I agree Houston is a huge soccer town ~ I wish that Austin could somehow get a franchise, but i'm afraid the market is just too small.
That is so weird. Why do you buy a ticket if you're not even going to pay attention to the game when you get there? You can drink before or after... much more cost-efficient...
no shot I know this may be hard for some of you to fathom seeing as how you may not have ever had a hockey team to root for...but, hockey is possible the greatest spectator sport there is.
Hockey draws 13-15K a night in places like Atlanta, Carolina and Nashville. I promise you hockey can work in Houston. The NHL certainly believed it could...as long as it had a big time arena to work with. Now we do...and the conditions are far more favorable to ownership. I think it's a matter of when...not if.
I'm inclined to think that if they made it work in Dallas, they can make it work in Houston. Texas actually has a very large minor/junior hockey league presence now.
I've had a hockey team to root for. I lived in Boston for 4 years at college. MLS attendances are beginning to oustrip hockey attendances in certain markets. In a city like Houston, with a large Hispanic population and no hockey tradition, MLS would out-draw the NHL. The NHL is the bigger brand name, so you'd get more curiosity seekers in the first 3 years. After that - it would be done.
Say no to hockey! Houston has enough trouble supporting its three pro teams already. Anyway, shouldn't the NHL look to contract, if anything?
the astros drew 3 million fans last year...the 2nd time they've done that in a 5 year period. the texans sell out every game. with a waiting list for season tickets. the only team that hasn't been a great draw of late is the rockets...that, too, will change as the team improves. it was already improving late last season. but when you miss the playoffs over and over again in a sport where more teams make the playoffs than don't, you kinda end up with people losing interest. too many other things to be interested in. you cant tell me houston wouldn't support a hockey team better than places like atlanta, nashville, miami, charlotte and phoenix. sorry..i don't buy it. the NHL is a corporate game. houston has a huge corporate base. those tix would be sold.
if that is the case, and the team would definately succeed there, i would love to see a team in houston instead of phoenix or something. maybe i'd even make a trip down when my beloved canucks are there to kick ass.
I don't know...I guess I'm just one of those guys that hates to be at a sporting event and not be in a packed stadium. The Astros may be selling well, but everytime I go, the stands look empty. I may be biased...I'm not a huge hockey fan, but, then again, I don't know how many people in Houston are. I know the Aeros were somewhat successful, but they were also consistently one of the better teams in the league, and they ssold tickets for like $10-$20. I still think the NHL as a league would be better served contracting a few financially strapped teams rather than moving them.
Actually, Carolina plays in Raleigh, not Charlotte. But I agree with the points you made. But it would have worked better for Houston had the lockout not happened.
The question should NOT be if Houston can support a hockey team. Houston can support hockey otherwise the Aeros wouldnt be in business. The real question is can the NHL support itself. Lost in the jubilation that a new labor agreement was signed and NHL hockey will be played is the scary fact that the new labor deal lasts for only six seasons. To me, this new labor deal appears to be nothing more then a trial offer that both sides accepted, just so the NHL could have an actual "tomorrow" in its future. If the players dont like it ("it" meaning new salary cap) in 2011, we hockey fans could be back going through the same mess we just went through. I'm a huge hockey fan (NY Rangers fan here) bu I just cant see a bright future ahead for this league, which was already at the bottom nation's "Big 4" professional sports leagues before the lockout. BTW, unless Les gets assurances that another lockout will NOT happen 6 years from now, I highly doubt he will invest in the NHL, just like he did before the 03' lockout. That is unless he gets a sweethart deal that comes along...i.e. buying the Edmonton Oilers for $25 mil. It could happen as the Ducks, in LA's market, were sold for just $85 mil. But I just dont expect this latter scenario to happen so dont plan on NHL hockey in Houston. And its probably for the best anyways.....Club America Houston will start winning over the fans hearts in soccer-crazy Houston, so who needs the NHL? Not Houston.
