Seattle getting a expansion franchise????

[no name]

I was reading a couple reports Bettman is trying to get Seattle a expansion franchise by 14-15 season. I always pictured Seattle getting a relocating team not from expansion. This would start to solve the problem of the imbalance in the league confrences.

http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/blog/eye-on-hockey/22950590/report-gary-bettman-pushing-for-expansion-to-seattle-by-201415

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/seattle-nhl-expansion-pushed-gary-bettman-2014-2015-163307577.html

[mikey287]

Seattle has been talked about for a little while now, most internally. The league really wants the US Pacific Northwest. Good junior towns in Portland and Seattle. Wouldn't even be shocked to see a Portland and Seattle expansion much like Tampa Bay/Florida some years ago.

Not too worried about "imbalance" as the league had some of its finer years as a 21-team league for more than a decade.

I believe Kaizer lives in the area, if I'm not mistaken. Perhaps he can shed some light. But this isn't a terrible sports town (just hasn't had the best teams necessarily over the years). With the Supersonics gone, if the league can capture a market and get a foothold in there before basketball returns, it will be in better shape.

[juicebox1]

Portland already has a modern arena that could support an NHL team with the Rose Garden. Paul Allen, who owns the Rose Garden and Portland Trailblazers as well as the Seattle Seahawks and Sounders (MLS) is reportedly very interested in bringing the NHL to Portland.

I'm not up on all of the politics or positioning, but logistically it seems that hockey would show up in Portland even before or at the same time as Seattle due to the existence of an NHL ready facility. Seattle is contingent on the Supersonics returning.

With the successful Cascadia Cup series/rivalry in the MLS (Vancouver, Seattle, Portland) - it's exciting to see the NHL target the Pacific NW for expansion.

I guess that would mean someone in the east must relocate to get a team in Quebec City

[Crankshaft]

I guess that would mean someone in the east must relocate to get a team in Quebec City

Miami Panthers?

[Rylan]

I don;t think Florida is in that bad of shape really. They are a small market NHL team sure, but I don't think they are hurting that badly.

[penny lane]

Eric Macramalla ‏@EricOnSportsLaw 17m Forbes: NHL to take over Devils; $230M in debt and team owner Jeff Vanderbeek missed the first payment on a recently restructured bank loan

NHL gets another franchise. I never poke fun at other cities hockey financial woes; been there and done that too often with the penguins.

[Rylan]

The Devils are financially probably worse than any other team in the NHL. If they didn't have a new arena, it would be them relocating if I had my choice.

[columbia]

The owner of the Sixers is supposedly interested in buying the Devils.

[Troy Loney]

The owner of the Sixers is supposedly interested in buying the Devils.

What are your thoughts on the Islanders moving to Barclays? I'm not sure if all those brooklyn transplants are going to take to the islanders as fans...but they're bound to have tons of new corporate dollars coming to them playing in that eyesore.

[Idoit40fans]

so you mean its an eyesore in the hockey setup? Because that arena is beautiful in general.

[Troy Loney]

I only saw it from the outside. Looks like a tacky Casino in the middle of a huger intersection.

[Rylan]

And even the hockey seating has been worked on to where it isn't an empty half of the arena IIRC.

[no name]

I don;t think Florida is in that bad of shape really. They are a small market NHL team sure, but I don't think they are hurting that badly.

I honestly don't see any relocation in the next 2 years. The new CBA should help the teams losing money to minimize their loses and see if they can survive. If they continue to bleed money after 2 years the NHL will step in and relocate the them.

RIght now it is rare that there are so many places looking for NHL teams. Seattle, Portland, Quebec, KC and MarkhamToronto and 4 of these 5 places have new arenas or being built.

I just never see Florida becomming real hockey area, at best just a nitch sport there. That franchise for league stability would be best served up north in a hockey area.

[MRandall25]

I just never see Florida becomming real hockey area, at best just a nitch sport there.

One could argue that it's a "niche sport" for just about the entire US population. It seems to be doing well here and, specifically, in Florida.

[no name]

I just never see Florida becomming real hockey area, at best just a nitch sport there.

One could argue that it's a "niche sport" for just about the entire US population. It seems to be doing well here and, specifically, in Florida.

Partially agreed about the U.S., but in Pittsburgh i think it is well beyond niche, when you look at the ammount of youth and adult hockey leagues that are played. Also the TV ratings suggest this is becomming a hockey hotbed. 4 players drafted 2 years ago in one draft. Speaks volumes about how this area likes its hockey.

[MRandall25]

I just never see Florida becomming real hockey area, at best just a nitch sport there.

One could argue that it's a "niche sport" for just about the entire US population. It seems to be doing well here and, specifically, in Florida.

Partially agreed about the U.S., but in Pittsburgh i think it is well beyond niche, when you look at the ammount of youth and adult hockey leagues that are played. Also the TV ratings suggest this is becomming a hockey hotbed. 4 players drafted 2 years ago in one draft. Speaks volumes about how this area likes its hockey.

Pittsburgh was (arguably) nothing in terms of being a "hotbed" until Mario got here.

It takes a lot more than just having a team to build a solid fan base. You have to both win games and have marketable players.

I'm pretty sure the Panthers playoff tickets 2 seasons ago sold really well. The problem is that they aren't able to sustain it. No one would complain about them if they could make a run of consecutive playoff appearances/near misses.

[DelPen]

Time Warner Cable arena in Charlotte is like barclays that it's a basketball arena. The site lines for hockey suck.

I'd almost expect a team possible folding, Devils maybe, and then splitting them into two teams, one in Quebec and the other in Seattle/Portland. Kind of like what happened with the Sharks and North Stars