Fan turnout at last night's Panthers' game

[Guest DeGraa55]

I don't see how the two are related...?

I read over the summer that the Griffins had the 2nd highest average attendance last season. I think you're off by a few thousand.

U might be idk what the capacity is. But weekday te lower bowl is about 25-40% full upper like 5-10%. Fridays when they do hot dog and beer specials they're usually sold out or closed to it. Now keep in mind this is off te eyeball test. Obviously there's always tickets sold to people who don't show up(look at the lower bowl in wings games for example).

[evilmrt 636]

I don't see how the two are related...?

The Bolts would lose the two teams in the region (Thrashers and Panthers), leaving them alone. I wonder if it would drive interest in the NHL down in the region, or maybe it would be great for TB since they're the only game in town, so to speak.

[WingsallTheway 383]

No offense, but you seriously are putting those four teams in the same league as Florida….at any time? Even at their lowest points, Chicago, Washington and Pitt were hard core hockey towns. If you had just said Tampa, I guess that would be sort of relevant but not for the past 12 years really. So on second thought, I have no idea what you are trying to compare, none of those teams are or have been remotely like Florida in the current millennium.

I think you may have taken the comparison bit out of context. I stated that florida shouldnt have a team. All i said after was that other teams theoretically have been saved when facing hard times. Obviously florida isn't as good of a hockey market as pittsburgh, but pittsburgh was facing relocation talks as early as 07. Some even talked about relocating chicago. Historically, building a good team can save a franchise. I'm not saying a good team could save FLA because they're team already isn't that bad.

Edited October 15, 2014 by WingsallTheway

[GoalieManPat 1,007]

I dont see why this is surprising. Florida is notoriously bad at supporting its sports teams. Not just in hockey but in pretty much all major sports. Sure they may sell out when a team is dominating a league or deep in playoffs but if a team is mediocre or bad nobody shows up. Honestly can you blame them though? Would you rather spend your money to go see a mediocre or bad sports team or go to the beach and look at scantily clad woman and enjoy the ocean? Theres just to many other things to do in Florida year round than go to sports games. I believe the high amount of transplants to the state also adds into this. People are loyal to there original teams not adopted florida teams.

[matthewdanna 143]

Watched some on TV. Was seriously a joke, worse turnout I've ever seen at a major sporting event, including preseason games. It was just a sea of empty seats. Team obviously needs to be moved and rebranded. One hockey team for Florida is enough.

Exactly!

Here's what you do (Bettman)... move Florida to whichever Eastern Canadian city you want to grace with a team (Hamilton, Quebec City, etc.), redraw the divisions, and expand two teams.

My solution:

Metropolitan (almost all of these teams are near the Atlantic)--> Atlantic: Carolina, New Jersey, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay, Washington

Atlantic (only one team is actually on the Atlantic)--> Northeast: Boston, Buffalo, Detroit, Columbus, Hamilton/Quebec City, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto,

Midwest: Chicago, Colorado, Dallas, Minnesota, Nashville, Saskatoon/Kansas City, St. Louis, Winnepeg

Pacific: Anaheim, Calgary, Edmonton, Los Angeles, Pheonix, San Jose, Seattle, Vancouver

[Guest DeGraa55]

The Bolts would lose the two teams in the region (Thrashers and Panthers), leaving them alone. I wonder if it would drive interest in the NHL down in the region, or maybe it would be great for TB since they're the only game in town, so to speak.

I don't think it'd hurt.

I for one think Tampa is a decent location for hockey. Lots of people from the north(hockey fans). Same with Carolina. Miami however seems to never support it's team except maybe basketball which I don't follow so I'm not sure.

I know the ducks had tickets for like 20 or 30 bucks last year in playoffs(friends on vacation out there).

So if Tampa had a team like them I think they'd be better.

Edited October 15, 2014 by DeGraa55

[Rick D 350]

That's crazy weekday griffins games average like 1000 you can sit anywhere you want.

http://www.hockeyattendance.com/team/houston-aeros/2011/

They had a pretty good following. I was surprised to see so many people at a hockey game when i moved down here.

[rrasco 1,312]

I don't think it'd hurt.

I for one think Tampa is a decent location for hockey. Lots of people from the north(hockey fans). Same with Carolina. Miami however seems to never support it's team except maybe basketball which I don't follow so I'm not sure.

I know the ducks had tickets for like 20 or 30 bucks last year in playoffs(friends on vacation out there).

So if Tampa had a team like them I think they'd be better.

Unless the Spurs are "running f****** circles" around them, then everyone leaves early.

[motorcitykid 42]

Money from teams like the Wings ... and a stubborn NHL front office every other league would have long acted.

Do I wish that to the (few) loyal fans there ? No it for sure sucks but I'm also sick of seeing the Wings having to pay money they could use on players, instead of being forced to help expansion teams stay in the business.

If they would have been the Quebec Panthérs the team would have been moved a long time ago that's for sure.

There's a salary cap. What money do the Red Wings have that could be used to add additional players if they didn't pay out to help other teams in the league?

[frankgrimes 1,836]

There's a salary cap. What money do the Red Wings have that could be used to add additional players if they didn't pay out to help other teams in the league?

That's the point if not for those teams there wouldn't be a salary cap.

[GMRwings1983 8,794]

I dont see why this is surprising. Florida is notoriously bad at supporting its sports teams. Not just in hockey but in pretty much all major sports. Sure they may sell out when a team is dominating a league or deep in playoffs but if a team is mediocre or bad nobody shows up. Honestly can you blame them though? Would you rather spend your money to go see a mediocre or bad sports team or go to the beach and look at scantily clad woman and enjoy the ocean? Theres just to many other things to do in Florida year round than go to sports games. I believe the high amount of transplants to the state also adds into this. People are loyal to there original teams not adopted florida teams.

There are plenty of scantily clad women in the world. There is only one Tomas Kopecky.

[rrasco 1,312]

There's a salary cap. What money do the Red Wings have that could be used to add additional players if they didn't pay out to help other teams in the league?

I'm pretty sure the Illitch's, along with the other successful owners, don't like shelling out millions to support a failing business regardless if they can use that money to add more players, it's still their money.

[VM1138 1,921]

I don't think Florida moving would have a negative impact on Tampa. Tampa does alright. Not great, but they're average in popularity and money, even when they struggle, I think. Florida moving would probably boost Tampa's popularity, but not to astronomical heights. I imagine most of the locals who like hockey probably root for Tampa anyway, since Florida has sucked for so long.

[toby91_ca 620]

Not sure why Miami moving would increase Tampa's popularity. I doubt you'd see people that used to go to Miami games flock to Tampa to see hockey there instead. Miami vs. Tampa is like Detroit vs. Toronto. They are close geographically.....but not that close.

[SimonSin 192]

There are still 460 seats available for tonight's game on Stubhub. And most of them are lower bowl seats. So get ready for some empty seats on national TV.

[motorcitykid 42]

I'm pretty sure the Illitch's, along with the other successful owners, don't like shelling out millions to support a failing business regardless if they can use that money to add more players, it's still their money.

The salary cap doesn't exist to bail out teams. It exists, because in a perfect world, similar salary structure equals competitive teams. It doesn't always work out that way but that's why teams have them. Not so there is extra money to bail out teams.