ericmacm
Active Member
I don’t link Twitter, but reporter Frank Seravalli has said that the AHL team in question that will most likely moving to Hamilton is the Bridgeport Islanders. They currently have the 5th lowest attendance in the AHL.
- Thread starter innsertnamehere
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bigguy1231
New Member
Considering the Islanders just used the first overall pick in the draft to draft a Hamilton guy that might work out if he ever gets sent to the minors.
berklon
Active Member
It's too bad they can't snag the Marlies.
When the Bulldogs (AHL) were here, their attendance was only about 1,000 less than what the Marlies were averaging. Based on the number of Leafs fans here, I think the Marlies can get better attendance in Hamilton than Toronto. And the players are still close by for quick call-ups. I know it won't happen, but I think that would be the ideal situation.
When the Bulldogs (AHL) were here, their attendance was only about 1,000 less than what the Marlies were averaging. Based on the number of Leafs fans here, I think the Marlies can get better attendance in Hamilton than Toronto. And the players are still close by for quick call-ups. I know it won't happen, but I think that would be the ideal situation.
Yorken Bay
New Member
Why would Hamilton want the farm team of the Leafs, the team that has prevented us from having our own NHL team?
I stopped being a leaf fan after Balsille and won't spend a dime on the NHL until we have our own team.
It's ridiculous as the 4th largest population centre in North America we have a grand total of 3 professional sports teams.
New York has 9, LA has 8, GHTA 3.
I stopped being a leaf fan after Balsille and won't spend a dime on the NHL until we have our own team.
It's ridiculous as the 4th largest population centre in North America we have a grand total of 3 professional sports teams.
New York has 9, LA has 8, GHTA 3.
Yorken Bay
New Member
Here's where we're at, getting Bridgeport's scraps.
We need a new hockey league like the WHA to start up and put a team here, give the NHL a run for its money.
Have zero salary cap to draw over NHL players.
ericmacm
Active Member
The Marlies were never going to move. MLSE has operational control over Coca Cola Coliseum, so the Marlies get scheduling priority there and don’t have to pay rent. MLSE was not going to start paying rent and relinquish control over scheduling to take a gamble on attendance, especially if the AHL Bulldogs historically averaged below what the Marlies do currently.
BCTed
Active Member
Yeah, glad it isn't the Marlies. But also not exactly jazzed for an AHL team period. But the NHL dream does not have any momentum right now.
Yorken Bay
New Member
For sure, better then nothing.
Hopefully we can get some WJC, Memorial Cups etc.
I'd take the Sabres playing a portion of their home schedule here.
Civdis
Active Member
Huh,
I count at least 6, Leafs, Raptors, Jays, TFC, Argos, Ticats, plus PWHL, and WNBA.
Mihairokov
Active Member
No Memorial Cups if you have an AHL team - AHL playoffs runs into Memorial Cup schedule.
Besides, Memorial Cup is only ever hosted by CHL teams. That's why they have a CHL host team in each edition.
berklon
Active Member
Hamilton's never getting an NHL team. Best to just get over it and move on.
PL1
Senior Member
Short of paying the Leafs and Sabres a crap ton of money, in addition to either a relocation or new franchise fee, you are correct. Like it or not, that is the business environment in the NHL.
ericmacm
Active Member
Given that the NHL has revealed that expansion fees are now $2B+ USD, IMO it’s pretty unlikely there will ever be another Canadian expansion franchise ever again.
rbt
Senior Member
Agreed, though less because of the price and more because owners can only have share in a single team; there's only so many wealthy Canadians with an interest in hockey. MLSE or TNSE [Jets] could comfortably front the costs to stand up a second team.
BCTed
Active Member
Not exactly sure what you mean. The fact that only so many individuals can afford a team is a function of price.
Regardless, I don't think it is going to be easy for the NHL to get $2 billion per team for the expansion fees, though they will probably get there. The NHL has had some notoriously shaky ownership of teams over the years. If there were an entity out there that was willing to plunk down $3 billion US for a team in Hamilton, then I believe Hamilton would get a team. But that entity simply does not seem to be out there.