Thread: NY Post: NHL preparing to take over the Devils

Originally Posted by orpheus

I still think we should buy them, I want an LGK owned team, dammitt!

We could buy the yotes but they will always suck, haha!

I was actually thinking the same thing. I was drinking of course when I had this thought though. I wonder how much each LGK member would have to put in to buy an NHL team?

Originally Posted by LOSTcauseZERO

I was actually thinking the same thing. I was drinking of course when I had this thought though. I wonder how much each LGK member would have to put in to buy an NHL team?

Thinking, wishing, and wondering are all good thoughts.
My large sum of money would only be like putting a half penny inside the donation box at the local supermarket box.
I think if some of the major Entertainment groups/Hotel owners in Vegas got together, they could buy an NHL team
and/or NBA team for that matter, build an arena and be a success.
Think of the road trips for LA,ANA,PHO,SJ,VAN,CAL,EDM,MIN, COLO, DAL ect.
Plus less travel for the west and who would not want to go to Vegas for a road trip?

However, both PHO and NJ have build new Arenas, so who knows what will happen.

A hockey team in Las Vegas would fail financially. There aren't enough people living there permanently to support a team that plays a sport that isn't popular. The majority of people who go to Las Vegas aren't going there to watch a hockey game.

Originally Posted by LOSTcauseZERO

A hockey team in Las Vegas would fail financially. There aren't enough people living there permanently to support a team that plays a sport that isn't popular. The majority of people who go to Las Vegas aren't going there to watch a hockey game.

what exactly was the story with the thunder? Were they ever given an honest chance?

Originally Posted by jammer06

what exactly was the story with the thunder? Were they ever given an honest chance?

I gathered up some data from hockeydb.com and unlv.edu and this is what I came up with.

The Las Vegas Thunder played in the now defunct International Hockey League (IHL) at the Thomas and Mack Center. According to unlv.edu, the venue has a 18,500 capacity. The Thunder averaged 8,018 (according to hockeydb.com) during the 1993-1994 season, which was their first season. The team's average attendance dropped every season the following 5 years the team existed. During their final season in 1998-1999, the team only averaged 5,001. The Thunder folded following that season, and the entire league disbanded in 2001.

It's tough to say 100% if the Thunder were given an honest chance. I personally think they were. I realized they played in a bigger venue than every other minor pro team in North America, but declining attendance every season is not a good sign. As I said, I do not think an NHL team would be financially successful in Las Vegas. I think the same mess that occurred with the Phoenix Coyotes would happen all over again.

there is a minor league9ECHL) team in Vegas. The Las Vegas Wranglers, they play the the Orleans. Crowds arent huge but they are a decent team. They went to the finals last year. They averaged 4339 a game last year. Compared to Ontario Reign at 6309 at the top spot

Originally Posted by LOSTcauseZERO

A hockey team in Las Vegas would fail financially.

How so? Break it down for us.

Originally Posted by LOSTcauseZERO

There aren't enough people living there permanently to support a team that plays a sport that isn't popular.

Really, I thought there was close to a Million living there. Speaking of a sport that isn't popular, LA isn't the Hockey hot bed of towns either and probably still ranks a 4th on popularity behind college football. By the way, Jack Kent Cooke says "Hi"

Originally Posted by LOSTcauseZERO

The majority of people who go to Las Vegas aren't going there to watch a hockey game.

Most people who go to Vegas would be easily persuaded to go to an NHL game. Not only that, an NHL team would be Vegas' first Pro team in that city.

Originally Posted by PTDP

How so? Break it down for us.
Really, I thought there was close to a Million living there. Speaking of a sport that isn't popular, LA isn't the Hockey hot bed of towns either and probably still ranks a 4th on popularity behind college football. By the way, Jack Kent Cooke says "Hi"


Most people who go to Vegas would be easily persuaded to go to an NHL game. Not only that, an NHL team would be Vegas' first Pro team in that city.

I've been living in LV for 30+ years. As bad as I would want to have an NHL team here, I know it would fail miserably...much worse than the Yotes for sure.

I have no data to back this up, just experience. I don't know what it is exactly, fickle fanbase maybe, I don't know, but this city just doesn't have what it takes to sustain any major professional sports franchise. We've had numerous teams fail here that have promised longevity, but the most common ingredient to their failures was that the fans just stopped showing up, whether the teams won or lost.

I loved the Thunder and went to at least 10 games every year. It was a lot of fun watching those teams each year they were here. It wasn't shocking to anyone when they folded.

Originally Posted by PTDP

How so? Break it down for us.
Really, I thought there was close to a Million living there. Speaking of a sport that isn't popular, LA isn't the Hockey hot bed of towns either and probably still ranks a 4th on popularity behind college football. By the way, Jack Kent Cooke says "Hi"
Most people who go to Vegas would be easily persuaded to go to an NHL game. Not only that, an NHL team would be Vegas' first Pro team in that city.

See my above post.
Los Angeles and it's surrounding areas have a much larger population than Las Vegas. And hockey isn't popular in America. That's a fact and you and I both know that.