Goodbye, Coyotes?

[AlohaAZ]

The Phoenix metro area has turned into one of the national hotbeds for junior hockey and we have seen an exponential growth in youth hockey participation over the last decade. To say that hockey doesn't belong here or won't work here is simply ludicrous.

It all falls back on poor ownership over the last 10-15 years and the decision to place the team in Glendale.

[RJ312]

Originally Posted by Gixxer1K

Tell that to Tampa was just in the finals and will be a contender for years to come and also LA who's won the Cup twice in the last 5 years. It has nothing to do with warm weather climates,Glendale is a lousy location for a sport with 40+ home games a year. There's no hockey history there like in the original 6 cities and people there aren't willing to drive that far to support a losing team.

The Yotes had good players,Vermette just won the Cup with the Hawks and scored 2 huge game winning goals. The team has always been mis-managed, between the owners and the city they never had a chance. Maybe sharing an arena downtown with the Suns would help but who's going to foot the bill for it and roll the dice it works out?

Los Angeles is not an apt comparison because the Kings have been around since 1967. Also, they were not relocated to that area. The Kings have stronger roots in Los Angeles than the Coyotes do in Phoenix. However, the Kings are not much on the LA sports scene. Historically, the Lakers and Dodgers have been more popular.

The Tampa Bay Lightning had some really bad years until 2002-03, then won the Cup in 2004. But I wouldn't say Tampa is a model franchise. Sure, the future looks good there, but what if Tampa were a losing team? I bet they'd be in real trouble. Down the road in South Florida, the Panthers are an afterthought compared to the Dolphins, Heat, and Marlins. The Heat and Marlins have fair weather fans there, and the Dolphins are the only team in Miami that is consistently popular, even though they are not even close to being consistently good.

The Glendale location certainly doesn't help the cause. But I'm not sure a downtown arena would be the panacea. The Atlanta Thrashers had a downtown arena, and hockey didn't make it in Atlanta.

Hockey is just not as big of a thing in the Sun Belt cities as it is in the Canadian cities, New York, Philadelphia, Boston, or Chicago.

[take57]

Latest buzz:
Report Says Coyotes Are Moving To Vegas, But NHL Calls It "Garbage"

Most likely idle chatter, but it is interesting to see Co-owner LeBlanc thou protesteth too much. Wagons circle for a reason?

[BIG CATS]

That rumor has been around forever it seems. Moving to Vegas would be a horrible, horrible decision.

[AlohaAZ]

The original report came from the NY Post. I'll take that with a grain of salt.

[mcanchola2]

when they ever build that 202 extension, I am sure more East Siders would go to the games.