Are the Oilers headed for Seattle?

Drewphoria said:
Quick answer - No.
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I agree, this just appears to be Katz posturing to try and get more money out of the city of Edmonton for a new arena. Doug MacLean put it well; do you really think the Oilers are going to move from a city where they're trying to get a new arena to maximize revenue streams to an arena where they would be a tenant. They can still make more money being a tenant in crappy old Rexall then being a tenant in a brand new "basketball" arena in Seattle.
 
Unlikely the NHL would let a top 10 revenue team move when so many are in financial difficulty. But it is the NHL so all bets are off. :crazy:

My guess is ownership is trying to position themselves so the city gives better incentives for a new arena in Edmonton. I don't follow it very closely but sounds like City and Katz(owner) are going back and forth.
 
Not happening - the City has already called his bluff by placing an October 17th deadline for Katz to publicly state his demands. With Katz, whenever movement is ready to go on - something comes up and he has made another demand. That and his constant seclusion and secrecy doesn't help matters.

According to John Shannon from Sportsnet - the Oilers made $18M last year and contributed to revenue sharing - so they are a HAVE team. Given that the NHL still owns Phoenix, Atlanta moved to Winnipeg and Columbus and Florida are really struggling financially - and would have no suitable ownership groups to take over those franchises - it won't happen. Don't think that there wouldn't be a struggling owner wanting to go into a situation where you can't lose money - and a ready made fan base that will ensure sellouts as long there is light at the end of the tunnel.



Katz has been trying to play angles to get the building for free since Day 1. And he's operating the only way he knows how - by bullying because he is completely absent of tact - which is how he has always been.
 
Lets punt Katz and force him to sell to an owner who wants to stay.
Perhaps we should all boycot his drugstore chain. Then we can see who wins the pissing contest.
ronbev765
 
Oilers, Panthers, Bluejackets, Coyotes - whatever, bring one of them here and my credit card will be at the ready for season tickets.
 
timber09 said:
Oilers, Panthers, Bluejackets, Coyotes - whatever, bring one of them here and my credit card will be at the ready for season tickets.
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If I was willing to spend the money on the NHCorporateL, I would just drive 90 minutes north and go to a Canucks game (against a team I actually wanted to see, not going to watch the Nucks of course :p ). For me personally, I wouldn't drive in to Seattle for an NHL game unless someone flipped me free tickets, and even then, I might not go. Getting in to Seattle, especially on a Friday or Saturday night is a joke traffic wise. I could probably get to the BC border faster from my house then going to Seattle. But, I refuse to spend money on these guys anymore, the latest lockout is a prime example of why they don't deserve my hard earned money. I used to buy the NHL Center Ice package but I don't even buy that anymore. We can watch tons of hockey on CBC or VS, but this last season I don't think my son watched even one full NHL game aside from maybe the last game or two of the SCF. He just doesn't enjoy watching the games anymore, for a number of reasons, and I can't blame him one bit. I would rather spend my time and money watching WHL hockey even though that is getting hard to watch too. The best hockey for my money (just costs you gas and popcorn funds) is going to the many local rinks and watching the kids play who are just playing for fun and because they love hockey. There are 5 or 6 rinks within an hour of the house where on any given weekend you can go watch a bunch of games including some really fun high level AAA Major Bantams or Midgets. The tournaments ew see here locally are incredible, especially the Bantam AAA tournament sponsored by the Silvertips. Top level teams from BC, AB, CA, ID, MT, CO, OR, etc show up and you can meet celebrities (including NHL'ers) whose kids play on these elite teams. I know a lot of people are pumped up and I am glad for those who really want the NBA and NHL in Seattle, I just have no interest in it especially the NBA. The only way they will survive here is with huge corporate sponsorship, and we all know what that means. The average tax payer like us are the ones left on the outside or taking out a second mortgage just to afford tickets.
 
canucksfreak19 said:
I agree, this just appears to be Katz posturing to try and get more money out of the city of Edmonton for a new arena. Doug MacLean put it well; do you really think the Oilers are going to move from a city where they're trying to get a new arena to maximize revenue streams to an arena where they would be a tenant. They can still make more money being a tenant in crappy old Rexall then being a tenant in a brand new "basketball" arena in Seattle.
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This arena here in Seattle is not being built for basketball. It is being built for both. There are plenty that have already been used for both and I've not heard a lot of complaints about how they are as far as places to watch an NHL hockey game. In fact, when this proposal was put in place all the talk around here was that it was not viable financially without both an NBA and an NHL team as tenants.

Staples Center-LA Lakers(NBA),LA Clippers and LA Kings(NHL),American Airlines Center-Dallas Mavericks(NBA) and Dallas Stars(NHL),Wachovia Center-Philadelphia 76ers(NBA)and Philadelpiha Flyers,MadisonSquareGarden- NY Knicks and NY Rangers ,Verizon Center-Washington Wizards and Washington Capitals,Philips Arena-Atlanta Hawks and Atlanta Thrashers,Pepsi Center-Denver Nuggets(NBA) and Colorado Avalanche,TD Banknorth Garden-Boston Celtics(NBA) and Boston Bruins(NHL),United Center-Chicago Bulls(NBA) and Chicago Blackhawks,Air Canada Center-Toronto Raptors(NBA) and Toronto Maple Leafs(NHL)
 
willhockey said:
This arena here in Seattle is not being built for basketball. It is being built for both. There are plenty that have already been used for both and I've not heard a lot of complaints about how they are as far as places to watch an NHL hockey game. In fact, when this proposal was put in place all the talk around here was that it was not viable financially without both an NBA and an NHL team as tenants.
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The problem isn't the dual tenancy with the NBA teams, it's not owning the building you are playing in. Katz would be a fool to move to Seattle as a (secondary - and the hockey team would be #2) tenant of the group that owns the arena compared to owning the building outright.

If Seattle gets a team, the only owner for them who would make sense is the arena ownership group getting the team.
 
kmitchel said:
If Seattle gets a team, the only owner for them who would make sense is the arena ownership group getting the team.
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I am not sure that I agree with you here Kevin.

Chris Hanson has done everything in his power (and wallet) to make this deal happen and his primary goal is getting the NBA back to Seattle which he would certainly be part of the ownership group if/when that does happen. But he also knows that the area/arena/city would all be positively impacted by an NHL team coming in as well and it would not suprise me in the least to see him aggresively target and ownership group to bring a team in and negotiate the arena/concession/parking revenues just to make sure that it happens.

Also keep in mind that the long term ownership of this arena will be with the city (maybe the county...can't remember for sure) and not with Chris Hanson and his investment group.

Now - I don't think for a second that the Oilers will make the move to Seattle but it could set up well for another owner to bring a team in from elsewhere.
 
timber09 said:
I am not sure that I agree with you here Kevin.

Chris Hanson has done everything in his power (and wallet) to make this deal happen and his primary goal is getting the NBA back to Seattle which he would certainly be part of the ownership group if/when that does happen. But he also knows that the area/arena/city would all be positively impacted by an NHL team coming in as well and it would not suprise me in the least to see him aggresively target and ownership group to bring a team in and negotiate the arena/concession/parking revenues just to make sure that it happens.

Also keep in mind that the long term ownership of this arena will be with the city (maybe the county...can't remember for sure) and not with Chris Hanson and his investment group.
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Joe, I think we're seeing time and time again that owners who don't own the whole part and parcel (stadium plus teams) have a MUCH tougher time making a go at it. With the city/county involved, I'm curious on how much of a sweetheart deal (on parking/concessions/etc) they could/would give Katz (or whoever) wanted to move a hockey team into the city.

If Hanson wanted to be in the ownership group of BOTH the NBA team and the NHL team, I could see it being a bit easier than having 3 different parties (arena, NHL owners, NBA owners).

Kevin
 
I don't disagree that it is much tougher but I also think that there are instances where it can work. Clearly the stadium, concessions, parking, etc contract in Phoenix is the best way to bankrupt a franchise that may have been able to thrive - I don't think stadium location helped that one in the end either.

That being said - I think that is COULD work with the proper contracts in place. Maybe I am a bit partial to this development in Seattle as it has been on sports talk radio every day for the better part of nine months but this deal seems like one that should be able to work for both a hockey and a basketball team with neither having ownership of the facility.

At the end of the day - there isn't a shovel in the ground yet and there are no available franchises in either the NBA or the NHL so I will just have to wait and see what develops. The Oilers aren't a good fit and this is just a power play to the local officials in Edmonton which kind of makes me sick.
 
I would guess it is a ploy just like when lemieux was visiting other cities....Meeting for lunch just to make sure the city took him seriously.
 
Katz and his crew were heading to Seattle for some R&R and needed an excuse to make it tax deductible ;) "Hey Mr Taxman.....we're here for work related meetings....."
 

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