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Posted

Yes.  Yes it can.

 

If they're going to move it from a desert market because hockey simply doesn't make sense there, why move it to another desert market?

 

A desert market with a very transient population. Unless the Roulettes are very good, the building will be half-filled with opposing fans and tourists.

Posted (edited)

A desert market with a very transient population. Unless the Roulettes are very good, the building will be half-filled with opposing fans and tourists.

I would love to be one of those opposing fans making a road trip to Vegas to see my team every year.   :ph34r:

Edited by LabattBlue
Posted

Yes.  Yes it can.

 

If they're going to move it from a desert market because hockey simply doesn't make sense there, why move it to another desert market?

EXACTLY.

Posted

Yes.  Yes it can.

 

If they're going to move it from a desert market because hockey simply doesn't make sense there, why move it to another desert market?

Gary Bettman is a freakin idiots that's why.  I think the Sabres have been closer to moving over the last 20 years than the Phoenix Coyotes. 

Posted

I would love to be one of those opposing fans making a road trip to Vegas to see my team every year.   :ph34r:

Yup.  The away team / star players will draw.  Of course they would have a ton of other entertainment to compete with, but I think it could work.  

 

And our old friend Brian Blessing is head cheerleader there fwiw.  He and Roby were the best.

Posted

Coming to this thread a bit late I see.

 

I am not a fan of NHL teams in non-traditional markets where people don't know hockey, don't care about hockey, and never will.

 

Las Vegas makes me want to gag, right behind a whole lot of other current NHL cities.

Posted

Vegas should be a slam dunk. The place is always flooded with folks from the western US and Canada. They'll sell out every game against western teams, and will be able to charge a premium price for the tickets.

Posted

Just throwing this out there - what about Memphis?

 

It's the 20th largest city in the US. They have a viable rink (on Beale Street no less). They would be natural rivals with St. Louis, and especially Nashville. Attendance for the NBA team there is 95.6%.

Posted

Why in this world are people pushing freaking Vegas?

I'll be furious if it happens. 

 

Heard one of the guys on WGR today say put the Yotes in the East and then just add 3 more Western teams. Jesus, could you imagine watching an NHL game where a team's first line center is Cody Hodgson, and he's getting $6 mil/year? 

Posted (edited)

I'll be furious if it happens. 

 

Heard one of the guys on WGR today say put the Yotes in the East and then just add 3 more Western teams. Jesus, could you imagine watching an NHL game where a team's first line center is Cody Hodgson, and he's getting $6 mil/year? 

 

Yeah. That sounds unfathomly bad.   :wallbash:

Edited by weave
Posted

Why in this world are people pushing freaking Vegas?

It would be a great market. There are 25000 hotel rooms within walking distance of the arena,and close to double that on free monorail lines. It's already a sports destination city, filling up on NFL weekends and during events like the final four. A hockey game would be the perfect filler activity between dinner and club outings for guys weekends or conventions.

 

There would be huge corporate support from the convention trade and casinos. Sure most of the tickets would be from out of towners, but that's support that Seattle or KC would never get. Very few fans would travel to KC from California to watch their team play. Those fans will travel to Vegas.

 

Seattle and KC would be bigger risks, because if local interest for the team doesn't materialize, the NHL would have another Phoenix on its hands. In Vegas, the tourist trade can sustain the franchise as local interest builds.

Posted

Every year my students and I do an economic analysis of viable markets for a new NHL team using several different data sources.  And, if we ignore obvious markets up north (Hamilton, etc.), Houston always comes up #1 given its huge population, huge corporate base, existing venue in place with over 100 luxury suites, sports culture, etc.

 

Las Vegas could work but it'll be dependent on opposing team fans (at least until the local fan base is grown), which is risky given economic fluctuations.  Tourism, of course, drives the economy in Las Vegas, so a lot of folks don't have typical 9-to-5 jobs.  So, many potential fans are working when games take place.  Tie-ins with the casinos will have to be an important part of the team's marketing effort.

 

If I had to place two new teams in the U.S., I'd go with Houston and either Portland or Seattle.  ..but the thought of seeing a Sabres game in Las Vegas is definitely appealing!

 

 

Posted

Every year my students and I do an economic analysis of viable markets for a new NHL team using several different data sources.  And, if we ignore obvious markets up north (Hamilton, etc.), Houston always comes up #1 given its huge population, huge corporate base, existing venue in place with over 100 luxury suites, sports culture, etc.

 

Las Vegas could work but it'll be dependent on opposing team fans (at least until the local fan base is grown), which is risky given economic fluctuations.  Tourism, of course, drives the economy in Las Vegas, so a lot of folks don't have typical 9-to-5 jobs.  So, many potential fans are working when games take place.  Tie-ins with the casinos will have to be an important part of the team's marketing effort.

 

If I had to place two new teams in the U.S., I'd go with Houston and either Portland or Seattle.  ..but the thought of seeing a Sabres game in Las Vegas is definitely appealing!

NFW Houston would support an NHL team.

 

On paper, it should work. In reality, not a chance. Team wouldn't even last as long as the Threshers did.

Posted

NFW Houston would support an NHL team.

 

On paper, it should work. In reality, not a chance. Team wouldn't even last as long as the Threshers did.

 

 

There is only one reason Houston doesn't already have a team and isn't in the running for one in the near future.  Les Alexander.

Posted

Why in this world are people pushing freaking Vegas?

The bottom line is that revenue (in the form of ticket sales) would make it financially viable (based on many folks' opinions here).  There are many posts outlining these reasons.  You may not agree that these reasons outweigh the fact that there'd be a team in freaking Vegas without a fanbase, but the reasons for pushing it are evident.

 

Every year my students and I do an economic analysis of viable markets for a new NHL team using several different data sources.  And, if we ignore obvious markets up north (Hamilton, etc.), Houston always comes up #1 given its huge population, huge corporate base, existing venue in place with over 100 luxury suites, sports culture, etc.

 

Las Vegas could work but it'll be dependent on opposing team fans (at least until the local fan base is grown), which is risky given economic fluctuations.  Tourism, of course, drives the economy in Las Vegas, so a lot of folks don't have typical 9-to-5 jobs.  So, many potential fans are working when games take place.  Tie-ins with the casinos will have to be an important part of the team's marketing effort.

 

If I had to place two new teams in the U.S., I'd go with Houston and either Portland or Seattle.  ..but the thought of seeing a Sabres game in Las Vegas is definitely appealing!

 

Cool! I don't think I'd be alone here in my interest to see a summary of the criteria and how the final numbers played out in that exercise, if you're willigng to share.  It's funny whenever Houston comes up; I think Taro always chimes in as he did above (and I think he's right) :)

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