You Canadians. I'm interested in your opinion.

[Bushay]

I read this really good article today about moving a 2nd team to the Toronto area. This guy seemed to really bring up some decent points AGAINST putting a 2nd team there. PTB,Vancouver fan, Coaster, Crazy and the rest of you, I'm interested in your opinion. LMK.

http://thehockeywriters.com/things-to-consider-before-moving-a-2nd-team-to-toronto/

 

[SportSavant]

Toronto can easily support two teams, kind of depends also wether you are talking "greater toronto area" or just the city of Toronto itself

 

[Bushay]

Toronto can easily support two teams, kind of depends also wether you are talking "greater toronto area" or just the city of Toronto itself

Did you read the article?

What points did you disagree with specifically?

That's way too vague.

 

[HatTrick]

The Marlies shouldn't be a factor. I mean, who really cares about them?

One thing people haven't mentioned has nothing to do with hockey:
The Raptors.
If there's another team in Toronto I can see them affecting the Raptors moreso than the Leafs. And since MLSE owns them both I believe they'll fight tooth and nail on this.

However, the fan base, the corporate money and media outlets would definitely be able to support a 2nd NHL team IMO.

 

[TheRocker]

neilm used to post on here. He was trying to get Leafs season tickets, but MLSE made him buy Raptors season tickets as well. That's why they are so against this.

The Marlies don't even come into the equation, no one gives a crap about AHL hockey. If you're too poor to go to an NHL game, go check out an OHL game, there are ten or more OHL teams in the GTA.

 

[Betfair.com]

Totally agree

I totally agree with that writer. All the hype we hear about in the Toronto Sports media... Ive never actually heard some of those arguments....the only thing i disagree with is this "Their rivalries lay with Buffalo, Montreal and Ottawa." - you need to add detroit to that list.

 

[Bushay]

I totally agree with that writer. All the hype we hear about in the Toronto Sports media... Ive never actually heard some of those arguments....the only thing i disagree with is this "Their rivalries lay with Buffalo, Montreal and Ottawa." - you need to add detroit to that list.

After reading the article I felt the same way. There's an awful lot of hype coming out of Ontario about the addition of another team and the outcry is so strong, that I had never heard some of the negative points of the move. Other than they can support another team no problem. I really felt this guy make a lot of interesting points. That's why I wanted to hear a Canadian POV.

 

[Bushay]

With the re-alignment of the divisions years ago, they've really killed the Det-Tor rivalry. But nothing that wouldn't re-kindle in another re-alignment or Det moving to the East like they've been trying to do for years.

 

[FairWarning]

With the re-alignment of the divisions years ago, they've really killed the Det-Tor rivalry. But nothing that wouldn't re-kindle in another re-alignment or Det moving to the East like they've been trying to do for years.

Chicago will fight tooth-and-nail to make sure Detroit stays in the West. Maybe Toronto can go West.

 

[Bushay]

Chicago will fight tooth-and-nail to make sure Detroit stays in the West. Maybe Toronto can go West.

Geographically they don't have a snowballs chance. It's between Det and Nashville I believe. Maybe Columbus.

 

[SportSavant]

Did you read the article?

What points did you disagree with specifically?

That's way too vague.

i hadnt read the article when I posted.

ill read it a bit later

 

[ivan722]

Hell for every team one of the us states can support, one Canadian city can support three.
Some of the us states are a joke as far as supporting their NHL clubs.

:>(

 

[Bruins4Life]

The only thing I disagree with is the guy stating that the Leafs have a rivalry with Buffalo. I don't see that, and I live between Toronto and Buffalo.
Sure, you get a lot of Leaf fans at the games in Buffalo. But that's only because it'e relatively easy to get Sabres' tickets, and it's only a 90 minute drive.
If you put a team in Hamilton, you create an instant rivalry. Think Argos vs Ticats.

 

[HawkN-Flight]

I doubt Toronto could support another team succesfuly. Leaf fans are die hard. It could turn out like what the Islanders have been selling tickets this year.Ugly.
Bettman seem against any kind of move that would put a another team in southern ontario. Yet, he gave franchises to Atlanta, and Nashville which seem to be going the same way Phoenix did.
Hamilton Ontario, would defintely work out. Bettman knows if he hands Hamilton a franchise, Buffalo ticket sales will drop even more. The leafs would not feel any pinch.

 

[PassTheBuck]

He makes a good point about Leaf Fans being so die hard, and unwilling to support another team. However, that's the way a lot of people in Ottawa were before they got a team. There were a ton of Leafs and Habs fans, and while whenever those two teams come to town there are a huge number of fans who still show up and support the road team, Ottawa has gotten to the point where they are a decent NHL franchise with stable footing. I feel this is what would happen in Toronto. It's too bad the Legacy (stupid name, worse jersey) don't start right now, because the Leafs are very vulnerable at the moment. I think a 2nd NHL can be supported in one of the biggest markets in North America, and by far the biggest hockey market. The author tries to compare the Rangers/Isles/Devils, but he is making the wrong comparison. Try the Yankees/Mets or Sox/Cubs. It's plain and simple, when you have the demand, you should consider it. For the Marlies or the Raptors, they play a very small part in this equation. People in Toronto couldn't care less about anything that isn't NHL.

 

[Bushay]

Good stuff. But why do you feel the leafs are vulnerable right now?

 

[crazy]

The location alone would create a headache for the leafs

 

[Bushay]

I guess that's why their fighting so hard to NOT make this happen. Including putting in a bid for the Coyote franchise.

 

[PassTheBuck]

Good stuff. But why do you feel the leafs are vulnerable right now?

As vulnerable as they've been in a while, when it comes to losing fans. If a new team could come in, play hard and perform decently, they would have a shot at drawing some fans away. Either way, if you have a new team in Toronto, as long as you have Ovie, Crosby, Detroit and all the Canadian teams coming to town, that arena will be filled on most nights.

 

[crazy]

As vulnerable as they've been in a while, when it comes to losing fans. If a new team could come in, play hard and perform decently, they would have a shot at drawing some fans away. Either way, if you have a new team in Toronto, as long as you have Ovie, Crosby, Detroit and all the Canadian teams coming to town, that arena will be filled on most nights.

no, it would not be just a shot at drawing fans, they would pack the place every night. The location alone will fill the place. I play basketball and volleyball there (they transformed one of the airplane hangers into a sports complex this used to be the canadian military airplane and ground troops base) After my games I would head to down town for drinks it takes me less than 15 minutes to get there, and thats without using the highways which are accessible at every corner of the land.