Nanaimo and Expansion?

[LeafErikson*]

Just wondering if anyone has heard, or read anything on the possibility of Nanaimo getting a team? Or anything else on further expansion into BC? The WHL Western Conference needs more teams, to be sure.

[Nick the Viking]

how are the draws for the Jr A games?

I bet the Dub won't think of Nanaimo as a big enough city - I don't know if there'd be enough of a population to draw enough fans.

Though, the island-rivarly between Vic and Nanaimo would be fuuuuuun

[go_leafs_go02]

League wants a team in Nanaimo, to offset travel with the ferries to Victoria.

Won't happen until they have plans for a new rink - which at this point, doesn't exist.

[LeafErikson*]

Originally Posted by Monkey Boy

how are the draws for the Jr A games?

I bet the Dub won't think of Nanaimo as a big enough city - I don't know if there'd be enough of a population to draw enough fans.

Though, the island-rivarly between Vic and Nanaimo would be fuuuuuun

Nanaimo has over 130,000 people in the city, and surrounding area. Population isn't an issue at all. There are far smaller communities in the CHL.

[VicWHL101]

The whole issue as arena based. Right now no one is willing to build a privately funded rink and the City isnt will to help out with money.

[LeafErikson*]

Originally Posted by VicWHL101

The whole issue as arena based. Right now no one is willing to build a privately funded rink and the City isnt will to help out with money.

Ya, that's what I figured. I wasn't even quite sure what the arena situation was there.