Stadiums & Arenas of Canada, Part 3

[craner]

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

Kansas City? Oklahoma? Portland? Hamilton? QC?

I thought Houston was the most likely - has that changed ?
Portland is intriguing.

[Hawrylyshyn]

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

Kansas City? Oklahoma? Portland? Hamilton? QC?

The arena in Hamilton is about to undergo a massive upgrade, as well as the construction of a mixed-use entertainment precinct surrounding it

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by craner

I thought Houston was the most likely - has that changed ?
Portland is intriguing.

With a new team in Seattle, I doubt they would award another team (re-location or otherwise) to the north-west U.S. so soon.

No doubt they will want to keep the Cayotes in the western conference though, so Houston is likely the most logical spot. Not my choice, but from the NHL's perspective.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

Kansas City? Oklahoma? Portland? Hamilton? QC?

Those are realistic, but Houston has to be the juiciest tomato on the vine. Huge city, lots of money, probably a good number of transplants from around the US who might be interested in hockey.

But then there are the smaller cities where the NHL can be a big fish. Places like Milwaukee, Austin, Tulsa, even Hartford.

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by esquire

Those are realistic, but Houston has to be the juiciest tomato on the vine. Huge city, lots of money, probably a good number of transplants from around the US who might be interested in hockey.

But then there are the smaller cities where the NHL can be a big fish. Places like Milwaukee, Austin, Tulsa, even Hartford.

The NHL's neutral site preseason games give us insight into where the league thinks they might want to push. The most interesting preseason game locations this year are ARZ/VGK in Boise, CHI/MIN in Milwaukee, and LA/VGK in Salt Lake City. Tulsa, Wichita, and Independence, MO (Kansas City) are also getting games. Some of these are simply to cover team-allotted territories and some are to gauge a little interest here and there.

If I were the NHL rubbing a crystal ball i'd be looking at places around the midwest where the sport is showing good signs of growing with key demos already in place. Houston is fine but feels a bit like the Atlanta situation where the league might get lost in the noise. Need a city where they can be a priority for local governance and support whilst maximizing growth potential. Getting in early before other leagues can worked for the NHL in Vegas (and Raleigh, and Nashville...), so getting in early on a mid-sized market showing good growth would be wise.

[esquire]

^ I would agree. Houston is tempting but it is so big that getting traction there could be challenging. But still, if you're the NHL, how do you ignore the 8th largest TV market in the entire US?

Salt Lake City came to mind for me as well, but I wonder if it might be tough competing with the NBA in a fairly small market.

Tulsa could be a good bet in Oklahoma, especially given that they have a spectacular venue and OKC already has the NBA.

Then there's always Saskatoon...

[WhipperSnapper]

A full arena of paying customers is a means to build a fanbase when all else has failed. It's certainly not sustainable but, speculating on where they will locate is tad repetitive.

[SteelTown]

Oak View Group, led by former MLSE CEO, would put $50M into Hamilton arena renovation

“HUPEG is seeking to partner with OVG for the redevelopment of FirstOntario Centre and FirstOntario Concert Hall, whereby OVG will increase the minimum investment of HUPEG’s original $50 Million to a minimum of $100 Million for the redevelopment of the FirstOntario Centre, and will bring its considerable financial and more importantly market clout to the renovation and operation of the renovated facilities.”

https://www.insauga.com/oak-view-group-l...y3EjskKQuHvy_5AF8f8yTrhYHPtKBMv8PGBa4Qnw

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by JHikka

The NHL's neutral site preseason games give us insight into where the league thinks they might want to push. The most interesting preseason game locations this year are ARZ/VGK in Boise, CHI/MIN in Milwaukee, and LA/VGK in Salt Lake City. Tulsa, Wichita, and Independence, MO (Kansas City) are also getting games. Some of these are simply to cover team-allotted territories and some are to gauge a little interest here and there.

If I were the NHL rubbing a crystal ball i'd be looking at places around the midwest where the sport is showing good signs of growing with key demos already in place. Houston is fine but feels a bit like the Atlanta situation where the league might get lost in the noise. Need a city where they can be a priority for local governance and support whilst maximizing growth potential. Getting in early before other leagues can worked for the NHL in Vegas (and Raleigh, and Nashville...), so getting in early on a mid-sized market showing good growth would be wise.

Any neutral site pre season games in Canada?

We used to have them quite routinely in the Maritimes, but not recently.

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by esquire

Salt Lake City came to mind for me as well, but I wonder if it might be tough competing with the NBA in a fairly small market.

SLC is tempting but i'm, personally, not encouraged by the culture of Utah vis-a-vis NHL and its trajectory.

Originally Posted by esquire

Then there's always Saskatoon...

Let's ask the PA how they feel about that!

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Any neutral site pre season games in Canada?

We used to have them quite routinely in the Maritimes, but not recently.

There's games this season in Gander, Belleville, and Bouctouche (Elsipogtog Hockeyville game). I'm surprised you're not aware of the latter. Usually there's games in Halifax and London.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Any neutral site pre season games in Canada?

We used to have them quite routinely in the Maritimes, but not recently.

For a number of years before the Jets returned to Winnipeg, there would typically be a preseason game between a Canadian club and a poorly-drawing US sunbelt team. It was easy money for the latter. It sold out a couple of times, but I think people began seeing through it and attendance dropped off the last couple of years.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by JHikka

There's games this season in Gander, Belleville, and Bouctouche (Elsipogtog Hockeyville game). I'm surprised you're not aware of the latter.

Oh, I knew about the Bouctouche game, I just thought that since it was a Kraft Hockeyville game that it didn't really count.

How did Gander land a game???

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

How did Gander land a game???

It's the Twillingate Hockeyville game from 2020.

Originally Posted by esquire

For a number of years before the Jets returned to Winnipeg, there would typically be a preseason game between a Canadian club and a poorly-drawing US sunbelt team. It was easy money for the latter. It sold out a couple of times, but I think people began seeing through it and attendance dropped off the last couple of years.

Thinking about Bills in Toronto and Jays in Montreal.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by JHikka

SLC is tempting but i'm, personally, not encouraged by the culture of Utah vis-a-vis NHL and its trajectory.


Let's ask the PA how they feel about that!



There's games this season in Gander, Belleville, and Bouctouche (Elsipogtog Hockeyville game). I'm surprised you're not aware of the latter. Usually there's games in Halifax and London.

In the case of Belleville, for those who don't know, it's where the Sens Fram Team play. Don't know how common that is to have the Pro team play pre-season at the Farm Team's turf.

Pretty sure they aren't considering a full on NHL team in Belleville.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by JHikka

Thinking about Bills in Toronto and Jays in Montreal.

I don't mind a neutral site preseason game if the prices are reasonable. What does piss me off are extortionate prices. That happened with the Bills/Toronto series and the Raiders/Packers preseason game in Winnipeg a few years ago. They all failed, and deservedly so.

[Base]

Originally Posted by esquire

I don't mind a neutral site preseason game if the prices are reasonable. What does piss me off are extortionate prices. That happened with the Bills/Toronto series and the Raiders/Packers preseason game in Winnipeg a few years ago. They all failed, and deservedly so.

Wondering how tickets will be priced for the upcoming Raptors preseason game in Edmonton. I would love to attend but not if they are going to price it like a regular season game.

[Airboy]

Only ones I can see is Vancouver and Edmonton in Abbotsford.

The rookies are in Penticton for a tournament.

[JHikka]

So how is the Saddledome going to schedule Flames, Wranglers, Hitmen, and Roughnecks when all of their schedules overlap?

[esquire]

Originally Posted by JHikka

So how is the Saddledome going to schedule Flames, Wranglers, Hitmen, and Roughnecks when all of their schedules overlap?

Just call the people at crypto.com arena for advice... they handle the Kings, Clippers, Lakers, Sparks and a busy concert schedule.

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by esquire

Just call the people at crypto.com arena for advice... they handle the Kings, Clippers, Lakers, Sparks and a busy concert schedule.

... Sharing a building occasionally forces the Clippers to hold a makeshift shootaround inside their locker room. That involves taping a simulated free-throw line to the carpet because the court is not available with a changeover from the Kings’ ice configuration.

There was also a game against Milwaukee at Staples Center last month that Rivers tried to move before the schedule became locked in because it was sandwiched between two trips. The NBA could not accommodate the Clippers, Rivers said, because of arena availability.

Having their own building would also allow the Clippers to receive a bigger share of revenue associated with parking and concessions while having more control of signage inside and outside of the facility.

Clippers owner Steve Ballmer acknowledged last summer that the idea of having his own arena was attractive, largely because of concerns over priority.

https://www.latimes.com/sports/clippers/la-sp-clippers-report-20160111-story.html

I guess that explains the Clippers moving out in 2024.