The Business of HockeyDiscuss the financial and business aspects of the NHL. Franchise sales, valuations, TV contracts, ratings, expansion, relocation, the CBA and work stoppage discussion goes here.
yes Halifax and Saskatoon would do fine markets for the NHL but the issue all comes down to TV revenu the reason why it ain't going to happend. A final between Boston and Vancouver pays huge amounts, but a final between Halifax and Winnipeg would be a disaster in TV revenu for the league.
their course of action is growth markets, on a 10-20 year basis, Halifax is good but weak in terms of potential. I think that Winnipeg was the lowest in terms of pop the NHL will ever go and Quebec might close the books for half a century
Although it's crazy that Halifax could get a team so is Saskatoon and it seems Saskatoon is vowing for it. Because Halifax has a bigger pop and surely a nicer city I'd vote Halifax before Saskatoon
As others have laughed at, no.... Saskatoon isn't on anyone's realistic short list, and neither is Halifax.
Truth be told, I do think Halifax would be a better option for the NHL then Saskatoon (if they had an area), but even if both markets had modern arenas they'd still likely be behind a bunch of other cities, Canadian and American, in the NHL's wishlist of markets to target.
If the NHL is planning a two-team expansion any time soon, I wouldn't be at all surprised to see proposals put forward from both Saskatoon and Halifax, but I'm really doubting that either would make the final cut.
Even Saskatoon is more viable due to the red hot economy and abundance of resource companies that would shell out in corporate support and sponsorship. Halifax has neither of those two things going for it in addition to the small population. Can't see it
Would love to see it, but I just can't see it happening. Much like Saskatoon, the city is simply too small to host an NHL franchise for any extended length of time.
The Halifax guys are cool. I don't wanna make ennemies down there.
IMHO it could work as a sort of all Maritimes team with the exact ownership scheme then Qc city, meaning, a multimedia owner who will use the team to generate revenues in his other enterprises.
But it's not realistic.
If Gary had handlecuffs tying under table at the Win press conference, and will take some medication to control himself in Qc city, I don't know what you'll need to do to force him go to Nova Scotia.
But sorry, Saskatoon is not realistic either. They will go Seattle, Hamilton or Markham, Houston way before.
The HRM would need to double in size to be even a remotely viable NHL market, and they would need a billionaire somewhere in the candidate ownership group. Chipman needed the extra financial clout Thomson provided to get the Jets, and Péladeau is the driving force behind the acquisition of the Nordiques.
On top of that, Halifax would need a new arena. The 34-year-old Metro Centre would instantly be the fourth-oldest arena in the NHL. Two of the older arenas (Rexall and NVMC) are on the verge of being replaced or vacated, and the other (MSG) is undergoing extensive renovation.
Considering they just voted down another stadium building opportunity - this time a soccer stadium for the womens world cup - they aren't exactly showing the world they are a sports town.
Not a chance Halifax or Saskatoon get NHL teams. Considering there are cities like Quebec City, Seattle, Las Vegas, Atlanta, Kansas City, etc. without teams why would the NHL move to a small Canadian city? Toronto will get another team and Atlanta would likely get a new team before either of these destinations are considered.
Halifax should try for a CFL team and an ECHL/AHL team before they try to go big.
