Realistically....How many teams should be in the NHL?

[optimus2861]

Originally Posted by Boltsfan2029

Wow - when did you go to these games? For a while after we won the Cup we were right up at the top of the league in attendance, even in spite of the lockout that cost us a full season. Then Koules/Barrie came in and almost destroyed the franchise and things got bad, but the last couple of years since Mr. Vinik purchased the team the crowds have returned and the arena is rocking.

Feb. 11, 2010 vs Boston (the Bruins jumped out to a 5-0 lead, the Lightning rallied to within a goal but lost 5-4) and Mar. 22, 2011 vs NY Islanders (Isles won 5-2 in a lacklustre game). Both games were poorly attended; official paid attendance wasn't even announced. I actually bought box seats for the latter on the street for a measly $40/ea. The crowd for the latter game was especially dead.

[Boltsfan2029]

Originally Posted by optimus2861

Feb. 11, 2010 vs Boston (the Bruins jumped out to a 5-0 lead, the Lightning rallied to within a goal but lost 5-4)

Attendance that night was 15,826. That was at the depths of the Koules/Barrie debacle, the team was in disarray, they had run off most of the fans - I'm actually surprised there were that many people there. It was a bad, bad time for the franchise.

and Mar. 22, 2011 vs NY Islanders (Isles won 5-2 in a lacklustre game). Both games were poorly attended; official paid attendance wasn't even announced. I actually bought box seats for the latter on the street for a measly $40/ea. The crowd for the latter game was especially dead.

17,400 that night. I think you may have just missed the attendance announcement, they always give it. Sorry the crowd was dead, perhaps a lopsided loss in a lackluster game had something to do with that.

I can vouch for the fact that it's certainly not that way now. Mr. Vinik, Mr. Yzerman and Mr. Leiweke have revitalized the team and the entire organization.

[Leo W]

Feel bad for Columbus, I truly believe they could have one of the best fan bases in the league if the team wasn't so **** for so long. It's really sad actually, hopefully they can get it together sooner rather than later and get the place filled. Because I know if I lived in Columbus I certainly wouldn't want to go see that team either, especially for how long they've been poorly run for; I mean why would you?

[sandysan]

Originally Posted by MoreOrr

How long do you think a team would last in KC if it had the number of losing Seasons that the Blue Jackets have experienced?

I'm not convinced that a hockey team would last in KC irrespective of how well they did on the ice. The scouts lasted two years and when they left I think they took most of the demand with them.

Right now KC has one thing going for it, a nice arena with no primary tenant. That's pretty much it. The Sprint Center seems to do okay on tournaments and concerts.