NHL approves Vegas ticket drive

[Crimson-JH]

Looking at this, make me wonder where are the locals can park? That parking garage next to it in the photo is a bit small and belongs to New York New York... Getting out of there is going to be hell on Tropicana Rd and LV blvd. Traffic will be a nightmare on those roads and same goes with Frank Sinatra Rd and I-15.

[Provost]

Looking at this, make me wonder where are the locals can park? That parking garage next to it in the photo is a bit small and belongs to New York New York... Getting out of there is going to be hell on Tropicana Rd and LV blvd. Traffic will be a nightmare on those roads and same goes with Frank Sinatra Rd and I-15.

That is really the biggest hurdle I can see. Getting casinos onboard for suites and season's tickets to give away to customers is easy. Getting the local guy to drive in from Henderson and brave the traffic on the strip on a weekend is a whole different ball game.

Having said that, a lesson we have learned from many examples... teams with downtown arenas tend to thrive, teams with arenas out in the burbs struggle.

Another plus for Vegas is that $200 for a show is a pretty average ticket price. They can charge a decent amount for tickets compared with some of the sunbelt franchises that have had a hard time selling them for $20 including a beer, hot dog, and parking.

I think no question it goes ahead, I think it was effectively a done deal before they broke ground on the arena. The only question is how things fare in 5-10 years.

People over-rate the number of folks that will be coming in from out of town to see games. Maybe best case scenario you get 1,000-2,000 fans from another city fly in on a package in the case of a Toronto game. That isn't a number that keeps you in business if the locals don't take to it.

[theminister]

This was always going to happen ever since the building permit was approved.

2015-16: Barclay's Centre gets the Isles.

2016-17: Vegas enters. Expansion draft. Florida relocates to QC. Rogers Place opens in Edm.

2017-18: Phoenix relocates to KC. New Joe Louis Arena.

2018-19: Seattle expansion and draft. New Ottawa Arena downtown.

2019-20: New Calgary Arena.

If it goes anything like this that's 9 new arenas which will all be close to capacity at higher revenues that currently being taken in.

The NHL doesn't need the Cdn dollar to go up to par to increase revenue.

[The Bookie]

I think LV is more or less a done deal. The much more interesting part is possibly expanding to only 31 - are they really that dedicated to Seattle being expansion and QC relocation? Why not just bring LV & QC in as the new teams and move whichever of Arizona or Florida needs to go to Seattle once they clear all the hurdles there?

[Ghostsof1915]

KC will probably be the other. That way it's 2 more teams in the west. Seattle has to get going on building it's arena if it really wants to take the Coyotes.

[avelanch]

Sorry I had to do this and it deserve to be on here, lol...

i am proud to say that i gave you the 5th plus for a gold star. well deserved.

[avelanch]

KC will probably be the other. That way it's 2 more teams in the west. Seattle has to get going on building it's arena if it really wants to take the Coyotes.

the Environmental impact study is complete on May 7th, and they plan on breaking ground next year, and they are willing to change the terms of the deal for an NHL first scenario, espescially since the NBA has pretty much said it's not gonna happen with b-ball any time soon.

[Crimson-JH]

i am proud to say that i gave you the 5th plus for a gold star. well deserved.

Haha, thank you sir! I couldn't help it when I saw the "over 9000." XD

I am a Vegas local and will be looking forward to this! I will be attending to the first game ever for sure, and I will not miss a single game when my beloved Canucks in town..

I would like to get the Season ticket, but I cannot afford it.. However, I will hope there will be a ice pack follow after that once it reach 10,000.

[theminister]

I think LV is more or less a done deal. The much more interesting part is possibly expanding to only 31 - are they really that dedicated to Seattle being expansion and QC relocation? Why not just bring LV & QC in as the new teams and move whichever of Arizona or Florida needs to go to Seattle once they clear all the hurdles there?

I still believe that QC made a tacit deal with the NHL that they would get a relocation team, a relative bargain, if they could secure public monies for their arena.

Seattle and LV are the two prime cities for expansion money that's where the NHL will get its greatest return. QC and KC are more about improving immediate gate revenues.

The 31 number for a 2-3 seasons will be a non-issue to Bettman. Arguably it is beneficial as having two separate expansion drafts will allow for better immediate on-ice product so that will play into marketing hands.

KC will probably be the other. That way it's 2 more teams in the west. Seattle has to get going on building it's arena if it really wants to take the Coyotes.

Seattle will not be IMO. It will be a straight expansion. The Coyotes will stay in the Midwest somewhere.

the Environmental impact study is complete on May 7th, and they plan on breaking ground next year, and they are willing to change the terms of the deal for an NHL first scenario, espescially since the NBA has pretty much said it's not gonna happen with b-ball any time soon.

That's good because I was afraid that was going to be the real hold up. If that can move ahead then they could easily be in line to be two years behind LV. Three at the most.

Strangely, I also feel the holdup with the Sonics is having an impact up here as CS&E is continuing to seek a second tenant for RA and basketball is still on the menu.

[The Bookie]

ah that's a good point about staggering the expansion drafts

[theminister]

ah that's a good point about staggering the expansion drafts

I also think it will be more palatable for the NHL member clubs as they don't get purged all at once and they can plan ahead for roster and cap space.

It also allows them to possibly shed certain contracts and disperse them around the league. I think every team in the NHL is onboard with that idea. That's where the Semins and aging vets will go.

Vis a vis….. having a quality farm system will be highly important in the next 5-6 years as every team will need to replace roster spots. Having some good pro scouts in Europe won't hurt either.

[Crimson-JH]

http://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/hockey/lead-investor-nhl-team-buys-home-negotiates-office-space

Lead investor for NHL team buys home, negotiates on office space

By ALAN SNEL
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

Bill Foley is planting roots in Las Vegas.

That’s how confident Foley is that he will land a National Hockey League team in Las Vegas.

Foley, lead investor in a bid to start a NHL team at the new $375 million privately financed arena on the Strip, closed on his house in Summerlin on Wednesday, and his wife got a new car.

His Jacksonville, Fla.-based mortgage and title company, Fidelity National Financial, plans to open a J Alexander’s steakhouse in the Las Vegas market. Fidelity National Financial owns the J Alexander’s brand and other restaurant chains, including Village Inn, O’Charley’s and 99 Steakhouse.

Foley is negotiating with MGM Resorts International, which is partnering with Anschutz Entertainment Group on the arena behind New York-New York, to open a Chalkboard restaurant in the plaza leading to the arena. Chalkboard specializes in small-plate menu items.

Foley’s staff is working with a representative of a commercial property in Summerlin to set up shop for a hockey business office.

Foley, a 1967 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and a former Air Force captain, has launched the Folded Flag Foundation to help veterans.

Foley is leading the charge to create a NHL expansion franchise for the 2016-17 season. Foley, and his minority partners, the Maloof brothers of Las Vegas, started a campaign on Feb. 10 to draw 10,000 season ticket deposits from residents in the Las Vegas area.

They have reached 9,000 deposits and plan to keep on selling deposits of $150-$900 even after the 10,000-deposit goal has been realized, which is expected later this month.

Foley wants the season ticket commitments to show NHL team owners and league officials that Las Vegas is ready for big-league hockey. The ticket deposits are 10 percent of the season ticket deal and will be refunded if the NHL does not award a team to the Foley group in Las Vegas.

“The more we sell, the stronger the argument,” Foley said Thursday.

The MGM-AEG arena is a strong driver in the NHL team initiative. The arena, which will have 17,500 seats for hockey, is scheduled to open in late April 2016. It has lined up programming for early May 2016.

Foley wants his team to start playing in the arena by October 2016 for the 2016-17 NHL season.

For that goal to be met, Foley will have to receive NHL approval soon to start the franchise, which includes hiring a president, general manager, coach and building a practice facility of 150,000-175,000 square feet to house two ice rinks, locker rooms and medical/training facilities.

The last time the NHL expanded, in June 1997, the league announced the births of the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Minnesota Wild. Both teams started playing in the 2000-01 season — more than three years after the NHL made the announcements.

But Foley can find inspiration in the Nashville Predators. In June 1997, the NHL granted a conditional franchise to Nashville, Tenn., and the team was playing by the 1998-99 season. That’s a potential timeline scenario for the Las Vegas team if it plays in the 2016-17 season — but it would need NHL approval soon.

But Foley said NHL officials have not invited him to any league meetings to discuss the Las Vegas team bid.

Still, he is eager to launch a team.

“We need to get going,” Foley said.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman attended the season ticket launch announcement at MGM Grand on Feb. 10 and knows the Maloofs, former Sacramento Kings owners, well since his pre-NHL days as a legal executive with the NBA.

Publicly, Bettman said at February news conference in Las Vegas that he couldn’t promise a team for Las Vegas. But privately, he is monitoring the Las Vegas team initiative and ticket deposit campaign.

Contact reporter Alan Snel at asnel@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5273. Find him on Twitter: @BicycleManSnel

[-Vintage Canuck-]

Montreal ‪Canadiens‬ play-by-play commentator Pierre Houde has reported that the ‪NHL‬ will announce the arrival of a team in Las Vegas before the final of the Stanley Cup Playoffs and a similar announcement will be made next year for Quebec City. Houde is not known to feed false rumors and is very well connected in the league.

[Coconuts]

Montreal Canadiens play-by-play commentator Pierre Houde has reported that the NHL will announce the arrival of a team in Las Vegas before the final of the Stanley Cup Playoffs and a similar announcement will be made next year for Quebec City. Houde is not known to feed false rumors and is very well connected in the league.

Damn, if this really does come to fruition I'm wondering where the Quebec team comes from. Florida? Carolina?

Can't see them expanding out east.

Could Vegas be Arizona? Or would we be looking at an expansion draft?

Gonna be Intetesting if this is legit.

[thejazz97]

Damn, if this really does come to fruition I'm wondering where the Quebec team comes from. Florida? Carolina?

Can't see them expanding out east.

FLA, most likely. Carolina, as well as NJ would also have to be in the mix. Don't forget about Arizona, either. Even though they're Bettman's golden boys, they still might have to move and the LV franchise would still give them a team in the desert.

[Coconuts]

FLA, most likely. Carolina, as well as NJ would also have to be in the mix. Don't forget about Arizona, either. Even though they're Bettman's golden boys, they still might have to move and the LV franchise would still give them a team in the desert.

True, NJ's had financial issues the last number of years.

Carolina or Florida, but I'm leaning towards Carolina. Could be any of em though.

Golden boys for his golden project?

[thejazz97]

Golden boys for his golden project?

I'm sure Bettman's eyes glaze over at the thought of a Desert Division

[Coconuts]

I'm sure Bettman's eyes glaze over at the thought of a Desert Division

I wouldn't doubt it

[Bill Sikes]

FLA, most likely. Carolina, as well as NJ would also have to be in the mix. Don't forget about Arizona, either. Even though they're Bettman's golden boys, they still might have to move and the LV franchise would still give them a team in the desert.

As long as the extortion racket works and Glenndale is dumb enough to keep gutting its infrastructure to pay the freight Arizona isn't going anywhere. Florida seems most likely as the county seems to have had enough of paying the bills.

[Boudrias]

NHL is running a number of loss leaders already. Vegas makes a huge case as a marketing tool. I doubt many owners would object as the potential for their franchises to increase in value is enormous. The physical offer is becoming less important as electronic media pays more and more. The next TV contract in the USA will continue to move the NHL toward contracts similar to the NBA, MLB and the NFL. Today the NHL is peanuts compared to the other major league sports.

Consider the impact on the NHL revenues if the Bell media contract in Canada comes anywhere close to being duplicated in the USA. A Vegas franchise could be part of the effort that makes it happen.