[Alberta's Child]

Interesting news, but not surprising. In light of the problems facing teams like Phoenix and Atlanta, I think it's about time the NHL really sat down and figured out exactly what they want to be when they grow up . . . a "popular sport" marketed to casual (i.e., disinterested) fans in large U.S. television markets, or a "cult sport" marketed to passionate fans in traditional NHL markets and smaller U.S. and Canadian cities with strong hockey cultures.

Less than two decades ago, the NHL decided that a metro area like Phoenix with a few thousand hockey fans among 3+ million people was a better market than a city like Winnipeg with several hundred thousand serious hockey fans among only 600,000 people. It looks like they're starting to see the folly of that growth strategy.

[discostu]

The growth strategy would have worked if the teams didn’t stink. Success draws fans, failure tests fans. The Thrashers made it to the playoffs once and got swept out of the first round, the Coyote continued the franchise tradition of making the playoffs and losing the first round then they did 6 seasons in a row without making the playoffs, not much reason for people to “discover” the team. Even “traditional” hockey markets like Edmonton and Calgary started having attendance problems when the teams hit the skids. Meanwhile the Sharks regularly get to the second round of the playoffs and have a good fan base and make money.

Success on the field makes for success off the field. Doesn’t matter what the sport is or whether or not the location “should” care about it. People will pay to watch perennial winners, and they stay away from perennial losers in droves.

[Lexinom]

Another major factor differentiating then from now was a juxtaposition of skyrocketing players salaries paid in U.S. currency against a (then) weak Canadian dollar. That has now reversed itself. Winnipeg has also grown in that time in both population and disposable income. The new Jets will be a success there, and they belong in cities like Winnipeg. I'm very happy for the fans there; having a minor personal connection to the team's original move to Phoenix, I've always remained curious about any follow-up, and here it is after 15 years!