Six US Teams in Financial Trouble - Islanders included?

[VanCitySportsGuy]

Quote: Originally Posted by MassNole

Las Vegas as an NHL market, I know the city is desperate for a pro sports team but that has epic fail written all over it. I don't know that I'd move any teams back to cities that have recently failed, such as QC, Winnipeg, or even Hartford, but as you said Seattle would be a good choice. I'd also imagine that Milwaukee could work. Another area that although really small would have a rabid fan base for the NHL would be Burlington, VT. Back when Tampa got a team Burlington was on the NHL's shortlist, but concerns over the proximity to Montreal won out coupled with the small size. But now the Burlington area is significantly bigger and hockey is HUGE in Vermont. Hell they used to be able to sell out practice sessions when teams would train there. The NHL, unlike the other major sports, doesn't have that universal appeal and needs to be very selective.

I believe Las Vegas is one of the fastest growing cities in the US. As long as the NHL doesn't shy away from Casino's, the corporate support will be there. The daily stream of tourists will help attendance.

The NHL is already dipping its toes into the LV market by moving the Awards shows there and than there's the annual pre-season game between the King/Avs.

[pietasterp]

Quote: Originally Posted by VanCitySportsGuy

I believe Las Vegas is one of the fastest growing cities in the US. As long as the NHL doesn't shy away from Casino's, the corporate support will be there. The daily stream of tourists will help attendance. The NHL is already dipping its toes into the LV market by moving the Awards shows there and than there's the annual pre-season game between the King/Avs.

...before the bubble burst. Vegas got nailed in the housing crash, and they're hemorrhaging population at this point. But it does look like the league is at least probing in that direction, so we'll see.

The NBA was on the verge of putting a team there, but then the 2007 All-Star game debacle scared Stern off from Vegas (maybe forever!)....it'll be interesting to see what happens with Bettman.

[Money99]

Quote: Originally Posted by pietasterp

...before the bubble burst. Vegas got nailed in the housing crash, and they're hemorrhaging population at this point. But it does look like the league is at least probing in that direction, so we'll see. The NBA was on the verge of putting a team there, but then the 2007 All-Star game debacle scared Stern off from Vegas (maybe forever!)....it'll be interesting to see what happens with Bettman.

With all the allegations of fixing games in the NBA*, it would be a P.R. nightmare to bring a team to Vegas.

It's not a hockey town, but if the NHL wanted to increase it's US footprint, Vegas would certainly do the trick.

***Did anyone see the stat on ESPN that compared home records in the NHL and NBA playoffs?
I don't have them in front of me, but at the time, it was 26-29 for the NHL and something like 28-5 for the NBA.

The one thing that has to be taken into account is that the first 2 rounds of NBA playoffs are usually boring and everyone knows who's going to win.
But I've seen my share of games and it seems the officials almost always give the home team the extra shots at the line.

[pietasterp]

Quote: Originally Posted by Money99

With all the allegations of fixing games in the NBA*, it would be a P.R. nightmare to bring a team to Vegas. It's not a hockey town, but if the NHL wanted to increase it's US footprint, Vegas would certainly do the trick. ***Did anyone see the stat on ESPN that compared home records in the NHL and NBA playoffs? I don't have them in front of me, but at the time, it was 26-29 for the NHL and something like 28-5 for the NBA. The one thing that has to be taken into account is that the first 2 rounds of NBA playoffs are usually boring and everyone knows who's going to win. But I've seen my share of games and it seems the officials almost always give the home team the extra shots at the line.

I'm not gonna take this thread too far off-track, so I'll just say this and not mention the NBA anymore. But in my opinion, the NBA = WWF. To me, the league just has no integrity whatsoever - it's the only sport where the rules are actually different depending on whether you're a big star or not, and everyone just accepts it. The idea of a "superstar call", or "you're not getting that call as a rookie" is totally preposterous, and no one seems to question it. The officiating is at crisis levels of corruption, and everyone just assumes that's how the game's supposed to be. Ridiculous.

[Money99]

Quote: Originally Posted by pietasterp

I'm not gonna take this thread too far off-track, so I'll just say this and not mention the NBA anymore. But in my opinion, the NBA = WWF. To me, the league just has no integrity whatsoever - it's the only sport where the rules are actually different depending on whether you're a big star or not, and everyone just accepts it. The idea of a "superstar call", or "you're not getting that call as a rookie" is totally preposterous, and no one seems to question it. The officiating is at crisis levels of corruption, and everyone just assumes that's how the game's supposed to be. Ridiculous.

I apologize to the member who posted this, but someone here had a link to an article regarding the NBA official who bet on games.

He said that while the league won't come out and say "The Lakers have to win", he said based on the notes given to officials prior to each game, he could predict the winner 80% of the time.

Anyway, back on topic...