Fansided

Las Vegas Chosen For New NHL Franchise

By Andrew Thompson |
Jun 12, 2016; San Jose, CA, USA; NHL commissioner Gary Bettman presents Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) with the Stanley Cup after defeating the San Jose Sharks in game six of the 2016 Stanley Cup Final at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Bennett/Pool Photo via USA TODAY Sports
Jun 12, 2016; San Jose, CA, USA; NHL commissioner Gary Bettman presents Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) with the Stanley Cup after defeating the San Jose Sharks in game six of the 2016 Stanley Cup Final at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Bennett/Pool Photo via USA TODAY Sports

I knew this day was coming for months. When the NHL handed out expansion draft information to the teams we knew the league was going to add a team. Deep down, I was hoping that Boston Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs and the rest of the Board of Governors would be responsible with their handling of the league, but apparently I was living in a dream world.

The Associated Press reported a short while ago that the NHL Board of Governors has selected Las Vegas (and not Quebec City) as the location for its newest franchise.

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From the AP:

“A person with direct knowledge of the NHL’s decision says the league has settled on Las Vegas as its choice for expansion, provided organizers can come up with a $500 million fee.

The person spoke Tuesday on condition of anonymity because details have not been released by the league ahead of its Board of Governors meeting on June 22. Quebec City was also considered for expansion. A second person who had been briefed on the decision said Las Vegas was a “done deal” following the recommendation of the NHL’s executive committee.

The 2017-18 season would be the earliest the league would expand.”

The formal announcement will be declared after the Board of Governors meeting.

I’m disappointed in Jeremy Jacobs. I’m disappointed in the Board of Governors. As for Gary Bettman…..this is just one more reason to boo the next time he hands out a trophy to someone.

I guess congratulations are in order for the city of Las Vegas, Bill Foley, and all the NHL owners who can’t wait to get their piece of the $500 million dollar entry fee.  Personally, I can’t celebrate this decision. Here’s why:

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Hockey In The Desert Is A Bad Idea – To Gary Bettman and the BOG, it’s all about the (US)dollar sign. But how much money did the league lose by putting the Phoenix (now Arizona) Coyotes in the league? The total is half a billion and rising.

The Coyotes had to file for bankruptcy and the league had to take it into receivership.  They were losing money the entire time and the league just kept shoveling money into a failed idea. Now, the league wants to do it again, while learning nothing from their past mistake.

Hockey In Las Vegas Is A Bad Idea –  Las Vegas is a fantastic place to lose yourself in a fantasy for a couple of days. It’s one of the best places in the world to make bad life choices. Vegas is all about what’s new, what’s hot, and what’s now. The moment something becomes stale, it gets quickly relegated to obsolescence.

Will Las Vegas hockey be a cool thing at the start? Sure. No other city in the world knows how to market itself like Sin City.  The Black Knights might even turn a profit in the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons. After that, Las Vegas hockey will go the way of their housing market…. belly up (and fast).

The Vegas team has claimed to have 13,000 + season ticket holders already. I’m willing to bet if people followed the money, they’d see a lot of tickets purchased as blocks by corporations and/or casinos. That’s just a recipe for disaster down the road. A team needs the love and support of the fans.

Ignoring Quebec City Is A Bad Idea – The Board of Governors likely rejected the Quebec bid over the weakness of the Canadian dollar.  If that’s the reason, it’s understandable.

It just seems bloody odd that a hockey league would be rejecting Canadian teams.  It makes even less sense that that the BOG would shoot down a city that once showed they could be a proper host to a NHL team. Quebec City had the fans, the stadium, and investors ready. They wanted to bring back the Nordiques, and now the best they can hope for is the Panthers, Coyotes or another NHL team wants to move up north in the near future.

It’s highly unlikely that Las Vegas will become the next Detroit, Boston, Montreal or Toronto. It’s a pity that a lot of fans hard-earned money will end up supporting another failed franchise. So, the next time you’re wondering why you’re paying $250 for a jersey, $40 for parking and why you’re spending $12 on a beer, remember it’s all for more hockey in the desert.

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