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Post by ontariohockeyfan on Jan 13, 2008 22:37:06 GMT -4
Seadogsmarketing you have said it right your team (Saint John ) should have no problem getting 5000 plus fans to see the Seadogs this year and for years to come especially with where this team will for the next couple of years (contending for the Championship )People and fans of this club donot take this team for granite as this is a big business and if you do not support your team they will go else where.Ask the fans of the North Bay Centennials ( OHL ) a team that was in the OHL 1982 everybody there thought the team would never move well the year of 2002 the team was sold to a group from Saginaw Michigan (USA).And the reason for the sell was low attendence.This can happen in the Q also and there are American cities that would gladly want to buy a team as you know the return is very big.(Example talk is London Knights were bought by the Hunter brothers for approx million dollars now that team is worth approx 15 million )As one poster said McCain said he was in for the long haul more than likely but do not take that word as if the right dollar was put down in front of them they could easily be gone . So Seadog fans go support your team or I hate to say you could be another North Bay.Hope not but remember this is a business
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Post by archer on Jan 17, 2008 17:14:37 GMT -4
We should cut a sponsorship deal with Bell Aliant. That would kill Rogers covering our home games on TV, and kill Telus webcasts of the same. Then people would have to go to the rink to watch. TV maybe. But not many people have the rationale that "Why go to the game when I could watch it on a 14-inch computer screen?" I don't think a webcast cuts into the home attendance much, if at all. You want to nuke radio, too, Leask? That'd really make the fans have to get down to Harbour Station? ;D As much as I want to see more fans at the game canning games on tv is the wrong way to go. You create more interest in the team by being able to watch them. By keeping the Dogs on Tv interest remains high. If they aren't as acessable then interest goes away and so does potential fan base as they find other things to entertain them. |
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Post by robkennedy on Jan 17, 2008 22:08:03 GMT -4
What American cities would gladly want to buy a team? I can't think of any US cities that would have any interest in the Q.
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Post by chillywack on Jan 17, 2008 22:12:36 GMT -4
What American cities would gladly want to buy a team? I can't think of any US cities that would have any interest in the Q. Saco. Or better yet, Old Orchard Beach ;D. |
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Post by robkennedy on Jan 17, 2008 22:25:17 GMT -4
Hey, OOB had minor league baseball once, so it's not impossible. i suppose stranger things have happened!
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Post by archer on Jan 19, 2008 12:16:47 GMT -4
What American cities would gladly want to buy a team? I can't think of any US cities that would have any interest in the Q. Saco. Or better yet, Old Orchard Beach ;D. They are resort towns can't see them being interested. Maybe a Presque Isle or Madawaska near the Canadian border. Most of New England is big on NCAA hockey. Not sure if Q has many options there |
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Post by ontariohockeyfan on Jan 19, 2008 19:32:46 GMT -4
Archer, Chillywack their are American cities that would be have interest .They would both be in Maine (Bangor & Portland) both of these cities would support a Q (Junior team) reason being size of both cities and they are both hockey minded cities(NCAA ).Either one would be a rival team for Lewiston as they are the only American team in the Q.People that would say it would not work because of NCAA I would have to disagree as in the OHL their are 3 American teams in that league (Erie P.A.,Plymouth Michigan & Saginaw Michigan ) and each one of these teams are in big NCAA hockey areas (Michigan,Michigan State,Ohio State.Bowling Green Etc ) and they have no problem supporting junior hockey. Another reason watch for the Q put more teams in the U.S. .Reason being is that the OHL wants to expand to New York state and as you no north east New York state bounds on the Quebec border and one thing the Q does not want to happen is to have an OHL team in that part of the state. So a team move just does not mean Maine it could be Northern New York state.Remember this can happen so the best way to NOT let this happen is to support your team (Saint John ,ETC ) fill the arena and support them on and off the rink.This I think can happen there (Saint John ) support.If I was a betting man I could see the St. Johns Newfoundland team the one that moves to either Maine or New York state reason being cost to run a team there.Guess we will just have to wait and see what happens.So go out and support the Seadogs and good luck tomorrow in Halifax
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Post by berner on Jan 19, 2008 23:35:13 GMT -4
Archer, Chillywack their are American cities that would be have interest .They would both be in Maine (Bangor & Portland) both of these cities would support a Q (Junior team) reason being size of both cities and they are both hockey minded cities(NCAA ).Either one would be a rival team for Lewiston as they are the only American team in the Q.People that would say it would not work because of NCAA I would have to disagree as in the OHL their are 3 American teams in that league (Erie P.A.,Plymouth Michigan & Saginaw Michigan ) and each one of these teams are in big NCAA hockey areas (Michigan,Michigan State,Ohio State.Bowling Green Etc ) and they have no problem supporting junior hockey. Another reason watch for the Q put more teams in the U.S. .Reason being is that the OHL wants to expand to New York state and as you no north east New York state bounds on the Quebec border and one thing the Q does not want to happen is to have an OHL team in that part of the state. So a team move just does not mean Maine it could be Northern New York state.Remember this can happen so the best way to NOT let this happen is to support your team (Saint John ,ETC ) fill the arena and support them on and off the rink.This I think can happen there (Saint John ) support.If I was a betting man I could see the St. Johns Newfoundland team the one that moves to either Maine or New York state reason being cost to run a team there.Guess we will just have to wait and see what happens.So go out and support the Seadogs and good luck tomorrow in Halifax If the Devils were to move I think everyone knows that Montreal will be the destination. The Q will continue putting a team in there until one sticks. No way the league allows the Devils to move to the US while there is still no team in Montreal. |
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Post by CatsFan on Jan 19, 2008 23:41:56 GMT -4
Archer, Chillywack their are American cities that would be have interest .They would both be in Maine (Bangor & Portland) both of these cities would support a Q (Junior team) reason being size of both cities and they are both hockey minded cities(NCAA ).Either one would be a rival team for Lewiston as they are the only American team in the Q.People that would say it would not work because of NCAA I would have to disagree as in the OHL their are 3 American teams in that league (Erie P.A.,Plymouth Michigan & Saginaw Michigan ) and each one of these teams are in big NCAA hockey areas (Michigan,Michigan State,Ohio State.Bowling Green Etc ) and they have no problem supporting junior hockey. Another reason watch for the Q put more teams in the U.S. .Reason being is that the OHL wants to expand to New York state and as you no north east New York state bounds on the Quebec border and one thing the Q does not want to happen is to have an OHL team in that part of the state. So a team move just does not mean Maine it could be Northern New York state.Remember this can happen so the best way to NOT let this happen is to support your team (Saint John ,ETC ) fill the arena and support them on and off the rink.This I think can happen there (Saint John ) support.If I was a betting man I could see the St. Johns Newfoundland team the one that moves to either Maine or New York state reason being cost to run a team there.Guess we will just have to wait and see what happens.So go out and support the Seadogs and good luck tomorrow in Halifax If the Devils were to move I think everyone knows that Montreal will be the destination. The Q will continue putting a team in there until one sticks. No way the league allows the Devils to move to the US while there is still no team in Montreal. I kinda can't see another team in the States. A team in Montreal, as you say, would be more logical. Other options.. maybe Trois Rivieres ( this is a place I could see having a team .. one of the biggest cities in Quebec ) |
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Post by robkennedy on Jan 19, 2008 23:43:29 GMT -4
OHF, you're way, way, way off on this one.
First off, let's start with Bangor. Simply put, we'll see a QMJHL team in Baghdad before we see one in Bangor. "People may say that it won't work because of NCAA" and in this case, "people" are right. Bangor is squarely Maine Black Bears territory, and unlike the midwestern cities you mention Bangor draws from a hell of a lot fewer people (and forget Erie, PA...no major college team plays there). There is no way that Bangor is big enough for 2 teams. And even if had 150,000 people in the city, an even bigger roadblock exists: where would a QMJHL team in Bangor play? Certainly not at Alfond--the University would welcome the QMJHL about as warmly as Sitting Bull welcomed Custer. There are no other buildings within 100 miles that are even suitable for QMJHL hockey (just local rinks that seat 500, and the delapidated Bangor Civic Center, which doesn't make ice). So Bangor is completely out right there--anyone who says differently is out of their mind, unless that someone is Stephen King. And he's too big a Black Bear fan to get involved in the Q.
You call Portland a hockey-minded city. That's not so. The reality is that Portland is a lousy hockey market. The Pirates AHL franchise is on the brink of skipping town, and even if it doesn't happen this year, it's affiliation will be dropped by Anaheim in the same way that Washington bailed on Portland. The Pirates have had to all but give away seats to get fans, even on weekends. Their radio deal is laughable, as nobody wants to waste airtime to get the ridiculous ratings that Pirates games have received the last few years. In short, the city is a GREAT baseball market, but it stinks for hockey. And that's AHL hockey, which can be marketed as "almost the NHL". In Maine, the "see tomorrow's NHL stars today" doesn't really work (just ask Lewiston), so if the AHL left, we'd likely see the same thing happen there that has happened in Newfoundland--folks would look at the QMJHL as being completely inferiour to what they used to have in the AHL, and the Cumberland County Civic Center would be 1/4 full. And as we're finding out in St. John's, that won't get it done.
Upstate NY? Where? The league isn't going back to Plattsburgh. And Burlington, VT is like Bangor--a very small city that is dominated by their Catamounts, and has no off-campus rink that is even close to QMJHL-suitable. I suppose the league could look at Glens Falls or Utica, but those start to become remote outposts from other QMJHL cities, and certainly wouldn't have any natural rivals with Lewiston or anyone else.
In short, another US city is likely not going to happen anytime soon. If it does, it sure won't be in Maine.
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Post by ontariohockeyfan on Jan 20, 2008 0:46:11 GMT -4
First Robkennedy thanks for the reply.Now for your statement that Portland would not support a Junior hockey team first you said the Pirates are possibly pulling the plug and moving out. Reason would be low attendence possibly but look who their NHL team is Anaheim (California ) Ducks.Two different parts of the country.Logically it would be less expensive to re locate to a Midwesten city .That would save them money also.Ticket prices AHL tickets are more expensive than Junior. Take a look at attendence in all Junior hockey cities mostly are all up while AHL attendence is dropping in areas.Reason who wants to pay good money to go see players that have had their time and mostly are on the back end of their hockey playing days .While on the Junior side hockey fans want to see the future stars of the NHL.Sure a lot of them will not see the big time but they will try their hardest to make it there.
Your statement re Bangor you could be right but do not ever say never as anything is possible.Remember Junior hockey brings a good return in your money which is what owners want to see.As I said in the fist statement of this segment junior returns are big.
The next Junior team in Quebec could be Trois Riviers not Montreal
as the Q has tried Montreal & area with no luck.There it is the Canadiens or nothing.As for a team in New York state I say yes on the grounds as I said the Q does not want the OHL to get there as if that happens the Q will lose it rights on junior players in the draft.There has been talks that the OHL has looked at Rochester,Syracuse & Buffalo area for future teams if that happens the Q will lose out on all the good American players from N.Y.State ( Remember it is open market for players to go to the Q or the OHL) but if the OHL puts teams inthat state they get first rights on that player and visa vera if the Q goes in before the OHL they get first rights.Overall I think you will see a QMJHL team in another American city If not N.Y. which I think will happen if not I can see Portland Maine or a team in N.H. as I think they want a team close to Lewiston to be their main rival.I still think if there is a move the team on the rock (ST.Johns ) will be the one.
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Post by berner on Jan 20, 2008 1:38:42 GMT -4
ontariohockeyfan, it's too late for me to debate with you but robkennedy is right and you are wrong. You don't understand hockey out in Atlanic Canada/Northeastern US as much as you think you do.  |
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Post by spanz on Jan 20, 2008 1:48:49 GMT -4
Portland ME would make a lot of sense if the Pirates left town! There would be a great rink in a thriving city.
Bangor, a little too close to the Bears, but there are plenty of people who simply can not get tickets to a bears game. So there might be some room there. I would think Augusta would make more sense--farther from UMaine.
Worcester MA would make a lot of sense if they ever lost their AHL team. Sprinfield MA is a makes a lot of sense, a big population center to draw on and a long drive for college hockey.
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Post by ontariohockeyfan on Jan 20, 2008 2:26:06 GMT -4
Berner first I must say this topic was started by a poster who showed attendence for Q teams that were a head of Saint John. Which in return I tried to tell some of you out in the East what would happen to your team if you did not support it to almost if not full capicity. I gave you an example of what happened in the OHL (North Bay Centinnials ) to Saginaw Michigan.Because of low attendence.And this will happen if you do not ask (Saint John Flames,Fredericton Canadiens, Charlottown PEI,ST.Johns Maple Leafs) these were all AHL teams that did not make it and what were they replaced with CHL teams all but Fredericton in this group have a CHL team.Will teams continue to move if they donot get support YES so donot tell me I know nothing about hockey in the East or Northeastern U.S. because the Q will put another team in the Northeat US whether you like it or not.How many times do I have to say this is big business so go out and support your team or you may end up with nothing and donot come crying when it does happen because all I will say is I told you so.
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Post by berner on Jan 20, 2008 2:54:27 GMT -4
No ohf, I WILL tell you you know nothing about Atlantic Canadian hockey. Because that's the truth. Don't be insulted by it. I'm not attacking you, just telling you you're wrong. You are simplifying things to such an extent it's nonsense. Just because North Bay moved to Saginaw doesn't mean you can draw far reaching conclusions. And as robkennedy stated, there will be no other Q expansion in Maine, no matter how feasible you think it is.
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