BeerGuyJordan

I reached out to a contact in the organization, who asked that I keep their name out of it. Their answer: "Less than the media is reporting, but certainly more than the Coyotes are claiming." Not certain what that means, but they wouldn't say more.

Yeah, Montreal and Toronto would have still blocked Vancouver, but if Wirtz wasn't trying to unload his St. Louis arena, it would have probably been Baltimore, as the sixth team.

I meant identity quality. Obviously, between Alaska, Utah and Orlando, ursines are covered. Orlando has a great identity, and a unique color scheme that they execute well.

I was thinking less Swamp Rabbits and more Solar Bears, with respect to rebranding.

Hahahahahahahahaha... ...no.

Jax is a solid move, adding to the southern coastal corridor of teams. Keeping IceMen is not. It's a boring identity.

I bumped into a guy earlier who was part of the Pecos League's championship team. Nothing too spectacular, but it's the first time I've ever seen a championship ring up close, like that. I thought it was a decent design, considering it's Pecos.

I have this odd sense of deja vu...

https://www.nhl.com/news/ahl-notebook-february-1/c-286338150 A couple of takeaways: Albany to Binghamton confirmed, and odds are good that AHL team 31 will begin play next season. If Vancouver ever plans to move the Comets west, now is the time to do it.

Given MSG's track record, regarding rival hockey teams, I would be shocked if there was any credibility, to this.

Hartford doesn't have a suitable arena. If the XL's (14,750 seating and built in the early 70's) $250 million expansion and renovation plan goes through, it could be viable, though. On a side note, though, their AHL attendance could be worrisome to a potential NHL tennant.

But who will take them, with their numbers? I'm not rooting against them, but this three Greater NYC teams train is bound to run out of gas, sooner or later. If it was such a great idea, then why is only the fourth most popular major league, in the US, doing it? This whole thing is NHL anti-thread fodder. Just because the Isles have legacy doesn't change the fact they were a niche market. Having moved out of that niche, they're floundering.

And yet, when I suggested that the Isles needed to be really worried, since Barclays would be crazy to hold onto such weak numbers on a deal that benefits the Isles so much, people on here acted like I was just beating a "go sunbelt, f*@& OTH" drum. I wasn't. I just minored in business. Their TV deal is the only thing keeping them from feeling it, like the Coyotes, or Hurricanes. If they don't do something, the wheels are liable to fall off that, and the NHL might start seeing them as a lucrative route to a new metro market.

In business only, not in any sort of true legacy or history sense. The Sharks don't claim any of the Seals or Barons records (nor should they, really). The Barons are still officially considered a fold, and the Sharks an expansion. The Sharks did have the rights to revive the Barons as an AHL identity, and I suppoose the Seals, if they really wanted to, but that was because it's the same ownership, not the same franchise.

I completely agree. Aside from QC and Hamilton, there are no suitable alternate Canadian cities for the NHL. By the time pro sports leagues get to a point where they are willing to consider breaking the 32 barrier (probably about 2045, at the earliest), Saskatoon could be suitable, given their high growth rate, but that's a long way off.

I saw a lot of different fans, when I went to Albany, but it seemed like Sabres and Rangers stood out as most prevalent. There's no way the Sabres are abandoning Rochester (nor should they). Albany seems like a sound choice for the Rangers, if they insist in pulling up stakes. Albany's track record, coupled with that of the Rangers affiliates, doesn't exactly equal a no-brainer move, though.

Maybe I'm wrong about the territory, but both times I visited eastern LI, I saw mostly Isles fans, and few Rangers or Devils. If your assessment is right, then the Rangers might do better. I still cringe at the idea of their biggest rival planting a farm team in their old home, but business is business.

Expansion beyond 32 is not likely to happen for at least 20 years, and will require the league to be more stable than it is, right now. We would need to see the NFL do it first. No league has any business expanding beyond what they show is viable. If that point ever comes, though, 36 would be the likely number, with 6 divisions of 6 teams, each. Any in-depth conversation about team 33 and up should be in its own thread, not in this one. Now, as for team 32, Seattle. Quebec will only be used to bail out a team that takes on too much water. If Seattle can't get it together and build an arena, who knows. The owners have proved that they'll give a franchise to any billionare with an arena and the cash, the League's best interests be damned.

http://www.timesunion.com/sports/article/Sources-Albany-Devils-leaving-for-Binghamton-10884403.php Look at the attendance numbers, they don't really support that narrative. They were trending downward, before the Devils change, and the lowest attendance average (before this season) was as the River Rats.

Albany is mostly Sabres and Rangers fans, right? I don't know that it'll be a huge success, but I think they'd be able to connect with the fanbase better than the Devils did. MSG would be idiots, to put their farm team in the heart of Isles fans territory, much less their old home. Talk about alienating a potential fanbase, from day one. I get that making money isn't priority number one, but if you can make money, while you're at it, why not? The Isles would be wise to snatch up Nassau, for their AHL team.

Yeah, I was surprised, as well. I don't think it's fair to hold this season against the city; asking a local population to go see a team you've already told them is leaving is a bit foolhardy. Even aside from this season, though, it's not like they were a big draw. As I understand it, Binghamton is mostly Pens and Sabres fans, so I think the Devils will have a tough time selling tickets, until they move somewhere else, in a few years. Unless they manage the market better, this is just the next spin on a sick cycle carousel.

Here's the full article on the potential move to Binghamton, for the A-Devils. http://www.timesunion.com/sports/article/Sources-Albany-Devils-leaving-for-Binghamton-10884403.php

I've been looking at this season's attendance figures and a couple of thoughts: Bridgeport is averaging down to just over 3,600. There has been a steady decline, over the past five seasons. I would be surprised if they didn't move to the newly renovated Nassau. Bridgeport isn't a bad close proximity, but a Uniondale move would better capitalize on being the Islanders' AAA team. Albany's attendance is atrocious, averaging well under 3,000. Now, the Devils are there primarily for ease of call-ups, not ticket sales, but I think they would be likely to take over, in Bridgeport, if the Sound Tigers moved.

Stockton would be ideal, but it would mean the Heat moving out. Now, with their attendance not being great since moving in (an average of about 4,500), maybe they might move, if a more ideal location popped up. I have no idea where, though. Aside from that, maybe Oracle, but it does have its own roadblocks.

Tucson's average attendance has been slowly climbing. You're right that it isn't great (just over 3,800) but a desert team that is a feeder for the least popular major sport in the state is going to have an uphill battle.The proximity, for call-ups, is the primary reason for the move to Tucson. The Calder Cup playoffs are going to be crucial to building their fanbase. A deep run would be huge. Seating caps at 7,000. I think an average of about 5,500, eventually, would be a figure they'd be happy with.