WHY ARE CANADIAN CITIES IGNORED FOR NHL RELOCATION AND EXPANSION?

With the Arizona Coyotes potentially moving to Salt Lake city... are Canadian cities being ignored too much by the NHL for relocation/expansion purposes? Brian Hayes and Gino Reda discuss the topic on 7-Eleven That's Hockey.

[SverigeiSverige]

Atlanta gave Canada 2 teams - Calgary & Winnipeg. 😉

[shawnw]

Not rocket science....Quebec has highest tax rates in country and the government is overbearing.

[mikhalgren]

Why the SLC hate? Utah loves their sports. They have been screaming for another pro team for decades.

[ygdgxmg]

When Quebec City's population reaches 1 million, then we can talk about them getting a franchise again. With the Canadian dollar at $0.73 US, anything less is just asking for financial troubles and yet another relocation down the road.

[mercenaryk]

What a stupid analysis. First of all its not just about selling tickets, its about corporate dollars, television market, and future projections. The fact is Salt Lake City is a growing city, with a thriving corporate environment, a rich owner and a hockey ready facility. It makes sense to move there. Quebec City has a passionate fan base and a hockey ready arena and nothing else. No major corporations, no big television market. It will struggle to field a competitive team like Winnipeg and move in 10 years. The fact is NHL is now only viable in large metropolitian areas and cities where is a strong corporate culture. Small market Canadian cities wont work anymore.

[kellenc_]

I’m Canadian and find it hilarious how little these guys know about sports economics. Hamilton and Quebec don’t hold a candle to atleast 5 American cities without a team. Popularity doesn’t correlate with financial success. The nhl is going where the money is just as they should.

[thecedex]

To be honest, I wouldn't be surprised if the owners of the Habs and the Leafs vetoed bringing a new team to Quebec City

[pierrepellerin]

It's not money, it's geography. The Coyotes are in the western conference, Salt Lake is in the west, Quebec in the east. Do you really think the league would go 15-17 in their conference setting? Now if they do an expansion, Quebec will get a team. However, Ottawa and Winnipeg showed that small canadian markets lose money and bring no new audience to the league. The only reason they might go to Quebec is if they have nowhere else to go on the east.

[slavicsoup]

Need anyone remind that crazy guy on the right that Canadas government is to blame here? Really. Honestly you would be more likely to get an NHL franchise if you got rid of Trudeau rather than worrying about Bettman. Bettman isn’t to blame for the Canadian market crashing and burning.

[MrGertus]

This is gonna age poorly. Utah has rabid fans.

[TWKOZAK]

The media might have insecure egos, but this Canadian doesn't. As a former business owner, when you invest in a business, you want to make a profit. With ten times the population, America is a much better choice. Get over trying to pass the stale Kool-Aid. Canada is more than good with its teams.

[thirdstockiii]

The most recent relocation was to a Canadian city?

[mikeyrichards]

Because some billionaires in Utah actually have the money to back up an NHL team. Plain and simple, markets are difficult in Canada!

[Astincone]

It’s not that difficult to understand:

1. High taxes.
2. Small markets.

It’s why Quebec and Hamilton will never get NHL teams.

[Entername-mdev]

There’s many reasons why this makes sense:
- Same general area as Phoenix so no need to redo the divisions/conferences
- Cold weather in Utah means there’s potential for hockey I think this team can do well in SLC
- Despite only being the 41st largest metro in the US it is still significantly larger than any Canadian city that doesn’t currently have a team
- Economy is better with lower taxes, citizens have better purchasing power, and the Canadian dollar is weak at the moment compared to the dollar
- Expands geographical footprint to grow the game which Bettman said bluntly is what he’s trying to do
- No language laws in US markets like you see in Canada especially with a market like Québec City

[zachhaist]

SLC has been making noise and I havnt heard a thing out of Quebec from a potential owner for a while

[kjorlaug]

Quebec City has one major problem: The Habs. They will never allow another team in Quebec

[zwccwwy]

I think Houston is a better market than Salt lake city or Quebec city but i am looking at it from a financial perspective. I think there are politics involved with the salt lake city winter Olympics bid for 2034. The owner of the Nba houston rockets has come out and said he wants an nhl team. I think the nhl might need to hire some MBA grads with a financial specialty.

[AbesamisM]

I’m Canadian . Who cares . It’s business

[adamhustler]

Where else will we put a team? Saskatoon or Regina? Victoria? East coast provinces wouldn't be able to hold up a team. The only real option would be bringing back the Nordiques, but is there really a point?