The NHL is coming closer to Quebec City

[blueandgoldguy]

Originally Posted by Sova

For sure it was. But guess what? Since black culture blew up even more in the second half of the 90's, that number has been on the rise domestically and internationally.



Exactly what I was saying. What's popular in the mainstream right now, and has been for awhile, is black culture. It's why hip-hop is also popular in Italy and Israel and the rest of the world.



This is what's BS. Wayne Gretzky was known almost as much as, if not as much as, Jordan was, internationally even, in the 90's when hockey was a lot more popular. Sidney Crosby is a weak ambassador for the sport; Ovechkin is the real star of professional hockey. But the NHL's image and footprint are slipping because of a lack of modern marketing. Which includes not adapting to the current sports mainstream of which black culture and chest-thumping-exaggerated-confidence are at the forefront.

It's a myth to claim hockey was much more popular in the 90s than it is today. Much of this exaggeration orginates from the infamous Sports Illustrated article from 1994 that claimed basketball was on the decline while hockey was on the rise. NHL supporters always seem to gravitate towards this article as some sort of proof that the NHL was going to enter a golden age in which it would finally be able to compete with the big-3 in the US.

However, if you looked at the national ratings for the NHL vs. the NBA the gap was massive back in 1994. Today, it continues to be massive but the NHL is setting records for ratings in the Stanley Cup finals.

If the NHL was really more popular in the 90s in the US as you claim then the ratings would have been considerably higher than they are today which they most assuredly are not.

[blueandgoldguy]

With the NBA high ratings certainly aren't hurt by having some of the league's best players of all-time as analysts on TNT and ABC - Charles Barkley and Shaquille O'Neill. Meanwhile the NHL relies on former scrub players for the most part with nary a former superstar amongst them.

[Sova]

Originally Posted by blueandgoldguy

It's a myth to claim hockey was much more popular in the 90s than it is today. Much of this exaggeration orginates from the infamous Sports Illustrated article from 1994 that claimed basketball was on the decline while hockey was on the rise. NHL supporters always seem to gravitate towards this article as some sort of proof that the NHL was going to enter a golden age in which it would finally be able to compete with the big-3 in the US.

However, if you looked at the national ratings for the NHL vs. the NBA the gap was massive back in 1994. Today, it continues to be massive but the NHL is setting records for ratings in the Stanley Cup finals.

If the NHL was really more popular in the 90s in the US as you claim then the ratings would have been considerably higher than they are today which they most assuredly are not.

I'm going by what's evident, and what's evident is that hockey, and the NHL, had a lot more hype in the 90's (and prior).

- There were more hockey players in commercials/advertisements
- There were more hockey-themed movies (which also happened to be successful)
- There was more exposure in TV and references therein
- More hockey players had greater international stature and celebrity

The reason the HBO series has done good for the NHL since it shows some life in the players they reluctantly never show to the media. Since the NHL is Canadian focused our press in being polite does not push them to give more personality.

With the NBA high ratings certainly aren't hurt by having some of the league's best players of all-time as analysts on TNT and ABC - Charles Barkley and Shaquille O'Neill. Meanwhile the NHL relies on former scrub players for the most part with nary a former superstar amongst them.

One hundred.

[Horus]

Originally Posted by Berklon

The NHL isn't popular enough to sustain 2 teams in Chicago and NYC. They have just enough support to sell out their arena with a little bit of spillover.

Never mind that NYC already effectively has 3 teams (Rangers, Islanders, Devils).

[Acajack]

NHL clubs get decent *local* TV numbers in some American markets (especially in the NE) but what jumps out at you when you are in the region is how quickly the NHL drops off the radar as soon as you get outside an NHL city's immediate orbit.

It's almost like the CFL in southern Ontario. There are pockets of interest in the cities where there are teams (Toronto less than Hamilton and Ottawa of course) but as soon as you get away from these cities the interest drops off a cliff.

Go to places like Albany, Syracuse, Rochester, Utica. All of these cities have decent local hockey history and culture, have or had AHL clubs, they are sandwiched between Buffalo and NYC which are in the NHL, but NHL interest in them is very limited. You're hard pressed to find a game on TV in a sports bar or see NHL gear in the sports shops.

Even in a place like Watertown NY close to the border and where kids' and minor hockey is pretty big, the NHL barely registers and the NBA is much more visible than the NHL.

I think the people who have mentioned the NBA's inroads into popular culture (whether black/African-American or not doesn't really matter as kids don't care) are largely right.

It does make a big difference and definitely is a prime reason the NBA has an edge and a coolness to it that the NHL isn't even close to having at the moment.

[Jamaican-Phoenix]

Another thing about hockey is that it's expensive as hell to play. For basketball, all you need are half-decent shoes and a ball. Basketball is far easier for far more people to play and afford and so it generates more interest.

[Horus]

From Elliotte Friedman's weekly "30 thoughts" column, posted yesterday
http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/3...dity-at-draft/

29. Some updates on the continuing crazy that is Glendale: Apparently, the city of Phoenix reached out last week to the Coyotes and offered them a move back to Talking Stick Resort Arena, where they played from 1996-2003. The NBA’s Suns remain in that building (which has obstructed-view seats for hockey). The idea was to play there while the two teams and city worked on a new arena. The Coyotes declined — for now. That scenario may be a more long-term outcome, but the fight for control of Gila River Arena is the current priority. No matter what any reader thinks of the NHL in Arizona (or Quebec City), the organization maintains publicly and privately that it is not leaving the state.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by Horus

From Elliotte Friedman's weekly "30 thoughts" column, posted yesterday
http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/3...dity-at-draft/

Well of course they will maintain that until the very minute the moving trucks pull up to the Gila River Arena loading docks.

[feepa]

Thread is 6 years old. Any signs of the NHL moving to QC anytime soon?

[esquire]

Originally Posted by feepa

Thread is 6 years old. Any signs of the NHL moving to QC anytime soon?

Yeah, their rink is almost done and the Coyotes are in deep desert doggy poo.

[feepa]

You mean the same coyotes team that is rumoured to go to Seattle, KC, or Las Vegas, and Winnipeg in the past?

My guess would be one of the florida franchaises ends up in QC, and Coyotes go to a western city ^

[FrAnKs]

http://www.ctvnews.ca/sports/nhl-ope...sion-1.2438610

The NHL's board of governors has given approval to begin the exploration of potentially opening up the league to expansion.
Commissioner Gary Bettman made the announcement at press conference in Las Vegas on Wednesday afternoon.
"With all of the discussion and all of the expression of interest, the board concluded that perhaps this was the appropriate time to begin a formal expansion review process," said Bettman.

"I think at this stage, the game and the business of the game … have never been stronger, and I suppose that all of the interest we've been getting is a reflection of that."
Bettman did not specify how many teams the NHL was open to adding.
"Expansion is a very serious and an important business decision -- you don't do it frivolously," he said.
The Eastern Conference currently has 16 teams, while there are 14 in the West. However, Bettman said that balance and geography will be weighed alongside other factors.
"I don’t think you expand just for notions of symmetry; it is too important of a business decision," said Bettman.
The NHL will begin accepting formal applications at the beginning of July, before initiating a formal vetting process.
It will be up to the board of governors to determine whether there is sufficient interest to green light expansion.
Bettman said even though the league has kick-started the process, there is no guarantee that the NHL will add more teams.

"It means we're going to stop just listening to expressions of interest, and to take a good hard look at what they mean and what they represent," said Bettman.
The commissioner said the league's executive committee will be charged with reviewing the applications.
Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said that, at the earliest, a successful applicant would be able to ice a team for the 2017-18 season.
Bettman hinted at a potential dollar figure necessary to join the league, but did not explicitly the reveal the amount.
"We haven’t set a fee, but based on the discussions I've had with ownership I don’t think there wouldn't be any appetite unless the number started with a five," said Bettman.
The strongest appetite for expansion appears to be coming from Seattle, Quebec City and Las Vegas.
In particular, the spotlight was on prospective owner Bill Foley, whose season-ticket drive in Las Vegas has received more than 13,200 commitments from individuals in the area.
"The board's aware of the fact that Las Vegas stepped up in an absolutely significant way for having a team in Las Vegas," said Bettman.
The commissioner acknowledged that Vegas is not your "typical" hockey market and that many were skeptical about the viability of an NHL franchise in the U.S.'s 29th-most populous city.
"I think a number of people, including Mr. Foley, were curious as to whether or not there was a groundswell from the community itself – not just from the businesses, not just from the casinos, not just from the travel industry – whether there were real fans here that would embrace a professional team," said Bettman.
But he said that Foley's ticket drive proved there is "tremendous amount of interest" in the sport locally.
Bettman said he has also received interest from Quebec City, which saw its beloved Nordiques relocate to Colorado in 1995.
"I know of at least one group, but if someone else is interested, I suppose we'll find out in the next few weeks," said Bettman.
Over the years, there have also been rumours about bringing a second NHL franchise to the Greater Toronto Area. But Bettman appeared dubious about the validity of potential bids.
"Occasionally you hear from somebody, I don’t know if interest or the people setting forth the interest are real. We'll see what turns up in the next few weeks, said Bettman.
Daly also turned aside any concerns about the possible dilution of talent across the league.
"I don’t think there's any concern at all among our managers or our ownerships that there's a lack of talent, said Daly.
The last round of expansion during the 2000-01 season, saw Columbus Blue Jackets and the Minnesota Wild enter the league.

[Mrs Sauga]

I rather Phoenix move to Seattle and Florida to Quebec rather than expansion. I think there is already enough teams and we should avoid diluting the talent. Also Phoenix is a problem that expansion doesn't' solve.

[Matrix19]

Quebecor says it will apply for NHL franchise

LAS VEGAS, Nev. - Quebecor plans to apply for an NHL expansion franchise with the intent of bringing back the Nordiques to Quebec City.
The company confirmed its interest in a news release sent out 90 minutes after commissioner Gary Bettman announced the league will begin a formal expansion process next month.
"Quebecor has consistently stated that its objective is to establish an NHL franchise in Quebec City and it intends to make every effort to achieve that goal," the statement said. "Out of respect for NHL authorities and the process that has been established, Quebecor will maintain its policy of discretion as it proceeds."
Any parties interested in an expansion team must apply between July 6 and August 10. Bettman said the expansion fee will be at least US$500 million.
Quebecor is among the several groups that have expressed interest in an expansion franchise, along with Las Vegas, Seattle, Toronto and others. Bettman said he didn't know if there was another group interested in bringing a team to Quebec.
President and CEO Pierre Dion said Quebecor has "all the ingredients" for expansion.
"We know in the province of Quebec, hockey is a religion. We are all, as individuals, hockey maniacs," Dion said in French at the MGM Grand after Bettman's announcement. "Quebec is an extraordinary market and we have a corporation, Quebecor, who has shown for three or four years its willingness to be a major player in sports, with TVA Sports, the (QMJHL's) Armada, the Remparts, the manager of the arena for the next 25 years."
Videotron Arena, which will have a capacity of 18,259 is almost ready. But deputy commissioner Bill Daly said the earliest expansion would happen, if it does, is the 2017-18 season.
Currently there are 16 teams in the Eastern Conference and 14 in the West, which would seem to make Las Vegas and potentially Seattle or Portland, Ore., favourites for expansion. Bettman said that's an issue, but the determining factor.
"One of the factors that you would obviously consider in any expansion process is what your footprint looks like and what the alignment would be," Bettman said. "I don't think you expand just for notions of symmetry.
"It's too important, the business decision. But obviously as we go through the process, if there's an interest in moving forward, that's an issue you have to deal with."
The NHL has a relationship with Quebecor through its French-language television-rights deal with TVA.
On the issue of Pierre-Karl Peladeau, Quebecor's former president and CEO and leader of the separatist Parti Quebecois, Daly said the political affiliation of a potential owner would not dissuade the league for exploring an expansion agreement.
Quebec City has not had an NHL team since the Nordiques left for Denver and became the Colorado Avalanche in 1995. The NHL has not expanded since adding its 29th and 30th teams, the Columbus Blue Jackets and Minnesota Wild, in 2000.
The return of the Nordiques would give the Montreal Canadiens a provincial rival. Owner Geoff Molson said the announcement of a formal expansion process is "great for the league."
"The fact that the NHL is willing to open the door is good news for markets like Vegas, Seattle and Quebec," Molson said.

Source : http://www.tsn.ca/quebecor-says-it-w...chise-1.317084

[Calgarian]

C'mon Quebec! that's a hell of a lot of money though.

[Coldrsx]

Stupid amount, ridiculous amount, but do it QC!!

[FrAnKs]

It's indeed a stupid amount, but it's probably the way Bettman use to know who's is really interrested.
So, I don't believe 500$ US is the real price.

[Berklon]

Originally Posted by FrAnKs

It's indeed a stupid amount, but it's probably the way Bettman use to know who's is really interrested.
So, I don't believe 500$ US is the real price.

The NHL may be setting a high price to weed out the pretenders, but there's no way they're going to drop the price if they have bidders who already agree to the 500m price tag. Why would they turn down the extra money?

The only way the fee is reduced is if no one puts in a bid, then the NHL would have to re-think their number because 250m (an example) is better than 0.

[Taeolas]

The Public figure is probably 500m, but Quebecor (or any other suitor) is probably going to the negotiation table to bring it down, or to arrange paybacks so their actual costs are much less. The Pro sports industry is all about throwing around huge numbers while hiding the real numbers. Only Hollywood is better at number cooking.

[Coldrsx]

Concur and I can understand the trepidation, but still, that is Eccelstone levels of lunacy.