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There was a time when the NHL was in the business of relocating franchises.
Between 1995 and 1997, the NHL oversaw the transfer of three franchises in consecutive seasons — the Quebec Nordiques to Colorado in 1995, the Winnipeg Jets to Phoenix in 1996 and the Hartford Whalers to Carolina in 1997.
Since then, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has shown a preference for keeping franchises where they are, despite market and attendance issues. This bodes well for an Ottawa market that is still bristling from Senators owner Eugene Melnyk’s remark that he would consider moving the franchise “if it becomes a disaster.”
Bettman and deputy commissioner Bill Daly said during the NHL 100 Classic festivities in Ottawa on the weekend that no franchise can be moved simply because an owner might want to — 30 other NHL representatives on the board of governors would have to consent to the move.
Without the LeBreton option, the Senators do have some factors in common with the three most recent relocations of NHL teams, including declining attendance and debt financing.
Atlanta Thrashers to Winnipeg, 2011: As part of its southern imprint, the NHL desperately wanted a franchise to succeed in Atlanta, so much so it went there twice — first with the Flames in 1972 (they moved to Calgary in 1980) and then the Thrashers in 1999, also destined for a Canadian home — Winnipeg. Named for the Georgia state bird, the Thrashers had difficulty taking flight in football-mad Georgia. Beyond a few hockey diehards, Atlanta’s NHL team was barely noticed at its farewell conference, let alone when the club was alive. Attendance issues and financial problems led to the sale of the team to True North Sports and Entertainment in Winnipeg after Thrashers co-owner Michael Gearon failed to find an interested buyer in Atlanta. The $170-million deal included a $60-million relocation fee shared by the rest of the league. The Thrashers were losing between $20 million and $40 million per season. For Jets fans, of course, the move represented a second chance after losing their NHL franchise in 1996. The Jets are co-owned by Mark Chipman and David Thomson. Thomson has been named the richest person in Canada by Forbes magazine.
Hartford Whalers to Carolina, 1997:
Unlike the Thrashers, the Whalers had a core of passionate hockey fans, first in the WHA, then in the NHL. In the WHA the Whalers were known as the New England Whalers, playing games in the Boston Garden until scheduling conflicts caused them to shift to Hartford, Conn., in 1974. When the WHA and NHL merged in 1979, the Whalers were one of four WHA clubs to join the NHL. The others were Edmonton, Quebec and Winnipeg. The Whalers were unable to fill their 15,000-seat arena, in part because fans in the region had so many sporting options, including nearby NHL teams in the Rangers, Islanders, Devils and Bruins. In 1994, Whalers owner Peter Karmanos threatened to move the club if it didn’t sell 11,000 season tickets, a target it never reached.
Winnipeg Jets to Phoenix, 1996: Of all the dearly departed franchises over the years, few drew as many stars as Winnipeg, home to Bobby Hull, Ulf Nilsson and Anders Hedberg in the WHA days and then Dale Hawerchuk and Teemu Selanne for the NHL Jets. Yet, a losing team, an NHL lockout and a failed 1995 effort by the Spirit of Manitoba to raise enough funds to keep the team in Winnipeg resulted in a move to Phoenix. Today the team plays out of suburban Glendale and struggles to ice a competitive team or draw fans.
wscanlan@postmedia.com
twitter/@hockeyscanner
查看原文...
Between 1995 and 1997, the NHL oversaw the transfer of three franchises in consecutive seasons — the Quebec Nordiques to Colorado in 1995, the Winnipeg Jets to Phoenix in 1996 and the Hartford Whalers to Carolina in 1997.
Since then, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has shown a preference for keeping franchises where they are, despite market and attendance issues. This bodes well for an Ottawa market that is still bristling from Senators owner Eugene Melnyk’s remark that he would consider moving the franchise “if it becomes a disaster.”
Bettman and deputy commissioner Bill Daly said during the NHL 100 Classic festivities in Ottawa on the weekend that no franchise can be moved simply because an owner might want to — 30 other NHL representatives on the board of governors would have to consent to the move.
Without the LeBreton option, the Senators do have some factors in common with the three most recent relocations of NHL teams, including declining attendance and debt financing.
Atlanta Thrashers to Winnipeg, 2011: As part of its southern imprint, the NHL desperately wanted a franchise to succeed in Atlanta, so much so it went there twice — first with the Flames in 1972 (they moved to Calgary in 1980) and then the Thrashers in 1999, also destined for a Canadian home — Winnipeg. Named for the Georgia state bird, the Thrashers had difficulty taking flight in football-mad Georgia. Beyond a few hockey diehards, Atlanta’s NHL team was barely noticed at its farewell conference, let alone when the club was alive. Attendance issues and financial problems led to the sale of the team to True North Sports and Entertainment in Winnipeg after Thrashers co-owner Michael Gearon failed to find an interested buyer in Atlanta. The $170-million deal included a $60-million relocation fee shared by the rest of the league. The Thrashers were losing between $20 million and $40 million per season. For Jets fans, of course, the move represented a second chance after losing their NHL franchise in 1996. The Jets are co-owned by Mark Chipman and David Thomson. Thomson has been named the richest person in Canada by Forbes magazine.
Hartford Whalers to Carolina, 1997:
Unlike the Thrashers, the Whalers had a core of passionate hockey fans, first in the WHA, then in the NHL. In the WHA the Whalers were known as the New England Whalers, playing games in the Boston Garden until scheduling conflicts caused them to shift to Hartford, Conn., in 1974. When the WHA and NHL merged in 1979, the Whalers were one of four WHA clubs to join the NHL. The others were Edmonton, Quebec and Winnipeg. The Whalers were unable to fill their 15,000-seat arena, in part because fans in the region had so many sporting options, including nearby NHL teams in the Rangers, Islanders, Devils and Bruins. In 1994, Whalers owner Peter Karmanos threatened to move the club if it didn’t sell 11,000 season tickets, a target it never reached.
Winnipeg Jets to Phoenix, 1996: Of all the dearly departed franchises over the years, few drew as many stars as Winnipeg, home to Bobby Hull, Ulf Nilsson and Anders Hedberg in the WHA days and then Dale Hawerchuk and Teemu Selanne for the NHL Jets. Yet, a losing team, an NHL lockout and a failed 1995 effort by the Spirit of Manitoba to raise enough funds to keep the team in Winnipeg resulted in a move to Phoenix. Today the team plays out of suburban Glendale and struggles to ice a competitive team or draw fans.
wscanlan@postmedia.com
twitter/@hockeyscanner
查看原文...
