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  • July 10, 2007 02:34 PM ET

Wisconsin deserves an NHL Franchise.

panthersfan10 (24-5-0) vs Rageoutus (3-8-0)
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If the Badgers hockey teams are any indication, there is enough enthusiasm in Wisconsin to create a large fan base for an NHL franchise. High school and "little league" teams are very plentiful in Wisconsin and I'm certain that the interest is much higher than in a place like Phoenix, Arizona or Sunrise, Florida.


College love for a sport NO indication. So no Wisconsonites loving their Badgers has no baring on whether they will support a pro franchise. Look at the city of Charlotte and NC as a whole. There are 2 of the biggest NCAA basketball schools within an hour of the city and (also NC State) they couldn't keep the Hornets and are busy not supporting the Bobcats. What about "non-hockey" cities like Dallas that pack the house for their Stars? The Little Leaguers from all of these places don't trickle through to the pro teams in their city anyway.


Hockey has completely different fans than basketball. Okay, I live in Wisconsin, and even the HIGH SCHOOL teams around the area pack the house every time they play. The Badgers are one of the best college hockey teams in the nation, and I'm sure the fan base in Wisconsin would be great for the NHL. And anyway, I'm sure they will have much larger fan bases than at least half of the other teams in the NHL. It doesn't matter if the same players from the state go to the teams, I'm just sure that within a few years of it starting, the team could be great for the NHL. I mean, seriously, they need to put some butts in the seats, and Arizona and Florida aren't going to get the job done.


Do they actually have an NHL ready arena? That's the most important question to ask. Little league, High School, and college support is not the same thing, just as much the NHL and NBA are. It is much different to come out and see the local youngsters play as opposed to paying $50 to go see the pros downtown. That's why I brought up Charlotte they have the same kind of support for B-Ball and don't support their NBA team. I think contraction is the answer for the NHL. Last time I heard there were 9 teams in the league that were profitable. Just get rid of some of these teams that aren???t cutting it.


I agree with you on the point that getting rid of some of the teams that are losing money, but that's exactly why we need a new team in Wisconsin, Seattle, and maybe a new team in Canada. I'm sure they will at least be profitable, and will definitely boost their fan support. Look at our next-door neighbors, the Minnesota Wild. I'm pretty sure they are one of the nine teams you said were profitable, and they have a confortably full stadium every game. Lots of people up North love hockey, and it's sometimes difficult for someone who doesn't live here to understand, but there are lots of people who would be willing to pay to see games. Again, look at the Wild. If the NHL feels Phoenix deserves an NHL franchise, then so should Wisconsin.


The NHL decides who "deserves" what. Because Phoenix deserves one so do we? What a nonsense argument. So about half of the cities in the US could make the same argument and all should receive hockey teams. What about teams you would think to be profitable - Buffalo, Pittsburgh, and Washington. All 3 are only in the black due to revenue sharing. Last time I checked Buffalo was a northern city that loves hockey but still were not profitable on their own (from Forbes). What about all of the supposedly grand hockeytowns that haven???t kept their teams? Minnesota (yeah they got one back), Quebec, and Hartford. There are much larger issues than even a vast majority of people in the town that love the sport. It???s really easy to sit back and say it will work and that you???re more of a hockey town than Phoenix but you haven???t really said why it would actually work or be better other than that the weather is colder in Wisconsin than in Arizona.

Comments (10) Add A Comment

July 10, 2007  03:45 PM ET
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move the florida panthers who average like 5000 people a game to miluakee. the nhl desperatly neads a good american fan base.... i dont see why they want to move or expand to kansas city. no one cares about hockey there. how come no one talks about seattle getting a team?? there is support for hockey there, and it has an arena to support a team.

July 10, 2007  03:45 PM ET
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Exactly.

July 10, 2007  04:05 PM ET
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hockey shouldnt be played in the south

July 10, 2007  04:13 PM ET
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Change does not necessarily mean better. No matter what the current situation is.

July 10, 2007  04:57 PM ET
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another hockey team needs to be in Canada before the US

July 10, 2007  04:59 PM ET
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yes stevie indeed

July 12, 2007  01:21 PM ET
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What makes you sure they will be profitable? Where is this NHL ready arena? Just being in a city that loves hockey does not make a profitable franchise.

July 12, 2007  01:22 PM ET
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No hockey teams below the Mason-Dixie line. That should be a rule.

July 12, 2007  02:27 PM ET
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Thank you Irish...I was thinking the same thing...there should not be teams in Dallas, Tampa or LA.

 
July 12, 2007  05:11 PM ET
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You two realize that "no southern team" idea has nothing to do with this throwdown right? Dallas has awesome attendence, solid owners / GM / coaching staff, and is profitable.

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