Houston is attractive to ONE possible NHL owner....Les Alexander. He doesn't appear that interested, unfortunately. Unless an ownership group is willing to sell to Les, I don't see a team heading here in the foreseeable future. That sucks, by the way.
Houston is the 3rd largest city in Amercia. All it takes is a little interest from a potential Houston ownership group. We're talking about the up-and-coming franchise in the NHL. Why the lack of interest among potential Houston owners?
Because the NHL is doing terribly, suffering from over-expansion and a owner's lockout came at the worst possible time. The new NHL has franchises in places like Atlanta, Nashville, Columbus, Miami and Raleigh which are non-traditional NHL bases.
Here's a great article outlining the attendance woes of the NHL today: NHL attendance problems Here's an excerpt from the collection of articles: Lies, Damned Lies, and NHL Attendance Numbers From Jamie Fitzpatrick How much can you trust official NHL attendance figures? Consider this: the Detroit Red Wings reported 20,066 through the turnstiles for Wednesday’s game against Phoenix. Ted Kulfan of the Detroit News estimates actual attendance at about 13,000. The Wings have an iron-clad excuse: They were up against the Tigers, who are closing in on a berth in the World Series. Once the ball team’s near-miraculous season is over, Detroit’s hockey team will resume its place as one of the top draws in the NHL. But if Hockeytown can pad its numbers by about 30 percent, what kind of lies are they telling at other NHL arenas? How many real people showed up for Wednesday’s games in Florida (which reported 14,312 loyal customers), Atlanta (12,579) or Anaheim (12,394)? 8,008 The number of fans at the United Center for the Chicago Blackhawks' second home game of the season, marking a single-game low for one of the league's most venerable franchises which has fallen on hard times. The Blackhawks' attendance problems underscore something of a league-wide issue at the gate this season — one year after the lockout when the league put more emphasis (and dollars) into marketing.
What Baqui said is right...and because without a new arena, there is only ONE potential ownership group...Les Alexander. I don't think anyone's going to bring an NHL team to town without control of the arena, as well.
Houston #3 sized city in USA? Please check market area as H-Town 'falls' to #10. Large, powerful, but not #3 (or 4).
Well Houston is the 4th largest city and will (at current rate) be the 3rd largest US city sometime around 2025. The Market size stuff is overblown since all the cities on the east coast are bunched together. Here in the Houston Metro area we can all identify with Houston. In Maryland or Virgina are you a Baltimore fan? A DC fan? New Jersey, a New York fan or a phili fan? etc. etc.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=2790621 Report: Bettman to try to settle Pens relocation talk NHL commissioner Gary Bettman reportedly will try to settle the Penguins' possible relocation drama on Thursday in Philadelphia. The Sports Network of Canada reported that Bettman will meet with the Penguins and representatives of Pittsburgh. TSN reported that the meeting is considered key to the future of the Penguins remaining in Pittsburgh. An unnamed source told TSN that the meeting likely will bring ''closure, one way or another.'' On Tuesday, Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell said he would turn to the NHL to prevent the Penguins from moving, one day after the team said it had reached an impasse in negotiations with state, county and local officials to finance a new arena. "The governor believes we have put an exceptionally attractive offer on the table," according to a statement released by Rendell's office. Later in the day, Rendell told reporters, "If they don't take it, we're going to be up in New York asking the NHL to bar the Penguins from moving." On Monday, the Penguins said they will actively pursue relocation and blamed government officials for failing to cut a new arena deal. Owners Mario Lemieux and Ron Burkle said the team has agreed to pay $120 million over 30 years toward a new $290 million arena and to cover any cost overruns. The Penguins' lease at 46-year-old Mellon Arena, the oldest arena in the league, expires June 30. The Penguins have repeatedly said they may move the team, or sell it to someone who would move it, if no deal for a new arena is in place by then. Officials in Kansas City have offered the Penguins free rent and half of all revenues if they agree to play in the soon-to-be-completed $262 million Sprint Center. Las Vegas also appears to remain in play as a potential new home for the team. Penguins officials were scheduled to visit Vegas on Wednesday to get talks back on track with state and local leaders. Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl said he believes it is in the team's best interest to stay in Pittsburgh and said a deal can be reached despite the team's frustration with negotiations so far. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
The numbers could be tickets sold which is not usually the actual attendance, the Texans always have a sell-out but it was probably about 15,000-20,000 empty seats. All teams do it this way now...
the only non-DC area big cities, Richmond and Norfolk/Hampton Roads, really aren't big enough or rich enough to build the arena and support a team.
Les would have to buy the Pens in order for them to move to Houston. http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/hki/4607786.html
I really though Hampton Roads had a real shot when the Expos were moving. I was in that area then and at that time, there was all kinds of MLB stuff and campaigning everywhere you went. It seemed like it might happen for them.
Hampton Roads is more of a tourism and military area. A limited corporate base. That would not really work. Seattle is wanting to build a new arena in Renton for the Sonics and a potential NHL team.
It's official. The Pens are not coming to Houston. http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/hki/4611117.html
I sure hope KC knows what they are getting themselves into. Free rent and giving up a large percentage of revenues to the Pens, KC is going to make very little money off of Centre Sprint. $262 millions of wasted tax dollars.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=2796552 The NHL, the governor, players, fans & pretty much nobody wanted the Penguins to leave Pittsburgh, but economics almost made it a reality. Now it looks like the danger has passed. Multiple media outlets reported on Monday night that the team, state and local leaders have reached an agreement on a new arena that will keep the Penguins in Pittsburgh. KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh first reported the agreement on its Web site. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, citing unidentified sources, reported that the sides have reached agreement on terms for a new arena that will be ready for operation for the 2009-10 season. The paper reports that the agreement includes a 30-year lease. Penguins officials didn't immediately return calls from The Associated Press for comment, nor did a spokesman for Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato. A spokesman for Mayor Luke Ravenstahl said he knew nothing of a deal. "I never heard that. I heard nothing like that," Dick Skrinjar told AP. A spokesman for Gov. Ed Rendell refused to confirm the deal. "I can't confirm a report of any settlement," Chuck Ardo said to AP. "The sides have communicated since last Thursday. This is an ongoing process." Sources told KDKA that the price tag for the project will exceed the $290 million originally discussed. The station reports that a meeting between all sides will be held on Wednesday to formalize the agreement. Both media outlets reported that a formal announcement of the agreement is anticipated before the Penguins host the Sabres on Tuesday night. Penguins owners Ron Burkle and Mario Lemieux, Gov. Ed Rendell, Pittsburgh mayor Luke Ravenstahl, Allegheny County executive Dan Onorato and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman met in Philadelphia last week for negotiations for a new arena. The talks ended shortly after 11 p.m., and the sides agreed to meet again on Wednesday. After months of sometimes bitter talks during which the Penguins flirted with Kansas City, Las Vegas and Houston, last week's talks appeared to melt the ice -- obviously more than originally anticipated since Wednesday's meeting appears to have a more formal purpose. "We had a very constructive meeting where significant progress was made," the team and elected officials said in a joint statement last week. The Penguins had been threatening to leave Pittsburgh if they couldn't secure a new rink. Their lease at 46-year-old Mellon Arena, the oldest facility in the league, expires June 30 and the team is free to leave after that. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report. i guess that ends that. Glad for Pittsburgh.
