Study: Houston considered best market to add an NHL team

[-SN-]

Guys, this is a throw-away study.

In its study, ACBJ examined each market’s total personal income (TPI), which is money earned by all residents in a given year. It compared the local income base to the financial needs of MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL and MLS teams to determine if a new franchise would thrive.

Nothing else was considered. History, relevance of hockey, climate, etc. Nothing but TPI. It's pointless to the point of lunacy. Combined with some other metrics it may be more useful.

[The Colt 45s]

Guys, this is a throw-away study.

Nothing else was considered. History, relevance of hockey, climate, etc. Nothing but TPI. It's pointless to the point of lunacy. Combined with some other metrics it may be more useful.

Population size of the Houston metro area has over 6-million people. Heck, we are so large that there is large enough of a market to watch WHL and NLL games on our local Root Sports.

Some other interesting demographics about Houston, that gives it consideration. http://www.houstontx.gov/abouthouston/houston-facts-and-figures

[The Colt 45s]

If that's the case then Seattle/Portland makes the most sense. Take a map of the US, play connect the dots, start in Minneapolis/St Paul, draw a line to St Louis to Denver to San Jose, above that line is about 1/4 of the country with ZERO NHL presence, only the 4 western Canadian teams which don't do the US tv networks any good.

Seattle does not have an arena capable of hosting an NHL game right now.

[avelanch]

Seattle does not have an arena capable of hosting an NHL game right now.

It will be built within the NHL's timeline for expansion; the Environmental impact study will be completed in one month and they are already making the arena a

As for the study, houston isn't the "best" market, it's merely 1 of 15 cities that ranked a 100 in their very narrow scoped income study. it's no better than those other 14 cities in this regard, and the study itself is a tiny portion of the big picture of where the NHL will go.

[Bill Sikes]

Seattle does not have an arena capable of hosting an NHL game right now.

That only applies to Canadian cities, when they railroaded Winnipeg out, Phoenix didn't have an adequate arena or finalized plans to build one, they granted a team to Florida despite not having an arena at the time, the approved Minnesota before funding for a new arena was approved.

[The Lock]

Population size of the Houston metro area has over 6-million people. Heck, we are so large that there is large enough of a market to watch WHL and NLL games on our local Root Sports.

Some other interesting demographics about Houston, that gives it consideration. http://www.houstontx.gov/abouthouston/houston-facts-and-figures

Phoenix has 5 mil metro correct? Yet they struggle to stay afloat. Houston has also lost an NFL team (Houston Oilers) in the past, and that's a sport where you see arenas made for almost 100K people with it being so popular in the states. Hockey doesn't have that luxury. Not every team thrives in that 6 mil population market and I wouldn't be so feisty to say it's going to be a good market.

[*Buzzsaw*]

Bullsh*t to Houston.

The best city to expand to is Hamilton.

But of course, that is being blocked by the greedy owners of the Laffs.

There are 12.1 million people in Southern Ontario, and they could easily support another team.

There would be millions who'd be happy to find an alternative to Toronto.

Hamilton and close environs Pop:

Hamilton Pop: 500,000

St Catherines Pop: 130,000

Guelph Pop: 115,000

Kitchener Pop: 220,000

Laffs have city of Toronto and Pop of 3,000,000, they don't need any support.

[VanGnome]

Lots of debate about potential NHL expansion markets. Here is one for Houston, Texas. Best Markets: http://www.bizjournals.com/bizjournals/news/2015/04/09/sportmain.html?page=all

Houston's Ranking: http://www.bizjournals.com/bizjournals/news/2015/04/09/market08.html

Local Article: http://blog.chron.com/sportsupdate/2015/04/study-houston-considered-best-market-to-add-an-nhl-team/#29954101=0

Study: Houston considered best market to add an NHL team

Posted on April 10, 2015 | By Greg Rajan

Pro hockey has been gone since the Aeros left Houston nearly two years ago, but if the NHL were to come to the Bayou City, the market would be a good fit.

That’s according to a new study by the American City Business Journals.

In its study, ACBJ examined each market’s total personal income (TPI), which is money earned by all residents in a given year. It compared the local income base to the financial needs of MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL and MLS teams to determine if a new franchise would thrive.

Houston is one of 15 open NHL markets that was given a perfect score of 100 (70-99 is considered a borderline base, while a score below 70 is an indicator that the market’s income base is insufficient to support a team). Houston’s total personal income was calculated at $335 billion, with a TPI surplus of $124 billion to support an NHL team.

Here are other open NHL markets with perfect scores (the full list of markets studied can be found here):

• Albany, N.Y.
• Austin
• Birmingham, Ala.
• Cape Coral-Fort Myers, Fla.
• Grand Rapids, Mich.
• Harrisburg, Pa.
• Hartford, Conn.
• Las Vegas
• Orlando, Fla.
• Richmond, Va.
• Rochester, N.Y.
• Sacramento, Calif.
• Tulsa, Okla.
• Virginia Beach-Norfolk, Va.

The NHL has not expanded since Columbus and Minnesota joined the league in 2000. The last team to relocate was Atlanta to Winnipeg in 2011. Las Vegas is in the midst of a ticket drive for a potential franchise.

Good god, not one of those cities, MAYBE outside of Rochester could be considered a "hockey market". It's not about available money, it's about the population and demographics, and those numbers to determine whether there is any NHL support worth investigating...

Alabama? For real?

How about looking at NHL TV ratings for the suggested areas, and see what those are. Two more cities in Florida? Because Sunrise has worked out so well for the league.

For all intents and purposes, Sunrise is to Miami, as Abbotsford is to Vancouver.

How about Seattle, Quebec, Windsor Hamilton. All regions that would in a heartbeat boost league wide revenue, instead of another vanity franchise to stimulate grassroots interest in a game that half the people who watch it don't even fully understand.

So sick of the NHL whoring itself out for another dollar, bring some damned integrity back to the brand.

[Salmonberries]

These guys have also indicated that Hamilton and Quebec City are better markets for NBA expansion than Vancouver. I really don't lend much credence to what they have to say,

I'm unsure of what their markers/indicators are really, but they aren't relevant. Quebec City actually scored higher as an NBA market than an NHL one. Lol.

I'd absolutely love to see Quebec City get an NBA team.

And you thought the players hated Vancouver!

[Neko]

Why is Seattle not on the list, Bettman was there last summer.

Las Vegas I think is the biggest bet on that (no pun).

PS- Wouldn't mind seeing Hamilton on there.

[Ghostsof1915]

There was the Birmingham Bulls in the WHA.

[Jam126]

virginia? yeah it would.

also, Honolulu has a 96, i'd say they should get a team for sure. fits right in with bettman's ideology.

Honolulu would SUCK for Eastern Conference teams... The time difference is 6 HOURS!

[Nino]

Seattle does not have an arena capable of hosting an NHL game right now.

Looks like that's about to change, new arena getting fast tracked.

[gizmo2337]

• Albany, N.Y.
• Austin
• Birmingham, Ala.
• Cape Coral-Fort Myers, Fla.
• Grand Rapids, Mich.
• Harrisburg, Pa.
• Hartford, Conn.
• Las Vegas
• Orlando, Fla.
• Richmond, Va.
• Rochester, N.Y.
• Sacramento, Calif.
• Tulsa, Okla.
• Virginia Beach-Norfolk, Va.

The NHL has not expanded since Columbus and Minnesota joined the league in 2000. The last team to relocate was Atlanta to Winnipeg in 2011. Las Vegas is in the midst of a ticket drive for a potential franchise.

Yeah! Bring back the Whalers!

Bonus points for "Name that Whaler"

[Baer.]

Population doesn't mean anything if there's no hockey culture. The Phoenix-Glendale area has

more than enough people to support a major sports franchise. I'm sure there are hockey fans in Seattle just like there are Seahawks fans here.

[RUPERTKBD]

Looks a bit like Murray Craven...^

[avelanch]

Yeah! Bring back the Whalers!

Bonus points for "Name that Whaler"

that, right there, is andrew cassels, cole's daddy.

[Fanuck]

The best market, it seems from past practice, for the NHL is the one with the owners who pay the most expansion money the fastest.

The best market for hockey is likely not the best market for the NHL to expand / relocate to (Hamilton/Quebec City).

If past practice is any indication, the NHL will do what is in the best interests of the NHL owners pockets, not for hockey in general.

[Laoag]

• Albany, N.Y.

The Albany Mohawks

• Austin

The Austin Stone Colds

• Birmingham, Ala.

The Birmingham "our steel is better than Pittsburgh" Hockey Club

• Cape Coral-Fort Myers, Fla.

Cape Coral Canal Diggers

• Grand Rapids, Mich.

Grand Rapids Peters

• Harrisburg, Pa.

Harrisburg Patriots

• Hartford, Conn.

The Hartford Sale the whales

• Las Vegas

The Las Vegas Drunks

• Orlando, Fla.

The Orlando Bloomers

• Richmond, Va.

The Virginia Foo Fighters

• Rochester, N.Y.

The Rochester Flower boys

• Sacramento, Calif.

The Sacramento Queens

• Tulsa, Okla.

The Tulsa Spicy Salsa

• Virginia Beach-Norfolk, Va.

The Virginia Ghrolers

And the Huston MURICANS are all in the works... no seattle or quebec... thanks Bettmen!

[Nino]

• Albany, N.Y.

The Albany Mohawks

• Austin

The Austin Stone Colds

• Birmingham, Ala.

The Birmingham "our steel is better than Pittsburgh" Hockey Club

• Cape Coral-Fort Myers, Fla.

Cape Coral Canal Diggers

• Grand Rapids, Mich.

Grand Rapids Peters

• Harrisburg, Pa.

Harrisburg Patriots

• Hartford, Conn.

The Hartford Sale the whales

• Las Vegas

The Las Vegas Drunks

• Orlando, Fla.

The Orlando Bloomers

• Richmond, Va.

The Virginia Foo Fighters

• Rochester, N.Y.

The Rochester Flower boys

• Sacramento, Calif.

The Sacramento Queens

• Tulsa, Okla.

The Tulsa Spicy Salsa

• Virginia Beach-Norfolk, Va.

The Virginia Ghrolers

And the Huston MURICANS are all in the works... no seattle or quebec... thanks Bettmen!</p>

This study has nothing to do with the NHL, they want Seattle, it was some third party crap study that takes nothing of relevance into account.