Kukla's Korner Hockey

Kukla's Korner Hockey

Talking Las Vegas

06/15/2016 at 8:31am EDT

from Eric Duhatschek of the Globe and Mail,

So NHL expansion is on, an NHL source confirming what some of us have been predicting for years: That the league’s desire to go to Las Vegas trumps any concern they might have about the long-term viability of the market.

William Foley, the Vegas owner-in-waiting, has been patiently, discreetly, quietly waiting in the wings for the process to unfold, which is part of the protocol that NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and the league’s executive committee demands.

They do not want loud, boisterous, tub-thumping people joining their ownership group. They want sober, well-heeled businessmen, the lessons of previous expansions not lost on the key decision-makers, beginning with the Boston Bruins’ Jeremy Jacobs, the chairman of the league’s board of governors, who doesn’t need a quick-fix expansion payment to stabilize his already successful franchise.

Even Bettman talked about this publicly at the start of the Stanley Cup final: That any decision to go into Las Vegas, or Quebec for that matter, would be based solely on whether it enhances overall NHL goals.

continued

from Larry Brooks of the New York Post,

For $500 million, Foley’s team not only will have greater access to select desirable players than previous expansion outfits and be treated favorably regarding its entry draft selection placement, the Black Knights will own an enormous amount of cap space with which to bid for free agents.

For $500 million, Gary Bettman wants Las Vegas to be in position to immediately compete for a playoff spot. Because this isn’t about simply satisfying the newest member of the club, it is about attracting another $500 million investment from a 32nd club (that is not situated in Quebec, but rather in Seattle).

It is about attracting another $500 million so that the NHL gain complete its manifest destiny by becoming a 32-team league divided evenly between east and west.

Whatever you know about Las Vegas, you know this: Unless you represent the house, there are no sure things on the Strip. But not even the house is a sure thing in this case. Las Vegas is a gamble as a big league market, untested in terms of generating revenue. It is a gamble for the NHLPA as well, for while expansion will create another 25 jobs, the average salary across the board will decrease if the new team’s revenue/payroll ratio comes in below the league average.

more

Create an Account

In order to leave a comment, please create an account.

About Kukla's Korner Hockey

Paul Kukla founded Kukla’s Korner in 2005 and the site has since become the must-read site on the ‘net for all the latest happenings around the NHL.

From breaking news to in-depth stories around the league, KK Hockey is updated with fresh stories all day long and will bring you the latest news as quickly as possible.

Email Paul anytime at [email protected]

Most Recent Posts

Most Recent Comments

Comment by Kate in Abel to Yzerman from the entry Same Lineup Tonight - 2 minutes ago
Comment by Kate in Abel to Yzerman from the entry Same Lineup Tonight - 11 minutes ago
Comment by dca in Abel to Yzerman from the entry Seider's Year - 30 minutes ago
Comment by Paul in Abel to Yzerman from the entry Same Lineup Tonight - 31 minutes ago
Comment by detroitredwings in Abel to Yzerman from the entry Same Lineup Tonight - 38 minutes ago