FanNation - The Republic of Sport

Well no shi*, it took you long enough to figure out that Canada is the only place where NHL hockey should be played(besides Michigan, New England, Minnesota, and New York, you gotta have a team in the Apple)

I do not agree that Columbus should move, Ohio is a cold weather state and a second team so close to Vancouver presents some huge problems, also the Avalanche are the only team that should be given to the Belle Province

Sorry Shamrock, hockey should be played in PA

You have a point on Columbus, Ohio. But I still believe Canadians would support a second team in British Columbia.

We love it up here in New England...well down here for some of you mayb.....

I agree with New England. I'm still upset about the Hartford Whalers leaving. The Adams Divison doesn't seem the same without Hartford. Oh sorry. Bettman changed the names to match compass headings. So much for tradition.

Some interesting points here......

Read your little personal blog...."Reed Richards" was much better in the "Horatio Hornblower" series.

thanks for respecting the Sharks fans. As a season tix holder I can tell you that the SJ fan base is loyal to this team and committed to them staying in SJ.

NHL is never going to do well in Nashville, Phoenix, Florida, etc.... They cannot compete with the financial support in larger areas like the SF bay area, NY, Chicago, LA, etc etc..

However I do not understand why there are still not NHL teams in cities like Seattle, Portland, Salt Lake City, Milwuakee, and to be honest, if hte NHL can have two teams in LA then one would work in San Diego.

Yes, the San Jose Sharks fan base is more loyal & avid than the Los Angeles Kings, They are a great success story & a marketing coup. I too am shocked that there are no teams in Seattle, Portland, San Diego & Milwaukee. The Seattle Thunderbirds & Portland Winterhawks do well. Why not an NHL franchise? Since the old WHA tapped San Diego back in the 70's, I think it would make a logical expansion or relocation spot. Milwaukee is interesting & makes alot more sense than Nashville, TN & Sunrise, FL. But I really would like to see the NHL try Canadian Relocation. Too many teams exited back in the 90's. I think the league owes it to Canada to make amends.

1) Carolina Hurricanes have a large, loud, far-reaching fan base and sold out a number of games this season - even after the crappy 07 season .
2) A large percentage of the fan base in the Carolinas, and undoubtedly in Florida, is expatriate Canadians, who apparently would rather live here, where we have seasons, than go to a hockey game in their former home town .
3) The dollar will not stay down for long . Give the American people a president worth half a terd and we will have this country and this economy humming in no time .
4) If you like Canada so much, why don't you move there ? I'm not a mindless flag-waver - I'm trying to make a point . Relocation of franchises is driven by money - which is driven by opportunity . If the people of Canada come to the U.S. for opportunity, would you expect hockey franchises to be moving the opposite direction .
-- food for thought

When did I criticize the United States? I was writing about the futility of hockey in some areas. Not the entire country. Check the attendance figures & television rating in the cities I mentioned. How did we get onto the subject of my relocation? I love this country. Perhaps you should reread the blog post. You're the one who chose to make this into a political editorial.

First to the 'Canes fan, we in Canada have 4 distinct seasons every year, not "Really hot" and "Nicely Warm" that the southern U.S. gets. This isn't basketball where certain players will never choose to play in a cold weather city just based on the weather alone. Most of these players grew up playing outside in the freezing cold winters of Canada and Northern Europe/Northern US.

As for the article, Canadians have been saying for over a decade that we deserve more franchises. When the country with 1/10th the population and 1/5th the number of teams than the other produces approx. 50% of the leagues revenue it would seem logical to put more product in that country. Unfortunately for us good natured Canucks (not just the Vancouver variety) Gary Bettmen loves to bite the hand that feeds him.

I've been to a few 'Canes games. Hockey will be OK there, they have some support. It may take some time, but the sport will thrive in NC.

... but 3,000 Sabres fans are louder than 13,000 'Canes fans at the 'Canes home arena. And Rick Flair? That's cheesy...

Pittsburgh is one of the biggest hockey towns out there, this blog was stupid

A little factual attendance data would be helpful here. Using ESPN's website as a source, only Nashville and Phoenix (among the franchise cited) have been in the bottom third of average attendance each of the last 3 seasons. But the positive view is, none of those six teams have played to less than 84% of capacity during that period. The bottom line has little to do with someone's subjective opinion of the crowd's "into it" qualities, so that's irrelevant. Going by percent of capacity, the only franchises performing well below expectations are Chicago and St. Louis, both clubs whose problems are being addressed by new management. There is no financial argument to indict ANY of the clubs listed in this blog; I suggest the league's approach will be to look to Canadian cities to bail out just the sort of troublesome situation that exists in Nashville. But patience is advised-- the Preds are still on their first coach, after all-- that guy with no neck.

I'm from Pennsylvania. I know hockey is a popular sport in the Keystone State.

Shamrock....ignore them. They just didn't read the blog as it was intended to be read.

Shamrock:
- you said:
So many NHL teams in so many obscure regions of the country. And oh so many empty seats. Ladies & gentleman, I'm afraid The Great Experiment has failed. Bettman rolled the dice and went broke. His dream of creating this humongous U.S. market never materalized. Perhaps it is time to revisit the idea of relocation. Yes relocation. To Canada.

Then I said:
4) If you like Canada so much, why don't you move there ? I'm not a mindless flag-waver - I'm trying to make a point . Relocation of franchises is driven by money - which is driven by opportunity . If the people of Canada come to the U.S. for opportunity [in droves mind you], would you expect hockey franchises to be moving the opposite direction .
-- food for thought

Then you said:
When did I criticize the United States?

From this we may conclude:
1. In terms of hockey, your blog criticizes the U.S., then, you go on to, in terms of hockey, specifically criticize a number of cities/states in the U.S. . It???s the whole point of your blog !?
2. You don???t read for comprehension ??? see 4) above in regard to: a) your relocation ( I never mentioned, much less questioned your love of country ), b) me not being a mindless ???patriot??? spouting off ???Love it or leave it!???, and c) something about me trying to make a point .

My overall point was this: YOU DON???T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT WHEN IT COMES TO CAROLINA HURRICANES HOCKEY . They sell out games; season/advance ticket sales are up; you see a lot of jerseys and other paraphernalia at games and out in the community .

By the way, I live right here within 25 miles of the arena, am a former season ticket holder, and attended all four home games of the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals ... umm, in which the Hurricanes beat a Canadian club .

Wagstarr
In North Carolina we get snow every winter - it doesn't stay on the ground for 9 months - but we do get snow . Edmonton lost a lot of players after 06 . Word was it was partly because Edmonton is not a very exciting place to live, an issue perhaps for the player's wives more than for the players . By the way, it is not the distinctness of the seasons, but how long they last that is important .

How do you figure 50% of the league's revenue ?

SabresNation000
You all had a good season in '07 ... I just don't know what happened this year .
I do remember what happened to you in '06 though - the Hurricanes put you of the playoffs - and it was loud . Carolina had the loudest arena in the playoffs in '06 .