Mid 30’s female living in Vegas. I love all sports (except NBA) and my aim is to get an NHL team here in Vegas once the arena opens in 2010.
Mid 30’s female living in Vegas. I love all sports (except NBA) and my aim is to get an NHL team here in Vegas once the arena opens in 2010.
1 Comment
October 22, 2008 at 10:21 pm
I appreciate your enthusiasm in campaigning to help bring an NHL franchise to Vegas.
Unfortunately, I still think the odds of any pro sports franchise relocating to Sports Bet, USA is slim to none.
That’s no knock on Vegas the city, but setting up a new ice camp surrounded by bookies is risky business.
Just look at the black shadow cast over the NBA by former official Tim Donaghy’s betting practices. Not good.
Besides, Vegas is still primarily made up of transplants from around the globe, all of which most likely still have favorite teams from wherever they’ve moved from.
Does that mean a pro team will never work in Vegas? No, of course not.
But given the current state of the economy (which only looks to get worse) why would a new sports owner risk an immensely large financial investment moving to a city best known for sports betting?
They won’t, there’s too much dough to lose!!!
Plus, despite the cries from the NHL that its fan interest is on the rise, sun-belt teams the likes of Miami, L.A., Phoenix and Tampa are struggling at the gate; Vegas, unfortunately, falls into the sun-belt category too.
Look, I’m a believer the NHL CAN WORK in non-traditional hockey markets, but taking that risk in the near future is a silly one, new arena or not.
My best guess says the NHL’s next -move/expansion- is into the Pacific Northwest (Seattle), Kansas City or perhaps even adding a second franchise to hockey-crazy Toronto.
For your sake, I hope that I’m wrong…but I wouldn’t bet on it
–Go Blackhawks!!!–