Portland not among 4 rumored NHL expansion cities

[santeesioux]

http://www.si.com/nhl/2014/08/26/report-toronto-seattle-quebec-city-join-vegas-2017-nhl-expansion

Why am i not surprised?

 

[speeds]

Teams can still be relocated. Phoenix, Miami, and Columbus are still in a bad way. Maybe less so with Phoenix lately.

 

[santeesioux]

Teams can still be relocated. Phoenix, Miami, and Columbus are still in a bad way. Maybe less so with Phoenix lately.

Eh, i'd rather not steal a team, but i doubt we'll ever get another pro team either way. It's going to suck when it's time for the NBA to shake us down for a new arena.

 

[Eastoff]

I don't want any new professional sports teams here.

 

[RR7]

I'm really surprised they have plans to expand by 4 teams. Seems like a pretty large jump.

 

[HailBlazers]

I don't want any new professional sports teams here.

YEa, the PoRtLaNd ThUnDeR have completed my life.

 

[mobes23]

Seattle sports talk interviewed some NHL expert and it sounds like the source wasn't very reputable. He said expansion by two teams made the most sense for a variety of reasons, including avoiding talent dilution, evening out the East and West (East currently has two more teams than West) and arena issues for some of the listed cities.

 

[tlongII]

I think an NHL team would cannibalize the Blazers fan base. I just don't see it happening.

 

[BigGameDamian]

I think an NHL team would cannibalize the Blazers fan base. I just don't see it happening.

It's not happening because Paul Allen doesn't want NHL in Portland and I think it's really a shame. NHL would do great in Portland or Seattle. Paul Allen is had a couple of chances in past years to get the Pittsburgh Penguins and failed to do so.

 

[santeesioux]

People are saying the Vegas thing sounds far-fetched as well.

 

[santeesioux]

I think an NHL team would cannibalize the Blazers fan base. I just don't see it happening.

We're a bigger city than many cities that have more than one pro team, it'd be fine.

 

[julius]

http://www.si.com/nhl/2014/08/26/report-toronto-seattle-quebec-city-join-vegas-2017-nhl-expansion

Why am i not surprised?

Well, not sure how credible that is, but also until Seattle gets a stadium built, they aren't front running shit.

And why the hell would Toronto get a 2nd team? Why would the Maple Leafs be OK with that?

As for cannibalizing the Blazers fan base, its not like the two fan bases are similar.

Plus, the NHL hasn't exactly done a great thing with their expansions and teams in warm climates (outside of HUGE markets like LA).

 

[speeds]

I think Buffalo would suffer more than the Leafs.

 

[HailBlazers]

We're a bigger city than many cities that have more than one pro team, it'd be fine.

Seriously though, Portland Raiders NFL team needs to happen. Imagine the rivalry with Seattle!

 

[santeesioux]

Seriously though, Portland Raiders NFL team needs to happen. Imagine the rivalry with Seattle!

That would be great, but it's never going to happen.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Portland, OR- Hockey City, USA.

Seriously, I think hockey would flourish in PTd and the city and surrounding areas are big enough to support both the NBA and NHL.

 

[GriLtCheeZ]

It's not happening because Paul Allen doesn't want NHL in Portland and I think it's really a shame. NHL would do great in Portland or Seattle. Paul Allen is had a couple of chances in past years to get the Pittsburgh Penguins and failed to do so.

Not true. Paul Allen wants a team, but he is not willing to bring in an expansion team. He is only interested in a relocated team which would be cheaper and ostensibly have a better roster. He attempted to buy the Penguins and almost had them until Mario Lemieux swooped in at the 11th hour to keep the team in Pittsburgh. He also tried to buy the Sabres and the Coyotes.

 

[julius]

Not true. Paul Allen wants a team, but he is not willing to bring in an expansion team. He is only interested in a relocated team which would be cheaper and ostensibly have a better roster. He attempted to buy the Penguins and almost had them until Mario Lemieux swooped in at the 11th hour to keep the team in Pittsburgh. He also tried to buy the Sabres and the Coyotes.

Don't fight BGD with facts, it gets in the way of things.

 

[GriLtCheeZ]

Don't fight BGD with facts, it gets in the way of things.

Yeah it seems that way.

McGowan says the Blazers “never made an offer” for the Coyotes, but that an extensive market analysis convinced Allen the NHL in Portland would be a positive move.

“I never got the sense that Paul wasn’t interested in the NHL,” McGowan says. “Paul has always been interested in things that are good for Portland and the arena. It’s our job to bring opportunities to Paul. The NHL is just one of those. Our analysis led us to believe that potentially a team could work here. We were in the mix when it related to Portland as a potential option, but it didn’t work out, so it becomes moot.”

http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/...s-chief-confirms-paul-allens-interest-in-nhl/

 

[santeesioux]

So what is the next team primed for relocation? Weren't the Islanders thinking about it?