Wow, If anyone has been watching the news with hockey the past 48 hours and I am not talking about the Stanley Cup Finals here folks (although we should be ). I am talking about the absolute Debacle down in Arizona.
If you have not heard the news here it is. The Mayor of Glendale, Arizona has decided to end the lease agreement with the Arizona Coyotes and wants to re negotiate the contract. Now we all know hockey in the desert was a bad idea in the first place, the amount of ups and downs( mainly downs) has been plenty over the many years the 'yotes have been there. Just been one problem after another since the move from Winnipeg to Phoenix/Glendale. Now here are my thoughts on the disaster of a situation.
1. Why would the City of Glendale sign a deal where they pay 15million a year to a team that they already built a $220+million Arena for they were just begging to get screwed in the first place. I do not blame the Coyotes for getting as much as they can they lost so much money as it is.
2. The Coyotes should just leave that disaster of a city and maybe go play in the Downtown arena with the Suns, think about it. - easier for people to commute to and from, and your dealing with a bigger city who would love to fill their arena schedule 41 more times a year. Plus you can laugh at Glendale for have a 220+ million dollar building sitting there empty.
- Check out the passion from this fan, the Coyotes should give her season tix for life based on this speech alone.
3. Let's go over potential landing spots for the Yotes. As far as I can tell Quebec and Vegas are out of the question. Bettman and the rest of the NHL owners arent willing to give up $500million each in expansion fees. So that leaves places with ready NHL arenas.
Seattle- They have been working on plans to build an arena for both an NHL and NBA team.
If Seattle had to house the team for now.... BIG IF. They could at the KEY arena, not an ideal arena since it is very old but it could be done. http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/eye-on-hockey/25177534/seattle-mayor-developer-open-to-nhl-first-plan-for-new-arena Good link that talks about how Seattle is in the final process of starting to build an arena.
Portland- Has had signs of hockey success with the WinterHawks in the WHL who do sell out their playoff games and are high on the regular season tickets sold. They have a ready arena for Hockey with the Moda Centre ( home of the Portland Trail Blazers NBA). Can hold up to 19 500 people or so, already has the ability to play hockey ( Winterhawks are a tenant). Be a viable solution for the NHL.
In my mind these are the only two viable locations if the team decides to relocate, Kansas City has popped up in the Relocation talk but to me that makes ZERO sense. They have really never had much for hockey there and I don't think in a short term move it would really do well. Portland and Seattle have WHL hockey there and the cities know hockey very well.
All in All this is a disaster that is happening in the midst of a BRILLIANT Stanley Cup Final.
I have the Lightning in 7 because why are the Blackhawks allowed to win the cup every 2nd year Kane and Toews win enough already.Would love to see Stamkos get a cup especially after Marty St.Louis left for Greener grass and a eastern conference exit.......
P.S for Fun lets name the new Franchises.
Seattle would probably go back the the Metropolitans, or a fresh start With Earthquakes or Orcas/ Blackfish. Some Good choices.
Portland now this would be a tricky one to name. I have seen Mountaineers pop up which I bleieve is the front runner because they have NBA Trail Blazers and the MLS Timbers. Porland Lunberjax anyone??
Tyler
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