Slightly OT: Islanders owner's threat to move could be good news for KC Hockey

[MissouriBlues2008]

http://www.kansascity.com/385/story/1068714.html

Wang has received offers from politicians in Queens and Brooklyn to facilitate a move to those boroughs, and the Islanders are scheduled to play preseason games next September in Kansas City’s Sprint Center and in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, where they will be spending part of their training camp.

Wang, in an interview with Newsday last week, said: "If we don't build this, shame on us. This is something that has to be done. If we can't, you tell me no. It's OK. I mean, really, we'll go where we're loved."

Nassau County loses between $1 million and $2 million a year on the upkeep of the Coliseum, and Wang has said he loses about $20 million a year operating the Islanders.

Thoughts?

Don't read the comments unless you're prepared to get sick.

Kansas City would support Hockey about as well as St. Louis...mediocre.

I think St. Louis should go after an NBA team and have the Blues move here.

Yeah. We really don't support the Blues. Attendance is only 95% and the Blues have only been here 40 years. We only have a pretty good facility Downtown. We only have a strong hockey tradition and lots of kids teams all around the area. Sure, we don't support hockey at all.

[Noteman]

Wang, in an interview with Newsday last week, said: "If we don't build this, shame on us. This is something that has to be done. If we can't, you tell me no. It's OK. I mean, really, we'll go where we're loved."

If I were an isles fan, the bolded statement would REALLY piss me off.

I don't want a team in KC at the expense of another city.

[2 Minute Minor]

St Louis has great fan support. Its just not a highly lucrative TV market, which is usually what drives a lot of these relocations.

What other team could have been sitting in last place in the conference, after the mid-point of the season, and been selling out? Discounted tickets besides, the Blues have good attendance. In the next 2 years as the team is in the upper crust of the West, the prices will have to go up with the demand for tickets. That place is going to be rocking even more than it is now.

[MissouriBlues2008]

Here's an opinion piece about it:
http://economy.kansascity.com/?q=node/1297

I doubt the good deals on tickets in St. Louis will continue next year and on after that. Probably not many more Ticketmaster Tuesdays and Thursdays, and Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas 50% off sales.