Agreed. Houston would be a much better NHL city then any of those you mentioned and several others as well! (and thanks to BB for posting the pic of Harold Snepts! Didn't expect that on a Texas BBall board. HaaaaaaaaRoooooooooold!).
very true. and i'd be surprised if they didn't make it in that market based on the number of transplants there are there from colder climates. there are cubs fans everywhere there, so you'd hate it.
Im a native and I love hockey but now that I've moved to the burbs season tickets would be out of the question.
I'm surprised this thread is still alive. I thought it would buried my today. Glad to see there are at least a few other hockey fans around here.
You just listed two of the areas (Arizona and Florida) that have been hit the hardest in the economic downturn. In those two states, people are losing their homes in numbers rivaled only by California and the Detroit area. Naturally, the entertainment dollar is the first thing to be sacrificed.
I have a client from Utah...he just recently bought a home in Provo...in a neighborhood where 24 foreclosures were pending. That's beyond belief.
I'm not much of a hockey fan, but I've gone to a few Aeros games and had a great time. Not sure I'd pay more for an NHL game.
From a person who doesnt follow hockey, the California recipe was Team succes + star players + attract the corporates + exposure & visibility + slight appeal to women & gold digging senses = hockey in the city Gretzky brought crowds to hockey in Los Angeles years ago. The better Beckham effect. It tailed off after he left. The Anaheim Ducks are a decent draw. Mostly cuz of the initial Disney backing and managing a couple trips to the Stanley Cup. Houston could have a decent 10 year run being mid to bottom third in attendence, but might need Houston Comets type success to stay a fixture. But Houston also trains great figure skaters of all things, so you never know.
NHL should contract some teams. get rid of florida and carolina. Move Tampa to Detroit or Toronto. Tampa is owned by the Pistons guy. The only drawback is that Detroit really can't afford it. Move Nashville to Houston. Have the Houston Predators/Wildcatters kick the **** out of the Dallas starzz. Build up a rivalry with San Jose so we can kick freaking Claude Lemieux in the face. (i think he plays for San Jose) that is all.
