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THN.com Blog: Something not right about Phoenix taking its show on the road

Jobing.com Arena, home of the Phoenix Coyotes. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

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Jobing.com Arena, home of the Phoenix Coyotes. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Jason Kay

Jason Kay
2009-08-01 09:15:00

As ideas go, it’s creative, somewhat provocative, for some even emotive.

For many in the hockey world, though, it’s simply a negative.

A group called Ice Edge Holdings made news last week when it was revealed its plan to purchase the Phoenix Coyotes included a short-term fix to play a handful of “home” games in Saskatoon, Sask.

The NHL-hockey starved folks of the prairies would be asked to ante up cash for tickets that would be priced perhaps double or triple what they pay (or more frequently, don’t) in the desert. And chances are, those games would sell out, in the short-term.

As a band-aid, cash grab/subsidy, it might meet its objective – maybe.

But it just feels so wrong.

A hockey team and community have a relationship with a deep emotional attachment. As soon as the team suggests it start dating other cities, the connection is doomed; trust is broken.

As for the “other woman/man,” the concept of a sexy suitor may sound exciting, but the titillation would soon wear off. The reality is rarely as sweet as the fantasy.

The result would be a team sinking deeper in quicksand from which it’s already struggling to escape and a mistress left feeling used.

Simply put, the NHL either belongs in Phoenix or it doesn’t. The market needs to prove to the hockey world it can play in the big leagues – which it has failed to do so far – or give someone else a chance.

The concept of neutral site games isn’t foreign (well, actually it is in Europe) to the NHL. In my experience, these games are typically duds. The league experimented with them in the early 1990s to middling results.

While I’m not a supporter of the season opening in Europe, the logic is apparent. Tap into an underserved market with vast potential before the Russians stake their claim.

Saskatoon is a different beast. The NHL will never set up shop there.

What makes team sports so compelling is the emotional investment. Sure, as hockey fans we appreciate the artistry and respect the talent, but this isn’t ballet. It’s blood and sweat and ‘heck-yeah, we want to see our team beat the tar out of the opponents, both on the scoreboard and in the alley.’

There are certainly scores of NHL fans in Saskatoon, but their allegiances are spread across the league. Some support Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, Montreal, Boston, Toronto, Detroit…one or two may even like Phoenix.

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But there is no cohesion, no unifying force; and after the initial thrill of NHL hockey wears off, the games will be devoid of spark.

I witnessed that phenomenon last fall when the NFL’s Buffalo Bills played a game at Toronto’s Rogers Centre. The metropolis of T.O. is brimming with NFL fans, but only a fraction support the Bills. The result was an atmosphere limper than a Rangers power play.

More importantly, we doubt this concept – which could hasten the death of hockey in Phoenix – will ultimately appeal to an NHL hierarchy which is doing its level best to achieve stability in the desert.

And the NHLPA may not be supportive of a plan which would see some of its members lose home games, having to travel more extensively and spend more time away from their families.

We applaud Ice Edge Holdings for trying to find a solution and respect the creativity. Sounds like the NHL’s executive committee did likewise on Thursday when it didn’t categorically reject the group’s “incomplete” application to become franchise owners. We’re guessing, however, the league’s power brokers will conclude two cities, one team is a love triangle it could do without.

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Jason Kay is the editor in chief of The Hockey News and a regular contributor to THN.com. His blog appears regularly in the off-season.

For more great profiles, news and views from the world of hockey, subscribe to The Hockey News magazine.

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COMMENTS (20)

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the_greatest_one Posted
(2009-08-06 13:46:22)



Nice bit of "analysis" Jason. Or simply a grovelling and bootlicking opinion to appease Bettman and the NHL Exec? Shameless. So how do a few games in hockey rabid Saskatchewan destroy a franchise that's already destroyed? It's over in Phoenix. Maybe the great Gary will bring back "Boots" or endorse Reinsdorf so they can finish the job of hosing Glendale, then move on (maybe to Vegas). You have to face facts - this is a market where highschool badminton beats the NHL. Playing a few games where they might generate some interest and perhaps make some money can't be bad for this team. Geez, how many more bombs do you need to drop on the "Arizona" while it sits at the bottom of the harbour?
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scubasteve Posted
(2009-08-03 18:29:27)

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saying that its a bad idea because Saskatawan fans cheer for so many different teams and wouldn't be able to support a team because of loyalty to numerous other teams is absolutly insane. Did you ever think for a second to consider that they cheer for a wide range of teams because they don't have any teams that are close to them? I'm pretty sure you wouldn't argue that Winnipeg is a good place even though im certain many of the people have different loyalties to different teams since the Jets lost. Not saying that there should be a team in Saskatawan as Hamilton or Winnipeg deserve a team more than any other N.A city. This is just an attempt to show that hockey can succeed in an Canadian market so that its easier to move the team here WHEN it happens (Phoniex supports must stop being delusional and realize it will eventually happen when your team has lost money every season of its existence). I think they only preposed Saskatawan as a way to aquire additional income to make up for the lack of supports in the desert (a task that would be easily accomplished) instead of using Hamilton or Winnipeg because Bettman would have a fit and deny the group a chance for the team in fear of the pure intention being to relocate one of his precious failures. Also Jason trying to compare this situations to that of the Buffalo Bills is ludicrous. The reason why it was a failure was because Rogers incredibly overpriced every ticket for a preseason game. Nobody wanted to pay 200 dollars for some of the cheapest tickets when they could just drive a couple hours and spend far less to see a regular season game in Buffalo. Rogers just made a terrible finacall descion and incredibly overestimate the human species as no city in the world would have succeeded with tickets priced that high for a preseason game. I doubt this group will make the same mistake as they would have to have an iq lower than 50.
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thefrogren Posted
(2009-08-03 09:56:38)



Uncle Gary, has done alot for the NHL more most will even give him credit for. Who saved pittburgh from folding or relocation? GARY, how about Buffalo? GARY, oh wait who saved the six failing teams during later parts of the 1990s'? GARY. Why does Canada not need another team right now, because it's not in the cards and won't be until the NHL fixes the problem teams and can add 4-6 more teams across the USA and gain growth and land a major tv contract that actually makes them hugh money. NFL 13.4B, MLB and NBA both bring in 2B plus and the NHL 800M. Gary and company want to build this empire to more than what it should become and they have done a good job as fair doing so. True mistakes have been made but overall everything has been put in place for the big picture. When the big picture comes big things are expected. Will Coyotes games in Halifax and Sasktoon work? YES but only if priced right. We'll it help the team moneywise yes, on ice wise no. So will it work answer is No for the on ice and yes for the pocketbook. I went to a Nashville game I was thinking 8,000-12,000 people pre. game show up. Boy was I wrong 15,857 I believe was the final number. Not bad for a country music loving place.
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matthew_sawtell Posted
(2009-08-03 08:22:25)



You can thank the NBA and their experiment with New Orleans/Oklahoma City a couple of years back for giving the other three leagues this idea. Problem is that idea came about from a very nasty Hurricane Kathrina, and not a very nasty bout of greed.
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donnieo Posted
(2009-08-02 20:38:48)

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I'm not sure if Halifax could support an NHL team full time but we have done very well recently with the Memorial Cup, the World Women's Championships and last year the World Championships. The Nova Scotia Voyagers started here in 71/72 with 20/ half of their home games played here that season and subsequently moved here. I believe we would sell out 10 to 20 home games for an NHL team including Corporate Boxes.
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jeltz42 Posted
(2009-08-02 17:50:06)

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Eddy and Canuck, I cannot agree more with your statements that this Phoenix thing has become personal to Buttman. It will be this arrogance that will bring down the NHL. But then this is the same infantile person who insists that the NHL is run his way and refuses to listen to the real bosses...those who buy tickets. The only thing that makes sense is to move the Jets back to Winnipeg. This notion of having Phoenix play games in other cities is a joke. I will not discount the few real hockey fans the 'yotes have, but most of them were Jets fans in the first place or were converted RoadRunner fans. I say it would be a fair even trade. The RoadRunners back where they belong, and for the Jets to be back in Winnipeg.
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backchec Posted
(2009-08-02 15:50:21)

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15,000 seats in the Saskatoon Credit Union arena that will sell out easily at three times the price that Phoenix fans are paying.Doesn't take a genius to figure out the math. By the way,Saskatoon will be hosting the 2010 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships.The area is in a period of tremendous economic growth which is rare in this recession period.
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el_kinzo Posted
(2009-08-02 15:35:31)

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SaskPlace, now known as The Credit Union Centre, is being expanded to about 15,000 seats. The Halfax metro arena is about 11,000. The ice edge group actually was thinking of playing games in Halifax or Saskatoon, but the extra money that the 4000 more seats bring is the reason Saskatoon is favoured by the group.
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backchec Posted
(2009-08-02 14:35:28)

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Jason the idea is precisely that..to weaken the franchise in Phoenix ( if that is possible) further and move it to a real viable market.Bettman may be a good lawyer but he is a lousy businessman.The people who want to buy the coyotes are pure business people who are far more successful and wealthy than Bettman...and for good reason.Why do these coporate giants want to move the team out of Phoenix?..obviously it makes no business sense to keep it there. Bettman is afraid of the "domino effect" in the sunbelt.Not only the Coyotes,but the Kings,Stars,Panthers,Hurricanes,Lightning, and some nights even the Ducks play before thousands of empty seats and/or have been losing money for years.Luckily their owners have deep pockets to keep these teams afloat in most cases.If the Coyotes move..it will trigger similar thinking in some of these other cities.The Lightning can barely finance their payroll.The end result is that Bettman will be exposed as a fool and he will never hear the end of it (although his lawyer skills seem to always find an answer that sounds good). The NHL exposure and popularity has gone down with the Bettman era.We have lost the war with the NBA in the USA and now have professional soccer breathing down our neck in those same southern states. Need I say more ?
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eddyntam Posted
(2009-08-02 13:01:48)

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yeah winnipeg needs a team back but bettman may budge when hell freezes over. o and the rangers do suck royally. gaborik will get killed over there- wait! he will get hurt on opening night. ha ha ha.
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