Recently, the NHL has expressed interest in returning to Atlanta for the third time. This idea perfectly fits Einstein’s idea of insanity. Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. The NHL has had not one but two different franchises fail in Atlanta. And not just failed, but they were a major embarrassment to the league. Seriously look into the history of Thrashers and Flames. It will cause you to question, why the NHL is so infatuated with Atlanta. Especially considering there are so many other cities, that are begging for an NHL team. Here are a few cities, that deserve a second chance at an NHL franchise.
Quebec City, Canada
Embed from Getty ImagesQuebec City has been begging for the NHL to return, ever since their beloved Nordiques left for Colorado in 1995. Out of all the defunct NHL teams, the former Nordiques fans have been the loudest in trying to get the NHL to come back to their city. But it’s not just the fanbase, the government of Quebec City has also been trying to persuade the NHL to come back. It seems like every single mayor of Quebec City, has had the very least mention bring it back. Some have even had meetings with Commissioner Gary Bettman about the potential of a return.
Pros of Quebec City
Now Quebec City has several things going for them, that make them appealing for an NHL franchise. The first is Videotron Centre an 18,000-seat arena that’s currently home to the Quebec Remparts of the QMJHL. Even though it’s currently home to a minor-league team, it’s more than capable of housing an NHL franchise. Which is a major advantage. The fact that a team doesn’t have to wait for a stadium to be built. Or going through the political battle of funding makes expansion to the city much easier. The second advantage is the rabid fan base. The Remparts constantly have a decent crowd of close to 10,000 people a night. That’s just for a minor-league franchise, playing in a league where all the teams are in the Quebec providence. It’s safe to assume that if it was an NHL team, they easily sell out the arena.
Cons of Quebec City
The only thing working against Quebec City is its market size. If an expansion team were to be placed, it would be in the second smallest market in the league. Meaning they wouldn’t be much in terms of TV revenue. Something that has been a major driver of where sports teams are placed. However, the NHL still puts a major emphasis on attendance. If Quebec City can pull in large attendance numbers, it could be enough to offset the money they lose due to being in a small market.
Hamilton, Canada
Embed from Getty ImagesEven though it’s been almost 100 years since Hamilton had an NHL team, they’re due for a return. The original Hamilton franchise was the Hamilton Tigers who played from 1920-1925. However, calls for a new team only started in 1990. In fact, they were considered a favorite to get one but were beaten out by Ottawa. There have been several more attempts since, but none have come as close as they did in 1990.
Pros of Hamilton
Although it doesn’t seem like it, the population is a huge factor in an NHL team coming to Hamilton. Now if given a team, Hamilton itself would be the smallest city to have an NHL team. However, that only includes the city itself. It doesn’t include the surrounding area. Near Hamilton are cities like St. Catharines, Brantford, Kitchener-Waterloo, Burlington/Oakville, and London. In total, a Hamilton team can reach about 2.5 million people. It’s also only 41 miles away from Toronto meaning they could steal some fans from Toronto. In a paper done by economists Tony Kellerman and Neven Maguire, it states the Toronto market alone could be able to support up to three NHL teams. The Maple Leafs would never allow another Toronto team. However, a team in a nearby city could allow the NHL to capitalize on this interest in the sport.
Cons of Hamilton
Being so close to Toronto is a double-edged sword. Sure they could be able to generate a large interest in the team and create one of the biggest fanbases in the league. However due to NHL rules, with Hamilton being so close it would have to pay fees to the Maple Leafs. Essentially paying rent even though they’re almost 50 miles away. They also face the problem of being so close to Buffalo as well. Both the Sabers and Maple Leafs could see a team in Hamilton as a potential threat to their ticket sales. If they see it as a threat, they would just shoot down any attempt. Making putting a team in Hamilton a political battle with one of the most powerful teams in hockey.
Hartford, Connecticut
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Hartford Whalers have been gaining popularity in the past few years. This is because the Hurricanes added a throwback Whalers jersey as part of their uniform rotations. Of course, the Hurricanes used to be the Whalers before the team moved to Carolina in 1997. This increase in popularity has led Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont to say he’s interested in bringing a team back to the state. He’s had a meeting with Bettman and is said to have an ownership group ready to go.
Pros of Hartford
The biggest advantage for Hartford is the TV market. Hartford is the 24th largest market in the United States. It’s also the biggest market in the US without any major sports franchises. It’s an untapped market with a ton of potential. Not to mention there would be no competition with other sports teams. They wouldn’t be battling with an NBA team or an NFL team for ratings. They would be the only show in town. This will drum up a lot of interest. Causing more people to buy tickets and more people to be watching at home.
Cons of Hartford
The biggest issue of putting an NHL team back in Hartford is where they are going to play. The only hockey-ready stadium is the XL Center where the old Whalers use to play. However, the stadium is very run down, and definitely couldn’t handle the demands of an NHL team. There are also very few places in Hartford to put a 20,000-seat stadium. So you’re almost forced to renovate the XL Center or build the stadium where the XL Center currently is. This is also an issue because there is little to no parking in the area. It’s next to impossible to find a space for an AHL game. Imagine what it would be like for an NHL game.
Thanks for reading! Credit for my feature image goes to Minas Panagiotakis. You can find more NHL content at Belly Up Sports and follow me on Twitter.
