Nashville needs to move to a Canadian City like Hamilton. I used to live in Toronto in the 80's and when the Leafs were not making the playoffs and finished in last place in 1985, Maple Leaf Gardens was always sold out. I don't believe Hamilton would cause territorial problems. It would also save fans from driving out of the country to Buffalo or even Detroit to see a game. Southern Ontario is in the top 5 Sports Markets with it's growing population in North America. It would be so much more convienient Hamilton fans to see an NHL game live. Buffalo has it's own fan base. Detroit is more than a three hour drive from Hamilton. Fans could save a lot of money regarding the current high fuel costs.
The Canadian dollar is worth as much as the American dollar. I don't see why Gary Bettman is so against putting another team North of the border. He should consider going back to working in the Legal System. He's an awful commisoner. The NHL needs to get another contract with ESPN, that way there will be more Hockey exposure in America.
If Hamilton is not getting a team then how about moving Nashville to Quebec City as long as they get a new arena. Bring back the Battle of Quebec. This city deserves a team because it would sell out every game. If not how about giving Winnepeg another shot, the one concern I have is the new arena holds on 15,000 fans, don't know if it could be expanded, plus the place would be sold out every night. Both Cities lost their teams. If the NHL will not put a 7TH team in Canada, then how about Portland or Seattle. Both cities would create a rivalry with Vancouver. Portland has the Rose Garden, which is fairly new and would not require renovations like the Key arena in Seattle. Since Seattle lost it's Super Sonics it would give their sports fans a new team to follow however the Key Arena not being renovated would not put this city at the top of the NHL list. Maybe their would be a new facility in Seattle built if they were to get an NHL team. Also if there was a team put in Portland instead, then it would help the Minnesota Wild, they could move into another division. Chicago or Detroit would be a lot closer for the the Wild to travel to then Denver or Edmonton.
If none of the cities mentioned get a team, is Kansas City a good idea since they have the new Sprint Arena, maybe, but I don't think they would sell out every game after the first season. It is a smaller market, they would have to compete with the Chiefs and Royals. It would be a good rivalry for ST. Louis, however the Blues have enough with the Hawks and Wings. K.C having a team in the 70's did not work, sure things have changed, however a team in Canada or Portland would have a high population and the fan base would be better. Portland only has one major Sports team, and the Trail Blazers will need time to be competitive, so that would be a great city to have an NHL team. Hamilton once again should be the first city to get an NHL team and Nashville needs to go there like they nearly did with the ownership change, but of course Mr. Bettman got in the way of that. In my mind with the strike and the awful Hockey exposure in the U.S he has ruined the NHL to some degree. I read an article that a fan wrote about how the N.Y. Rangers did not win the cup in 47 years, it was 54 first of all. This fan said the Rangers did not have a problem selling out during those times, well they are for one an original six team and look at the population difference between New York and Nashville. What about Chicago who has not won a cup in over 45 years, they sell out as well, original six team also with a high population. I just want that fan to realize that New York is the number one sports market and Chicago is the number three sports market in North America. The Preds will be in a better position financially if they get out of town. The NHL has given them a chance and it seems like there are becoming more problems in Nashville.
Brad Anaheim
Melissa Haro
Tracy Burns
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Hamilton? No. Winnipeg, Quebec City, and Hartford should be on the list before Hamilton.
FaustoCarmonaFan is…
Akron, OH
Total Comments (2157)
Exactly. The cities that had their hockey teams "stolen" should get preference(Jets, Nordiques, and Whalers).
The Shamrock
Jenkintown , PA
Total Comments (362)
Why don't you move to Nashville instead of trying to steal our team? It's not quite so cold and you can live in a country that is actually recognized by the rest of the world.
audiospaceship
Nashville , TN
Total Comments (1)
Brad, you incredible moron. The Predators aren't going anywhere. Hockey support in Nashville is on the rise. Look elsewhere to steal a team.
dave4041
Nashville , TN
Total Comments (1)
Dave4041 you may think I'm an incredible moron, that's your opinion, It was an idea, I know more hockey then you. Hockey does not belong in your town, your team does not sell out. They would sell out in other cities. Why don't you learn constructive criticism and give some more logic regarding your team. Ok let me ask you, do you think another team should move and where. These other cities had their teams stolen before the salary cap was implemented. How about my Redwings punking your Preds and then winning the cup. Your area is more into the Titans and Grizzlies, along with college football and basketball. Learn to choose your words better, moron yeah, I bet you could not even name the second highest scorer in NHL History behind Gretzky. Come on Dave, your team is no where near winning a cup and does not fill all it's seats like another city would. Take Care
Hyper Brad
Anaheim , CA
Total Comments (15)
Hyper Brad -- have you ever been to Nashville? If you had, you could see just how hockey crazy this city really is instead of getting your opinion from reading other newspaper articles. You say hockey doesn't belong in my town, because it does not sell out. What difference does it make that we don't sell out every game? I would guess there are other teams in the NHL that don't sell out every game. I personally don't think any NHL team should move. Also, why would anyone be more into the Grizzlies here in Nashville, the Grizzlies are in Memphis which is about 300 miles away?? The Preds are a lot closer to winning the Cup than many other teams. Yeah, I am not happy with the coverage, or lack there of, that the NHL gets in the US, no hockey fan could be. No matter what city you live in. Why should a budding hockey market, like Nashville, lose its biggest catalyst for making hockey more popular-- just to make it "so much more convienient Hamilton fans to see an NHL game live"?
predhead00
Total Comments (1)
Predhaead00 I see your point. I have not been to Nashville, I used to live in Toronto, but for the last 20 years I have lived in Anaheim and hate the Ducks, Eventually some team will move. Even though the Ducks won the cup in 2007, hockey is not popular in Orange County CA, if the Kings were to win the cup then hockey would be a little more popular out here. When they went to the finals and lost to Montreal in 1993 that's the time when hocley fans went crazy out here. If you are saying people are hockey crazy send a few of them out to Southern California because it is so hard to find fans to talk hockey with.
9 out of 10 alleged Ducks fans can't even name the player who scored their first ever goal in history. Sean Hill against Detroit in a loss 6-2. Anyway you think no teams should move well with the salary cap implemented and losing an entire season maybe no one will. If a team is not selling out and their T.V. ratings are bad then they should move. If not your Preds then maybe Atlanta, Columbus, Phoenix or one of the Florida teams. I don't think the Panthers sell out, Miami is a big city, Anyway I hope the NHL will be back on ESPN soon that would help the exposure of hockey in the States, Versus is not the best choice. If Bettman did not help cancel the 2004-05 season then ESPN would still have the NHL. How do you get more fans in the mid west and southern States with Versus, you wont get much. Anyway Hamilton could support a team and the owner that wanted to move the Preds there knew he would sell out all the time and make more money. Then again I don't what 's the average price of a ticket in Nashville is. If you tell me 50 dollars or more then I can understand games not being sold out all the time.
Take Care
Hyper Brad
Anaheim , CA
Total Comments (15)
The preds will suck nexr year, Nashville is not a hockey town. You fake Pred fans don't know what you are talking about.
Hyper Brad
Anaheim , CA
Total Comments (15)
Why wont you non knowledgeable fans of Nashville send so more comments, you cowards.
Hyper Brad
Anaheim , CA
Total Comments (15)
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