- jcragcrumple

Post of the month

Buffalo has less population than anchorage. But compare Erie county to whatever county anchorage is in. Then throw in Rochester and Canadians that can drive in less than an hour. The fact that they have the corporate money could be enough to make up for that though. But as you stated they are isolated. It’s a. Interesting thought
- IndianaSabresFan

Yeah, there's 8M+ people between Toronto, Buffalo, and Rochester. Alaska as a whole has 710K.

Buffalo has less population than anchorage. But compare Erie county to whatever county anchorage is in. Then throw in Rochester and Canadians that can drive in less than an hour. The fact that they have the corporate money could be enough to make up for that though. But as you stated they are isolated. It’s a. Interesting thought
- IndianaSabresFan

Anchorage: 291k

Fairbanks: 97k but a 5 hour drive from Anchorage

Matanuska-Susitna: 88k

Kenai Peninsula Borough: 55k

And an additional 75k in various satellite towns no further out than Fairbanks.

That's an estimated 600,000 potential people with absolutely NOTHING to do. And money to burn. It's indeed an interesting idea.

Yeah, there's 8M+ people between Toronto, Buffalo, and Rochester. Alaska as a whole has 710K.
- Wetbandit1

Yeah but Toronto being 5 million you can't really count towards Buffalo's draw, most of these people are going to stay local and that's 8 million people in a Great Lakes region with thousands of things to do and hundreds of places to go on any given night.

Seriously. What do they have to do in Alaska? Be cold?

Yeah but Toronto being 5 million you can't really count towards Buffalo's draw, most of these people are going to stay local and that's 8 million people in a Great Lakes region with thousands of things to do and hundreds of places to go on any given night.

Seriously. What do they have to do in Alaska? Be cold?
- BeadyEyedDouche

Fish hunt pan for gold and be isolated.

I thought Houston too. But since you said markets with no pro sports I picked the slightly smaller Austin. Good on Thurman. If Texas is getting that big hockey following they need to build off of that.
- IndianaSabresFan

Well, I wasn't trying to dictate things.

Houston has always had a huge hockey fanbase, surprisingly. Pretty sure it was considered over Dallas at one point, but the North Stars moving there put the nix on that.

Boise, Idaho

Sioux Falls, SD

Fargo, ND

That's more what I had in mind. The Dakotas would be a fantastic place to put hockey, they love their college hockey as it is over there.

Fish hunt pan for gold and be isolated.
- IndianaSabresFan

Add hockey to that list and it's looking that much better lol

Well, I wasn't trying to dictate things.

Houston has always had a huge hockey fanbase, surprisingly. Pretty sure it was considered over Dallas at one point, but the North Stars moving there put the nix on that.

Boise, Idaho

Sioux Falls, SD

Fargo, ND

That's more what I had in mind. The Dakotas would be a fantastic place to put hockey, they love their college hockey as it is over there.
- BeadyEyedDouche

I bet they went with Seattle because Canada doesn’t want all the southern growth. Problem is outside of Quebec City and a second team in Ontario Canada has no great options. And there is the always wanted “rival” cross border story line

I bet they went with Seattle because Canada doesn’t want all the southern growth. Problem is outside of Quebec City and a second team in Ontario Canada has no great options. And there is the always wanted “rival” cross border story line
- IndianaSabresFan

It's so (frank)ing boring and played out at this point. They're forcing rivalries instead of growing the game logically. It's moronic.

The Southern growth... I get that, and I don't like the amount of Southern teams at this point (I almost wish the NHL would go North/South instead of East/West for their divisions) but Idaho and the Dakotas are not Southern? Again, nothing going on in those places, and they aren't in the Arctic circle, either, so there's that.

Well, I wasn't trying to dictate things.

Houston has always had a huge hockey fanbase, surprisingly. Pretty sure it was considered over Dallas at one point, but the North Stars moving there put the nix on that.

Boise, Idaho

Sioux Falls, SD

Fargo, ND

That's more what I had in mind. The Dakotas would be a fantastic place to put hockey, they love their college hockey as it is over there.
- BeadyEyedDouche

Not that it would ever happen, but to make a point somewhere as close to here as Sioux Falls to be able to handle something that I don't think we could handle here in Omaha either.

We already have an arena (seats ~17k for hockey) that has hosted our D1 team before they built a smaller arena closer to campus. Roughly 800k total metro area including our friends across the Missouri river, Council Bluffs, IA. We had the Calgary Flames AHL team for two years but that failed because minor league pro hockey just mimicked our already established market of D1 NCAA hockey (Omaha Mavericks) and USHL Hockey (Omaha Lancers). Plain and simple, people just didn't catch on.

Idk, its cool to think about it but if a City like ours cant even take care of an AHL team it would be tough to think other mid-west cities could.

Maybe somewhere like Milwaukee, WI?

One is in the Arctic.

One is Sub-Tropical.

One is part of the USA and has a huge hockey following.

One is Mexico and has a huge futbol following.

You cannot be serious.

Making a megaplex arena in Anchorage would actually help to get them that Winter Olympic bid they've always been trying to get, too. Mexico City is literally built on a swamp.

Where's the upside in Buffalo at this point? Seriously? Other than a 2nd home game for Toronto 3 times a year. If we weren't a peace bridge away, it would be nothing to the NHL.

The upside in Arizona? Seriously. I can't find one. Florida Panthers exist because of corporate packages. 90% empty arena 39 games per season. Is there an upside in Carolina or Ottawa at this point?

The biggest issue with Anchorage isn't economic upside, it's travel time and logistics. But that can be worked around. Edmonton is basically tundra as it is and they have no issues. Plus, Anchorage has mild winters because of warm Pacific water and winds.
- BeadyEyedDouche

Anchorage is a corporate powerhouse

Anchorage is a corporate powerhouse
- Mentalorgasm5

It's honestly ridiculous that people underestimate Anchorage at all. It's literally sitting on nothing but gold and oil. Tons of corporations there, they don't charge a state tax. Think Tampa Bay mixed with Puerto Rico - not climate but economy. No state or sales tax whatsoever (only local taxes and none in Anchorage - there's room tax and vechicle tax at hotels and car rentals though), residents receive a check from the government just for living there, ffs.

Anchorage: 291k

Fairbanks: 97k but a 5 hour drive from Anchorage

Matanuska-Susitna: 88k

Kenai Peninsula Borough: 55k

And an additional 75k in various satellite towns no further out than Fairbanks.

That's an estimated 600,000 potential people with absolutely NOTHING to do. And money to burn. It's indeed an interesting idea.
- BeadyEyedDouche

Lockport would make a better NHL team then Alaska

Not that it would ever happen, but to make a point somewhere as close to here as Sioux Falls to be able to handle something that I don't think we could handle here in Omaha either.

We already have an arena (seats ~17k for hockey) that has hosted our D1 team before they built a smaller arena closer to campus. Roughly 800k total metro area including our friends across the Missouri river, Council Bluffs, IA. We had the Calgary Flames AHL team for two years but that failed because minor league pro hockey just mimicked our already established market of D1 NCAA hockey (Omaha Mavericks) and USHL Hockey (Omaha Lancers). Plain and simple, people just didn't catch on.

Idk, its cool to think about it but if a City like ours cant even take care of an AHL team it would be tough to think other mid-west cities could.

Maybe somewhere like Milwaukee, WI?
- Sabre_Tooth

Everyone knows college sports are nothing but money.

The only reason minor leagues exist at this point is to be developmental leagues. Supporting an AHL team isn't easy, as it's actually a professional sports league, and not a true minor league. AHL teams in the USA simply don't have the financial or local support to sustain themselves without their big teams, usually.

Seriously the AHL is a joke.

Lockport would make a better NHL team then Alaska
- homiedclown

The Lockport Glory-Holes has a nice ring to it

Omaha, NE would actually be a decent city for a hockey team. Almost a half million people and lots of hockey fans. But it is Nebraska so there is that.

Omaha, NE would actually be a decent city for a hockey team. Almost a half million people and lots of hockey fans. But it is Nebraska so there is that.
- doppelthat

Which means that Nebraska would now have 2 things instead of just corn.

The 49'ers, Giants, A's, Raiders, and Warriors are all very close, ~40 miles, but the Bay Area has an insane amount of people. The fifth largest after NY, LA, Chicago, and Washington.
- Wetbandit1

If Canada wasn't another country and Toronto was a US City and there would be a 360 degree radius of suburbs around the city instead of only maybe 280 or so Buffalo would have a much larger media market. It's too bad Buffalo doesn't get to count the Southern Ontario market in many respects.

Omaha, NE would actually be a decent city for a hockey team. Almost a half million people and lots of hockey fans. But it is Nebraska so there is that.
- doppelthat

The only thing that matters around here is the Huskers. People are still clinging on to those 90's championships. sigh.

Which means that Nebraska would now have 2 things instead of just corn.
- BeadyEyedDouche

NCAA baseball championship, the world's best zoo, best steak you can ask for, low cost of living, good job market. meh.

Dumb dumb dumb

Franking Alaska.

Just dumb.

The only thing that matters around here is the Huskers. People are still clinging on to those 90's championships. sigh.
- Sabre_Tooth

I have some family that moved to Omaha, and have been up there a few times. I really liked the city the times I went. The Husker presence is huge but I did also notice a few hockey clubs and I do believe the Lancers are one of the more popular USHL teams. Also the University of Nebraska Omaha has a decent hockey program, but not sure of their following in the town. Professional sports leagues were also scared of putting teams in Tennessee because of the huge support the Vols had, especially in the late 90's, but it's worked out so far.

The Lockport Glory-Holes has a nice ring to it
- BeadyEyedDouche

What's your concept for a logo?

Gotta say, there seems to be relatively little enthusiasm for the Sabres around here, even with the season quickly approaching. Anyone have opinions on why this might be?

Gotta say, there seems to be relatively little enthusiasm for the Sabres around here, even with the season quickly approaching. Anyone have opinions on why this might be?
- PrinceChill

Whatever anyone's opinions are, they're (frank)ing stupid.

You know what's interesting? Corn. Corn's a very interesting topic.