Another Toronto team? It could happen

[SPTO]

Well at least some NHL board of governors are whispering about it. I'm NOT in favor of this. Toronto fans are obnoxious and delusional as it is. Do we need to have TWICE the volume of idiocy on the radio?!

Now I wouldn't mind a team based in Hamilton though.

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[CS10029]

Re: Another Toronto team? It could happen

I guess that makes sense. If the team you have is sucking just make another one.

[J0nnD0ugh]

Re: Another Toronto team? It could happen

I know Toronto people are hockey maniacs, but can they actually support 2 hockey franchises?

[SPTO]

Re: Another Toronto team? It could happen

I know Toronto people are hockey maniacs, but can they actually support 2 hockey franchises?

Yes it can, Toronto is a weird city. We won't support minor hockey but if there was a 2nd NHL team the corporate dollars will be coming out the wazoo and you'd most likely see Rogers or a huge corporate type like Balsille owning the team and making TONS of money. Since whoever would own this 2nd team would probably make an effort at winning you'll see tons of fans out there. I also think that with a 2nd NHL team you'll probably see lower ticket prices then what the Leafs offer up right now.

A 2nd NHL team is a guaranteed success in this city.

[J0nnD0ugh]

Re: Another Toronto team? It could happen

Yes it can, Toronto is a weird city. We won't support minor hockey but if there was a 2nd NHL team the corporate dollars will be coming out the wazoo and you'd most likely see Rogers or a huge corporate type like Balsille owning the team and making TONS of money. Since whoever would own this 2nd team would probably make an effort at winning you'll see tons of fans out there. I also think that with a 2nd NHL team you'll probably see lower ticket prices then what the Leafs offer up right now.

A 2nd NHL team is a guaranteed success in this city.

If the city can support it, then I'm all for it. Hockey needs healthy franchises. As long as they don't move Carolina.

[bad_philanthropy]

Re: Another Toronto team? It could happen

No doubt it would succeed but I would rather see the team in Hamilton or Kitchener-Waterloo. Not that the latter is that far west but I think a team in that region would get a lot of support from western Ontario and I think it would be a better rivalry due to the regional difference. I don't know a rivalry between two Toronto teams just doesn't seem to appeal to me.

[Donovan]

Re: Another Toronto team? It could happen

Toronto could easily support a second team, hell they could support another with Hamilton getting one, the population is that big and its Canada, where hockey succeeds anywhere. Its like pro football in Texas, you've already got two pro franchises and you could probably throw teams in San Antonia and Austin and sell out nearly every game. Basically, if the NHL wants to move towards a strong league and not potentially harm themselves long term they should look at RELOCATING struggling franchises to southern Ontario (be it Kitchner-Waterloo, Toronto, Hamilton) and either Winnipeg or a strong American contender and not make the horrible mistake of expansion, especially to yet more difficult to crack southern US markets.

[bad_philanthropy]

Re: Another Toronto team? It could happen

I always wondered why the NHL went after markets in the south like Atlanta and Nashville when in addition to strong markets in Southern Ontario and Winnipeg the two big Pacific Northwest Cities were passed over. Seattle doesn't have an arena (Key Arena is not realistic) but I would have to imagine that a city like that would be appealing for the NHL. Also Portland only has one pro sports team, there is plenty of affluence and affinity for hockey already considering the Portland Winterhawks have been in the city forever, and they already have a perfect building in the Rose Garden.

I guess Paul Allen isn't a fan of the sport because I would think that he would have a team in either city if he wanted it. It might also be nice for the Canucks to have three games a year where they don't have to travel such a long way.

[kai123]

Re: Another Toronto team? It could happen

Canada in general needs another Basketball Franchise not another hockey franchise.

[theaub]

Re: Another Toronto team? It could happen

Canada can't support, nor do they want a basketball franchise.

Personally, I don't think this would work either. You can throw whatever amount of corporate money you want, but uh, no one's going to be cheering for this team. There's no fanbase to tap into. If the Leafs played this team, it would be a 100% Leaf fan crowd. Some people may take them on as a second team, but when you're running a team and exactly 0% of the people would take you over the other team in the city, its bound to fail.

At least when the Mets came into town, there were Dodger/Giant fans who were looking for a team (imo that's the best example of something like this at this point). But I mean there is nothing here. At all.

[J0nnD0ugh]

Re: Another Toronto team? It could happen

Canada can't support, nor do they want a basketball franchise.

Personally, I don't think this would work either. You can throw whatever amount of corporate money you want, but uh, no one's going to be cheering for this team. There's no fanbase to tap into. If the Leafs played this team, it would be a 100% Leaf fan crowd. Some people may take them on as a second team, but when you're running a team and exactly 0% of the people would take you over the other team in the city, its bound to fail.

At least when the Mets came into town, there were Dodger/Giant fans who were looking for a team (imo that's the best example of something like this at this point). But I mean there is nothing here. At all.

Well, I know its as hard as heck to get Leafs tickets. When the Canes played them in the playoffs, literally hundreds of fans drove from Toronto for the games cause they knew tickets could be bought on gameday. & they couldn't get a chance to see the Leafs @ home. So the team may not attract die hard fans, but they might get die hard hockey fans.

[Donovan]

Re: Another Toronto team? It could happen

Canada can't support, nor do they want a basketball franchise.

Personally, I don't think this would work either. You can throw whatever amount of corporate money you want, but uh, no one's going to be cheering for this team. There's no fanbase to tap into. If the Leafs played this team, it would be a 100% Leaf fan crowd. Some people may take them on as a second team, but when you're running a team and exactly 0% of the people would take you over the other team in the city, its bound to fail.

At least when the Mets came into town, there were Dodger/Giant fans who were looking for a team (imo that's the best example of something like this at this point). But I mean there is nothing here. At all.

This is very short sighted and very wrong. People in Southern Ontario wont instantly be Toronto IceHawks or Kitchner-Winterloo Hockey Puck fans but over time people will grow fond of them just like anyone does of any team. Teams like the Mets and Clippers are examples where the fanbases were much smaller because they were up against perenial champions across town (The Leafs may be popular but they're far from that) and more importantly because both franchises were so bad for so long that its hard to cheer for them. As long as the 2nd TO team doesnt suck worse than the Leafs for several decades (honestly, is that possible?) I don't see how people wouldnt consider themselves "fans".

Not to mention there are die hard Leafs fans who can probably count the number of games they've been to in their lives in one hand, tickets are expensive and hard to come by. And rather than not getting a chance to go to live NHL games I'm sure locals would enjoy cheaper tickets between the 2nd team when then Red Wings or Ottawa come to town. Either way, I think you're really not seeing the big picture here.

I guess Paul Allen isn't a fan of the sport because I would think that he would have a team in either city if he wanted it. It might also be nice for the Canucks to have three games a year where they don't have to travel such a long way.

Actually there was a lot of talk about Allen being only a signature away from owning the Oilers and relocating them back in the mid 90s when the dollar was at its worst and the ownership was really struggling, luckily it fell through for reasons I dont recall.

Canada in general needs another Basketball Franchise not another hockey franchise.

Wow, so many things I want to comment on in this thread. Dont you recall the Vancouver Grizzlies? Major failure. No other city has the population to support basketball, nor do most Canadians want it. Hockey meanwhile would work in any town of 500k or more, at least modestly like the Jets did. And of course Canadians will always want more NHL teams in Canada.

[theaub]

Re: Another Toronto team? It could happen

If anyone thinks that tickets for Toronto team #2 are going to be any cheaper than Toronto team #1, then, well, get ready to be surprised when they're not.

[Donovan]

Re: Another Toronto team? It could happen

If anyone thinks that tickets for Toronto team #2 are going to be any cheaper than Toronto team #1, then, well, get ready to be surprised when they're not.

If the seats are always filled for Toronto team #2 they wont be, if seats are routinely empty, they will be, its a very simple concept. The point is as a Toronto based hockey fan you now have the option of more seats to NHL games available in your area without the 45 year season ticket waiting list.

If you think tickets will be expensive then you must believe the team would do quite well. Teams with poor attendance and no fans usually don't have Maple Leaf like prices. The reason the prices are so high is the demand, the reason demand is so high is the population of hockey mad Torontonians, hence the reason team #2 would work.

[BunnyHardaway]

Re: Another Toronto team? It could happen

I say give the Winnepeg Jets back before another team goes to Toronto, but that's just me.