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nuxfan
PickupHockey All-Star
3670 Posts |
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Beans15
Moderator
Canada
8286 Posts |
 Posted - 09/13/2011 : 17:19:27
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This is not that surprising if you follow the financials of the NHL at all. NJ spent a huge sum of money on their new arena and have never really had a great fan base nor great corporate sponsors. This is another indication of putting too many teams in one market. This means that of the 3 teams in the Greater New York area, only the Rangers are profitable.
This should be an indication of what would eventually happen with another team in southern Ontario. Regardless of what people believe would happen, either a new team in southern Ontario or Buffalo would eventually collapse.
This, on a larger scale, is also a measure that the NHL is simply too big. If the league was scaled back to the 24-26 most profitable markets, they would have less direct revenue but would make substantially higher profit. However, they would have a harder time breaking into mainstream American markets with fewer teams and struggle to get lucrative TV deals which is where the big money is at.
Hopefully a long term solution is found for many struggling markets. I would suggest when Forbes brings out their next list on the NHL that there are 14-16 un-profitable teams with 6-8 teams producing nearly all of the financial loss. |
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MrBoogedy
Rookie
Canada
195 Posts |
Posted - 09/13/2011 : 21:41:33
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| That really sucks. I hope this gets resolved quickly for the sake of the team. It's one thing to have a team like Atanta move. They were not in the NHL a long time, had no playoff success to speak of what so ever. They had no history per se. The Devils on the other hand have made their mark. Even though they play boring hockey, i still hope this situation gets taken care of. |
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Guest6786
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Posted - 09/14/2011 : 05:38:37
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| I remember seeing the highlights of their first game at the new arena. usually opening nights like that draw sell out crowds. Not in NJ! if i recall correctly is was barley half full. after seeing that you knew they were in trouble..... |
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Pasty7
PickupHockey Veteran
Canada
2312 Posts |
Posted - 09/14/2011 : 06:22:08
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Any team that has been as dominant as the NJD have for the better part of 2 decades and on most nights have trouble drawing 10 000 people to the rink is in the wrong market
"I led the league in "Go get 'em next time." - Bob Uecker
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n/a
deleted
4809 Posts |
Posted - 09/14/2011 : 10:29:11
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quote:
Originally posted by Pasty7
Any team that has been as dominant as the NJD have for the better part of 2 decades and on most nights have trouble drawing 10 000 people to the rink is in the wrong market
"I led the league in "Go get 'em next time." - Bob Uecker
Completely agree.
Unfortunately, the league isn't built anymore on real fan support, it's built on corporate sponsorship. Eventually, yes, in a poor market without fan support, the corporate sponsorship will also give out . . . but as we saw with Phoenix, they can have poor attendance for the entire time, and have a poor performance, and STILL survive longer than anyone thought possible.
I mean . . . it would be a shame in many ways to see New Jersey go, of course . . . but I don't like to see markets like that when we have markets that are starving for hockey, begging for a team (southern Ont).
In the end, I can't see them NOT getting saved. But there will be other american teams leaving for sure, and because of financial dire straits, I truly think there will be a forced contraction in the NHL's future.
"Take off, eh?" - Bob and Doug |
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nuxfan
PickupHockey All-Star
3670 Posts |
Posted - 09/14/2011 : 10:43:41
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quote:
I mean . . . it would be a shame in many ways to see New Jersey go, of course . . . but I don't like to see markets like that when we have markets that are starving for hockey, begging for a team (southern Ont).
Actually, I think the specific market might be the real issue - can New Jersey support its own team, given what else is around them?
The Devils play out of Newark, which is a 30 minute car ride from Manhattan. However, Philadelphia is only a couple of hours by car the other way and sits on the NJ/Penn border. Then to the north of NY you're officially into New England, which is Bruins territory and they have a fierce following from Connecticut north. These 3 teams have very deep fan bases, and they extend pretty far. Go another hour afield, and you run into Pittsburgh and Washington DC, also with similar fan bases.
Who is left in NJ to support the Devils? Its quite possible that the NHL is running into a saturation point for the US NE, and the Devils may be the first victim. |
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Beans15
Moderator
Canada
8286 Posts |
Posted - 09/15/2011 : 08:45:31
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As I said, this is a perfect case study on oversaturation of a market place. Whatever people shortsightedly assume about Southern Ontario is also wrong. Put a team in Hamilton and eventually Hamilton or Buffalo would be gone. What would the point of that be??
Starving hockey market is a cliche over used by fans who don't understand the long term impact. Saskatoon is a starving hockey market. Quebec City is a starving hockey market. Seattle is starving hockey market. At one time Kansas City and Las Vegas were starving hockey markets.
Viability is the key and too many teams in one area has never proven to work in any sport. Why would it be any different with hockey in southern Ontario?? Oh, that's right. Because they are a starving hockey market. |
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Pasty7
PickupHockey Veteran
Canada
2312 Posts |
Posted - 09/15/2011 : 09:10:17
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quote:
Originally posted by Beans15
As I said, this is a perfect case study on oversaturation of a market place. Whatever people shortsightedly assume about Southern Ontario is also wrong. Put a team in Hamilton and eventually Hamilton or Buffalo would be gone. What would the point of that be??
Starving hockey market is a cliche over used by fans who don't understand the long term impact. Saskatoon is a starving hockey market. Quebec City is a starving hockey market. Seattle is starving hockey market. At one time Kansas City and Las Vegas were starving hockey markets.
Viability is the key and too many teams in one area has never proven to work in any sport. Why would it be any different with hockey in southern Ontario?? Oh, that's right. Because they are a starving hockey market.
I tend to agree with this Beans places like Quebec, Seattle vegas or Saskatoon would maybe not be the sellouts like Minnesota Montreal Toronto or many others but they could easily consistantly bring 15 000 people to the rink on a nightly basis and that is good enough for a franchise to prosper,
"I led the league in "Go get 'em next time." - Bob Uecker
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Leafs81
PickupHockey Pro
735 Posts |
Posted - 09/16/2011 : 11:30:02
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Moncton 
hehe Nah I know Quebec is the biggest hockey market without a team right now. I also always thought that Seattle would have the support.
I agree with Beans if there's a team in Hamilton, then Buffalo falters. Anybody been to a Buffalo game, even if it's Buffalo against Pittsburgh, they sign the Oh Canada. Because like 40% of those fans are canadians. If those fans doesn't have to cross the border to go see a game, Buffalo wont last long.
Go Québec.
Didn't the franchise of New Jersey moved twice already, like Cleveland, Colorado and then New Jersey? |
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NJD in financial trouble 
