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Originally Posted by Oilkountry
Is it? On what level? If a franchise is losing money that hurts the league as a whole.
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On a franchise stability and valuation level. Moving franchises around shows instability in the business structure in the league as a whole.
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Originally Posted by Oilkountry
Carolina is a draw from the revenue sharing program. Quebec city would at the very minimum not draw but not contribute. But most likely contribute to that Program.
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Quebec doesn't contribute to a potential US national TV deal and is not an area for future NHL growth. Yes, Quebec would have more physical people in seats, but it's not in a region (the Southeast) with potential for new fans. New fans is where growth is - the province of Quebec is likely maxed out in the number of people that are NHL fans.
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Originally Posted by Oilkountry
It also stirs up 100M in relocation fee's that otherwise would not be in the owners pockets again strengthening the league.
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Quebec has shown repeatedly that they're willing to pay $500M for an expansion team. Why would owners go $100M in relocation instead? Because they were foolish enough to build an NHL arena without an NHL team they've perpetually put themselves in line for an expansion franchise and the NHL will use that against them by threatening relocation to others.
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Originally Posted by Oilkountry
You're Basically saying it was better for the league to have the thrashers in Atlanta then Winnipeg having them. ![Shrug](images/smilies/shrug.gif)
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Effectively for the NHL's business structure, yes. TV deals and potential revenue streams are always going to be worth more than people in seats because there's always a ceiling on the latter. A successful team in Atlanta opens up massive potential for the league in an area where they're effectively invisible.
All of this includes the fact that the Canadian dollar is trading at something like $0.77 American right now, too. That puts a strain on most Canadian franchises as they pay salaries in USD but gain revenue in CAD.
I agree that the NHL probably should have a franchise in Quebec but that's not how the franchised-based, league-operated system runs unfortunately. Money is always going to be the end game. I'm one of those odd folks who prefers pro/rel in my sports leagues to determine who gets to play in the league's exclusive club.