Globe and Mail reports that NHL may be loaning money to Phoenix Coyotes

This

 

Anybody know why Milwaukee is never mentioned as a possibility for a NHL franchise?

Good hockey state and town which would be a strong and natural rivalry for the Blackhawks especially if the Red Wings end up moving out of their division. The Admirals would have to relocate but wouldn't the Bradley Center prefer a NHL franchise than an AHL team?

I know the late Lloyd Pettit tried to get a NHL franchise but old man Wirtz put the kibosh on it. However Bill Wirtz is long gone and the Blackhawks have played to sellout crowds for the last three seasons so why no serious mention of moving a franchise to Milwaukee?

 

Milwaukee is not anywhere near big enough to support both a NBA and NHL team.

Now, if the Bucks leave, as is oft-rumored, then ... maybe. But don't overestimate support for hockey in Milwaukee or Wisconsin itself. Hockey interest in the state begins and ends with the Badgers. The southern 2/3 of the state couldn't a shit about hockey in general.

 

I don't think anyone in their right mind would consider Jerry Colangelo's ownership of the Suns as horrible.

 

Stop me if you've heard this before, but the NHL appears to have an owner for the Coyotes. For reals this time.

Sharks executive Greg Jamison will be announced as the sucker, er, new owner before Monday's game 5 tonight against the Nashville Predators in Glendale.

http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=395274

I wonder how much the City of Glendale is supposed to eat on this new deal beyond the rumours and conjecture.

 

I would've agreed with this 10-15 years ago, but the massive growth of youth hockey programs and facilities in SE Wisconsin has me thinking differently. Problem is there is no coverage of NHL for the locals to latch onto ... they aren't programmed to turn on NBC Sports Network, ESPN shows few highlights, and local media ignores it.

Case in point, Milwaukee was fifth in ratings for the US-Canada gold medal game in 2010: http://www.jsonline.com/sports/85927262.html

If the Bucks were replaced with an NHL team, I'm confident it would get support ... and more out-state support than the Bucks currently get. Green Bay, especially, since it is home to a wildly successful USHL team that routinely plays to packed houses and an NCAA D3 powerhouse in St. Norbert.

But you're right, it's one or the other ...

 

Can't believe I'm going to say this, but the Bucks have fallen so far into irrelevance, I wouldn't mind replacing them with a NHL team. Just to hit the reset button.

 

For the past few weeks, I've been considering every possible way that the NHL might announce a relocation that allows them to absolve themselves of blame and make it appear as if they tried everything possible to keep the team in Glendale.

One way could be to announce a "tentative" deal that they know will either not ultimately be voted in favor of by the majority of the COG council or that will not be considered acceptable by the Goldwater Institute. That way the NHL shifts the blame to another party - either the COG or GWI.

 

What's the arena situation in Quebec? Do they have one even to compare with what Winnipeg has? How is the situation in Quebec different now than when the Nordiques left?

I have always thought Milwaukee could make it as an NHL market, although having two winter pro sports is a challenge. Ditto for Portland and Salt Lake City.

 

So if the Coyotes win the Stanley Cup does Bettman present the trophy to himself?

 

Quebec City will start construction of an 18,000 or so seat arena this summer. I think it will be ready by the fall of 2014.

 

Groundbreaking for a new NHL-capable arena is set for September, with completion scheduled for September 2015. Colisée Pepsi can be renovated and used in the interim.

Milwaukee needs a new arena. No NHL team will relocate there without one. No way Salt Lake City could support an NHL team. EnergySolutions Arena has the same hockey sightline problems U.S. Airways Arena has in Phoenix in that the ice extends a few feet under the upper-deck structure. I went to a few Coyotes games when they played in downtown Phoenix and it was tough to watch a game in the obstructed view seats.

Portland is too small to support two winter teams as well.