I'm not sure how many hockey fans there are around here. I imagine not many. I was just wondering what native Houstonians thought about this topic. Even if you're not from Houston, I'd like to get your input. I grew up in the D.C. area and have been a Washington Capitals fan for over 25 years. Somebody in a Caps forum created a thread asking why Houston doesn't have an NHL team. One obvious reason is that hockey isn't popular in the South. The sport has grown considerably in the youth ranks over the past 10-15 years though, especially in the North, Northeast and out West. I actually had a good friend named Jeff Halpern that I grew up with in Maryland who played for the Caps and now plays for the Tampa Bay Lightning. I also went to college with Martin St. Louis who coincidentally also plays for the Lightning. Martin and Jeff are actually the only two people I ever knew that played hockey and just a few weeks ago, they were playing on the same line for the Lightning. That was kind of a bizarre thing to see. If you are interested, take a peek at this thread and offer your thoughts. Most people that responded to the thread think it isn't viable. I tend to agree. I do seem to recall Les Alexander liking hockey and being interested in bringing a team to Houston at one point. Anyhow, here's the link: http://boards.washingtoncaps.com/index.php?showtopic=81370
While Houston might be a viable location in the future, it just doesn't make sense with the economy right now. American teams in warm climates are struggling more than ever before - take a look at Florida, Phoenix, and Tampa Bay - for example. In Florida, they'll give you a $5 gas card, free parking, a Coca Cola combo meal, and a ticket to the game for as low as $17. Compare that to the Canadian markets, which are sold out on a regular basis across the board at minimum seat prices of over $50. The big talk right now is whether the Toronto area can handle another team. I'd figure Toronto and Winnipeg are both more viable options ahead of Houston, especially (no offense to anybody) seeing how the Rockets struggle to reach the top half in NBA attendance regardless of how competitive their team manages to be. http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/attendance?year=2009
I hear you about the economy. The interesting thing is that they keep bringing up Kansas City as a potential relocation city for struggling teams. They talk about new arenas being one of the key points and I guess KC apparently has that. I heard Quebec doesn't have much of a chance of landing a team, despite being in Canada, because of their lack of a good stadium. I also think I read somewhere that the NHL has better overall attendance numbers than the NBA. I was shocked to see that. I'll see if I can find some links. I see you're from Vancouver. What do you think about Sundin coming back? Are you a Canucks fan?
Yeah, I've heard a lot about what you're saying. There's even some whispers about European expansion - but I think they're getting ahead of themselves in talking about that. I'm definitely a big Canucks fan, but not completely sold on Sundin yet. I think he's a great player, but he seems to be cruising around more than anything these days. Hopefully he can pick it up after the All-Star break, because the Canucks need to get their act together soon if they want to avoid what happened last year.
I think we'll see at least one or two teams relocate within the next 5 years. I don't think anybody is clear on when or where those teams will end up. I don't see Houston being a real option, not anytime soon anyways. I just thought it was interesting that somebody brought it up. Watching Fedorov come back this season from a high ankle sprain, I'm sure it'll take Sundin some time to really get into the flow. Older bodies probably need more time to adjust whether it's coming back from injury or returning to the NHL like in Sundin's case. He's too good not to start clicking at some point. Once Luongo returns to form and Sundin starts to mesh with the Sedins or whoever he's lineup up with, I'm sure the Canucks will start putting it together again. If I'm not mistaken, they started out slow early on then were playing real good hockey for a couple months before the recent slump. They did pretty well considering how long Luongo was out.
By the way, 3814, I thought I'd already seen the ugliest jerseys in the history of professional sports until I came across these: 1984 was right around when I started watching hockey but I never saw those things in action. What were they thinking? I guess the V-shape for Vancouver? But still...
For what its worth, in terms of percentage ( i assume % of stadium filled to capacity) we rank 8th in the league at 98.1% Toyota centers capacity is noticeably lower than other arenas in the league, so even though our total # of attendance may not be high, in terms of %, its not bad: 01 Detroit Pistons. . . . .Palace Of Auburn Hills. . . 1988. . 22,076 02 Chicago Bulls. . . . . .United Center. . . . . . . .1994. . 21,711 03 Washington Wizards. . . MCI Center. . . . . . . . . 1997. . 20,674 04 Cleveland Cavaliers. . .Quicken Loans Arena. . . . .1994. . 20,562 05 Philadelphia 76ers. . . Wachovia Complex. . . . . . 1996. . 20,444 06 New Jersey Nets. . . . .Continental Airlines Arena. 1981. . 20,049 07 Portland Trailblazers. .Rose Garden. . . . . . . . .1995. . 19,980 08 Utah Jazz. . . . . . . .Delta Center. . . . . . . . 1991. . 19,911 09 Toronto Raptors. . . . .Air Canada Centre . . . . . 1999 . .19,800 10 New York Knicks. . . . .Madison Square Garden . . . 1968 . .19,763 11 OKC Thunder. . .Ford Center . . . . . . . . 2002 . .19,599 12 Golden State Warriors. .Oakland Arena . . . . . . . 1997 . .19,596 13 Atlanta Hawks. . . . . .Philips Arena . . . . . . . 1999 . .19,445 14 Dallas Mavericks. . . . American Airlines Center . .2001 . .19,200 15 Denver Nuggets. . . . . Pepsi center . . . . . . . .1999 . .19,099 16 Phoenix Suns. . . . . . America West Arena . . . . .1992 . .19,023 17 Minnesota Timberwolves. Target Center . . . . . . . 1999 . .19,006 18 Los Angeles Lakers. . . Staples Center . . . . . . .1999 . .18,997 19 Milwaukee Bucks. . . . .Bradley Center . . . . . . .1988 . .18,717 20 Los Angeles Clippers. . Staples Center . . . . . . .1999 . .18,694 21 Boston Celtics. . . . . TD BankNorth Garden . . . . 1995 . .18,624 22 San-Antonio Spurs. . . .AT&T Center . . . . . . . . 2002 . .18,500 23 Charlotte Bobcats. . . .Charlotte Bobcats Arena . . 2005. . 18,500 24 Indiana Pacers. . . . . Conseco Fieldhouse . . . . .1999 . .18,345 25 Houston Rockets. . . . .Toyota Center . . . . . . . 2003 . .18,300 26 Memphis Grizzlies. . . .Fed Ex Forum . . . . . . . . . . 1991 . .18,165 27 NO Hornets. . .New Orleans Arena . . . . . . . . . 1999 . .18,000 28 Sacramento Kings. . . . Arco Arena . . . . . . . . .1988 . .17,317 29 Orlando Magic. . . . . .TD Waterhouse Centre . . . .1989 . .17,248 30 Miami Heat. . . . . . . American Airlines Arena . . 2000 . .16,500 Seeing as how our capacity is 25th in the league, it shouldn't be surprising that we don't rank so high when it comes to the actual number of people attending games. So, i think % is a much better measure. As far as hockey goes, I really think the NHL would be great here. People discredit the Aeros b/c they are in the AHL. Honestly, if more people gave hockey a chance down here, it would take off. All you have to do is look at Dallas as a good example. My friend's a native Houstonian and just moved to Maryland for Med School lats yr. He went to a Caps game and now hes hooked!
I don't believe Houston could support an NHL team long-term, even without considering the bad economic times. There wouldn't be enough interest. The NHL did Les Alexander a favor several years ago by not giving him a franchise.
I think hockey would be more popular in Houston if the Aeros got any coverage. They actually showed a game of FS Houston last week. I watched. Hockey is a great game, but if you're not exposed to it on a regular basis, you kind of forget about it. BTW, I'm a Flyers fan.
i've adopted the coyotes as my nhl team until the day houston gets its own team. i'd be happy if the coyotes have to move to houston.
I'd love to have an NHL team here. Here are my thoughts: 1. The NHL has survived in the Sun Belt for well over a decade now. If it can work in places like Phoenix, Tampa, Miami, Atlanta, San Jose...it can work in Houston, Texas. It's a corporate game with lots of suites to sell. Houston's corporate base is huge. 2. I do not believe Les Alexander is or was ever all that intersted in bringing the NHL to town. I believe he threw it all out to throw off the chances of expansion here and Chuck Watson's group getting a team back in the late-90's. That expansion should have been to Houston. It went to Atlanta and Columbus instead. Pathetic. Alexander and Watson hated one another when the Rockets were still in the Summit and Watson's group managed that building. All of this means that if ANYONE is going to own a hockey team that plays in the city limits of Houston...it's going to have to be Les. 3. Because I believe Les isn't all that interested (and never really was)....I think it's going to take someone else building an arena in the suburbs (because part of Les' deal is you can't build another one in the city) to house them. I don't see that happening anytime soon. I think Les won...and there won't be an NHL franchise here, in all likelihood, in the foreseeable future. 4. I hope I'm wrong, because I'd love to have a team here.
It would be awesome to have a team I've always wanted to go to a hockey game. I hear it is one of the best if not the best sport to see live.
Oh come on man, those are legendary! Actually, they're so ugly that they work for me. I bought the orange one last year
Dude, we have a team. The Aeros are the farm team for the Minnesota Wild. They're great to see live. It's still pro hockey even if it is the minor leagues.
I would want one for the simple fact that it is the best (the NHL) hockey league in the world. As far as the US goes it is not a major sport. The Big 3 NFL, NBA, MLB then you have Nascar, PGA tour, NCAA football and basketball that are all larger than ice hockey plus I think MLS will soon be on par with Hockey not to mention if a few good Americans come up the ATP tour will be big again Hell NCAA football is so big you could put it in that first group
I would say the big 3 are NFL, MLB, and NCAA football (in terms of the national interest, and how many hours upon hours the media spends covering them). Then, NCAA basketball and the NBA get similiar coverage/exposure in lesser amounts than the previous three. Then you have the niche sports (PGA, ATP, Nascar) that have their diehard loyal followings, but still plenty of other people who really don't care at all. Then you have hockey.
Nice realistic post Max. Without an owner or an arena the NHL isn't going to Houston. If Alexander really wanted a team -- there'd be a chance. But you probably shouldn't use Phoenix, Miami or Tampa as models of success in warmer climates. Possibly Dallas (I know that hurts). If Alexander wanted a team, the NHL would probably chip in to help pay for moving trucks from Florida or Arizona.
I hear people say that...but those teams have been there a while now. Tampa has won a Stanley Cup. The Coyotes have been very competitive. But Houston has a far bigger corporate base to draw season ticket holders and suite owners from than those...that's really my point.
the coyotes are struggling mightily. it may help that they finally have a team contending for the playoffs, but they're hurting.
I meant over their history. They're usually pretty competitive. Or at least have been. They've been there now since 1996! That's hard for me to believe.
