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If Bettman is so concerned about a team leaving the US and going to Canada, why dosen't he just move them to Hartford or something?

They only have one NHL-sized arena in Hamilton, unless they plan on playing in the Pat Quinn arena, which seats about 300. Copps is going from AHL rink to the Meadowlands of the NHL (LOL).

Yep the last Atlanta team moved to Calgary.

The naming rights clause is hysterical. So the arena's ownership is going to tell the new owners that they cannot move the team because the arena will lose its name? I don't think that would stand up in a court of law. Also, I doubt the lease agreement would hold up under new owners too. The NHL needs to get a clue. There are several teams who are struggling and there are markets that will support those teams.

Cities in trouble? Phoenix, Atlanta, Florida, Nashville, and Columbus are struggling.

Cities who would take teams in a heartbeat: Winnipeg, Quebec, Hamliton, and Hartford all would support an NHL team.

Typical NHL dumbass move. Put a team in a city that previously had a team and lost it. Hockey is as big in Georgia as it is in Arizona. They may not be leaving now, but they will eventually.

Atlanta actually fills seats... People also forget that Milwaukee has been waiting for a team for years. They would be a much better fit than any of those teams mentioned by BatmanJWO except maybe Winnipeg.

my 2 cents

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QUOTE(#1):

Originally posted 10:05 AM ET  05.10 by Penslb623

If Bettman is so concerned about a team leaving the US and going to Canada, why dosen't he just move them to Hartford or something?

whalers whalers

come i need a rival to bad mouth and the habs arnt working out for us

How many more of these "moving" post will we have to read in the media.... Is it because we're getting close to Memorial weekend and all journalists get the "U-Haul feeling" tickling them?
I may have posted many things about how badly Bettman manages the league (all these openeers in Europe, more expansion, temasin KC, LV, etc..) but I like what he said about the Coyotes on his radio show "We don't walk away from problems. We fix them". Ha has a point!
Sure, Canada deserves more teams in the NHL considering their contribution to hockey, but their minors are way above the level of US minors leagues and NCAAH, I'm sure they have some pride in that - well deserved! Canadians love hockey enouh to accept to contribute at a deeper less exposed way!

Would a team in Wisconsin not work? Great sports state, lots of love for hockey. Natural rival to Chicago. Canada isnt the only place that supports hockey, and Milwakee would be as good a bet as Winterpeg, Manitobbagan.

When will Kansas City get some love? If Bettman doesn't want a team in Canada, go to KC! It's perfect! They'll start a rivalry with the Blues immediately

QUOTE(#6):

Originally posted 11:45 AM ET  05.10 by Elar

Typical NHL dumbass move. Put a team in a city that previously had a team and lost it. Hockey is as big in Georgia as it is in Arizona. They may not be leaving now, but they will eventually.

Wrong!!!!! There is a large youth hockey league in the 11 county area around Atlanta. All the Georgia Universitys have club teams and Kennesaw State is one of the more successful ones in the nation. The Atlanta fans are just tired of paying for over priced tickets to a bunch of owners that will not spend any money and who really don't have any. The last straw for the fans was when Hossa was traded.

QUOTE(#5):

Originally posted 11:26 AM ET  05.10 by BatmanJWO

Cities in trouble? Phoenix, Atlanta, Florida, Nashville, and Columbus are struggling.Cities who would take teams in a heartbeat: Winnipeg, Quebec, Hamliton, and Hartford all would support an NHL team.

The problem here is money... Phoenix, Atlanta, Florida, Nashville and Columbus = new arenas

Winnipeg (small arena), Quebec, Hamilton, and Hartford (old arenas).

These teams have to have these ATM arenas to keep the money flowing (though, a lot of good it did them in Phoenix).

QUOTE(#5):

Originally posted 11:26 AM ET  05.10 by BatmanJWO

The naming rights clause is hysterical. So the arena's ownership is going to tell the new owners that they cannot move the team because the arena will lose its name? I don't think that would stand up in a court of law. Also, I doubt the lease agreement would hold up under new owners too. The NHL needs to get a clue. There are several teams who are struggling and there are markets that will support those teams.Cities in trouble? Phoenix, Atlanta, Florida, Nashville, and Columbus are struggling.Cities who would take teams in a heartbeat: Winnipeg, Quebec, Hamliton, and Hartford all would support an NHL team.

And you got a law degree from...where exactly?

QUOTE(#15):

Originally posted 02:47 PM ET  05.10 by pantherkent

The problem here is money... Phoenix, Atlanta, Florida, Nashville and Columbus = new arenasWinnipeg (small arena), Quebec, Hamilton, and Hartford (old arenas).These teams have to have these ATM arenas to keep the money flowing (though, a lot of good it did them in Phoenix).

The other problem was Arizona and South Florida wasted tax payers money by building an individual arenas for the NBA and the NHL. The state of Arizona would be suing for damages if they have an empty arena, if the Coyotes leave.

I think that the league should be concerned about making money. Not concerned about having to move back to Canada... Bettman is not a hockey guy, and has been poison for the league since he became commissioner. He wants to protect his legacy as the man who grew hockey into a national sport in the states, but is going to be known as the man who killed the game. How many teams actually make money now? The league is watered down and the wealth is concentrated only in a few cities, which surprisingly are either in Canada or the Northern States (Dallas is the exception, not the rule). Bettman should build on the wealth, and grow the game as an industry rather than be concerned about the popularity in places that don't even have snow.

Atlanta has a strong fan base, the problem is the lame **** ownership. Cheap, cheap and cheap.

its not the ownerships fault its the fans that are cheap, Canadians mortgage their homes to buy seasons tickets, and honestly its not a matter of getting more teams to Canada, its a matter of getting teams to hockey towns, not these southern golf towns, its not natural for them to fallow hockey. Canadians bleed hockey, so move the tampa and atlanta and arizona and california teams back to places where they actually watch hockey like quebec and southern ontario and winnipeg or wisconsin or milwakee. and PS why would they move one of these teams to KC??, Bettman should stop shoving hockey down the throats of american southerners, and take the game back to the north where it belongs.