2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

[kujay]

I understand that you need a strong base of businesses from whom to get corporate support, sponsorships, etc. But if the team is completely off the radar, as they appear to be in places like Miami and Atlanta, are businesses really going to put their sponsorship dollars there?

[jersey cubs fan]

I understand that you need a strong base of businesses from whom to get corporate support, sponsorships, etc. But if the team is completely off the radar, as they appear to be in places like Miami and Atlanta, are businesses really going to put their sponsorship dollars there?

 

In a lot of ways, the NJ Devils are off the radar, but they still have major corporations (and smaller businesses) putting money into it. I don't know Florida's situation, but if you are looking for a franchise to thrive, I'm not sure you want to be comparing yourself to them.

[UMFan83]

I understand that you need a strong base of businesses from whom to get corporate support, sponsorships, etc. But if the team is completely off the radar, as they appear to be in places like Miami and Atlanta, are businesses really going to put their sponsorship dollars there?

 

Yeah of course the rabid fan base totally helps, but if you are a major Winnipeg or Canadian corporation, how much money are you going to invest to advertise when your reach is only 700k people? I'm not saying it can't work. I believe it can. I'm just saying that this is the real major hurdle that keeps cities like Winnipeg from getting NHL teams in the past. That is why, with half of Canada starving for a pro team near by, the most viable option for years has been to have a team play 50 miles from Toronto.

[kujay]

I understand that you need a strong base of businesses from whom to get corporate support, sponsorships, etc. But if the team is completely off the radar, as they appear to be in places like Miami and Atlanta, are businesses really going to put their sponsorship dollars there?

 

Yeah of course the rabid fan base totally helps, but if you are a major Winnipeg or Canadian corporation, how much money are you going to invest to advertise when your reach is only 700k people? I'm not saying it can't work. I believe it can. I'm just saying that this is the real major hurdle that keeps cities like Winnipeg from getting NHL teams in the past. That is why, with half of Canada starving for a pro team near by, the most viable option for years has been to have a team play 50 miles from Toronto.

 

Absolutely, the best Canadian option is Hamilton. That whole St. Catherine's-Hamilton-Toronto corridor is wall-to-wall people. Or I guess Quebec, though that metro area is also just over 700,000. All economics aside, the best-case option would be to move Phoenix to Winnipeg, Miami to Quebec, Atlanta to Hamilton and Nashville to Hartford. That NHL would be badass. Although the best case would be to get a team to KC and perhaps one to the PNW so that the Hawks and Detroit could move back to the east.

[jersey cubs fan]

I think the isolation thing matters as well. Look at the Rangers, who have the Islanders and Devils within cab distance, and then Philly in bus/train distance, plus Boston, Buffalo, Pittsburgh and Washington all in closer proximity than Winnipeg is to its nearest neighbor, the Wild. Florida even has a closer neighbor in Tampa, with actual populations between them.

 

 

On a side note, they would have to have them switch divisions with the Avalanche, correct? They have to compete with the BC teams and the Wild, with Colorado looking south and west for its new rivals.

[UMFan83]

I think the isolation thing matters as well. Look at the Rangers, who have the Islanders and Devils within cab distance, and then Philly in bus/train distance, plus Boston, Buffalo, Pittsburgh and Washington all in closer proximity than Winnipeg is to its nearest neighbor, the Wild. Florida even has a closer neighbor in Tampa, with actual populations between them.

 

 

On a side note, they would have to have them switch divisions with the Avalanche, correct? They have to compete with the BC teams and the Wild, with Colorado looking south and west for its new rivals.

 

Man, in my mind I thought Manitoba was where Saskatchewan was and vice versa. I thought Winnipeg was over the Dakotas and still relatively close to Calgary and Edmonton, but Calgary is actually about as close to Winnipeg as Chicago is (~850 miles), and 450 miles from the next closest team, Minneapolis. That said in today's world, it doesn't matter as much as it used to.

 

kujay, why do you want a team in Hartford again? It was one of the worst drawing teams in the NHL back in the early 90's and is within 100 miles of 4 other teams.

[jersey cubs fan]

I think the isolation thing matters as well. Look at the Rangers, who have the Islanders and Devils within cab distance, and then Philly in bus/train distance, plus Boston, Buffalo, Pittsburgh and Washington all in closer proximity than Winnipeg is to its nearest neighbor, the Wild. Florida even has a closer neighbor in Tampa, with actual populations between them.

 

 

On a side note, they would have to have them switch divisions with the Avalanche, correct? They have to compete with the BC teams and the Wild, with Colorado looking south and west for its new rivals.

 

Man, in my mind I thought Manitoba was where Saskatchewan was and vice versa. I thought Winnipeg was over the Dakotas and still relatively close to Calgary and Edmonton, but Calgary is actually about as close to Winnipeg as Chicago is (~850 miles), and 450 miles from the next closest team, Minneapolis. That said in today's world, it doesn't matter as much as it used to.

 

kujay, why do you want a team in Hartford again? It was one of the worst drawing teams in the NHL back in the early 90's and is within 100 miles of 4 other teams.

 

Hartford struggled because the team was never good, the arena sucked, and the new owner basically forced his way out. It's a small metro area, but still twice as big as Winnipeg.

 

The isolation thing is not just about travel, but don't ignore travel. It's very cost effective to play fairly close to many of your rivals. Also, the obvious benefits of having a team in NY/Philly type distance is rivalry, fans going to each others games, which helps even when the home team struggles.

[kujay]

kujay, why do you want a team in Hartford again? It was one of the worst drawing teams in the NHL back in the early 90's and is within 100 miles of 4 other teams.

 

I was pretty young, but I recall that situation being an ownership thing that soured the fans.

 

But mostly it's just a nostalgia thing.

[TruffleShuffle]

nice job crosby

[Guest]

LOL

 

Nice start for Crosby and the Penguins.

[TruffleShuffle]

brian gionta is such a douchebag

[Magnetic Curses]

kujay, why do you want a team in Hartford again? It was one of the worst drawing teams in the NHL back in the early 90's and is within 100 miles of 4 other teams.

 

I was pretty young, but I recall that situation being an ownership thing that soured the fans.

 

But mostly it's just a nostalgia thing.

 

hartford? the whale?

 

they played in a mall, that is sweet in itself.

[Magnetic Curses]

montreal has pittsburgh on tilt

[TruffleShuffle]

hahahaha pitt is playing so dumb

[TruffleShuffle]

lollllll

[17 Seconds]

wow

[17 Seconds]

hollllyyyyy shittttttttt

[Old Style]

LOL @ PITTSBURGH

[Terp]

This is so beautiful.

[Old Style]

Holy crap! The stadium in Montreal is packed just to watch the game on TV.

[17 Seconds]

sergei gonchar straight up gave that goal away with lack of effort. that was embarrassing.

[Guest]

Looks like Pittsburgh has quit.

 

The Penguin defenseman didn't even try to stop the Montreal player on that goal. Just let him skate right on by.

[Magnetic Curses]

wow, so lazy, the habs should have had another one there

[17 Seconds]

Looks like Pittsburgh has quit.

 

The Penguin defenseman didn't even try to stop the Montreal player on that goal. Just let him skate right on by.

 

yep, that was gonchar. he straight up quit

[Magnetic Curses]

Looks like Pittsburgh has quit.

 

The Penguin defenseman didn't even try to stop the Montreal player on that goal. Just let him skate right on by.

 

gonchar wears that A on his sweater too. pathetic.