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

The Canadian dollar's issues were a big reason the Nordiques had issues.

 

And who can predict the future of that?

 

Did you really just ask why it would be more successful than KC or Milwaukee? How about we start with fan interest, move on to the local revenue that can be produced. In what possible way would KC or Milwaukee come close to this?

 

The oil sands, which is driving Canadian currency at this point, aren't drying up anytime soon.

Pay TV has changed the nature of the business as well. When the Nordiques moved, pay TV in Canada (like the U.S.) didn't have as large of a role in sports as it does now. Quebecor would be the likely owners of a new Nordiques team, which means the Nordiques would be great content for the cable company Quebecor owns.

I'll admit the Coyotes would make more money in Quebec City, but as a former resident of Glendale (with my parents and siblings still living there), an empty arena would destroy Westgate. Plus, it's been rumored NBC/Comcast wants Phoenix to be in the league. Who knows if there are clauses that would trigger a lower national rights fee if another team moves to Canada.

 

If it were about fan interest, I doubt either the old Jets or the Nordiques would have ever left. I thought it was about the NHL chasing the corporate dollar that drove those moves.

If the Coyotes win the Stanley Cup --- and I'm not predicting they will --- it would be interesting to see how that affects fan interest. They never really had good teams until the last three years under Tippett.

Only in Toronto --- or maybe Edmonton --- will fans sell out a building consistently to see bad teams.

 

Oh, I'm sure NBC and Comcast would prefer Phoenix to Quebec City. While ratings/advertising/rights fees may not be much in Phoenix compared to, say, Boston or Detroit, at least they have potential there. If a team moves to Quebec City, what does that get them (considering the larger section of the population is francophone)?

 

The old chasing the fictional corporate dollar in the US myth. How has that worked the last 50 years?

People should read this. Michael Grange on what a sham this new arrangement in Glendale is. The people of Glendale have been thoroughly screwed in this.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2012/05/07/phoenix_coyotes_sale_glendale_bettman/

 

It's not strictly a Canada vs. US thing. The Whalers left Hartford. The North Stars left Minnesota.

 

Mark, if you don't understand why a team in Quebec City would be more successful than KC, Milwawkee or Phoenix I'm not sure what your definition of success would be. Where do you think the PA and 90% of the other teams wish Phoenix would end up?

Did you read the articl I linked?

 

They're also building a new barn in Markham, just north of Toronto. Second team in the GTA in the next five years?

 

Never, it would not help NBC any.

 

Sorry, but if you've followed the issue closely, that column is crap.

Any column discussing the Coyotes and the arena that does not bring up the Westgate problem is either (a) hopelessly slanted or (b) is written by someone who doesn't know the issues well enough to write about them.

If it made financial sense to let the team go, they would have let the team go. This isn't an issue of the council trying to look like heroes for saving the team. Going strictly by political expediency, the popular move would have been to cut bait.

It's been depressing reading the Canadian press write about this for the past couple of years. Jesus, you want the team in Canada. We get it. You can still report honestly on it. Columns like this are worthless.