Further proof (if we ever needed any) that the NHL doesn't belong in Nashville

http://74.125.47.132/search?q=cache:x50VGXrWM4sJ:www.kmbc.com/download/2008/1219/18317416.pdf+where+kansas+city+ranks+as+a+major+market&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us

According to Wiki, KC is the 27th largest TV market.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_television_stations_in_North_America_by_media_market

 

That's an outstanding pull

 

I don't know the market number offhand, but KC is closer to places like Milwaukee and Indianapolis than it is, say, Houston or Seattle. EDIT: I see someone has pulled the numbers since I typed that. The NHL and the NBA have already pulled up stakes in the past. It's hard to see how KC could support more than the Chiefs and Royals, and it's not as if the latter are packing the place.

The NHL has a problem simply of having too many teams to support at current prices. Maybe you can let Senor Blackberry take a team to Southern Ontario, but otherwise unless Toronto and Montreal each got another franchise (population and hockey interest, in theory the markets could support more than one team), you're hard-pressed to find places that are chomping at the bit to get the NHL. Milwaukee can't support another team. Seattle might be a possibility with the Sonics gone. I know Houston has been discussed for years, so many it is large enough to overcome its southern location. Nashville's problem is that the city was behind the Predators when it appeared it was the only major league team it could get. Once the Oilers arrived, the Preds were forgotten in a second.

The other option is deflation. Ticket prices get lower, salaries get lower. If the economy doesn't turn around anytime soon, other leagues are going to find themselves in the same position, high interest or no.

 

Houston is a horrible sports town. The NHL would be crazy to put a team there. KC would be the better choice.

Heck, San Antonio would probably be a better choice than Houston. There isn't enough corporate money to support an NFL or MLB team but there is probably enough for an NHL team and there's already a pretty nice arena there.

 

One more time, with feeling.

The link I put up is from the Television Advertsing Bureau.

US TV households by market.

 

And, given his stubbornness and public backing of the teams on the brink, don't be the least bit surprised if Gary Bettman knows about it.

 

This is America. We don't have "cheques."

 

First sign you're not in Kansas anymore.

 

Cheques and balances? ;D

 

And, remember, if you don't like the attendance figures, just say they're fabricated.

Oh, is this shit a hoot or what?

 

or the tickets cost 10 bucks. Attendance is the last way this thing should be judged. What's there local tv contract, or radio contract. Where are they on the sports pages? Do people actually care? The Predators have lost close to 75 million and they receive an NHL welfare cheque.
My question to you is do you believe that Nashville is an NHL market? I think Atlanta, Phoenix and Miami are worse but Nashville is close.
I wish the NHL would just be OK with the sport being a niche sport in the States, there is nothing wrong with that.

 

Anybody in Kansas should start packing immediately. No real reason to stay there.