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Bannedforlife

Las Vegas rumored to get an expansion team

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From TSN:

There you have it: six feet from the horse's mouth.

I decline to comment. What is being said is not confirmed nor can it be identified as the absolute truth, it's also unreasonable to assume it is false, we will evaluate where we are when the time becomes appropriate and adjust accordingly. The main concern has and always will be the growth and financial health of the nhl, therefore we cannot and will not comment at this time.

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There's a reason why every U.S. sport is avoiding Vegas like the plague, it's because of the betting and party scene. Yet all the NHL see's is a wide open market, even in the desert the potential for profit is there, but putting a team in Vegas is going to bite them in the ass-- and knowing Vegas I mean that both figuratively and literally.

Edited by wings87

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Yea, I wish it were relocation too as the talent level league wide is watered down enough, but I also think the expansion draft will be interesting. This will be the first time a professional sports league with a salary cap has held an expansion draft I believe

The NFL in 1995 with Carolina and Jacksonvile, 1999 with Cleveland 2002 with Houston

The NBA in 1988 with Miami and Charlotte 1989 with Minnesota and Orlando, 1995 with Toronto and Vancouver and 2004 with Charlotte Bobcats

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No, they can't add 4 expansion teams at once...2 is more than enough. QC can have the relocated Panthers. Toronto doesn't need two teams when the one they have can't win anything lol.

From what I'm reading, anonymous sources (could be anyone) claim Las Vegas is "locked up" for an expansion team, but more than one ownership group wants the team. So first, they have that to sort out.

Secondly, Bettman and Co. seem to be holding off under they can get Seattle to commit as well. Multiple groups in the running here as well, but a City Council that seems to want to roadblock the whole process.

Seattle really seems to be the feather in the cap that Uncle Gary is looking for. I don't see the Vegas team happening without it.

Update:

Howard Bloom @SportsBizNews · NHL expansion report set to be published at @sportingnews #NHLExpansion
Edited by evilmrt

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Panthers to Quebec

Phoenix to Hamilton, Seattle..

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2014/aug/17/it-finally-las-vegas-time-get-major-pro-sports-tea/

basically they are looking for an MLS team which would make much more climatewise. Maybe mr 3 lockouts and grew the game thinks they can convert dessert into ice there. I'm sure the NHL could sell it to one of the big casino owners and get some $ from the fixed gambling...personally I'm just waiting for a team on the moon now make it happen Bettman.

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Guest DeGraa55

I guess. But they still won't make money, they need revenue from food, drinks, memorabilia and tv viewing audience. Ticket sales are just one aspect of many.

But that's just it I think they will make money. If the owner spends to the cap and doesn't townny lunch they'll have a good team eventually and the bandwagon fans will come( see LA).

Casinos and/or hotels could include tickets in a tourist type package.

I'd go watch hockey in Vegas. Maybe have slot machines in the concourse or just connect it to a hotel and casino. It could be a state of the art stadium.

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But that's just it I think they will make money. If the owner spends to the cap and doesn't townny lunch they'll have a good team eventually and the bandwagon fans will come( see LA).

Casinos and/or hotels could include tickets in a tourist type package.

I'd go watch hockey in Vegas. Maybe have slot machines in the concourse or just connect it to a hotel and casino. It could be a state of the art stadium.

Do we really want to be exposing our young fans to that kind of stuff at such a young age?

This should be about hockey, not blowing away money. Which is precisely the reason the NHL should avoid LV like the plague.

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People talking about desserts are making me hungry.

If they call them the Las Vegas Gamblers, I'll cry over the lack of originality.

If they call them the Las Vegas Crap Shooters, I just might buy a hat or something.

It would make for a fun away game destination, but that's probably what it would end up being- a bunch of fans of the visiting team who got the tickets as part of a casino deal. How would that be for player morale?

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People talking about desserts are making me hungry.

If they call them the Las Vegas Gamblers, I'll cry over the lack of originality.

If they call them the Las Vegas Crap Shooters, I just might buy a hat or something.

It would make for a fun away game destination, but that's probably what it would end up being- a bunch of fans of the visiting team who got the tickets as part of a casino deal. How would that be for player morale?

People start leaving cause they think the "las Vegas magicians" is a magic show lol

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And hockey fans complain about refs being crooked and on the take in certain instances now....

If Vegas gets a team, its almost a 100% guarantee that refs will be paid off and games fixed. That's the only reason Vegas even exists...betting.

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I'm undecided about the league expanding in Vegas. Seems to me that relocation is a better idea as others have mentioned. This link turned up in my Facebook newsfeed a few minutes ago:

http://www.si.com/nhl/2014/08/26/report-toronto-seattle-quebec-city-join-vegas-2017-nhl-expansion

A second team in Toronto? That's as, if not more, interesting to me than the potential "Gamblers" in Sin City.

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Toews made a pretty funny point that the Vegas team will probably have a great home record given the plentiful distractions there for the visiting teams.

Given that the league has changed their conversation from a flat out denial to more ambiguous statements, it makes me think it's gonna happen.

http://www.thescore.com/nhl/news/564342

''Nothing has happened to change the status quo,'' NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said in a telephone interview Wednesday with The Associated Press. ''There continues to be interest from some markets, and we continue to be interested in discussing the possibilities, but there is no plan moving forward in terms of expansion.''

It's the first time I've heard them even admit that the league is interested in expansion.

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Some economic analysis from The Toronto Star:

Is expanding the right thing for the NHL to do?

It doesn’t matter. It is inevitable, experts say.

With up to $1.6 billion in expansion fees reportedly in the offing to put teams in Quebec City, Seattle, Las Vegas and — yes — Toronto, the NHL would be foolhardy to look the other way.

“The money right now is just sitting there waiting to be taken,” says Richard Powers, senior lecturer at the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto. “If you’re an owner, it’s pretty hard to turn down.”

And remember, none of the expansion money — more than $50 million per team — would count as hockey-related revenue, meaning the players aren’t guaranteed a share. All of it would go to the owners.

“That is a huge incentive right there,” adds Powers.

Free money for all of the owners? Unfortunately, I think this is inevitable.

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I went to vegas about 14 years ago, remember seeing a vegas minor league jersey in a second hand shop so they have had some exposure to the game. I was in Seattle a couple of years ago, and I heard the talk about a team there back then as well. I don't mind expansion, but after the league brought and then took away 2 teams from Atlanta (closest place to where I live) I don't really care. If you aren't going to commit to their presence then don't bother is my opinion. The league is doing a horrible job on the fans, and the pay television nhl is crazy, blacking out games that are states away from me. I used to go to games and spend money but now I don't, have no reason to, the league obviously cares not that there is a couple of fans in Alabama lol.

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