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Originally Posted by JHikka
The issue is that there's no area for growth; people in Quebec already like hockey and already watch the NHL. Would Nordiques 2.0 sell tickets? Yes. Would people buy their merchandise? Yes. But from a TV standpoint (which trumps all) it pales in comparison to the possible coups in Las Vegas/Seattle/etc. Even if they're only possible, the upside would be much larger if it worked. I think this weekend's show in Columbus proves that the NHL is willing to go to an untapped market (Ohio) and do relatively-to-very well. It's my opinion that Seattle would do just as well as Columbus if not better.
As long as the Canadian dollar stays below 90 there's no chance Nords2 happens. Back in the 90s when the dollar was low Calgary, Edmonton, and Ottawa all nearly folded. Had it not been for the NHL (And Bettman, who gets zero credit for this) sticking with these franchises and finding owners they surely would have all relocated.
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Ohio was far from untapped. Columbus was the fastest growing city in the state and has a history and tangible infrastructure from Ohio State. The Buckeyes have done good in Hockey in their history and it was never a new of foreign thing for the residents in that metro. The ECHL did well in Columbus also and the team would always sell out games. Very much a good hockey market low key.
NHL is still a gate revenue league also. It isn't the NFL which can turn a profit even if nobody shows up to the games. Teams like Jacksonville which have not sold out games in years still make good money just from TV pay-outs alone. Basketball has entered that territory, the other two sports in Hockey and Baseball still get large percentages of revenues from the gate.
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