There's been lots of articles over the past six months about NHL expansion/relocation to Canada.
In the last months of 2009, it was Quebec making all the announcements. Lately it has been Winnipeg.
Let's recap the current situation in Hamilton, Quebec, and Winnipeg.
Hamilton
Has everything needed to start an NHL franchise tomorrow except that it is hated by the NHL which wants to preserve the southern Ontario market as a Toronto-Buffalo monopoly.
The NHL continues to not state clear terms for another southern Ontario franchise, though there have been reports of an expansion fee as high as $400 million. Hamilton continues to be toyed with by the NHL.
Quebec
Has a first class investor, Quebecor, which is wealthy enough to front a bid, but not rich enough to build a new arena.
Is willing to comply with all of Gary Bettman's unofficial expansion/relocation terms, but is stuck because it can't find enough investors. The city is willing to throw $50 million towards a new arena.
Currently wasting money on a "feasibility study" which it h ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NHL
Article written by Steve Thompson
Canadian NHL Expansion: Divided We Fall
April 6th, 2010 by Steve Thompson Leave a reply »
Advertisement