After years and years of turmoil in sunny Phoenix, it seems like the chips are finally falling into place to move the Phoenix Coyotes back to Winnipeg.
Yes, I've looked at the standings and I'm well aware that the Phoenix Coyotes are near the top of the Western Conference. That is why this is the perfect time to move them. Before, the NHL could blame poor performance on the ice, for poor performance in the stands. That is not the case now.
Now, a perspective city, Winnipeg to be exact, would not be getting a terrible hockey team, they would actually be getting a winning club.
One thing that needs to be said is, this shows 100% that Gary Bettman was out to beat down Jim Balsille for personal reasons alone. Or at the very least, a mix of personal hate and a little protection for the Toronto Maple Leafs' pockets.
Giving a club back to Winnipeg can't be detrimental to the NHL. For one, a new owner (possibly Canadian billionaire David Thomson) would have to pay a hefty relocation fee. That's free money for the rest of the NHL. Second, even if Winnipeg didn't sell out every game, they would undoubtedly house more paying fans per game than Phoenix.
In fact, Winnipeg would only have to fill the 15,000 MTS Centre to 75% capacity to show an increase in attendance. Phoenix is sitting dead last in NHL attendance averaging just over 11,000 fans per game.
The time is right for this move to happen. The people in Winnipeg want their team back, the people in Phoenix obviously don't care, the Coyotes on ice package is the best it's been in years, and a building, and ownership are in place (although the NHL would likely request a renovation to increase seating capacity to 17,000).
The Hockey News recently reported that if the Phoenix Coyotes can't find suitable ownership, and/or reach a new deal with the City of Glendale, that a deal is in place in principle with David Thomson to purchase the Coyotes and move them to Winnipeg.
If the Coyotes do in fact move back to Canada, it would be great news for Quebec City, who is looking to build a new arena and lure an NHL team back. Other cities in the running for a relocated team include Kansas City and Seattle, but they likely won't be in the market for the Coyotes.
The chips are in place for this to happen. Here's hoping by the time we drop the puck next season, the Winnipeg Jets will have made their return to the NHL.
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You make a good argument and your numbers add up. I guess it will be good for Winnipeg to get their Jets back. I hope it all works out.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I find the whole situation disheartening because it once again solidifies prevailing opinion that hockey teams can't succeed in "alternative" markets. I also know who's sitting in the 29th spot for average attendance: the Atlanta Thrashers, my hometown team. I can't shake the feeling that they're next despite contractual issues that make relocating the team nearly impossible.
The fact I struggle with is this is a business whose very nature causes us fans to get emotionally wrapped up in it, but at the end of the day it's still business and business doesn't care about that sort of thing.