Why do teams not called the Habs or the Leafs do so poorly to mediocrely in a country as hockey obsessed as Canada? Why does Calgary, such a large city, produce such little profit for the Flames? Why does Vancouver, rich and large, produce less income than the Pens?

Even accounting for the exchange rate, and taxes, it still is a bit puzzling to me.

I’ll take a guess,

Toronto to Quebec
NYR to KC
Chicago to Houston

Am I close???

I’ll take a guess,

Toronto to Quebec
NYR to KC
Chicago to Houston

Am I close???
- riceroni

2 out of 3 ain't bad. Chicago isn't moving.

My guess would be Ottawa as the favorite, or should I say... favourite.

Florida would be my next guess.

People in Quebec that live and breath hockey = 90%x550k = 495k
People in Houston who actually know what hockey is = 5% = 115,000



- Nasty_Duck

What % of people in Las Vegas “knew what hockey was” prior to the Knights? Seems to be going alright...

I would like to see a team in Portland.
Coyotes are the obvious choice for relocation,then Panthers.
Although Quebec has already had a team, so too had Colorado,Winnipeg, Atlanta etc.
- Reubenkincade

The Portland Organic Small Batch Hipsters

What % of people in Las Vegas “knew what hockey was” prior to the Knights? Seems to be going alright...
- goavsgo10

I just moved out of Las Vegas. They're doing great there. The city has embraced the hell out of the Knights and they love watching the games. All bars are packed on every game night. They still don't understand what icing is, but they love the game!

It will be good to see financially failing Pittsburgh move to Quebec

My guesses on the teams are Carolina, Florida and Arizona.
Logistically it would make more sense if Carolina or Florida relocated to Quebec but I guess it all depends on which team is in worse shape.
All I know is that the NHL needs the Nordiques back in the league......screw it, and the Whalers too!

My guesses on the teams are Carolina, Florida and Arizona.
Logistically it would make more sense if Carolina or Florida relocated to Quebec but I guess it all depends on which team is in worse shape.
All I know is that the NHL needs the Nordiques back in the league......screw it, and the Whalers too!
- Mr_Rager

The Whale!

What % of people in Las Vegas “knew what hockey was” prior to the Knights? Seems to be going alright...
- goavsgo10

VGK is new and had a leg up with expansion draft so they did well when they started. A novelty with "on field" success = fan attendance. (would not surprise me if a LOT of tickets were sold to Canadians vacationing there).

And the only other Pro team in Vegas is the Raiders who moved there this past season. VGK had no competition.

Can't say that about Houston. Football + Basketball + Baseball = less attention/money for another sport like hockey.

The empty seats in Florida, Arizona and Columbus should have these teams moved to Quebec City, Kitchener/Waterloo and Saskatoon, real hockey cities. It won't happen because the league would rather have games played in front of 4,000 fans in the some USA cities instead of full houses in Canada.
- islansjet

Kitchener/Waterloo????, Mississauga, Ontario has a way bigger population. 735,000.

VGK is new and had a leg up with expansion draft so they did well when they started. A novelty with "on field" success = fan attendance. (would not surprise me if a LOT of tickets were sold to Canadians vacationing there).

And the only other Pro team in Vegas is the Raiders who moved there this past season. VGK had no competition.

Can't say that about Houston. Football + Basketball + Baseball = less attention/money for another sport like hockey.
- Nasty_Duck

Vegas will be getting a basketball team in the next few years.

Kitchener/Waterloo????, Mississauga, Ontario has a way bigger population. 735,000.
- isitin1

Kitchener/Waterloo would draw fans from all over south western Ontario. Guelph , London, Hamilton, Sarnia, Chatham, St Thomas are a few of the communities that would be happy to support a team located there.

I just moved out of Las Vegas. They're doing great there. The city has embraced the hell out of the Knights and they love watching the games. All bars are packed on every game night. They still don't understand what icing is, but they love the game!
- Rinosaur

I was dead against Vegas, but they proved me wrong. I didn’t like a team in a city with a sports book, but hell, that’s obsolete anymore. It’s a city of transient fans (just like you, right?), but they’re showing up.

Vegas is still fresh, but as of now, a success.

I hope it continues to be successful once they have 3+ options in town.

Kitchener/Waterloo????, Mississauga, Ontario has a way bigger population. 735,000.
- isitin1

Mississauga is too close to Toronto - would fall within their franchise area.

Kitchener on the other hand is likely outside that area, but close enough to draw from Mississauga and even Toronto.

Kitchener/Waterloo would draw fans from all over south western Ontario. Guelph , London, Hamilton, Sarnia, Chatham, St Thomas are a few of the communities that would be happy to support a team located there.
- islansjet

I’d love another stable Canadian team in the NHL, but Bettman knows that if it’s too close to another franchise, then you’re just robbing Peter to pay Paul. Hamilton, for example, already has NHL fans. You’re not creating a new market, especially in television. There’s no new money. It’s the same cash distributed to someone else. That doesn’t help League growth. I mean, hell, Toronto could piggyback another franchise if they wanted, but who does that help? Not the NHL, that’s for sure.

Bettman May make a lot of decisions we disagree with (lol to say the least), but he’s at least aware of this.

All the fans down there root for the Rangers, Islanders, Leafs and Bruins. Their fan base has to be the smallest in sports
- BringNYIhome

Bruins are good.
The other 3 teams you mentioned really blow chunks!

I’d love another stable Canadian team in the NHL, but Bettman knows that if it’s too close to another franchise, then you’re just robbing Peter to pay Paul. Hamilton, for example, already has NHL fans. You’re not creating a new market, especially in television. There’s no new money. It’s the same cash distributed to someone else. That doesn’t help League growth. I mean, hell, Toronto could piggyback another franchise if they wanted, but who does that help? Not the NHL, that’s for sure.

Bettman May make a lot of decisions we disagree with (lol to say the least), but he’s at least aware of this.
- Hesh_

American players hate playing in Canada.

45 years and counting
- devils2929

Wrong...canuck fans are too stupid to know how to count...but it is 50.

Happy Golden Shower Anniversary Vancouver Canuck Fans!!!

I was dead against Vegas, but they proved me wrong. I didn’t like a team in a city with a sports book, but hell, that’s obsolete anymore. It’s a city of transient fans (just like you, right?), but they’re showing up.

Vegas is still fresh, but as of now, a success.
I hope it continues to be successful once they have 3+ options in town.
- Hesh_

Betting AGAINST vegas...seriously fcking dum!!!

QC population: 550k + surrounding area

It goes well beyond the metro area. Hockey fans are everywhere in Quebec and you have a large audience within 200km. Not to mention people from easten Quebec all the way to New-Brunswick.

Can a team in Canada win a Stanley Cup before we start talking about how great it would be to have another Cant Compete In Canada team in Quebec?...move the Canadiens there perfect fit!!!
- RussH1964

Bla, bla, bla, 2003 cough, bla, bla, bla, cough 17 years, bla, bla, bla, more teams, bla, bla, bla. STFU.

The Jets lose money, and Winnipeg was pretty much an untapped market.

I lived in Quebec City for a few years and it's a Canadiens city. It doesn't feel like a city without a team. It feels like a city with a team that only plays road games. They're already giving the NHL a bunch of money, and the corporate cash is going towards the Canadiens. It's not like everyone is going to double what they're spending if Quebec gets a team.

The NHL isn't really gaining new fans with a team in Quebec.
- Hunkulese

It's only a Canadiens city since the Nords left, they would regaining their fans.

Why do teams not called the Habs or the Leafs do so poorly to mediocrely in a country as hockey obsessed as Canada? Why does Calgary, such a large city, produce such little profit for the Flames? Why does Vancouver, rich and large, produce less income than the Pens?

Even accounting for the exchange rate, and taxes, it still is a bit puzzling to me.
- PT21

Because they are not as well run as any team in Philly.