Smoggy Posted December 22, 2006 Posted December 22, 2006 Winnipeg is a lot larger (population wise) than Milwaukee, K.C., Boston, Denver, Minneapolis/St. Paul. and many more homes for NHL teams. Don't think that's the problem. And more passionate about hockey. Quote
Vegas Posted December 22, 2006 Posted December 22, 2006 And more passionate about hockey. Winnipeg is about the 1/3 the size of Metropolitan Minneapolis but it has about 3 times more hockey fans per capita, so attendance would probably be about the same. If Edmonton can hold a hockey francise in today's NHL than so can Winnipeg, particularly if they got a hold of a team like Pittsburg. Part of the Jets problem was that they were too good in the WHL. The NHL basically raped them when they first joined and it took a decade just to get a decent team back. By that time, a lot of diehard fans had given up on them. A new team would get a lot of those people back. Quote
NorthDakotaHockey Posted December 22, 2006 Posted December 22, 2006 I think Winnipeg is the best place for the Penguins to land as well. Winnipeg is also the childhome of the world's biggest, and longest lasting, rock n' roll and country and western star. They could be re-named the Crooners. Quote
Shawn-O Posted December 22, 2006 Posted December 22, 2006 I think Winnipeg is the best place for the Penguins to land as well. Winnipeg is also the childhome of the world's biggest, and longest lasting, rock n' roll and country and western star. They could be re-named the Crooners. Burton Cummings started doing country music? Quote
Sioux_Hab-it Posted December 22, 2006 Posted December 22, 2006 Winnipeg is about the 1/3 the size of Metropolitan Minneapolis but it has about 3 times more hockey fans per capita, so attendance would probably be about the same. If Edmonton can hold a hockey francise in today's NHL than so can Winnipeg, particularly if they got a hold of a team like Pittsburg. Part of the Jets problem was that they were too good in the WHL. The NHL basically raped them when they first joined and it took a decade just to get a decent team back. By that time, a lot of diehard fans had given up on them. A new team would get a lot of those people back. As much as I would love to see Winnipeg get the team, it isn't going to happen. It lacks the arena, per capita income and corporate support that other cities have to offer. I spent nine years living in Winnipeg and loved the city; however, I didn't meet very many locals who would be willing to pay the current price for NHL tickets. Quote
Southernmn Posted December 22, 2006 Posted December 22, 2006 Bradley Center is pretty old and not that great of an arena. The Admirals don't play there and I highly doubt the NHL wants to put a team in that arena. They sure do...........at least according to the Bradley Center web site, and the Admirals web site. But I do agree, it's not that great of an arena........they sure need to replace all the seat cushions, that's for sure !! Quote
Goon Posted December 22, 2006 Posted December 22, 2006 As much as I would love to see Winnipeg get the team, it isn't going to happen. It lacks the arena, per capita income and corporate support that other cities have to offer. I spent nine years living in Winnipeg and loved the city; however, I didn't meet very many locals who would be willing to pay the current price for NHL tickets. MTS Centre Winnepeg has an arena. Quote
Southernmn Posted December 22, 2006 Posted December 22, 2006 MTS Centre Winnepeg has an arena. Seats 15,015 for hockey.............NHL prefers around 18,000, even if they can't sell them Quote
Sioux_Hab-it Posted December 22, 2006 Posted December 22, 2006 MTS Centre Winnepeg has an arena. Not an NHL sized arena, which is what I meant. The current Pens arena sits about 2,000 more. Quote
Shawn-O Posted December 22, 2006 Posted December 22, 2006 Winnipeg Penguins....that has a ring to it! Would love to see it happen, but I think Sioux Hab-it is right with regard to the level of corporate support, high ticket prices, and small arena. Quote
siouxnami Posted December 22, 2006 Posted December 22, 2006 1 big thing has changed since the Jets left Winnepeg that would help a new franchise. When the Jets left, a bi-partison US Congress / President were in the process of balancing the budget and a decreasing US debt. As a result the US $ became very strong vs. the Looney. Since then reckless US spending / debt has significantly decreased the value of the $ (bad for us, good for CA). This trend will continue for the forseeable future. This means that the disadvantage Canadian teams had in the past would be greatly reduced. This coupled with a more equitable distribution of league revenues and a salary cap mean that Hockey probably could succeed in Winnepeg... IF THEY BUILD A NEW STADIUM!!! 15k seats won't cut it. I would love to see hockey return to Winnepeg. And the Moose to fold, and BB return to the Sioux, and the SIOUX to subsequently win 23 strait national championships. Quote
Fetch Posted December 22, 2006 Posted December 22, 2006 http://winnipegsun.com/Sports/Hockey/2006/...931701-sun.html Quote
Shawn-O Posted December 22, 2006 Posted December 22, 2006 http://winnipegsun.com/Sports/Hockey/2006/...931701-sun.html The problem with Las Vegas is that the companies that drive the economy and have all the money want your rear-end at a poker or blackjack table at their casino, not at a hockey or *Insert sport here* game. With all the growth and corporate money, it makes sense...but that's the challenge. Quote
mikeypat15 Posted December 22, 2006 Author Posted December 22, 2006 I would like to see the Penguins move to Winnipeg or Portland. My friends from Seattle told me they went to some Junior team or something there, I am not completely sure and they said the fans there were crazy in love with hockey. I'm still suprised no talk on Salt Lake City Sadly, I think it will go to Kansas City, I heard that they will have a brand new arena ready this fall that is perfect for hockey. If the Penguins go there, I can't imagine the new name, Storm, Tornados, who knows Quote
Shawn-O Posted December 22, 2006 Posted December 22, 2006 I would like to see the Penguins move to Winnipeg or Portland. My friends from Seattle told me they went to some Junior team or something there, I am not completely sure and they said the fans there were crazy in love with hockey. I'm still suprised no talk on Salt Lake City Sadly, I think it will go to Kansas City, I heard that they will have a brand new arena ready this fall that is perfect for hockey. If the Penguins go there, I can't imagine the new name, Storm, Tornados, who knows I think you may have pegged it. http://www.sprintcenter.com/ Quote
Fetch Posted December 22, 2006 Posted December 22, 2006 WOW looks like a beautiful facility - my mom lives there KC Mo Quote
Goon Posted December 22, 2006 Posted December 22, 2006 WOW looks like a beautiful facility - my mom lives there KC Mo Its going to be hard to not look at KC as a viable option with arena like that. The biggest question is will they support hockey in KC. Quote
Shawn-O Posted December 22, 2006 Posted December 22, 2006 Its going to be hard to not look at KC as a viable option with arena like that. The biggest question is will they support hockey in KC. There will be some NBA franchises on the move in the next couple of years, too. That would probably be a better fit for K.C. I don't think there's enough corporate money to support both. Quote
Southernmn Posted December 22, 2006 Posted December 22, 2006 Its going to be hard to not look at KC as a viable option with arena like that. The biggest question is will they support hockey in KC. Remember the Kansas City Scouts ? Quote
Goon Posted December 22, 2006 Posted December 22, 2006 Remember the Kansas City Scouts ? Well, not really. I do remember the KC IHL team that played in a half empty arena. I don't remember what their name was though. Quote
Southernmn Posted December 22, 2006 Posted December 22, 2006 Well, not really. I do remember the KC IHL team that played in a half empty arena. I don't remember what their name was though. The Blades ........no, really, they were !! Quote
Goon Posted December 22, 2006 Posted December 22, 2006 The Blades ........no, really, they were !! Actually ex-Sioux Deno Grillo played for them and they were the SJ Sharks farm team. I have no idea how I still remember that one. Quote
Ruffian Posted December 23, 2006 Posted December 23, 2006 The MTS Centre website lists the seating for a hockey game at 15,015. That is pretty small for an NHL venue. With the actual attendance being around 15,000 or less in most arenas based on the empty seats I see on televised game that sounds like the perfect size. The Pengys need to move where there is already a fan base. The current NHL product is so bad it can't be used to create new fans in traditionally non-hockey cities. Quote
Ruffian Posted December 23, 2006 Posted December 23, 2006 KC Scouts now NJ Devils I moved to Denver a few years after the Scouts became the Rockies. Was glad to still be able to see NHL hockey. I still have some Rockies gear. Quote
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