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The NHL is expanding to Las Vegas, the city's first pro-sports team
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Las Vegas will select 30 players from the 30 existing teams. Each team can protect 8 skaters and 1 goaltender. Players with NMC's must be protected. Players who have not played two NHL seasons are exempt. They select from what's left.
They are also "seeded" in the draft with the same odds as the 28th place team. That's next years draft, not the one that's happening this weekend.
Seattle doesn't have an NHL arena or ownership group at the moment. There's been talk but they need a new building, and the City has been less than motivated to help build it.
The NHL will likely follow the NBA to that market in ~10 years.
I would be amazed if any kind of gambling reference is in their name.
Quebec became lukewarm over expansion some time ago. With the CAD being volatile, if they were to go all-on on their bid last summer, they risked committing to an huge $700M+ CAD bid depending on the strength of the dollar. Small market Canadian teams are guaranteed a base and modest success - but not gangbusters profit margins, so that's a huge initial investment.
That ownership group knows that they are first in-line when an Eastern team needs to be relocated. It will cost them less money and probably be a more immediately competitive squad than one they'd create via expansion.
TheGamingBox
Banned
coyotes started having problems when they moved to glendale, they were doing good when they actually played in phoenix
gutter_trash
Banned
why did the move a team out of the city into the burbs???
TheGamingBox
Banned
cause the phoenix arena was terrible for hockey
Arizona has tons of sports competition. Las Vegas does not. The Vegas arena isn't buried in a suburb, 45 minutes away from the actual city.
Vegas easily sold 13,000 season tickets to demonstrate the markets support for the franchise. It's also the #1 tourist destination on planet earth, and we've seen Canadian tourism and show-birds make a difference in US markets before.
Vegas easily sold 13,000 season tickets to demonstrate the markets support for the franchise. It's also the #1 tourist destination on planet earth, and we've seen Canadian tourism and show-birds make a difference in US markets before.
CreeperBlocks
Banned
That's not bad. I like it.
Las Vegas Knights sounds better or Aces. I kinda hope Las Vegas Succeeds because I could go see a Montreal Canadiens game in Vegas for cheap. The Arena that they built for the team looks beautiful inside and outside.
I also Welcome anyone to join NHLGAF in the off season community when Las Vegas comes officially to town, but you can still root for another team for the time being
ShinRPGamer
Member
Not completely true. Even in Phoenix, they never had a profitable season. They just lost less during that time.
Soapbox Killer
Grand Nagus
The Black Knights is a slick way of trying to make a pitch for the Raiders to move to Vegas.
I'm pretty sure the NHL would love to put a team in Seattle; I wouldn't be surprised if it was their #1 target for expansion. But they also need a viable ownership group and a plan with the city for construction of an acceptable arena.
dem
Member
This is going to do much better than the naysayers think. The arena is right on the freakin strip. Canadian tourists will flock to this. When I've been down there Ive found the locals quite receptive to hockey.
I will 100% do a guys trip to watch the Oilers in Vegas.
Absolutely hate the "Black Knights" name though. I see an LA Kings ripoff jersey in the making.
I will 100% do a guys trip to watch the Oilers in Vegas.
Absolutely hate the "Black Knights" name though. I see an LA Kings ripoff jersey in the making.
User 479360
Banned
Awesome. This will make for a more interesting league.
I'm really looking forward to finding out the team's name and jersey designs.
I'm really looking forward to finding out the team's name and jersey designs.
There's a ton of fan interest, and a ridiculous amount for the NBA, but right now the city politicians just don't want a new arena. The city won't get a new professional team right now.
They probably won't for another decade or so.
NHL got screwed around by unstable ownership so that's why they're expecting a lot from expansion teams now. A quality arena, ticket sale commitments, and a huge $500M expansion fee. That financial commitment from an owner should ensure ownership is serious about making it work.
Vegas provided all that. It might not seem like a hockey hotbed, but it's a serious bid that Seattle can't match at this time.
Vegas provided all that. It might not seem like a hockey hotbed, but it's a serious bid that Seattle can't match at this time.
Hurt and Scared
Member
CosmicQueso
Member
The Vegas arena will unquestionably sell out every night. The arena is right on the strip with 40m visitors annually. Real question for me is what will the TV ratings be like?
America West Arena's upper deck on one end extended so far that people seated in that section could not see the near end goal. The arena was made for basketball.
Negotiations are ongoing for a joint arena with ASU in Tempe, very close to Scottsdale (where all the money is and 45 minutes away from Glendale), the airport, and downtown.
Yeah, when I saw that I was shocked. It was such a dagger to the Coyotes selling out (who the hell wants to sit in an end where you can't see 1 of the goals?!!?) that I couldn't believe they were doing something similar in New York of all places. Stupid.
America West Arena's upper deck on one end extended so far that people seated in that section could not see the near end goal. The arena was made for basketball.
Negotiations are ongoing for a joint arena with ASU in Tempe, very close to Scottsdale (where all the money is and 45 minutes away from Glendale), the airport, and downtown.
Yeah, when I saw that I was shocked. It was such a dagger to the Coyotes selling out (who the hell wants to sit in an end where you can't see 1 of the goals?!!?) that I couldn't believe they were doing something similar in New York of all places. Stupid.
Tom Nook
Member
The Vegas arena will unquestionably sell out every night. The arena is right on the strip with 40m visitors annually. Real question for me is what will the TV ratings be like?
America West Arena's upper deck on one end extended so far that people seated in that section could not see the near end goal. The arena was made for basketball.
Negotiations are ongoing for a joint arena with ASU in Tempe, very close to Scottsdale (where all the money is and 45 minutes away from Glendale), the airport, and downtown.
Better sight lines than Barclays.
Rhomega Beta
Member
I'm reminded of a PC game called HyperBlade. Call them the Las Vegas Blackjack.
Kuro Madoushi
Unconfirmed Member
I'd love to visit and catch a game there one time.
They should be the Las Vegas Random Dudes Handing Out Cards With Naked Girls On Them That Slap The Cards Against Their Hands When You Don't Take One
They should be the Las Vegas Random Dudes Handing Out Cards With Naked Girls On Them That Slap The Cards Against Their Hands When You Don't Take One
tearsintherain
Member
Its funny as a local this isn't even news really, literally no one I've talked to today mentioned this or probably even knows this is a thing. Still, the arena is brand new, absolutely gorgeous, not huge so shouldn't be hard to fill, and casinos will buy out every available ticket every night to give out to valued gamblers so its pretty much a guaranteed money maker.
I don't think that many locals are going to really care, hockey just isn't a big deal and I am 100% sure if I told every person I meet this week that the NHL finals are this weekend everyone would believe me (hell maybe they are I have no idea). Hopefully it paves the way for NBA down the road.
The t-mobile arena is near the south end of the strip in between New York, NY and Monte Carlo/CityCenter. I believe Monte Carlo has been scheduled for a massive retrofit next year, getting a new parks theme and I will bet they will add a bunch more stuff fronting the arena. Next to the arena on the NYNY side is a Shake Shack, if you visit definitely recommend you try that!
The real downside is the summer temps, today its 110-114F (~55-58C?) outside and that happens for pretty much most of June, July, and August.
I don't think that many locals are going to really care, hockey just isn't a big deal and I am 100% sure if I told every person I meet this week that the NHL finals are this weekend everyone would believe me (hell maybe they are I have no idea). Hopefully it paves the way for NBA down the road.
The t-mobile arena is near the south end of the strip in between New York, NY and Monte Carlo/CityCenter. I believe Monte Carlo has been scheduled for a massive retrofit next year, getting a new parks theme and I will bet they will add a bunch more stuff fronting the arena. Next to the arena on the NYNY side is a Shake Shack, if you visit definitely recommend you try that!
The real downside is the summer temps, today its 110-114F (~55-58C?) outside and that happens for pretty much most of June, July, and August.
yankeehater
Member
Las Vegas criminals sounds good to me.
The Power Of Snap
Member
But there is already a King in the NHL, the LA Kings.... so what would that make the Penguins?
An Emperor
Yikes.America West Arena's upper deck on one end extended so far that people seated in that section could not see the near end goal. The arena was made for basketball.
dukeoflegs
Member
Could have been Seattle buuuuut nooooo the City counsel vote no on the new arena plan 5-4. We'll never get a basketball or hockey team. Watching the t-birds is great but I want NHL.
Seattle doesn't have an arena for hockey period. Key Arena or what's left of it was not designed for hockey. If it was hockey usable then John McCaw would have moved the Canucks to Seattle years ago.
Came looking for this, thank you sir.
Well this actually improves that somewhat as there were only 14 western conferences teams vs the eastern's 16. They will most likely look for another western team to even it out.
This was a result of complete division overhaul that move Detroit and Columbus to the eastern conference(which brought mixed emotions, no more late night playoff games, but effectively ended the det-col and det-chi rivalries.)
It was originally a 15/15 even split but these things happened:
Atlanta moved to Winnipeg.
- Briefly the Jets had to tough out that Southeast Division but this was really problematic for travel and unsustainable
Detroit and Columbus have wanted to move for years because they were lumped in the Western Conference years ago. Like Winnipeg this is terrible for travel and even worse due to playing West teams and the time difference.
So they did realignment and that's how we ended up with 14/16.
Several leagues have had an uneven number of teams at times. Eg in the NFL at least one team had a bye week every week.
CosmicQueso
Member
Yeah. That's what makes the whole "The Coyotes didn't sell out even when they were Downtown!" stuff such bullshit.
They couldn't sell that section out even under $20/seat, and why would they? You can't see the game!
Whatever. Vegas will sell out every night, as will the Coyotes when they get to the arena in Tempe. Then Canada can focus on stealing Carolina or Tampa or something.
I want Seattle to get a team too. Vegas works for now though, I'll be visiting in 2017-18 for sure whenever they have a few home games in a row.
Livingskeletons
If I pulled that off, would you die?
Can't wait for all the medieval/royal puns when the Kings play them.
Robot Pants
Member
Las Vegas Pit Bosses
Las Vegas Bouncers
Las Vegas Strips
Las Vegas Heat
Las Vegas Blue Diamonds
Las Vegas Chips
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Las Vegas High Rollers
Las Vegas Snake Eyes
Las Vegas Slots
Las Vegas Station
Las Vegas Bouncers
Las Vegas Strips
Las Vegas Heat
Las Vegas Blue Diamonds
Las Vegas Chips
Las Vegas Dice
Las Vegas High Rollers
Las Vegas Snake Eyes
Las Vegas Slots
Las Vegas Station
Shao Kahn Brewing a Stew
Banned
Seriously, this is a shitty name.
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