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Post by stjohnsleafsfan on Jan 19, 2004 20:58:03 GMT -5
What are everyone's thoughts about the report that an NHL team has contacted the Mayor of Winnipeg about moving their franchise there? Any thoughts on who it might be?
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Post by sammy on Jan 19, 2004 23:47:38 GMT -5
I'd be guessing the Coyotes. The Pens maybe, but they're denying it.
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Post by MarmotMike on Jan 20, 2004 0:49:13 GMT -5
Coyotes just moved into their new arena a few weeks ago so I'm not sure about them. Me thinks, Buffalo could be the most likely team. Maybe Anaheim as attendance is poor and Disney seemed to care little about the team. Attendance is bad for the Florida franchises too...
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Post by DanCan on Jan 20, 2004 5:48:09 GMT -5
I would love to see Winnipeg get back in the game.
But what do we know? Very little, in fact. It's really a guessing game.
We know that it was a SOUTHERN based U.S NHL franchise that contacted Winnipeg's mayor last week. We know that it's a franchise in financial distress. And we know it's not Pittsburgh --the most likely candidate. The reason we know its not Pittsburgh is that the Winnipeg city council has publicly courted Lemiuex and the Penguins owners to move their franchise to Winnipeg. A little more than one week ago, Pittsburgh firmly said 'no thanks' and then the Winnipeg mayor was contacted by another club.
So who is it? I think we can rule out Phoenix for the reason Mike mentioned. We can also rule out St. Louis and Washington despite the fact that these franchises run major deficits.
The likely candidates are: Nashville, Carolina, Anaheim, Atlanta, Florida and Tamba Bay.
The clue: We should be looking for a club whose financial state has worsened considerably. Quote from Winnipeg mayor: "They are asking: How serious is Winnipeg because we are in trouble".
The indicators: Look to attendance level and changes therein since revenue from attendance makes up about 2/3 of the gross revenue of an average NHL franchise (according to Forbes Magazine). And, of course, look into net income and changes therein.
Let's look at the numbers. The attendance figures in the table below are from Slam Sports (updated 20 January 2004). The financial figures are from Forbes Magazine (articles: Most Valuable NHL franchise, December 2003 and December 2002).
-----------------Avr. home attendance..................Net Income
.....................2003/4.......change.....................2002/3........2001/2
CAROLINA......11,446.........— 24%....................—13,0........— 4,6
NASHVILLE....12,314.........— 5%......................—2,8......... + 9,0
ANAHEIM......14,587.......... + 9%....................— 10,8..........— 13,8
ATLANTA.......14,439......... +13%.................... — 0,9.........+ 2,8
FLORIDA.......15220.......... + 1%..................... — 9,2......... — 6,5
TAMBA...........16,900........ + 3%..................... — 0,7......... -1,3
If we use these figures, we can safely rule out Atlanta and Anaheim (despite the fact that it's well known than Disney and Warner want to sell these clubs). Atlanta's and Anaheim's av. attendance have incresed significantly in 2003/4 and this has improved the financial state in this season (not revelead in the figures). We can also rule out Tamba Bay and Florida. Florida's financial state worsened from 2001/2 to 2002/3 but in 2003/4 there's likely been a slight turnaround since the av. home attendance has stabilized.
So we are down to two candidates: Nashville and Carolina. Both clubs financial state worsened considerable from 2001/2 to 2002/3 and the negative trend has continued in this season, in particular for Carolina which has experienced a reduction of the av. home crowd by no less than 24%!
ConclusionSo the mayor of Winnipeg probably got a call from Raleigh or Nashville. My guess is supported by NHL analyst John Davidson who told Winnipeg Sun (17 Jan) that he believed that Carolina or Nashville were the most likely clubs to have made to call.
Still, officials from the Hurricanes and Predators have denied that they are looking to relocate. But do we believe them? Maybe marrella can enlighten us about the mood in Raleigh right now?
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Post by stjohnsleafsfan on Jan 20, 2004 7:58:00 GMT -5
Carolina was the first team that came to mind for me too.
I think that Winnipeg should get a second crack at an NHL team if Colorado, Atlanta, and Minnesota did.
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Post by DanCan on Jan 20, 2004 9:11:02 GMT -5
Made some further research: According to "The Return of the Jets" campaign, "inside sources" have told www.jetsowner.com (the home page of the campaign" that the call has been made by NASHVILLE. So we're down to one: It's probably NASHVILLE. Marrella, have a girlie beer™ - you deserve it.  Yes, why not, let's all have a Girlie Beer ™. Hockey may be Global, but if we have to choose between Winnipeg and Nashville? Every hockey lover would of course choose Winnipeg. |
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Post by marrella on Jan 24, 2004 21:03:42 GMT -5
You know, it's highly possible no one from an NHL team contacted the Mayor of Winnipeg to discuss a move. Could simply be hype.
Despite our problems this year, I doubt it's us. Our sources point their fingers at Nashville.
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Post by DanCan on Jan 25, 2004 6:23:56 GMT -5
Hype? Hmm, the story is allegedly based on statements by the mayor of Winnipeg (among others), but it could well have been overblown by the media. I don't think we will know much more about this until the smoke from the CBA negotiations has cleared.
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Post by DanCan on Feb 20, 2004 13:52:10 GMT -5
More on this. Peg Deputy mayor Vandal (what a name!) mad at Bettman... From Winnipeg Sun, 19 February[/b] Bettman biggest obstacle, Vandal claims By ROSS ROMANIUK, CITY HALL REPORTER The NHL's biggest boss is the largest obstacle to Winnipeg's big-time hockey dreams and must be removed for the good of the league, the deputy mayor said yesterday. Coun. Dan Vandal told some 80 students during a televised forum that commissioner Gary Bettman's vision for the National Hockey League "has got to die" -- along with his time in his New York office. "I don't know who is going to replace Gary Bettman or when that's going to happen or if that's going to happen. But I think it's got to happen," Vandal (St. Boniface) told the crowd at Red River College. "And we've got to keep having these discussions." Vandal's stern words for the NHL's top official -- who has insisted Winnipeg shouldn't get its hopes up for a relocated franchise -- comes as people across Canada are pointing to Manitoba's capital as their destination of choice for any transferred club. The NHL hasn't returned calls for comment. A Globe & Mail newspaper website reader's poll this week saw about 75% of respondents say Winnipeg, and then Quebec City, most deserve new teams. Columnist Eric Duhatschek, who oversees the survey, agrees. "It should be Winnipeg for all the obvious reasons -- the building, the fan base," Duhatschek told The Sun from Calgary, referring to the $133-million MTS Centre. FRANCHISE FEE "The only thing really lacking is someone who has the franchise fee to relocate one of the number of teams that I think will come up for sale within the next 12 months." Few are willing to bet whether enough local dollars are available to buy a struggling U.S.-based club. David Asper of CanWest Global Communications Corp. said Winnipeg's chances are "hypothetical at best," while Winnipeg Goldeyes owner Sam Katz added that the NHL "almost has to implode and start over" to make the numbers work, even if True North Sports & Entertainment gets involved. |
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Post by FreeHockeyPool on Feb 23, 2004 11:26:38 GMT -5
MarmotMike I love the symbol. Isn't that the old Canucks symbol that Management passed up on? It kind of looks like Bertuzzi in a way. I only wish hockey could be back in Winnipeg. It never deserved to lose it's team in the first place. Seeing it's gone, I don't think it's coming back anytime soon.  RonMunson FreeHockeyPool.com P.S. Your all invited to our free playoff pool www.FreeHockeyPool.com |
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