IF you could move a team.......

[lakings18]

A couple of years ago, I would of agreed with a team in Vegas. When things were looking dire for the Pens a few years ago (and the Heat in the NBA & Marlins in MLB), Vegas tried to get a team.

However, it wouldn't work right now. Not with the economy as bad as it is in Vegas. Locals still find a way to blow money in the casinos, but even they have lost a lot of business.

A team could play at MGM for the short term. It's a good arena (I've gone to the Kings pre-season games there, plus Pearl Jam & Rush lol), but since every team needs their luxury boxes, which MGM arena doesn't have, a new arena would have to be built. That won't happen right now.

Maybe in the future though. The Wranglers (ECHL) have a good crowd any given night. Plus it helps that the arena there is attached to the Orleans casino (Way too small for the NHL though). The city is still expanding, and will one day land a big league team.

...as for my choice to move a team, I'd move the Coyotes to Seattle. If the Canucks wouldn't block the move, that could be a great rivalry.

I'd move Phoenix just up to Las Vegas, the building is there, the interest from both residents there as well as massive amounts of tourism and the conference wouldn't change because they could still be part of the Pacific West Division. That's one thing people need to take into consideration. If you move some team like Phoenix or Nashville somewhere significantly farther out of its region one or two teams might have to shift in their divisions to balance out the move

[gretzky99]

yeah, i think seattle would be a great place. keeps the coyote franchise in the western time zone, they have an arena that the sonics just vacated, plenty of hockey fans, youthful city, etc.
could be a great rivalry with vancouver, a big market that hasn't been tapped yet but holds a lot less risk than KC.
the only thing that KC has that Seattle doesn't is a state-of-the-art facility and the whole "non-traditional" hockey town thing that the NHL likes to pride itself on. difference is, it's a bad economy with no star players to make the move successful. this team needs to go to a market that will embrace them and support them by putting butts in the seats.

[dtab316]

Any other thoughts?

[dtab316]

With the season started, maybe we can get a few more ideas on this.

[maple19]

on hockey night in canada the new hot rumor is a toronto group wants to buy atlanta and move it to wininpeg

mike

[doniceage]

Easy choice. I would purchase the Islanders, as of this date. Why you may ask? Last in average attendance; one of the oldest arenas in existance; television is pretty much non-existant; the team is young, with the potential to grow and learn together; and the New York area just simply does not need 3 teams (Rangers and Devils being the other 2).

Well let cover some of your thoughts:

1) Arena being old. Look what has transpired which I posted that point is moot:

NY Islanders hockey team gets arena deal

2) For the the attendance being last. Let see how this season pans out as I doubt they will be last again.

3) How can you say they do not need 3 teams. As the area has supported three hockey teams for decades.

I think that will soon change much like Pittsburgh did as that team wanted to be moved due to attendance, facility, etc. Of course now they are a top tier team which can happen for the Islanders. As for the Yotes and others they have no light in the tunnel like the Isles due as they are sailing toward the lighthouse.

Don

[dtab316]

I normally agrre with you Don, but not this time.

1. The arena point is FAR from being moot. Charles Wang has already stated that he is open to relocation and Bettman is reportedly behind him on this fact.

2. How can I say that the area does not need 3 teams? As I said in my opening remarks, The Islanders are dead last in attendance, and have been for several years. Hell, even NJ is one of the teams more towards the bottom in attendance, but nowhere near how bad the Islanders are.
The Islanders were 31st in attendance last season (13,773 per game). New Jersey was 23rd (15,790), while the Rangers were 12th (18,172). I really do not see any support for the Islanders.

[doniceage]

I normally agrre with you Don, but not this time.

1. The arena point is FAR from being moot. Charles Wang has already stated that he is open to relocation and Bettman is reportedly behind him on this fact.

2. How can I say that the area does not need 3 teams? As I said in my opening remarks, The Islanders are dead last in attendance, and have been for several years. Hell, even NJ is one of the teams more towards the bottom in attendance, but nowhere near how bad the Islanders are.
The Islanders were 31st in attendance last season (13,773 per game). New Jersey was 23rd (15,790), while the Rangers were 12th (18,172). I really do not see any support for the Islanders.

1) Did you read the article I included? As if they do the deal the point of a arena is moot. Of course that is if they Wang is a man of his word.


Here another one on the lighthouse project:

Moving one step closer to the reality of the Lighthouse Project, Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi announced a lease agreement between the Lighthouse developers and the County today.

http://islanders.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=500660
2) I can find stats that show attendance will not be that low again. Here another prime example with the John and the hype that comes with getting the number one pick.

Draft Lottery Boosts Business For Isles
Ticket inquiries increase by 300-percent since Islanders were awarded No. 1 overall pick for 2009 NHL Entry Draft

http://islanders.nhl.com/club/news.htm?bcid=421065

As I stated the Pen's were dreadful and playing in a bad arena but look at them now. I am showing links to a deal on a new arena that is struck. I also show a increase in tickets inquiries. Also, showed they had 90 percent of season ticket holders to lock in on renewal that a great percentage. Now let just find some attendance figures for the first few games. I bet they will be above the 13,000 mark.

Don