Vegas it is: NHL expansion a go

The owners of the Jazz are upgrading their arena. Same type of seating bowl as the Suns' arena, but has only one tier of luxury suites compared to two in Phoenix.

 

My guess is Seattle will get another look before anyone else to get the league to 32. If they do add a 32nd, it'll probably be a city west of the Mississippi.

 

Is the NHL doing a whole lot better than I think it is, so well that it can be adding teams? Seems it wasn't too long ago that contraction was a legitimate possibility.

 

It's a pure money grab.

 

And I wonder if they will want to travel to The Strip for a game. I have relatives in Vegas, and they avoid the area because it's so congested.

 

I suppose I just cannot imagine visitors, largely coming in from markets that already have NHL teams, saying "let's go see a hockey game!"

When a guy takes his lady to Las Vegas, she wants to see Celine Dion or a world-class musician or production. Seeing the expansion team play the Carolina Hurricanes isn't exactly a romantic evening.

 

Three potential markets:

-- Families. I guess it depends on how tickets cost compared to shows on the Strip. I'd say this is the smallest of the three, even as Vegas becomes Disneyfied to some extent.

-- Transplants. Everyone in Vegas is from somewhere else. How do you think the other Sunbelt teams sell many of their tickets?

-- Bro trips. Seriously, most of the people I know who go aren't going with wives and/or their kids, they're going with three buddies and planning on betting a few grand. They can't spent all day in the casino (or can they?).

 

If I'm in Vegas during NHL season, there's a damn good chance I'd go see a game. It's good to get out of the casino for a few hours. Unless you're on a heater, which you're not.

 

I can see a lot of boys weekends arranged around when the local team is playing a roadie in Las Vegas. And especially so for the northern teams--who wouldn't want to get out Boston, Philly, Chicago in January and February for a Vegas weekend.

 

Perhaps the NHL will always have the Las Vegas Nordiques play on the road during the weekend and home against Boston/Chicago/Philly/Detroit/Minnesota on Friday or Saturday nights.

I just can't think of locals wanting to trudge near The Strip and battle traffic. For a boys' weekend, I can't even see an NHL game as an option. Blackjack, sports books, baby dolls.

I'd also be concerned about disposable income in Las Vegas. Sure, people are moving there but, generally, it's exactly a hub of college-educated professionals to flock to.

 

Done deal. Let the nickname game begin.

Column: What's in a team name? Ask the Vegas Flying Elvi

 

Flying Elvi would be hilarious. Then they can put their AHL affiliate in Salt Lake City and call them the Flying Elvi, Utah Chapter.