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FireCaptain

Canada can support 3 more teams in 20yrs

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if the NHL dosen't wanna give Quebec a hockey team again,they don't have to.The NHL may started in Canada,but they don't own the league and can't tell them where to put teams or move teams to,that is for the nhl to decide

Not that I necessarily disagree with what you're saying, but (and this is going to sound mean but that's not what I'm trying to convey, so bear that in mind) you're coming across as pretty militant about your opinion.

I get that being a Preds fan hasn't been easy, but the economic reality is that a Canadian team would be optimal, especially in the short term. While you may think (along with many others) that a team in a different market would eventually grow the game, you can't deny the reality that it still is Canada's game no matter how much the US bastardizes it, and the smart money hockey-wise is in Canada. A Canadian team would also benefit the Preds - chances are they wouldn't qualify for revenue sharing, which would increase - or at least not decrease - Nashville's shot at that money.

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Winnipeg comes to mind and sometimes getting back a former ex gf turns out to be the best decision ever. Giving Quebec back what belongs to them is only fair and easier than trying to build another fanbase almost from scratch

If Winnipeg has a successful NHL team in 10 years, I'll give them credit. Right now the fans are in the honeymoon stage. If this latest attempt at getting good flops, how long are they going to jeep filling the barn to see a bad team?

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I don't like sticking teams back where they failed once. It's like getting back with an ex-girlfriend.

I think you have to understand how they failed, though. This was no break up because of loss of love. They pretty much sold out their 15000 seat arena until the end, but there's not enough income from just tickets. They needed a bigger rink and Corporate deals.

They left Quebec in 1995 - before the Salary cap. Canadian teams had to pay much more for players because $1US was .70. Because of that and the escalating salaries the team began to struggle financially. Now there's the salary cap and the Canadian dollar is .92 and has been even in recent years.

The team couldn't get corporate sponsors because the Quebec economy was in turmoil. This was in larger part because of the seperatist movement that lead to the 95 referendum. Nobody wanted to invest in Quebec because of that uncertainty. It's a lot different in Quebec. As already stated, Quebec City is already building a 400 million dollar modern arena just on the hope of a team. The also have a huge deal with Quebecor media for the naming rights on the arena that increases if an NHL team is there.

As for your idea of fans fading in interest if the team is losing - you can still buy Nordique merchandise in any sports or souvenir shop in Montreal and the team hasn't existed for almost 20 years. I think that says something.

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Montreal already has a team, to me it wouldn't make all that much sense to put a team right next door in Quebec city, especially since right next door is to that is Ottawa and Toronto, that would be 4 nhl teams in a 4 hour drive, plus if you threw a team to Hamilton, 5 nhl teams in a 5 hour drive. That's too much packed together

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Montreal already has a team, to me it wouldn't make all that much sense to put a team right next door in Quebec city, especially since right next door is to that is Ottawa and Toronto, that would be 4 nhl teams in a 4 hour drive, plus if you threw a team to Hamilton, 5 nhl teams in a 5 hour drive. That's too much packed together
As opposed to NJ, Rags, Isles, Philly, and Boston?
I don't like sticking teams back where they failed once. It's like getting back with an ex-girlfriend.I think you have to understand how they failed, though. This was no break up because of loss of love. They pretty much sold out their 15000 seat arena until the end, but there's not enough income from just tickets. They needed a bigger rink and Corporate deals.
We talking the Nords or Jets part 2?

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As opposed to NJ, Rags, Isles, Philly, and Boston?

We talking the Nords or Jets part 2?

Look at the population difference though. Compare the population of those 4 cities to the 4 I mentioned and you'll see what I mean. Toronto is the only one that can support two teams. I don't think Quebec can support two teams.

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I think you have to understand how they failed, though. This was no break up because of loss of love. They pretty much sold out their 15000 seat arena until the end, but there's not enough income from just tickets. They needed a bigger rink and Corporate deals.

They left Quebec in 1995 - before the Salary cap. Canadian teams had to pay much more for players because $1US was .70. Because of that and the escalating salaries the team began to struggle financially. Now there's the salary cap and the Canadian dollar is .92 and has been even in recent years.

The team couldn't get corporate sponsors because the Quebec economy was in turmoil. This was in larger part because of the seperatist movement that lead to the 95 referendum. Nobody wanted to invest in Quebec because of that uncertainty. It's a lot different in Quebec. As already stated, Quebec City is already building a 400 million dollar modern arena just on the hope of a team. The also have a huge deal with Quebecor media for the naming rights on the arena that increases if an NHL team is there.

As for your idea of fans fading in interest if the team is losing - you can still buy Nordique merchandise in any sports or souvenir shop in Montreal and the team hasn't existed for almost 20 years. I think that says something.

Plus they would have instant re-rivalry with the Canadiens. From all points it should be a nobrainer and that's probably why the NHL front office is favoring gambles on other cities. Hamilton would have the rivalry with the Leafs and for sure cheaper ticket prices but could also draw from some disgruntled Leafsfans who are fed up with the suit atmosphere and paying a premium for a lackluster team.

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I live in the Hamilton-Toronto area, if I was the NHL I'd pass on Hamilton, I think it'll hurt the Buffalo Sabres. I've seen the Red Wings there 5 times and been a few other times against other teams, and everytime I go I always meet people from Ontario. Ontario is huge for the Sabres success. Also, Hamilton doesn't have a great night life, and downtown Toronto is 45 minutes away with good traffic. I think it would be tough for a Hamilton team to sign FA's or keep their UFA's... On a side note, I think the NHL should avoid Las Vegas because the night life is too good. The majority of the Vegas players would be hooked on gambling, get connections with the mob, and visit the brothels north of the city.

Toronto, yes, needs another team. They could probably be north of Toronto in North York by Highway 401. However, the Leafs would never allow this. The Leafs have a huge support from corporations, and a new Toronto team would be the blue collar team, while the Leafs would be the white collar team... Blue collar fans are the most passionate.

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I live in the Hamilton-Toronto area, if I was the NHL I'd pass on Hamilton, I think it'll hurt the Buffalo Sabres. I've seen the Red Wings there 5 times and been a few other times against other teams, and everytime I go I always meet people from Ontario. Ontario is huge for the Sabres success. Also, Hamilton doesn't have a great night life, and downtown Toronto is 45 minutes away with good traffic. I think it would be tough for a Hamilton team to sign FA's or keep their UFA's... On a side note, I think the NHL should avoid Las Vegas because the night life is too good. The majority of the Vegas players would be hooked on gambling, get connections with the mob, and visit the brothels north of the city.

Toronto, yes, needs another team. They could probably be north of Toronto in North York by Highway 401. However, the Leafs would never allow this. The Leafs have a huge support from corporations, and a new Toronto team would be the blue collar team, while the Leafs would be the white collar team... Blue collar fans are the most passionate.

It would hurt the Leafs corporation structure for sure but that's a good thing for fans => more competition = lower prices for fans and less suits buying tickets just to be at the rink. so of course Rogers/Bell and MLSE would never allow it but for the fans it would be great.

I believe Hamilton could be the little brother like you said with all the blue collar hockey and fans, where the Leafs are the suits/business first juggernut.

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