Seattle or Quebec?

[Peter D.]

You would think the whole Phoenix saga will come to an end one way or another this year.  A lot of steam was building up that Quebec was the primary candidate for the Coyotes, particularly with the fact they intend to build a new arena the next couple years.

Seattle was always mentioned, but the Key arena was insufficient for hockey.  However, new plans of a new NBA/NHL arena was proposed today:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2017517805_hansen16m.html

I assume that vaults Seattle to the top of the list of cities which the Coyotes would relocate to.  It's a region the NHL is lacking.  With that, the NHL could always expand into Quebec and another Canadian city (southern Ontario) and reap a huge sum of expansion fees.

Going to get interesting.

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

I wonder if they would consider Kansas, didn't they build a new arena fairly recently and also express an interest?

You are probably right though, Quebec or now Seattle are more likely I'd imagine.

 

[Bates]

Phoenix sale: Take-12

http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/morning_call/2012/02/sale-to-keep-coyotes-in-arizona-close.html

 

[Boston Leaf]

Please put a team back in Quebec. Great city to visit for a leafs road trip

 

[lc9]

Seattle would be my choice.  Disappointing if the team stays in Phoenix. 

 

[Bates]

Why would it be dissappointing for the team to stay in Phoenix?

 

[Madferret]

Why would it be dissappointing for the team to stay in Phoenix?

Is it not clear as day that hockey in Phoenix isn't working?

 

[Bates]

No actually it isn't that clear.  Attendance has been improving and it is in the middle of one of the weakest economic times in history.  Not too mention the fact that it isn't any of our money being lost.  I would say there are several teams that are worse off than the Coyotes as a hockey situation right now.  If you are a Seattle or Quebec resident I would understand why not getting the Coyotes would be dissappointing but as a Leaf's fan I really don't see why anyone would care??

 

[Kin]

If you are a Seattle or Quebec resident I would understand why not getting the Coyotes would be dissappointing but as a Leaf's fan I really don't see why anyone would care??

Well, same as the reason people cared about getting the Jets back.

 

[Bates]

Because of the rich history of the Seattle NHL team???

 

[Kin]

Because of the rich history of the Seattle NHL team???

One more Stanley Cup than the Jets ever won, anyway.

But no. I don't think most people who were openly lobbying for a team to come back to Canada were doing so because of the rich history of the Winnipeg Jets.

 

[Bates]

So would it have been because Winnipeg is an obvious hockey market?  What would guarantee such a thing exists in Seattle?

 

[Kin]

So would it have been because Winnipeg is an obvious hockey market?  What would guarantee such a thing exists in Seattle?

No, it's the rejection of the southern expansion strategy in favor of putting teams that have deeper connections to the game and have a longer history with it. Seattle's had a WHL team for almost 40 years at this point, first American city to win the Cup, the vague possibility of an outdoor game and on and on. 

 

[Bates]

That same Seattle WHL team is averaging around 4000 fans per night.  Not exactly a huge endorsement for an NHL team.  Que is over 10,000.

 

[Kin]

That same Seattle WHL team is averaging around 4000 fans per night.  Not exactly a huge endorsement for an NHL team.  Que is over 10,000.

I'm not saying you have to be on board with the idea. I'm just saying that it can't come as a surprise to you that there are a lot of NHL fans who want teams out of southern markets and into Northern ones that have local connections to the game.

edit: It's also worth mentioning that Seattle's team plays in a 6500 seat arena. 

 

[Bates]

I get that part.  To be honest I also get why the NHL has trouble getting fans in the south.  As a hockey fan with season tickets in Phoenix I find myself very regularly not that interested in getting ready to go to a game.  When you spend the day in the sun golfing or whatever you are into it just doesn't feel right to be getting ready for hockey in the evening.  On the flip side the Phoenix Suns are facing the same attendance woes right now that the Coyotes have, it's tough times in the desert!!

 

[Kin]

I get that part.  To be honest I also get why the NHL has trouble getting fans in the south.

The other thing, and this isn't something I've ever spent a lot of time actually digging into, but I think you could make a pretty good argument that the only region that the NHL hasn't really explored is the Pacific Northwest. A team in Seattle would have a chance to not just appeal to Seattle/Washington State but also Oregon, Alaska and so on. It's an interesting market where they seem hot to sink money into a building.

 

[Bates]

I get that side from the NHL and the residents of that area's point of view.  My original question was to why a Leaf fan from Ont would give a rat's ass.  As a hockey fan living in western Canada I couldn't care less if the Islanders moved to Kansas City.  It does nothing for me live or on tv hockey wise.  I would guess the same would be true for Ont people with a franchise in Seattle.  Quebec would be a different story with tv coverage of course.

 

[Kin]

I would guess the same would be true for Ont people with a franchise in Seattle.

Yes, well, I'm glad we cleared that up.

 

[Peter D.]

Quebec will begin construction of an NHL standard arena in September which would be ready for the 2015-2016 season. 

That would set them up nicely either for a relocated franchise (obviously Phoenix in the immediate term) or expansion.  If the Phoenix situation finally comes to a head this summer, Quebec may have just gotten a leg up on Seattle (?).