SabreFan1 Posted March 4, 2015 Share Posted March 4, 2015 Donald Fehr (Head of NHLPA) wants the Panthers to be given more time to turn their terrible fan situation around. This is just embarrassing for the league..... http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2015/03/04/fehr-willing-to-give-panthers-a-reasonable-opportunity-to-redevelop-market/ Fehr willing to give Panthers 'a reasonable opportunity' to redevelop market ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Despite being in the thick of the playoff race, the Florida Panthers managed to draw just 10,198 fans to BB&T Center for last night’s game versus the Toronto Maple Leafs. It was a disappointing crowd, especially considering many of the attendees were dressed in the blue and white of the visiting team. But it was also status quo for this season in Sunrise, where the Panthers, under new ownership, have stopped giving away free tickets and, as a result, sit dead last in NHL attendance, averaging just 10,776 fans. NHLPA chief Donald Fehr has seen the crowds. However, he’s not yet willing to say whether the NHL should remain long-term in South Florida. “I look at plans to redevelop a market the same way I do with a trade,” Fehr told Sportsnet’s Hockey Central. “Everybody does the immediate prognostications as to what it’s going to mean and who got the better of the deal. And one, or two, or five years later, they say, ‘Oh wait a minute, we didn’t anticipate this.’ “So, you have to give it some time.” While Fehr concedes that hockey has been a tough sell in “a number” of American markets, he believes it’s imperative to experiment and “see if there’s some approach, some formula, some mechanism, some outreach to fans which will change the dynamic, get them into the arenas — because that’s the trick, is to get them into the arenas, and not just the snowbirds that are flying down from Quebec and Ontario.” And Fehr is “certainly willing to give the Florida management a reasonable opportunity to do that.” If you’re wondering, the Panthers’ best crowd of the season (19,614, a sellout) was Dec. 30, when the Montreal Canadiens came to town…along with thousands of their fans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
papagrizz Posted March 4, 2015 Share Posted March 4, 2015 even a 2nd team in vancouver would do better Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharnhayre Posted March 4, 2015 Share Posted March 4, 2015 They would need another Stanley Cup run to bring a pulse back to the hockey market there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SabreFan1 Posted March 4, 2015 Author Share Posted March 4, 2015 even a 2nd team in vancouver would do better They need to just move the Coyotes and Panthers to Seattle and Quebec and be done with it. The Grand Bettman Experiment has failed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nuxfanabroad Posted March 4, 2015 Share Posted March 4, 2015 Rather see the PGA tour play a tourney in Greenland. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Master Mind Posted March 4, 2015 Share Posted March 4, 2015 By "reasonable opportunity", he must mean "lets see if fans hop on the bandwagon once the team is good". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SabreFan1 Posted March 4, 2015 Author Share Posted March 4, 2015 They would need another Stanley Cup run to bring a pulse back to the hockey market there. If it takes a Stanley Cup team to bring fans into the building then it's not a hockey market. Only L.A. can get away with that because of the TV revenue it adds being the 2nd most populated city in the U.S. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Losing With Pride Posted March 4, 2015 Share Posted March 4, 2015 Once McDavid goes to Arizona, they will bet set in the desert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRussianRocket. Posted March 4, 2015 Share Posted March 4, 2015 These guys are such tools. So arrogant and not willing to move on from mess ups. What in the world makes them think it will turn around? Just ridiculous. It's just plain idiotic seeing 2 NHL teams in the state of Florida to begin with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattrek Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 They would need another Stanley Cup run to bring a pulse back to the hockey market there. Making the playoffs would be a good start. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattrek Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 These guys are such tools. So arrogant and not willing to move on from mess ups. What in the world makes them think it will turn around? Just ridiculous. It's just plain idiotic seeing 2 NHL teams in the state of Florida to begin with. Tampa Bay was like them not too long ago need I remind you and now look at them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadcanucks Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 If it takes a Stanley Cup team to bring fans into the building then it's not a hockey market. Only L.A. can get away with that because of the TV revenue it adds being the 2nd most populated city in the U.S. Miami-Ft. Lauderdale and surrounding areas is the 8th largest metro region in the US by population. Makes it a valuable TV market for the NHL. Probably the only reason why South Florida has not been abandoned by the NHL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jam126 Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 Bettman should stop experimenting and move the Panthers to a REAL Hockey market. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SabreFan1 Posted March 5, 2015 Author Share Posted March 5, 2015 Miami-Ft. Lauderdale and surrounding areas is the 8th largest metro region in the US by population. Makes it a valuable TV market for the NHL. Probably the only reason why South Florida has not been abandoned by the NHL. If I remember right, the Seattle area is 12th. It wouldn't be much of a downgrade. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadcanucks Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 If I remember right, the Seattle area is 12th. It wouldn't be much of a downgrade. Seattle is 15th...Phoenix metro area is 12th. Probably reason why Phoenix/Arizona is still around. Surprised Houston hasn't been given serious consideration. They have an NHL facility and they are fifth largest metro center in the US. Bay area in northern California should be another consideration...11th largest metro area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SabreFan1 Posted March 5, 2015 Author Share Posted March 5, 2015 Seattle is 15th...Phoenix metro area is 12th. Probably reason why Phoenix/Arizona is still around. Surprised Houston hasn't been given serious consideration. They have an NHL facility and they are fifth largest metro center in the US. Bay area in northern California should be another consideration...11th largest metro area. Even though I can barely tolerate French Canadians, I would still like to see Quebec get the Nordiques back. As to Houston, I dunno if they'd become a hockey town. Dallas is 19th in attendance with a 92.5% average in filling their building, so I suppose it's possible. I think Seattle would a slam dunk if they got a team. I can see them becoming a hockey crazed asset to the NHL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canuck_forever Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 Even though I can barely tolerate French Canadians, I would still like to see Quebec get the Nordiques back. As to Houston, I dunno if they'd become a hockey town. Dallas is 19th in attendance with a 92.5% average in filling their building, so I suppose it's possible. I think Seattle would a slam dunk if they got a team. I can see them becoming a hockey crazed asset to the NHL. I live in Seattle and there's one thing I know for certain, we love our sports. There is no doubt in my mind a hockey team would flourish here. The interest and potential isn't even a question, it's whether of not Commissioner weasel and his cohorts will relocate instead of expending in the next couple of years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THERETOOL Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 even a 2nd team in vancouver would do better wouldn't bet on it .. the giants get a lame attendance .. vancouver is not a hockey town , its a canuck town Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NastiMarvasti Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 Bay area in northern California should be another consideration...11th largest metro area. The Sharks play in the Bay Area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadcanucks Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 The Sharks play in the Bay Area. Take another look at the census data...San Francisco/Oakland and surrounding area = Bay Area. San Jose/Santa Clara and surrounding area make up Silicon Valley. Two distinct US census regions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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