Message Boards

NHL > General NHL > Kansas City Islanders?

Total Comments (290)

January 19, 2009, 12:32 PM

REPLY | QUOTE

The Islanders relocation rumors heated up today with the announcement of their new training camp location. The team's camp will be moved from Moncton, New Brunswick to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, an indication that the team is exploring a new western fanbase.

The rumor is that the team is considering Kansas City as the team's new location. They have already scheduled an exhibition game against the L.A. Kings in September at the Sprint Center. I think this is still in the development stages, but wonder what has to happen for a move to actually transpire?

Before you dismiss Kansas City as a possible NHL location, please know that they have the cooporate sponsorship (Sprint, Garmin, Cerner, Bushnell, Hallmark & others), a renovated downtown area (across the street from the Sprint Center), a $900 million arena that just opened, a growing metro area of about 2.5 million people and a very passionate base of sports fans. The city leaders are ready to open youth hockey leagues, high school leagues and develop a young fan base. The city is full of excitement thinking about potential rivalries with St. Louis, Denver, Minnesota, Chicago and Dallas. KC has a NHL advocacy group, called NHL 21 and the city has been making a push for a team for a little over five years now. The cooporate suites are sold out and people are ready to sign up for season tickets. KC is ready for hockey! Your thoughts?

Reply to Thread

Comments (3) Add A Comment

August 24, 2011 12:20 AM ET

Report Abuse | QUOTE

QUOTE:

Originally posted by

what the devils have a good fan base

I seem to remember several Stanley Cup final games a few years back that didn't sell out. How can you say they have a good fan base? If I am not mistaken immediately after winning a Stanley Cup the team was on the verge of moving to Nashville.

KewlRobD

Hawthorne , NY

Total Comments (1)

August 27, 2011 09:07 AM ET

Report Abuse | QUOTE

I don't think there's any question at all that KC would be a good city for a team to move to. I just don't know about it being the Islanders.

LGP: Pensational!

Six Burgh, PA

Total Comments (2559)

September 1, 2011 02:24 PM ET

Report Abuse | QUOTE

QUOTE(#13):

Originally posted 12:20 AM ET 08.24 by KewlRobD

I seem to remember several Stanley Cup final games a few years back that didn't sell out. How can you say they have a good fan base? If I am not mistaken immediately after winning a Stanley Cup the team was on the verge of moving to Nashville.

It's not Stanley Cup Finals games that didn't sell out in NJ it was early round playoff games. The same thing happens in Atlanta for Braves playoff games. It at least partially has to do with the fact that the Devils are almost always in the playoffs so many fans are saving their hard earned money for the later rounds, when it counts. If they don't get there then the fans just saved some money.