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Thanks for reading and responding again, David. First, I've been told by other Winnipeg fans that the arena is unexpandable and even if it was, I doubt if it could be expanded up to the level of an NHL size rink. eg. Hamilton can expand to 18,500 and 200 luxury boxes.
There is good news though. Chris mentioned in one of his comments that a member of the Thomson family might be interested in bringing a team to Winnipeg. If that is true, that would be the best news for Winnipeg because Thomson is just the type of investor that Winnipeg needs. But I'm not sold on a 15,000 seat arena and I don't know if he would be either. The best news would be if he decided to front a bid and build a proper NHL arena. That would put Winnipeg in the forefront of expansion and give them a real edge on some of their competitors. They still would have to overcome the anti-Canadian policies of the NHL and the Canadian owners who don't want to share their tv money.
59 days ago
Thanks again for responding, David. It would be great if Winnipeg got a team even with its small arena but it would be better and the franchise more secure if they built a proper NHL size arena. Here are some other factors to consider.
1. The Survival Factor
I want to see Winnipeg get a team that's in the league permanently. I'll tell you what I don't want to see. I don't want to see Winnipeg get a team and then what happened to them in the 1990's when there were bad times happen again. Right now the Canadian dollar is near par with the US one and Winnipeg even with a small arena can afford quality free agents. But if times get bad and the dollar goes down, they could be forced to hold fire sales like Phoenix or be forced to leave again. And if they leave a second time, the NHL will be gone for good. Quebec and Winnipeg disappeared in the 1990's. Why did the other Canadian teams survive? Because they built proper arenas to get them through tough times. The maxim in the sports world for arenas and stadiums is luxury for rich people and the bigger the better (see Jerry Jones in Dallas). A bigger arena will keep Winnipeg in the NHL through tough times. A bigger arena also generates more revenue than a small one. Winnipeg needs a big arena to make up for its small market size. Also to be noted is that the current arena can't be expanded any further. A greedy owner can hold the city to blackmail for a new arena just like it's been done in the NFL and other sports.
2. The Team Quality Factor
A bigger and better arena means that Winnipeg can afford expensive free agents and sign their developed players to generous contracts. What's the good of Winnipeg getting a team that just scrapes by and never competes for the Stanley Cup? Is that what Winnipeg fans want?
3. The Competition Factor
If Winnipeg wants a team again, it is going to have to compete against other cities. It already has two black marks against it because it is Canadian and because it is a small market. A large arena will help make up for these factors. Currently Winnipeg has to compete against Kansas City which built an NHL size arena of 18,000+ though it looks like the Islanders will move there if they don't get a new arena. But if any other American city complies with the arena factor, Winnipeg immediately runs second to them. As I mentioned in the last note, Hartford's mayor is willing to support a new arena if investors can be found. Quebecor is actively looking for new investors to build a new NHL size arena. Finally, if the greed compensation factor can be resolved, Hamilton's arena is a much better one than Winnipeg's. $50 million has already been pledged to upgrade it. To put it in perspective, Winnipeg's 15,000 unexpandable arena holds 62 luxury boxes. A renovated Copps Coleseum can hold 18,500 seats and 200 luxury boxes. How is Winnipeg going to compete with these cities?
4. The Investor Factor
Simply put, a bigger arena will attract better investors and more quickly.
5. The Fan Factor
You mention that the new arena will charge $70.00 a ticket. In other words, by your own admission, Winnipeg's arena can only support an NHL team if it sells tickets to rich people and corporations. When you watch Toronto games, do you notice the large number of empty seats at the start of each period? Why? Because these seats are held by rich people and corporations to entertain clients who are busy in the bar areas cutting deals instead of watching the hockey game. Is this the kind of situation Winnipeg fans want? Can you afford $70.00 tickets regularly?
62 days ago
Thanks for reading and commenting on my article, David. Winnipeg's arena is too small at just over 15,000 to support an NHL and here's all the evidence I have to back up my opinion.
1. Winnipeg's management has publicly stated that the new arena is for the AHL not the NHL.
2. The New York Islanders with the NHL's smallest arena, 1,500 seats more than Winnipeg is facing relocation because their arena is too small.
3. Pittsburgh with an arena that nearly 2,000 seats more than Winnipeg is building a new arena because they can no longer meet expenses in the too small old one.
4. Hartford which wants its team back just like Winnipeg has an arena the size of Winnipeg's and the mayor has publicly stated that he is willing to find ways to build a larger one because the current arena is too small.
5. Quebecor which is fronting a bid to get the Nordiques back is currently looking for more investors to build a new larger arena because the current Winnipeg size one is too small.
6. If Winnipeg had a proper NHL size arena, don't you think an investor would have made a bid for the Coyotes? The NHL would rather go back to Winnipeg than Balsillie and Hamilton.
I want to see Winnipeg back in the NHL but they won't get any consideration until they build a competitive NHL size arena of 18,000+.
62 days ago
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