Why shouldn't Canada have another NHL team?

As rumours swirl over the NHL coming to Hamilton, a sports columnist with the Globe & Mail says the next NHL team in Canada may be in Winnipeg and explains why the city of Toronto might also be teased with a second NHL team.

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The Globe and Mail: Why not Canada?

CTV.ca News Staff

Date: Mon. Jul. 5 2010 9:19 AM ET

It's the question that every Canadian hockey fan has had on their mind in recent years, "Why Not Canada?" As in, why shouldn't Canada have another NHL franchise?

A six part-series called "Why Not Canada," by TSN and The Globe and Mail, begins this week and is an in-depth investigation into the viability of another NHL franchise.

Dave Naylor of the Globe and Mail spent four months analyzing social-economic data and other factors into the possibility of a new team in four markets: Winnipeg, Quebec City, Hamilton and the Greater Toronto Area.

Talking to economists, market researchers, potential owners and fans, Naylor has assigned a quantitative grade to the viability of each city getting a new team.

"I think there's a decent chance that the next one will be in Winnipeg," Naylor told Canada AM.

"Winnipeg is kind of symbolic about what has happened to the NHL situation in Canada. When the Jets left, the NHL didn't drag the team across the border, they didn't have an owner, they didn't have a building. The economy wasn't that strong --- things have changed.

"People want to own a team in Winnipeg or Quebec City."

Naylor also teased the possibility of Toronto getting another team besides the Maple Leafs, saying the population who would support a second team is a "pretty powerful number."

Naylor says economists have estimated 30 per cent of the NHL revenue comes from Canada. With a number of southern U.S. franchises struggling to stay afloat, it's not surprising there are a number of Canadian suitors.

There are only six Canadian teams in the NHL, down from a high of eight in 1995 before the Quebec Nordiques moved to Colorado. The Winnipeg Jets moved to Phoenix the following year.

While the NHL expanded to 30 clubs in 2000, there has been little serious consideration by the league of bringing another team to Canada.

Research-in-Motion billionaire Jim Ballsillie has attempted several times to buy a U.S. franchise and relocate it to Hamilton but has been stymied by the NHL.

Edmonton Oilers owner Daryl Katz is the latest to promise Hamilton an NHL team, after he apparently suggested he was willing to pay the city $1 million if he couldn't bring a team there in four years, provided he was given the right to Copps Coliseum.

The six-part series will air on TSN's Sportscentre, and will be accompanied by daily features in the Globe and Mail, on globeandmail.com and on Tsn.ca on the following dates:

The Introduction

Monday, July 05

Why Not Winnipeg?

Tuesday, July 6

Why Not Hamilton?

Wednesday, July 7

Why Not Toronto?

Thursday, July 8

Why Not Quebec City?

Friday, July 9

The Final Summary

Saturday, July 10

Add New Comment ( )

Mar
said

While it may be true that Bettman was brought in to grow the fan base and Canadians already buy the merchandise etc, having a bunch of failing money-losers in the US does not help the sport either. Move one of the Florida teams, I mean seriously, how does Florida have 2 teams? At least in Canada the team would have a fan base, they would fill the seats, and they would sell the merchandise. How does having an unpopular team in a US state help the league at all? Hamilton seems like the best bet for a guaranteed fan base that will fill the seats, but would be nice to get one in Winnipeg or Quebec City too. The Maritimes is a nice idea, but given their winter storms, not sure how easy it would be to bring in enough people from surrounding areas to watch games.

Northern Princess
said

Why shouldn't Canada have another NHL Team? Because first of all, there are too many to begin with. The talent isn't there anymore. Players get traded more often than I can change outfit. Second, the amount these 'players' get in salary is outrageous. They get paid more than our PM for crying out loud, just for 'playing a game' and for less responsibility. Third, a family of four can't travel hours to go see a game, have a meal and buy affordable tickets, They simply can't afford it. What good is a hockey team when some families can't afford to go watch them.No, we need three canadian teams (one eastern, one central, one western) and that's it. Maybe then, the talent will be there, hopefully the cost will be down and one can associate one player with one team like the Montreal Canadians used to be. You could cheer for one team knowing full well that your favorite player would be there.

Rob
said

It will never happen until butthead is gone. He is so anti Canadian it makes sick. He has recked the NHL. What do the owners see in this guy? You will see a Canadian team win the Stanley Cup untill changes are made.

Ron
said

I don't see the debate, all those places can support a team easily!Toronto too, definatly... just look at the new york islanders, new york rangers.... and really not far away you also have the Buffalo Sabres, and more.Point is, if "they" get enough support in their local areas then I'm sure a second Toronto team would do just fine...perhaps even better with more local based competition here and there.The GTA as a whole is a lot bigger then Toronto was in the past, and its been growing steadily... I think many of you would be surprised at the population figures for the GTA area these days.

Betteman Sucks!
said

Who really cares about Betteman? The guy looks like the schoolyard bully! He basically told Basillie, "because I don't like you, and you won't play by my rules, get lost! I really believe it's Betteman that should get lost. He is bad for the sport!

Courtney
said

@Dean in Abby, I couldn't agree more!

Jim in Ottawa
said

It's very important that the NHL return to Winnipeg and Quebec City, add a team to Hamilton, and perhaps other locations such as Victoria, Halifax, or even Toronto. It astounds me that Toronto--Canada's largest city by population--does not have a professional NHL club!

Jon
said

There is no money in canada, thats why. Everyone is already a fan and already buying merchandise. Having another team here would make money for that owner, but not the leauge. I actually argue there should be less teams in canada and more should relocate to northern us states, would be better for the league.

Chris in cowtown
said

Southern Ontario could definitely support another team - why not Hamilton. I'm curious though, why not offer something to Moncton or Halifax ? The maritimers would go nuts over an NHL team, they'll sell out every seat for years ...

Deb
said

@ Sam - That's a rather ignorant thing to say about hockey players. I'm pretty sure there's several very intelligent players. Way to perpetuate the "dumb jock" stereotype!

As for another Canadian team, I'd be all for another team in Winnepeg or Quebec. But definitely not Toronto, we've already got a team.

Mike in ON
said

While I understand that Bettman's goal is to spread the NHL's reach, the numbers show that in sunshine states, the interest simply isn't there. I remember a few years ago, when the 'Canes were in the Cup finals - it seemed that many in their city weren't aware that they HAD a hockey team. Look at how many of the southern US teams are in a financial mess, because they can't fill the stadiums. Of course the players like playing there - for them, it's the best of both worlds - playing a winter sport in a sunny paradise; but no one living there is paying to see them play.

Canada is a 'safe' place to expand. Now that fans understand that lack of attendance = losing your team, I think you'd be much less likely to see the arenas empty, were another NHL team to return to Canada. Can Toronto / Southern Ontario support a second NHL franchise? Without a doubt - it'd be an instant money-maker.

PBW
said

Like Gregory Boudreau, I have grave doubts about a place like Winnipeg having an NHL franchise. Sure we have the arena, and yes, there is a small, hard core of fans that would support such a team. However, the same problems that caused the Jets to leave town would arise in short order: poor attendance. As long as ticket prices are beyond the reach of the average family, such a team would not fill the MTS Centre on the regular basis needed for a franchise to be successful. And no, use of tax-payers dollars to pay the salaries of players in a for-profit organization is NOT an option in my book.

Eh
said

Based on population the obvious choice is to bring another franchise to Toronto. To avoid confusion, they would simply have to have a different name. Perhaps more gramatically correct Toronto Maple Leaves, or maybe the Toronto RoughRiders would be a good name for the second team in Canada's largest city by far. New York has two teams in NFL and MLB, so Toronto should have two teams too.

Dean in Abby
said

If there will be another team in Canada, then a team in the US should be moved here. There are already too many teams in the NHL and the lack of talent shows. The numbers of players deem that the talent is watered down badly. If we had less teams, more talent would be spread around, better games would ensue, attendance would be up and so on. Bettman is a joke and perhaps his pay is determined by how many teams he can put together. Whether they are good or bad doesn't matter, as long as there are teams playing, he gets paid. I would rather go to a tight playing, low scoring and exciting game than a blow out because of a disparity in talent between the two teams. You know, like the stuff we want to see in the playoffs.

Sam
said

Why shouldn't Canada have another NHL team? Because we need educated people not brain dead hockey players.

Doug # BC
said

LOL.Good one "Evan".A chuckle to get my day started properly.Although,given the reaction to the G20 meetings in Toronto,I think how you define "biggest" comes into question.The city looked completely incapable of dealing with a crowd of more than 50 people. That said,I would also like to see more teams in more parts of Canada.Rather than another team in southern Ontariowhy not share the wealth.Winnipeg would be a good start.Perhaps Quebec City.But how about at least one team in Atlantic Canada? Can,or will they support it on a regular basis.Make it truly a "national" sport. Don't forget,it has to pay it's own way.We have t remember that if it was ONLY in Canada that hockey was this popular,our meager population would surely mean that hockey would have to be more about the sport and less the money.Or as Chilliwacks Bill Henderson famously sang a few decades ago,"without the audience,there just ain't no show". Our game? Perhaps.But really,a huge amount of foreign money is keeping the NHL as big as it is now.That's not easy to compete with.We had a tough time surviving when we were all using the "Chretien Buck". (64 cents)

steve
said

why not all three cities, look at the teams in US that can not fill seats, and losing money. Its our game, bring it home......

Monica
said

No, it doesn't seem like a good idea to bring a second team to Toronto, but I absolutely think Hamilton deserves it's own team.

Martin of NS
said

Toronto having another team? Really!? I guess one losing team just isn't enough :P I personally would like to see a new team in either Winnipeg or Hamilton. Winnipeg and Hamilton both of have populations >600k. I don't think it would be sustainable to have an NHL team in Quebec city as its population is less than those mentioned above. Either way, I'd like to see another Canadian NHL team.

Syl
said

Why bother? Hockey used to be fun but now it is like most other sports, everyone is only in it for the money. Who cares what team wins. The players are not there because they love that team or city, but only for their big, unearned pay cheques.

Brian
said

Want to know why Bettman is resistant to put another team in Canada? He was hired to grow the game. Putting another team in Canada won't do that. It won't make non-fans into fans because there is a team in Hamilton or anywhere else. It will just move existing revenue from one source to another.

Gregory Boudreau
said

These two cities Winnipeg, and Quebec both had to leave because they were having money problems. It is going to take an awful lot for the NHL to bring hockey back to these markets. As for having another team in the Toronto area, that won't happen as long as the Leafs have a say. If anything there are tomany teams, but that is another topic.

rg
said

evan t.o. does have a hockey team, they are called the toronto maple leafs, the most watched team in hockey with the most dedicated fans in all of sports.the most sold out arena. so its easy to see you don't follow hockey,its not about winning, its about following a team you love. as for another team in canada, you won't see it as long as pig headed betteman is still leading the owners around by the muzzle.

Rick
said

Yeah, Don would bring hockey back to Canada and nowhere else! He needs to remember that there are many rabid hockey fans in Philly, Washington, Boston, NY, Colorado, etc and that there are many great players other than Canadian's even if they do celebrate allot. His xenophobic attitude will be the downfall of the game!

Scot
said

Fire Gary Bettman, and Hire Don Cherry.
He would bring back hockey back to Canada, No doubt about it.

Toronto does not need another team here.

Evan
said

Looking forward to Thursday's edition, it's always amazed me that Canada's biggest city still doesn't have a real hockey team.

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