Do Seattle hockey fans root for the Canucks? (Vancouver, Everett: leases, home)

[Destructoman!]

It's so bizarre, you would think that Seattle might be a hockey town due to it's proximity to Canada, relative disinterest in baseball, weather etc, but it is not. The Seattle Metropolitans were actually a very good hockey team and won the Stanley Cup during the 1916-1917 season, becoming the first American team ever to win the cup! The Metropolitans disbanded in 1924. Why is it that the Seattle teams that have won major championships such as the Sonics (1979) and the Metropolitans get 86'd while the Mariners and the Seahawks who haven't won squat stick around?! Makes no sense to me...

[Ira500]

But the Seahawks and Mariners both had a lot of seasons where attendance was poor and the end of the franchise was threatened. I've been to a lot of Mariners games 20+ years ago where only a couple of thousand people showed up, where I'd buy a cheap nosebleed ticket and then from there observe where close to the field I'd relocate to the next inning.
....But since then the Mariners and Seahawks may not have won championships, but the M's were in the playoffs a few times, and in 2001 had more victories than any baseball team in 80 years, and the seahawks were in the Super Bowl.

[Destructoman!]

Originally Posted by Ira500

But the Seahawks and Mariners both had a lot of seasons where attendance was poor and the end of the franchise was threatened. I've been to a lot of Mariners games 20+ years ago where only a couple of thousand people showed up, where I'd buy a cheap nosebleed ticket and then from there observe where close to the field I'd relocate to the next inning.
....But since then the Mariners and Seahawks may not have won championships, but the M's were in the playoffs a few times, and in 2001 had more victories than any baseball team in 80 years, and the seahawks were in the Super Bowl.

Thats true. Perhaps it just takes time. Some of these east coast and midwest teams have been around forever and have had a long time to build generations of fans.

The Home Depot on Ranier actually has a little shrine dedicated to the Seattle Pilots! Apparently where the HD now stands in the past was the home field of the Pilots! I never liked the Mariner name for a baseball team, but I did like the pitchforked M, that was pretty dope. Gotta find me a nice fitted hat of the pitchforked M!

[Ira500]

Sick's Stadium still stood unused when I first moved to Seattle, before it got torn down for Eagle Hardware, later to become Lowes. Evidently the old Seattle Rainiers minor league team who played there had a very strong fan base.

[toughguy]

Originally Posted by FSUMike

You'd think Seattle would be able to support a team in all 4 major sports, but it's all about the money. If Seattle residents wanted to keep the Sonics, you should have been filling the arena night in and night out. Instead, the Sonics got empty seats and greener pastures in OKC.

Once again, a johnny-come-lately who has absolutely no grasp on the (former) situation with Clay Bennett/David Stern/Key Arena. Where do you get your information, the Daily Oklahoman? Lack of fan support wasn't, and never has been a problem with the Sonics.

[Kingsnkali]

There's probably too many teams in the NHL now. With that said, however, Seattle could certainly be a viable NHL city. More so now with the Sonics gone. Seattle should look into building a beautiful NHL arena if they want any chance of getting a team. It's all about the building...

A team like the NY Islanders or Florida Panthers would certainly give Seattle a first look for movement.

Of course, Kansas City, Winnipeg, Quebec City are clamoring for a return of the NHL as well.

I would be following the Canucks if Vancouver TV was viewable from the Puget Sound. Hey...it's the NHL.

Go Wild!

[Tyryztoll]

Originally Posted by Kingsnkali

There's probably too many teams in the NHL now. With that said, however, Seattle could certainly be a viable NHL city. More so now with the Sonics gone. Seattle should look into building a beautiful NHL arena if they want any chance of getting a team. It's all about the building...

A team like the NY Islanders or Florida Panthers would certainly give Seattle a first look for movement.

Of course, Kansas City, Winnipeg, Quebec City are clamoring for a return of the NHL as well.

I would be following the Canucks if Vancouver TV was viewable from the Puget Sound. Hey...it's the NHL.

Go Wild!

Seattle should go after Atlanta's team. They're a totally dysfunctional franchise with a bumbling band of baboons for owners and a complete invalid as GM.........star players leaving en masse and dwindling fan base........ripe for the picking.

I agree about too many teams. You can thank Gary Bettman for that. If I had my way, I'd send about a third of the franchises in the NHL into oblivion. It's ridiculous to have hockey teams in Phoenix, Atlanta, Nashville, and Florida. Only a handful of transplants support the teams in those towns, and most people that go to the games are rooting for the visiting teams. I do NOT want to see Kansas City get a team either......that'll just be another Nashville/Atlanta disaster in 3-5 years once the novelty wears off.

So the Canucks games aren't broadcast on CBC or anything, huh? Still very suprised by that. If I lived in Seattle, being the hockey fan I am, that would pizz me off. Imagine the rivalry Seattle could have with Vancouver if they did get a team!

[Adrian71]

Originally Posted by Northman

Seattle should go after Atlanta's team. They're a totally dysfunctional franchise with a bumbling band of baboons for owners and a complete invalid as GM.........star players leaving en masse and dwindling fan base........ripe for the picking.

I agree about too many teams. You can thank Gary Bettman for that. If I had my way, I'd send about a third of the franchises in the NHL into oblivion. It's ridiculous to have hockey teams in Phoenix, Atlanta, Nashville, and Florida. Only a handful of transplants support the teams in those towns, and most people that go to the games are rooting for the visiting teams. I do NOT want to see Kansas City get a team either......that'll just be another Nashville/Atlanta disaster in 3-5 years once the novelty wears off.

So the Canucks games aren't broadcast on CBC or anything, huh? Still very suprised by that. If I lived in Seattle, being the hockey fan I am, that would pizz me off. Imagine the rivalry Seattle could have with Vancouver if they did get a team!

NHL Center Ice is the way to go ... then you can see just about any game you want, all season long. It's the only way we can follow the Red Wings out here in metro DC.

Totally agree on hot-weather hockey teams. I wouldn't mind seeing some of those clubs fold and getting the league down to 24 or 28 teams, and seeing some other clubs relocate to places like Winnipeg and Quebec City ... and Seattle! I always figured Seattleites followed the Canucks, too, but since that doesn't seem to be the case, then yeah, I think the PNW needs another team, and Seattle seems like it would be a great hockey city. It does have a pretty notable hockey history, after all, as a previous poster pointed out.

[Deep_Vee]

Originally Posted by Kingsnkali

Seattle could certainly be a viable NHL city. More so now with the Sonics gone. Seattle should look into building a beautiful NHL arena if they want any chance of getting a team. It's all about the building...

Seattle will never have the NHL, and the NBA is gone for a LONG time. If you want to blame someone...blame the Mariners!

A little history:
In the mid 1990's, the Sonics were one of the best teams in the NBA, you couldn't get tickets to a game if you tried. The Mariner's went to the playoffs for the first time in their history, and the Seahawks were in the midst of the long dry spell between 1983 and 2005 when they didn't win a playoff game. The Kingdome (home to the Mariners and Seahawks) was falling down, and both the Mariners and Seahawks threatened to leave town if they didn't get a new stadium (individually).

The public voted NO on a new stadium for the Mariners. The legislature got it done anyway, and we got Safeco field - one of the best in baseball. Against massive negative pressure from the outspoken non-sports population, the Seahawks also got a new Stadium.

Because of this, there is a HUGE percentage of the local poplulation that is still pissed that they voted NO, won, and a stadium got built anyway.

Because of this backlash, Our legistlature couldn't agree to a very good financial plan to save the Sonics...a team with 41 years of history and a championship.

Because of all that, there is NO WAY the legislature will even discuss an arena to bring a new sport to the area...

It's really too bad. I really wish the poplulation would get over it and realize that professional sports are a very important part of a city and it's culture. But unfortunately, the bitter have spoken, and the legislature has listened

[Canes2006Champs]

I'd like to see NHL in Seattle, I think it would be successful, plus Seattle was the first american city to have its name on the Stanley cup as mentioned by Destructoman. I know the hockey team there, the Thunderbirds play at KeyArena (although I think they may be moving to another arena outside Seattle), but I've heard the KeyArena is not suitable for NHL due to obscurred views, or something like that. Still, would be cool, and could have several cool possibilities for team names.