmao...

yeah everywhere except Detroit and the city it would be moving to

[NC WINGS FAN 5]

I think you guys are missing the guys point entirely, hes saying that if the Auto Companies go under then the Joe would not even come close to the attendance it has now. Now i don't think they would move, but it would put a lot of stress on the franchise. His point has nothing to do with Illitch's money, it's about the fans having no money.

The people in New Orleans have no money yet they manage to support the Saints, since 1967, and Hornets. Per-ca pita, it is one of the poorest areas in the country. If attendance were the case, then they should have moved the Devils several times over by now as they have been winning for almost two decades now (3 Cups) and still can't sell out their arena. Given those circumstances, it is highly unlikely.

[NC WINGS FAN 5]

Yes there is: How does that relate to the OP question of "Could they ever move?"

Of course they could. Most likely won't happen, but nothing stays the same forever.

I just watched the unlikely event of the Seattle Supersonics move to frikin Oaklahoma City. The Sonics have been a staple of Seattle sports for over 40 years, including a championship. Owned by a Seattle guy worth twice as much as ilitch. It all happenned in less than a year.

Don't get mad at me for pointing out the obvious. Remember the Los Angles Rams? The biggest market in all of Pro football with no team now...hmmm. Things happen, its business. Lets hope it never happens in Detroit.

Seattle is not that great of a sports town and LA is even worse. You have a lot of transplants there who root for other teams. The Sonics did have a good run in the 1990s but have been irrelevant since about 1999. They may have been the hottest ticket in town for a long time but their fanbase was nothing compared to that of what the Redwings and other elite/historical teams have. The Supersonics were never considered of the the league's most storied franchises. Having said that, it is still a shame that the Supersonics had to move and change their name(to one of the gayest names I ever heard), to Oklahoma City of all places.

[cboth686 0]

Straight up: During an economic recession people aren't going to buy crappy Pizza Hut pizza for $15 a pop, they're going to buy LITTLE CAESARS HOT N' READY for $5...this could actually put some money in Mike's pockets...

[T.Low 1,011]

Seattle is not that great of a sports town and LA is even worse. You have a lot of transplants there who root for other teams. The Sonics did have a good run in the 1990s but have been irrelevant since about 1999. They may have been the hottest ticket in town for a long time but their fanbase was nothing compared to that of what the Redwings and other elite/historical teams have. The Supersonics were never considered of the the league's most storied franchises. Having said that, it is still a shame that the Supersonics had to move and change their name(to one of the gayest names I ever heard), to Oklahoma City of all places.

You yourself are a good point: how many NCSonics fans were there? Probably one or two people that moved from Seattle to NC.

The Wings do get great national and international support as shown on this website.

Yes, it is highly unlikely that it will ever happen, but it certainly could happen. If you would have asked back in the '80s if General Motors would ever have to go to the Federal Government for a financial bailout, you would have said no way. Point being, don't take your favorite Detroit Red Wings for granted, enjoy every game, every interview, savor every victory, because it is a business, and in the world of business, you just never know.

Edited December 5, 2008 by T.Low

[zetterbergfan 23]

The Sonics are a horrible example to use. They moved because ownership (starbuck) sold to an Oklahoma billionaire that had no intention of keeping the team in Seattle. Despite 40 years of history, a championship, AND no attendance issues, plenty of fan support (Seattle is the the 13th largest market and the economy isn't as much of an issue) the league chose not to support Seattle. There is a lot of after-the-fact politics involved with the city not wanting to meet the financial demands of the OK ownership...etc.

If anything the departure of the Sonics leaves and empty arena (needs renovation) and a hole in the 13th largest market...making it a possible future home of an NHL team that needs to re-locate. hmmmm.....

[NC WINGS FAN 5]

You yourself are a good point: how many NCSonics fans were there? Probably one or two people that moved from Seattle to NC.

The Wings do get great national and international support as shown on this website.

Yes, it is highly unlikely that it will ever happen, but it certainly could happen. If you would have asked back in the '80s if General Motors would ever have to go to the Federal Government for a financial bailout, you would have said no way. Point being, don't take your favorite Detroit Red Wings for granted, enjoy every game, every interview, savor every victory, because it is a business, and in the world of business, you just never know.

Sure anything is possible, but the Wings leaving is very highly unlikely!!! The Redwings are one of the league's golden franchises sort of like what the Celtics, Knicks, and Lakers are to the NBA. The Supersonics were never that to the NBA, more like what the St. Louis Blues are to the NHL. A team with good fan support in a large market with some success along the way is what they were.

How many times were there Sonics fans overcrowding out of town arenas? The Redwings see that everywhere they go and so losing that would be devastating to the NHL. You could bet they would fight it because the last thing they want is yet another Nashville Predators or Florida Panthers. Add to that the fact that Detroit is a huge market and would still be bigger than most markets if they lost a few million, which will not happen.

[NC WINGS FAN 5]

..... And about GM? The writing has been on the walls for over 35 years now, but they chose to keep their heads in the sand while the Japanese gained ground in quality and ultimately sales. In asking for the bailout, they are just following the leads of others. Bottom line, I will not waist my time worrying about the Redwings moving. How did we get on this stupid topic when there has never been such talk other than from Drew Not-So-Sharp?

[puckloo39 5,686]

I'd hate to see the Wings anywhere but Detroit, and I don't see it happening. As bad as things are, I can see it getting worse before it gets better. A lot of franchises may have trouble surviving, but not Detroit. The fan base is too loyal, the owners are too savvy. They will hang in there, I think (hope).

I think Lids had it right when he said he and the team were honored to be something that folks in Michigan can look to and really enjoy, when things are not so great in general. I live far away, but really do enjoy the Wings, even if I don't live in Detroit.

Tradition rules. I dislike most teams south of the Mason Dixon, and think hockey belongs where it is cold. And the Red Wings belong in Detroit.