Team in Vegas?

[willc7786 0]

With all the talk about the Pens moving, I was just curious on your thoughts of if there'll ever be a team in Vegas? I think everyone wants to go there, but no one wants to be the first (I'm talking all sports with that comment) and it be a disaster. I'd love for hockey to have the first team there.

[trucks 0]

I think it may be a while before pro sports go to Vegas. They have the market with just under 2 million permanent residents and a boatload of tourists whom many would check out games Im sure. The reason franchises arent going there is gambling though. I am not too sure as I really havent looked into it much but theres a fear that point shaving schemes and different illegal gambling crap would be more prevalent. Also there isnt a venue in Vegas to hold a pro sports team and financing one would be tough to do. This article here explains more as to why there arent franchises in Vegas yet.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/4056557.html

[willc7786 0]

Gambling is definitely the biggest fear. A close second is the nature of the city turning the players focus away from the sport. Thats why I think hockey might be the best because there is far less gambling compared to NFL/MLB, plus hockey players don't really have the same mentality/lifestyle of say an NBA player.

[UMWhockey 0]

Gambling is definitely the biggest fear. A close second is the nature of the city turning the players focus away from the sport. Thats why I think hockey might be the best because there is far less gambling compared to NFL/MLB, plus hockey players don't really have the same mentality/lifestyle of say an NBA player.

lets not kid ourselves. Hockey players know how to go out and party. Vegas is just the kinda place where any hockey player or baseball player or football player would most likely get themselves into trouble. As for fans around the country, it would be a little easier to justify a road trip to watch our team play an away game.

[RadioGaGa 162]

It's not like Vegas never tried hockey...The IHL had a Vegas team...the Thunder, if I'm not mistaken....which If I recall was quite good in it's day.

[Adam91 0]

Vegas currently has a team, the Las Vegas Wraglers, ECHL. I think they're affiliated with the Flames

[willc7786 0]

Well, I meant a big league team from the NHL/NBA/NFL/MLB...with all due respect to the minor league teams, they're by nature not as big of a draw as the big ones

[Chadd 916]

The NHL will not approve a move to Vegas for quite a while, especially since the whole Tocchet/Gambling thing hit the media. It is the fastest growing city in the US and will eventually have to be considered for a major pro sports franchise. The only problem is there are a lot of other things to do in town and the vast majority of local residents are in service industries and do not have a ton of disposable income. Those two factors will probably hold back any teams from moving there far longer than you would expect based purely on population.

[chk hrd 164]

Being born and raised and living in Las Vegas I figure I might as well chime in.

Yes we did have an IHL team the Thunder. We lost them because of a disagreement between the team and the facility over costs. We currently have an ECHL team, The Wranglers, who usually sell about 7k tickets a game. The Wranglers are a pretty good team and made it to the playoffs this season (lost in first or second round).

The gambling isn't as big of a factor as everyone thinks it is. Anybody can gamble on anything on the internet right now. What would happen is the gaming commission would not let any bets be placed on the team in Nevada (like our college teams).

People have the misconception that Las Vegas is only casinos. That is our main industry but there is also other things to due here. There are alot of distractions in New York, L.A., ect. The players won't get into anymore trouble here than anywhere else...we just have a reputation for it.

As for disposable income, there is plenty of it out there. It is not a matter of having it but getting people to go to the games. We would have to really market the game correctly.

Getting a new facility would be easier than most people think. Our mayor has already said that the city has the propperty to build it and is just looking for a partner and team.

The problem with getting a pro team is fan base an attendance.

We have many people moving here every month and the majority of our residents have moved from other cities that already have teams. We all know how loyal people are to thier teams so it is very difficult to get team support from someone who already has a favorite team, let alone get them to make this team thier favorite.

The other thing is this is a 24 hour town. That means that alot of people are working, getting ready from work or getting home from work when there is a game so they are not able to attend cutting down the fan availablility.

Some tourists (especially the ones with kids) may go a game when they are here...but what adult comes to Vegas to go to a game. They come here to party and gamble.

We will get a pro team one day and I hope it is hockey. This town has alot to offer and I'm sure the players would love to have an all-star game here.

[JR Boucicaut 3801]

I remember flying to Vegas from Orlando when I went to the tradeshow. I was sitting next to some guys who lived in Vegas and they were telling me that it is kinda like how locals treat Orlando...they view the Strip as a tourist trap and avoid it most of the time.

[chk hrd 164]

the only time I go to the strip is for work related things (no I don't work in one) or if I absolutely have to. If people come to town and want to go there I tell them to have fun.

It's not that I don't like the strip, it is a great place to party or for tourists, I grew up in the casinos and see them all the time, they are nothing new and the fun has just wore off.

[JR Boucicaut 3801]

Exactly how it was in Orlando for us.