Stadiums and Arenas of Canada part 2

[king10]

Originally Posted by blueandgoldguy

Shell Place is looking pretty good.

Took a look at ticket sales for the rider-eskies tilt in the preseason and they seem to be moving well. Only 1-2000 left I think. The regular season game between the eskies and the Argos isn't selling all that well though. They have only sold a few thousand by the looks of things. Could be a disaster unless things really pick up over the next month.

Season is still a month and a half away. Im sure once training camp opens up and the cfl starts getting more coverage the tickets will start to sell.

Also an arena in fort mac would be interesting. Seems like it would be a good city for a WHL town. Is there any talk of that happening?

[Airboy]

Originally Posted by king10

Season is still a month and a half away. Im sure once training camp opens up and the cfl starts getting more coverage the tickets will start to sell.

Also an arena in fort mac would be interesting. Seems like it would be a good city for a WHL town. Is there any talk of that happening?

Yup, i was told that part of the package was a WHL team. Either an expansion team or a move. But I don't see any teams moving. Travel might be a concern but with PA, Saskatoon and YEG in the region that could be quite a loop.

[snowmobile]

Back when Edmonton and Calgary were in the Northern League, they had to pay portions of the visiting team's travel expenses because of flights. This caused lots of problems.

Edmonton Capitals were owned by Daryl Katz at the end of their run. Solid ownership.
I remember lots of rumours about Edmonton/Calgary/Fort Mac joining the American Association around 2011 but FM was waiting for their stadium. Their stadium is definitely suitable for the American Association. If they can get owners for Calgary and Fort Mac, and maybe one of Medicine Hat or Lethbridge, a 4 team AB division in the American Association baseball might work. Fly to Calgary and play 12-16 games against the four teams by busing around Alberta and then fly home. Winnipeg already flies out east to play Trois Rivieres, Ottawa and Quebec.

[Matrix19]

Originally Posted by Cecca

sorry new to the thread so ive probably missed quite a lot but couldn't help but wonder why Quebec is investing all these resources on a new arena despite not having any confirmation of a sports team occupying the space any time soon and also correct me if im wrong but didn't the NHL recently state they have no interest expanding into Quebec and are looking more towards the State of Nevada/Seattle/Hamilton and even the GTA

No
In fact, Bettman and Daly were actively talking about Quebec before the start of the construction. It was something easy to talk about since the city was not ready. Now it's a more sensitive subject... because it is the last piece of the puzzle.

examples :

2009 Bettman said to La Presse : "If, one day, it is a fact that there will be a new arena in Quebec City and that there will be an owner who wants an NHL team in Quebec, then Quebec's candidacy will be studied very carefully"

2010, Bettman said if he could he would like to fix errors from the past (about Winnipeg and Qc)

2010 Bill Daly says on CHOI (local radio station) that the move of a team in bad shape is not the only option for Quebec, which could also benefit from expansion. But no team was available at the moment.

2010 on radio station CKAC Sports. Bettman said about a team in Qc "It is likely that in the not too distant future, circumstances will make sure that we can meet the interest. However you can not set a timetable. "

And now, since the construction started, the NHL don't want to raise expectations. Nobody talks

But the potential owner for a team in Qc is now a major partner of the NHL, with the TV deal, and the unbelievable Hockey's ratings in Qc. It must be an asset for the city.

By the way, Brian Mulroney is actively working to bring back the Nordiques :
here is a news (google translate link) from 1 week ago : https://translate.google.com/translate?s...-des-nordiques-avance&edit-text=&act=url

[caltrane74]

From today

[king10]

Are they installing stands for the indy already?

EDIT: i see its june 14th this year so less than 4 weeks away. Maybe it was changed as to not conflict with the pan ams.

[Oilkountry]

whats witht he temp stand in the pic??

[caltrane74]

Getting ready for Indy cars!!

[osmo]

Originally Posted by Matrix19

No
In fact, Bettman and Daly were actively talking about Quebec before the start of the construction. It was something easy to talk about since the city was not ready. Now it's a more sensitive subject... because it is the last piece of the puzzle.

examples :

2009 Bettman said to La Presse : "If, one day, it is a fact that there will be a new arena in Quebec City and that there will be an owner who wants an NHL team in Quebec, then Quebec's candidacy will be studied very carefully"

2010, Bettman said if he could he would like to fix errors from the past (about Winnipeg and Qc)

2010 Bill Daly says on CHOI (local radio station) that the move of a team in bad shape is not the only option for Quebec, which could also benefit from expansion. But no team was available at the moment.

2010 on radio station CKAC Sports. Bettman said about a team in Qc "It is likely that in the not too distant future, circumstances will make sure that we can meet the interest. However you can not set a timetable. "

And now, since the construction started, the NHL don't want to raise expectations. Nobody talks

But the potential owner for a team in Qc is now a major partner of the NHL, with the TV deal, and the unbelievable Hockey's ratings in Qc. It must be an asset for the city.

By the way, Brian Mulroney is actively working to bring back the Nordiques :
here is a news (google translate link) from 1 week ago : https://translate.google.com/translate?s...-des-nordiques-avance&edit-text=&act=url

Betman has never said anything concrete on QC or Toronto. He has talked expansion. and a favoring of the west and Seattle and Vegas that is all. 2010 still had the Phoenix fiasco in full swing but now that has (barley) stabilized. QC is on the radar but the NHL has to fix its conference in balance which is why Seattle and Vegas are at the front of the lines.

[Oilkountry]

Sorry matrix but I call BS on most if not all of those claims
And even if some are factual that was half a decade or more ago before Seattle and Vegas were in the picture. I think the dead silence and disregard now that they are basically ready and willing for a team says more about the NHLs intrest in the city than a couple of light statements 5-6 years ago.

Bottom line the brass has not shown any affection for Quebec in anyway. But have toured the Vegas arena and have supported a ticket drive. They also continue to work on the Seattle situation. What does that tell you

[Acajack]

We are all just speculating but it's also worth noting that everything is taking place in a different ''frame'' in Quebec City vs. Seattle-Las Vegas. In the case of the American cities there is ''wooing'' going on in the absence of a committed potential ownership arrangement and other essential stuff that's missing as well. In Quebec City there is no wooing needed as everything and everyone is in place from the arena to the ownership to public support. The NHL, if indeed it is seriously thinking of returning to Quebec City, doesn't need to say anything publicly there in order to line everything up to make it happen. If it wants to. Just because it is not saying anything doesn't mean it does not want to.

[Matrix19]

Originally Posted by Oilkountry

Sorry matrix but I call BS on most if not all of those claims
And even if some are factual that was half a decade or more ago before Seattle and Vegas were in the picture. I think the dead silence and disregard now that they are basically ready and willing for a team says more about the NHLs intrest in the city than a couple of light statements 5-6 years ago.

Bottom line the brass has not shown any affection for Quebec in anyway. But have toured the Vegas arena and have supported a ticket drive. They also continue to work on the Seattle situation. What does that tell you

Call what you want...
It is from a newspaper that gathered together many statements from the NHL and Bettman in the last years.

Anyway you are always on the negative side, I didn't expect anything else from you.

[Berklon]

NHL in QC is happening. It's probably the worst kept secret now.

All the stuff is happening behind the scenes as there's really no need for the same type of public display that we're seeing with LV and Seattle. LV needs to try and gather support early for the team, and in Seattle it's a constant discussion of building an arena in order to house an NHL team - so it's in the public's faces.

QC has an arena that's almost complete and already has a built-in fan base and a potential owner with VERY deep pockets and is entrenched in the media in QC. There's really nothing that needs to come out in public as there's nothing external that needs to be done... everything's just moving along nicely and they're making sure all the i's are dotted and t's are crossed. It'll happen... the only question that remains is how - through expansion or relocation... and if relocation, what team?

I say QC will have a team in the next 3 years.

[Acajack]

Also, put two and two together on the arena project.

For all the talk from the Quebec City mayor and Premier Jean Charest (at the time) about the fact that "NHL or not, a city like Quebec City needs a new arena for a bunch of uses..." that city most definitely doesn't need that big and that posh an arena for concerts, junior hockey and the annual pee wee tournament.

No information has ever leaked from them but there have been multiple meetings documented between the Quebec City people and NHL people.

I suspect that a deal of some kind has already been made but is being kept under wraps by both parties.

Otherwise I can't see Quebec politicians going out on a limb with such a lavish arena without having a pretty solid NHL guaranteed.

Unless they want to end up like this:

[osmo]

NHL in QC is indeed a reality, but it isn't going to happen before the Western situation is fixed.

It could be 2018+ before anything hits the ice there. Didn't Winnipeg have to wait 5-6 years with MTS sitting around quietly waiting for a team? I think the thing is that people think it will happen overnight when it could easily take 5 years (2020) to become reality.

The notion that some how in a season or two the NHL will back there is a joke. This might take a long time. Nothing is going to come up here until the Vegas and Seattle situations are addressed in full, and allowed to go its full course with either success or failure in getting a building (Seattle), or a team up and going (Vegas).

The irony is the NBA might be the ones delaying QC NHL wishes. The NBA has had cold feet on the Seattle team front lately and Balmer was the big money man who was going to push that project but is now in LA with the Clippers.

Originally Posted by Acajack

Also, put two and two together on the arena project.


Otherwise I can't see Quebec politicians going out on a limb with such a lavish arena without having a pretty solid NHL guaranteed.

really? Quebec is the first place I would think of something like this happening.

Plus they will eventually bid for the Olympics so the arena can be scapegoated for that to keep away the masses.

[Matrix19]

Look at this
How can someone believe that no NHL team is planned for this building.



because bigger is better : fullsize photo

[elly63]

Originally Posted by Berklon

NHL in QC is happening. It's probably the worst kept secret now.

All the stuff is happening behind the scenes as there's really no need for the same type of public display that we're seeing with LV and Seattle. LV needs to try and gather support early for the team, and in Seattle it's a constant discussion of building an arena in order to house an NHL team - so it's in the public's faces.

QC has an arena that's almost complete and already has a built-in fan base and a potential owner with VERY deep pockets and is entrenched in the media in QC. There's really nothing that needs to come out in public as there's nothing external that needs to be done... everything's just moving along nicely and they're making sure all the i's are dotted and t's are crossed. It'll happen... the only question that remains is how - through expansion or relocation... and if relocation, what team?

I say QC will have a team in the next 3 years.

Agree

[king10]

Originally Posted by Matrix19

Look at this
How can someone believe that no NHL team is planned for this building.



because bigger is better : fullsize photo

People in Hamilton and kansas city said the exact same thing.

QC will happen. But NHL is in no rush. Like other posters have said they want to exhaust the vegas and seattle options and balance out the conferences first.

[osmo]

2-3 years? What team is moving there? The NHL isn't expanding eastward any time soon.

This is all wishful thinking. The truth is the NHL knows the money and interest is sitting there in QC and they have all the time in the world to wait. There isn't a flush of Canadian money coming in for 10 years because of Rogers, but the USA deal will be up in 2019 I believe and the league is pushing more for USA markets since it is likely ESPN will try to get back into hockey for that next round and you will see actually bids for the USA rights.

Canada isn't the center of the universe for hockey. We carry the load for the league but the NHL is still always going to favor its American markets. If I ran the league Arizona and Florida would be gone, and QC and that GTA would have teams but the NHL doesn't work on logic. They will keep them there for as long as they can pretend to make money. American broadcasters want as many large markets as possible to justify ad dollars they charge.

You will see Vegas and/or Seattle on the ice by 2019 and the new USA deal, I can promise that.

[esquire]

^ Maybe it won't happen next season and maybe it won't happen before teams pop up in Seattle or Vegas, but Quebec is going to get NHL hockey and you can take that to the bank. The NHL does what it has to do to please its American TV masters, which is why two American cities are leading the discussion right now. But at the end of the day, the NHL will not be able to resist a market that like Winnipeg, is utterly irrelevant to the US broadcasters but is a market where hockey matters and people will pay top dollar to watch the team play, night after night.

After all, if you're the NHL, how do you rationalize focusing on a market where you will have to resort to every sales tactic known to man just to get people to set foot into the arena as they'll have to in Las Vegas, while ignoring a bona fide hockey city where fathers and sons will get into fistfights over who gets the family's tickets to a big game?

The answer? You don't. Quebec gets a team, sooner or later.