Quote:
Originally Posted by J.OT13
Phoenix and Miami have proven that the NHL doesn't work in those markets. Nothing has changed in two decades. Time to move those teams to new markets.
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Both teams did really well when they had arenas that were actually located in their respective markets. Glendale isn't Phoenix and Sunrise isn't Miami, just like how Kanata isn't Ottawa.
Quote:
Originally Posted by J.OT13
I understand how a brand new market (Seattle for example) could be more attractive to the NHL or other sports leagues because it would be new revenue as opposed to splitting, or partially splitting an existing market (media, merchandise, fan base). I still think Southern Ontario (S.O.) could support another team, similarly to the New York City region with 3 teams (granted the Islanders are struggling) and L.A. with 2 teams. I tend to believe the Sabres and Red Wings have little to no influence on the S.O. market just as the Flyers have no influence on the NYC teams.
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The Flyers have a big influence on the Devils, though. Southern New Jersey is almost primarily Flyers fans given the proximity. This is the same scenario in Niagara for the Sabres and in Windsor/Chatham for the Wings. Whenever the idea of a Hamilton expansion team is brought up there always seems to be some Sabres STH numbers trotted out saying Canadians account for X amount of their tickets sold every year.
I agree that Southern Ontario
could support another team in theory but the NHL has bigger fish to fry in other markets.