2022-23 NHL Thread

[Nik]

I actually kind of think Salt Lake City works better than Houston. Works better geographically, probably a better potential ownership/arena situation, more of a winter climate...

[Bender]

Tempe voted NO.

End this charade

Welcome to the NHL, Houston Not-the-Coyotes.

Can we please do the Houston Oilers?

Can't have two teams with the same name. What is this, the CFL?

Alright, how about we acknowledge global warming and call them the Houston Boilers?

[CarltonTheBear]

I actually kind of think Salt Lake City works better than Houston. Works better geographically, probably a better potential ownership/arena situation, more of a winter climate...

https://twitter.com/andystrickland/status/1658875529859039237

[Zanzibar Buck-Buck McFate]

I actually kind of think Salt Lake City works better than Houston. Works better geographically, probably a better potential ownership/arena situation, more of a winter climate...

I'm there.

Welcome to the NHL: The Salt Lake Tabernacles.

[Nik]

I actually kind of think Salt Lake City works better than Houston. Works better geographically, probably a better potential ownership/arena situation, more of a winter climate...

https://twitter.com/andystrickland/status/1658875529859039237

Whenever the idea of a team in Houston comes up I like to remind myself that Houston is a massive, wealthy city that couldn't hold onto their Football team. In Texas.

[bustaheims]

Whenever the idea of a team in Houston comes up I like to remind myself that Houston is a massive, wealthy city that couldn't hold onto their Football team. In Texas.

Yeah, but Texas is weird about football. High school and college football are so ingrained into the culture and the Cowboys have such a legacy of winning that there isn't room for more - especially when the team isn't particularly successful.

On the flip side, their basketball and baseball teams have a strong level of support - even with multiple teams in the state - and the Stars have built a solid fanbase.

[Significantly Insignificant]

I actually kind of think Salt Lake City works better than Houston. Works better geographically, probably a better potential ownership/arena situation, more of a winter climate...

I'm there.

Welcome to the NHL: The Salt Lake Tabernacles.

I imagine The Salt Lake City Sister Wives as a name is off the table.

[Nik]

Yeah, but Texas is weird about football. High school and college football are so ingrained into the culture and the Cowboys have such a legacy of winning that there isn't room for more - especially when the team isn't particularly successful.

On the flip side, their basketball and baseball teams have a strong level of support - even with multiple teams in the state - and the Stars have built a solid fanbase.

Well, that's sort of the joke. Football is such a big deal in Texas(and fwiw the only real college programs in the city are Rice and UHouston, neither of which are huge deals) and they still couldn't keep the team. I know it's more complicated than that, after all Canada lost NHL teams too, but I think it's still a snappy line.

If I were making a more serious case I think this is one of those situations where the proof is in the pudding. Houston's a massive city with good bones. The NHL has expanded twice in recent years. By my recollection there was never even a passing discussion about a team there. I think that's pretty telling. If there was the perception that a team in Houston could work, if they had the ownership/fan interest necessary, there would be no great reason to favour Seattle or Vegas over them for a lot of the reasons you mention.

Which isn't to say they couldn't be where the Coyotes end up. Just that the League's seeming indifference to a team there is telling.

[Nik]

I actually kind of think Salt Lake City works better than Houston. Works better geographically, probably a better potential ownership/arena situation, more of a winter climate...

I'm there.

Welcome to the NHL: The Salt Lake Tabernacles.

I imagine The Salt Lake City Sister Wives as a name is off the table.

;

Form an instant and meaningful local rivalry: The Salt Lake City Golden Tablets.

[Highlander]

I actually kind of think Salt Lake City works better than Houston. Works better geographically, probably a better potential ownership/arena situation, more of a winter climate...

And growing just as fast as Phoenix and surrounding cities.

[Rob]

I actually kind of think Salt Lake City works better than Houston. Works better geographically, probably a better potential ownership/arena situation, more of a winter climate...

I'm there.

Welcome to the NHL: The Salt Lake Tabernacles.

I imagine The Salt Lake City Sister Wives as a name is off the table.

Never understood polygamy.  Like dude, I got one and sometimes that's too many.

[Zanzibar Buck-Buck McFate]

I actually kind of think Salt Lake City works better than Houston. Works better geographically, probably a better potential ownership/arena situation, more of a winter climate...

I'm there.

Welcome to the NHL: The Salt Lake Tabernacles.

I imagine The Salt Lake City Sister Wives as a name is off the table.

I actually kind of think Salt Lake City works better than Houston. Works better geographically, probably a better potential ownership/arena situation, more of a winter climate...

I'm there.

Welcome to the NHL: The Salt Lake Tabernacles.

I imagine The Salt Lake City Sister Wives as a name is off the table.

Never understood polygamy.  Like dude, I got one and sometimes that's too many.

There's a little community just on the border in AZ called Hildale, UT, that is notorious for being a stronghold of polygamy.  Drove through there once.  Many HUGE but plain houses with multiple entrance doors ... creepy.  But:

https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2022-06-14/with-its-polygamist-rulers-gone-a-community-makes-a-comeback

Granted, this is a long way from SLC.

[Zanzibar Buck-Buck McFate]

I actually kind of think Salt Lake City works better than Houston. Works better geographically, probably a better potential ownership/arena situation, more of a winter climate...

And growing just as fast as Phoenix and surrounding cities.

And running out of water even faster.  Hasta la vista, Great Salt Lake.

[Zanzibar Buck-Buck McFate]

I actually kind of think Salt Lake City works better than Houston. Works better geographically, probably a better potential ownership/arena situation, more of a winter climate...

I'm there.

Welcome to the NHL: The Salt Lake Tabernacles.

I imagine The Salt Lake City Sister Wives as a name is off the table.

;

Form an instant and meaningful local rivalry: The Salt Lake City Golden Tablets.

It's not well known, but Joseph Smith played goal in his youth.

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

Houston should get a long look, the #7 television market in the country and the NHL are in 8 of the top 10.

The owner of the Toyota CenterLorenzo Fertitta(sp?) commented while I lived there that the building had renovations done to accommodate an NHL team.

It's the only top 10 American market not to have had a team. The idea that Fort Lauderdale and Sunrise Florida can support teams and Houston couldn't is so wrong that it's ignorant.