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Alex116
PickupHockey Legend
6113 Posts |
 Posted - 02/16/2012 : 13:46:12
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There's a lot of talk about Seattle being a serious possibility for an NHL franchise. It's gained momentum today with the announcement that Chris Hansen (hedge fund manager in SF), who was born and raised in Seattle, has purchased land near Safeco field (Mariners) and Century Link Field (Seahawks) and is planning on building an arena in an attempt to get the NBA back in town. On that note, he's been asked about the NHL and said it's a good possibility but that he'd need a partner or partners involved.
Question is, can Seattle support NBA, MLB, NFL and NHL??? There's not a lot of cities to have teams in all 4 of the major sports leagues and Seattle, on paper, seems to me to be a little too small? I could be wrong? It would be a great location for the Canucks and Vancouver fans, not just for the rivalry but for those wanting to see stars like Crosby and Ovechkin (or other big draws like the Habs and Leafs) who can't get tickets here either due to cost or availability!
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nuxfan
PickupHockey All-Star
3670 Posts |
Posted - 02/16/2012 : 14:10:22
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I don't know about too small. There are currently 8 teams that have all 4:
New York
Boston
Chicago
Dallas
Denver
Philadelphia
San Francisco/Bay area
Washington DC
Seattle has a metro area population of over 3 million, which is double the size of Denver, so its not unheard of. It would be the second smallest of that group however, all the others are 5M+ in metro populations - but its not ridiculously small or anything.
I honestly think that the NHL is an afterthought for Seattle, the real drive is getting the NBA back. They would like another tenant in the building though, and NHL/NBA share stadiums all over the US so its an easy fit. Still, it would be nice to see, they would get a lot of Canadians down there for games, especially on the weekends or for Canuck games.
Not to mention how nice it would be for the Canucks to have an opponent within 1000 km. |
Edited by - nuxfan on 02/16/2012 14:11:16 |
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Alex116
PickupHockey Legend
6113 Posts |
Posted - 02/16/2012 : 14:35:45
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Nuxfan, i immediately thought of Miami and Detroit, which convinced me to "google" it and there's actually 12. You also missed Phoenix and Minneopolis / St. Paul. 
Either way, it's likely just my perception on Seattle. I find it to have a very "small" feel to it, but that's mostly the downtown core. I guess i just don't know the 'burbs' and surrounding areas well enough.
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nuxfan
PickupHockey All-Star
3670 Posts |
Posted - 02/16/2012 : 14:40:40
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quote:
Originally posted by Alex116
Nuxfan, i immediately thought of Miami and Detroit, which convinced me to "google" it and there's actually 12. You also missed Phoenix and Minneopolis / St. Paul.
Either way, it's likely just my perception on Seattle. I find it to have a very "small" feel to it, but that's mostly the downtown core. I guess i just don't know the 'burbs' and surrounding areas well enough.
ah, had forgotten those 4 as well - although, PHX might drop off that list, as I think Seattle would get the Coyotes...
Seattle is actually a very large metropolitan area. You're right, their core is not huge, roughly 1.5x that of Vancouver. But the surrounding suburbs are significant - Everett in the north to Tacoma in the south, and east to Bellevue/Redmond, it goes on for quite a ways. They definitely have the population base to support it - the question is whether or not there is enough demand for an NHL team. |
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mandree888
PickupHockey Pro
Canada
400 Posts |
Posted - 02/16/2012 : 14:59:26
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| so who is to say that they wont just bring it to 32 teams and add 2 more teams. that way if the NHLPA decides to go with the new divisions going forward there would be 4 divisions of 8 teams. making it the top 4 teams in each division going to the playoffs. who knows one of those could be seatle could it not? |
Edited by - mandree888 on 02/16/2012 15:00:04 |
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Guest7961
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Posted - 02/16/2012 : 15:05:23
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| there will be team in honolulu before hamilton but stelco grts the nod over hanoi |
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Alex116
PickupHockey Legend
6113 Posts |
Posted - 02/16/2012 : 15:29:54
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quote:
Originally posted by nuxfan
quote:
Originally posted by Alex116
Nuxfan, i immediately thought of Miami and Detroit, which convinced me to "google" it and there's actually 12. You also missed Phoenix and Minneopolis / St. Paul.
Either way, it's likely just my perception on Seattle. I find it to have a very "small" feel to it, but that's mostly the downtown core. I guess i just don't know the 'burbs' and surrounding areas well enough.
ah, had forgotten those 4 as well - although, PHX might drop off that list, as I think Seattle would get the Coyotes...
Seattle is actually a very large metropolitan area. You're right, their core is not huge, roughly 1.5x that of Vancouver. But the surrounding suburbs are significant - Everett in the north to Tacoma in the south, and east to Bellevue/Redmond, it goes on for quite a ways. They definitely have the population base to support it - the question is whether or not there is enough demand for an NHL team.
I def don't know the Seattle area well enough! Especially the downtown area as i find Vancouver to be larger? Maybe i ought to skip the pit stop in Blaine next time i go to a Seahawks or Mariners game? Those pit stops only lead to ridiculous amounts of beer consumption, obviously affecting my concentration!
After Wikipedia(ing) it, it says that Seattle has a population of 608,660 compared to Vancouver's 603,000. However, the Seattle metropolitan area is approx 3.4million compared to 2.3 million for Vancouver! |
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Open_Ice
Rookie
Canada
109 Posts |
Posted - 02/18/2012 : 02:10:26
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As a new Seattlite, I must say that I am hoping for a team here ASAP! Plus I hate the Canucks so having them be the rival team is the perfect situation for me.
The thing about Seattle is that there are many many Canadians - in fact every single player on my Seattle hockey team is from Canada. I think an NHL team could do quite well. |
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Statman
Rookie
Canada
125 Posts |
Posted - 02/18/2012 : 04:15:25
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| Though I'm not convinced Seattle would work long term, I think it deserves a try. The NHL has put teams in many odd places and non-hockey markets, some have worked and some haven't. Besides, half the battle is putting the stadium in the city and not a 40 minute drive out of town, like some places have done. |
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NHL in Seattle? 
