Whalers Hockey Fest

[ndlancer95 0]

Anyone else hear of this going on in CT? I've heard that there will be maybe 20 games going on between college, minors, high school, or youth leagues. what do you guys think about this?

[chippa13 1844]

Hockey fest is a good idea, another NHL try in Hartford, not so much.

[ndlancer95 0]

Hockey fest is a good idea, another NHL try in Hartford, not so much.

If you look at the number of fans in CT and the Tri-State Area that cannot afford the inflated prices of the Pens rangers and sometimes Islanders you get enough to support a whole team. 10 of my teachers at my HS were season ticket holders to the Whalers in the 80's and 90's. There are a lot of people that would come to a handful of games each season also. We have a fan base to support the teams. The casual fan would go to the Hartford Wolfpack games if they stay and Bridgeport Sound Tigers. The hard core hockey fans would go to the Whalers games. We would definately outnumber the fans of Thrsashers and Islanders. There is a solid base of fans here

[ndlancer95 0]

Hockey fest is a good idea, another NHL try in Hartford, not so much.

If you look at the number of fans in CT and the Tri-State Area that cannot afford the inflated prices of the Pens rangers and sometimes Islanders you get enough to support a whole team. 10 of my teachers at my HS were season ticket holders to the Whalers in the 80's and 90's. There are a lot of people that would come to a handful of games each season also. We have a fan base to support the teams. The casual fan would go to the Hartford Wolfpack games if they stay and Bridgeport Sound Tigers. The hard core hockey fans would go to the Whalers games. We would definately outnumber the fans of Thrsashers and Islanders. There is a solid base of fans here

[chippa13 1844]

Tri-state area? Don't tell me you're counting on folks from NJ and NY to travel to Hartford to see a game.

[ndlancer95 0]

Tri-state area? Don't tell me you're counting on folks from NJ and NY to travel to Hartford to see a game.

Well, I think I overstated that. I meant like people on the border of CT/NY and MA/CT. My Tri-State area. I've seen a ton of Massachussettians at WolfPack games, in droves of like 100-200 packed onto tour busses with Wolfpack stuff on

[chippa13 1844]

Remember, AHL seats are about 25% the cost of NHL seats.

[adam14 182]

Winnipeg has a fan base too, they aren't getting a team though either.

[DEATHTRON 19]

Also worth noting, its not always about having a regular fanbase, corporate sponsorship is important as well.

Zach

[fawn111 0]

Id like to see a team in the Pacific Northwest.... Seattle/Portland area. I think houston was bandied about a few years ago, but the thought of Hockey in Houston disgusts me..... can u imagine trying to keep the ice hard in that climate?

I would imagine if the Islanders leave the area, then Hartford could have a leg to stand on for expansion. However I think Brooklyn is a more intriguing scenario. A Russian billionaire now owns the Nets and will soon have a state of the art arena in the heart of Brooklyn. Last I checked Hockey is pretty big in Russia, much more than basketball.... Instant rivalry with the Rangers... huge corporate opportunity. Watch for this to develop.

[starsfan71 9]

Id like to see a team in the Pacific Northwest.... Seattle/Portland area. I think houston was bandied about a few years ago, but the thought of Hockey in Houston disgusts me..... can u imagine trying to keep the ice hard in that climate?

I would imagine if the Islanders leave the area, then Hartford could have a leg to stand on for expansion. However I think Brooklyn is a more intriguing scenario. A Russian billionaire now owns the Nets and will soon have a state of the art arena in the heart of Brooklyn. Last I checked Hockey is pretty big in Russia, much more than basketball.... Instant rivalry with the Rangers... huge corporate opportunity. Watch for this to develop.

There is an AHL team in Houston... Saying that Houston is probably in the top 10 shittiest cities in the United States though. At least in my opinion. :P

[RiSeOnFiRe 0]

Id like to see a team in the Pacific Northwest.... Seattle/Portland area. I think houston was bandied about a few years ago, but the thought of Hockey in Houston disgusts me..... can u imagine trying to keep the ice hard in that climate?

I would imagine if the Islanders leave the area, then Hartford could have a leg to stand on for expansion. However I think Brooklyn is a more intriguing scenario. A Russian billionaire now owns the Nets and will soon have a state of the art arena in the heart of Brooklyn. Last I checked Hockey is pretty big in Russia, much more than basketball.... Instant rivalry with the Rangers... huge corporate opportunity. Watch for this to develop.

Not sure how to break this to you.... but uh The Islanders are already rivals with the Rangers. Wouldn't mind the Isles moving to Queens or Brooklyn. Then I can just hop on a train instead of driving to Hempstead.

[BenderHockey 127]

Not sure how to break this to you.... but uh The Islanders are already rivals with the Rangers. Wouldn't mind the Isles moving to Queens or Brooklyn. Then I can just hop on a train instead of driving to Hempstead.

And Debbies and Cryers also within 90 miles. How many "Rivalries" do you need?

[The Mafia Line 0]

Would love to see the Whalers come back to Hartford. Those jerseys, the song, the tradition, love it! Wouldn't want to see the NHL expand and further dilute it's product to do it.

If it were up to me the NHL would contract to 26 teams, but if there would be 30 teams I'd like to see 4 be in Hartford, Quebec, Winnipeg and Seattle.

[ndlancer95 0]

Would love to see the Whalers come back to Hartford. Those jerseys, the song, the tradition, love it! Wouldn't want to see the NHL expand and further dilute it's product to do it. If it were up to me the NHL would drop back to 26 teams.

[chippa13 1844]

I hear ya about the love for the Whale. Heck, brass bonanza is my ringtone but some dreams are better left to die.

[Monty22 832]

I have to agree with Chippa- Hartford is a dying city in much worse shape than it was 13 years ago. Bettman wanted the team out in the first place, I can't see him facilitating a return. I don't see this happening in my lifetime. You can never go home again.

[fawn111 0]

Really? the Islanders are a rival to the Rangers.... wow, like I didn't know that.... if you read my post, you would have seen that I said "IF" the Islanders leave the area then Brooklyn becomes a very intriguing place for Hockey given the recent purchase of Nets by the Russian billionaire.

And I am sure you know, that the Wilpons, Owners of the Mets have talked to Wang about building them an arena near Citi Field and possible purchase of the Islanders.

[RiSeOnFiRe 0]

Yes I read your post, It would be hard to quote it without reading it. It implied that 'IF' they move to brooklyn, instant rivalry....which is already there. The move has nothing to do with it. The building near Citi Field is much more likely, which would be great for me. Just hop on the train at Ronkonkoma and im there.

Really? the Islanders are a rival to the Rangers.... wow, like I didn't know that.... if you read my post, you would have seen that I said "IF" the Islanders leave the area then Brooklyn becomes a very intriguing place for Hockey given the recent purchase of Nets by the Russian billionaire.

And I am sure you know, that the Wilpons, Owners of the Mets have talked to Wang about building them an arena near Citi Field and possible purchase of the Islanders.

[The Mafia Line 0]

I have to agree with Chippa- Hartford is a dying city in much worse shape than it was 13 years ago. Bettman wanted the team out in the first place, I can't see him facilitating a return. I don't see this happening in my lifetime. You can never go home again.

Can you elaborate? How is it a dying city?

[Monty22 832]

Drive around after 6pm during the week or at anytime on the weekend- it's a ghost town. It wasn't all that great 13 years ago, but it certainly is worse now. Probably 95% of the people that work there live elsewhere. Crime is bad, although Hartford has never been known for low crime rates. Much like everywhere else, jobs are leaving. Also keep in mind Hartford does not have a "state of the art" facility for hockey like most cities trying to lure a team.

[TheHerminator22 0]

I'd like to see the NHL try a team in Hartford again. I never thought Atlanta should have had one in the first place. Hockeyfest is a good idea to create buzz and interest though. If it works out then I think Hartford would be a good place to try again.

[Machinehead2k5 32]

name='TheHerminator22' post='803465' date='Jun 15 2010, 12:41 PM'

I'd like to see the NHL try a team in Hartford again. I never thought Atlanta should have had one in the first place.

Are you talking about 1970s Atlanta or 1999 Atlanta?

Either way, the 70s Flames were pretty good made the playoffs 6 out of 8 seasons. The Thrashers have had ownership squabbles the last 4-5yrs which has affected the Thrashers but not soo much of the Hawks.