Next Expansion Team or Same City? (New Jersey Devils, Islanders, Rangers, Bruins)

[Bondurant]

Originally Posted by globetrekker96

What about Albuquerque, New Mexico? They should be granted an NHL team.

Why would NHL expand or move a team to a market that would be, at best, the second to last smallest market in the league?

[jazzy jeff]

Originally Posted by Bondurant

It's not really a "done deal". Glendale is trying to play hardball because they are infuriated about Tempe possibly luring them away. Local political spat. We shall see what happens. I would not be shocked if Glendale comes back to the negotiating table before all is said and done. There is more contingent options than Glendale anticipated.

Trust me, the Coyotes are done in Glendale. Even if Glendale were to have a change of heart, the Coyotes will not stay. Bettman has wanted them out of that arena for several years. It is in a horrible location and not good for team and league finances.

[Canes2006Champs]

Originally Posted by globetrekker96

What about Albuquerque, New Mexico? They should be granted an NHL team.

Albuquerque has a metro population of about 925k, well below the typical threshold for your average US metro w/ at least one major league team. The city/metro also doesn't have a very strong corporate/disposable income base and no potential owner or ownership group. Albuquerque would be a fun thing to hear announcers say when calling a game though. We're more likely to see Alabama (Birmingham) get a team, and we all know that will never happen.

[NJ Brazen_3133]

Wisconsin is a hockey hotbed, and they have nothing. Closest teams are the Wild and Black Hawks. I think they can get a team somewhere along the Lake Michigan lakefront.

[woxyroxme]

Originally Posted by Lancerman

I would go with a team in Quebec City or Indianapolis. Not interested for expanding into markets with already one.

Originally Posted by 7express

I'd rather see Quebec City get a team back then San Francisco or anywhere else for that matter.

I have been saying for years that I would love to see the Nordiques again, the next logical Canadian city to get a team would be Regina.

I think there is a bias against expanding in Canada because most Americans can’t name a single province let alone know what city is in what province.

[Ghengis]

With the t-wolves likely to be moved by new owner group including A-roid...Minneapolis will be in play for a 2nd team in the MSP metro before long. They would have an nhl ready arena and a metro population that has doubled since the mid 70s when two teams were playing about 10 miles apart in Bloomington and St Paul.

[7express]

Originally Posted by woxyroxme

I have been saying for years that I would love to see the Nordiques again, the next logical Canadian city to get a team would be Regina.

I think there is a bias against expanding in Canada because most Americans can’t name a single province let alone know what city is in what province.

Kamloops, BC
Banff, Alberta
White horse (or is it White House?? I always forget ) Yukon\
Iqaluit, Nunavit
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
Swift Current, Saskatchewan
Brandon, Manitoba
Thunder Bay, Ontario
Sept-Iles, Quebec
Charlottetown, PEI
Wabush, Newfoundland & Labrador
Sydney, Nova Scotia
Goose Bay, Newfoundland
Moncton, New Brunswick.

Did I miss any territories??

[Canes2006Champs]

Originally Posted by woxyroxme

I have been saying for years that I would love to see the Nordiques again, the next logical Canadian city to get a team would be Regina.

I think there is a bias against expanding in Canada because most Americans can’t name a single province let alone know what city is in what province.

Seriously?

Regina has a population of 236k, and that's the metro! For crying out loud Toronto has suburbs (Brampton, Missisauga, Markham etc.) that have more people than Regina. I'm not sure how or why they would be the next "logical" city.

As for your second comment, the "bias" would be the owners, they are the ones who call the shots here along with the Board of Governors. If they wanted QC to have a return of the Nordiques it would have been done by now. Fact is Canada is not very populated and the sizeable cities already have teams. Winnipeg is the 2nd smallest market in all of North American major league sports with at least one franchise in the NBA/NFL/MLB/NHL/MLS, only ahead of Green Bay. Every other metro that has a team is at least above a million in population. Americans not knowing about provinces has zero to do with it (I also think that's over-exaggeration but I'll agree to disagree here).

[bostonguy1960]

Maybe Sacramento?

Yes, but likely too small a tv market for NBA and NHL together plus the NBA Kings have been there for years, so stiff competition.

But it has a new arena....is it hockey
compatible? I am surprised the AHL is not there to complement the other
California AHL teams. Maybe an 8,000 seat arena could work for AHL there? I think Sacramento is 90 or so miles to San Francisco, maybe 145 miles to San Jose.

[Canes2006Champs]

Originally Posted by bostonguy1960

Maybe Sacramento?

Yes, but likely too small a tv market for NBA and NHL together plus the NBA Kings have been there for years, so stiff competition.

But it has a new arena....is it hockey
compatible? I am surprised the AHL is not there to complement the other
California AHL teams. Maybe an 8,000 seat arena could work for AHL there? I think Sacramento is 90 or so miles to San Francisco, maybe 145 miles to San Jose.

Don't think it is, at least not NHL compatible, might be able to host AHL Hockey if someone wants to take on that venture, assuming the Kings would be willing to share. Would be difficult to work out NHL-wise anyway w/ the NBA and the Sacramento Republic FC who will eventually be upgrading to MLS.

Might have been an interesting look if the Kings had relocated when the Maloofs were trying to unload them but I'm also not sure how well Sacramento citizens would have taken to a completely new sport knowing the NBA "bailed" on them. Despite having some awful teams, the Kings fans have been quite loyal.