Jason Lewis: How Would NHL Teams in Seattle and Las Vegas Do?

I think Seattle makes the most sense. It's a growing city with a growing sports base. Should create a nice rivalry with Vancouver.

Las Vegas could be a huge gain or a huge loss. There's a ton of people there at any given time who could buy tickets to see a game. I'm not sure if they would have a strong fan base but more of a "casual" fan base.

Las Vegas will become the White Tigers & the Emerald City will get the Seattle Flying Monkeys

Yay let's water down the talent pool even more.

Seattle for sure. I'd try Quebec City before Las Vegas. Bring back the Nordiques and the Sonics!

Yay let's water down the talent pool even more.
- eichiefs9

Agreed. NHL should lose a couple of bunk teams, not add more.

How the hell will WPG get any better without a dispersal draft!

Seattle- great
Vegas- horrible.

http://en.wikipedia.org/w...litan_area#Previous_teams

Although there is plenty to do in Vegas other than a hockey game, there are still a massive number of people travelling from all over North America that would potentially plan to catch their favourite team in action during a vacation. May not be as ideal for the home team to have a large visiting crowd but still....

I talked to a buddy of mine who lives in North LV. He thinks the initial idea would bring people in droves to watch a professional sports team, but they's have to start winning pretty quickly to keep the interest. I asked him about the gambling aspect and he said that it's way overblown. Gambling is what the tourists do, the locals rarely gamble and he thinks once the players and team employees establish roots in the city, they'd realize what a losing proposition it is and stay away from the casino's. He told me the only time he gamble's is when I or our friends come to visit him. Sorry Bill.
As for the game fixing he just laughed. The gambling industry is so over-regulated by the state that he said the chances are greater for a guy getting hooked into that in NY than LV. I agreed with him on that. Besides, there would be plenty of other ways for players to make money outside of hockey. He said every casino would be hiring the guys to do promotional spots for tourists to come to Vegas and watch NHL hockey and stay in our casino.
It sounds like it would work. There are plenty of billionaires in LV. I agree with Jason in that it would be an IDEAL road trip for just about every team in the western conference.

Although there is plenty to do in Vegas other than a hockey game, there are still a massive number of people travelling from all over North America that would potentially plan to catch their favourite team in action during a vacation. May not be as ideal for the home team to have a large visiting crowd but still....
- MHejduk

That's how I see it happening. Fans of visiting teams or just casual fans who want to watch a "show".

I think Seattle makes the most sense. It's a growing city with a growing sports base. Should create a nice rivalry with Vancouver.

Las Vegas could be a huge gain or a huge loss. There's a ton of people there at any given time who could buy tickets to see a game. I'm not sure if they would have a strong fan base but more of a "casual" fan base.
- Streit2ThePoint

This is the issue I think. You'd struggle to create a real fan base of the locals. It would likely sell a lot of tickets though. Not sure if it would create a "hometown" atmosphere that you'd need to see a team do well on a deep playoff run. Although any playoff run for any of these expansion clubs is a long long ways away...

That's how I see it happening. Fans of visiting teams or just casual fans who want to watch a "show".
- Streit2ThePoint

I don't see that many fan's of opposing teams going. Not enough to fill an arena. A ton of Habs fans bus down to the Coliseum every year and they can't even help fill that sh!thole to a reasonable level. In theory it makes sense, but that's not a viable option for keeping a franchise running.

Am I going to get banned for not answering you with a gif?



Phew. Dodged that bullet.

So how do you realign the West with Vegas and Seattle? Arizona to the Central?

Why waste time in Vegas... What's next another go round in Atlanta?

I don't see that many fan's of opposing teams going. Not enough to fill an arena. A ton of Habs fans bus down to the Coliseum every year and they can't even help fill that sh!thole to a reasonable level. In theory it makes sense, but that's not a viable option for keeping a franchise running.

Am I going to get banned for not answering you with a gif?



Phew. Dodged that bullet.
- eichiefs9

That was a close one!

LV will be a flop if it happens. There's a reason none of the more intelligent and well run pro sport leagues haven't added a team there.

So how do you realign the West with Vegas and Seattle? Arizona to the Central?
- arwilson529

San Jose to the Metro

That was a close one!


- Streit2ThePoint

This is the issue I think. You'd struggle to create a real fan base of the locals. It would likely sell a lot of tickets though. Not sure if it would create a "hometown" atmosphere that you'd need to see a team do well on a deep playoff run. Although any playoff run for any of these expansion clubs is a long long ways away...
- Iggysbff

You think a Las Vegas vs Florida Panthers game would sell a lot of tickets?

There might be 10 people in the building.

How would the proposed expansion effect the current salary cap?
It could end up being a good thing for teams in cap hell, simply dont protect your worst contracts and let the expansion teams take them on.

I still think there needs to be another team in the Midwest. I think WI would be cool- great potential rivialry between CHI, WI and MIN. Or maybe Kansas (again). bring the Scouts back. Nebraska, N/S Dakota or how about Oklahoma? I think any of those places would be a better option than Las Vegas.

What is the criteria that determines Las Vegas can support an NHL team?
The NHL awards? The pre-season Kings game that's held there? Please. Look, Las Vegas supports events...and those things are events to people in Vegas. But where are the die-hard, loyal, season ticket holder Fans going to come from? Catering to some high roller that comes to town and comping him to a luxury box for a given game does not a fan base make. Hockey in LV will become a spectacle more than it will be viable supported sport.

Other sports have tried in Vegas and failed. It's not your normal American city..it's a 24hr town with a lot of distraction and that can't be overlooked. You can't build a fan base from tourists and where is the ground roots lobbying from Las Vegans begging for a team? This is all about dollars and spectacle and nothing to do with a hungry built in fan base which should be top criteria for handing over an NHL franchise.

Add to that, LV would be awful it's first several years building a team from others cast offs...and the novelty that would bring some fans out initially will lose interest fast and it will likely end up an afterthought. Just an overall bad idea IMO.

What is the criteria that determines Las Vegas can support an NHL team?
The NHL awards? The pre-season Kings game that's held there? Please. Look, Las Vegas supports events...and those things are events to people in Vegas. But where are the die-hard, loyal, season ticket holder Fans going to come from? Catering to some high roller that comes to town and comping him to a luxury box for a given game does not a fan base make. Hockey in LV will become a spectacle more than it will be viable supported sport.

Other sports have tried in Vegas and failed. It's not your normal American city..it's a 24hr town with a lot of distraction and that can't be overlooked. You can't build a fan base from tourists and where is the ground roots lobbying from Las Vegans begging for a team? This is all about dollars and spectacle and nothing to do with a hungry built in fan base which should be top criteria for handing over an NHL franchise.

Add to that, LV would be awful it's first several years building a team from others cast offs...and the novelty that would bring some fans out initially will lose interest fast and it will likely end up an afterthought. Just an overall bad idea IMO.
- Ninja1

Ok how about Reno

I talked to a buddy of mine who lives in North LV. He thinks the initial idea would bring people in droves to watch a professional sports team, but they's have to start winning pretty quickly to keep the interest. I asked him about the gambling aspect and he said that it's way overblown. Gambling is what the tourists do, the locals rarely gamble and he thinks once the players and team employees establish roots in the city, they'd realize what a losing proposition it is and stay away from the casino's. He told me the only time he gamble's is when I or our friends come to visit him. Sorry Bill.
As for the game fixing he just laughed. The gambling industry is so over-regulated by the state that he said the chances are greater for a guy getting hooked into that in NY than LV. I agreed with him on that. Besides, there would be plenty of other ways for players to make money outside of hockey. He said every casino would be hiring the guys to do promotional spots for tourists to come to Vegas and watch NHL hockey and stay in our casino.
It sounds like it would work. There are plenty of billionaires in LV. I agree with Jason in that it would be an IDEAL road trip for just about every team in the western conference.
- duxcup07

Just curious, but does your buddy care for a major sports team coming to Vegas or does he not care? Would be interesting to know what the locals think

Vegas will be just like Phoenix, barely making it by and most of the fans come from other locations to see THEIR team. Team names should be: Seattle Seagulls (similar name to Seahawks) and Vegas Strippers or Vegas Heat