bigjag19 said:

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The Beef01 said:

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Sure does feel like you're crossing over a line where the NHL has to step-in and force the sale/relocation...some of this arena stuff feels like PR cover for something that's already a Fait Accompli.

Never seen anything like this before in Houston....unless you count the ol' "Oh, look at this patch of turf here before this preseason game....we can't play on this! This stadium is a joke, we need to move!"

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To be fair…

The dome turf was awful.

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Oh absolutely...it was terrible; the Vet in Philadelphia was probably the only surface which was worse during that era. (Although, Three Rivers was pretty abysmal too)

That said, there's no doubt that there would've been a stadium deal in the works for anyone other than Bud Adams...especially after he made the tax payers gut the dome within 10 years of the franchise relocating and, if I recall correctly, was making threats about moving to Jacksonville the 1st time around.

The Beef01 said:

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bigjag said:

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That said, there's no doubt that there would've been a stadium deal in the works for anyone other than Bud Adams...especially after he made the tax payers gut the dome within 10 years of the franchise relocating and, if I recall correctly, was making threats about moving to Jacksonville the 1st time around.

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I would like to frame this. It perfectly sums up why I hate the Titans even though my overall interest in the NFL is virtually nil.

Pro hockey is awesome. It's especially awesome in person (preferably lower bowl). I live in Minnesota now and Wild games are a blast. Kinda equate it to the Texans though. You have a fan base who is absolutely rabid about the sport but the team is perpetually mediocre (although the Wild are pretty damn salty this year).

Beat40 said:

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I'm not a hockey guy, but if a NHL team came to Houston, I would be interested and follow them.

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same, can't get behind the stars because of.. well Dallas. Don't know the rules, but sure I can adapt.

TexAgs1992 said:

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I'd want the ownership group to be anybody but the Fertitta's or McNair's

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Too bad the Friedkins bought an Italian soccer team after being out bid by Tillman on the rockets

What team did they buy?

AS Roma

Woah, almost $600MM. I suppose the threat of relegation is a lot less for big Italian clubs.

Pahdz said:

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Pro hockey is awesome. It's especially awesome in person (preferably lower bowl). I live in Minnesota now and Wild games are a blast. Kinda equate it to the Texans though. You have a fan base who is absolutely rabid about the sport but the team is perpetually mediocre (although the Wild are pretty damn salty this year).

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Especially with Alary's Bar right down the street!

ChipFTAC01 said:

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Woah, almost $600MM. I suppose the threat of relegation is a lot less for big Italian clubs.

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100%. Also why Newcastle United went for like $300m. The biggest of the big Italian clubs are pretty secure in serie A unless they're bribing refs or so broke they can't even bribe the local government. The Milan clubs, Roma, Lazio, and Juve are untouchable.

great place to grab a beer before/after a game and ride their shuttle, but the best is dinner at Mancini's and ride their school bus to the games!

Beat40 said:

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I'm not a hockey guy, but if a NHL team came to Houston, I would be interested and follow them.

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Same. Especially if they could bring back the Aero's name too.

Regardless, I would be going to several games a year when we get a NHL team.

E said:

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Beat40 said:

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I'm not a hockey guy, but if a NHL team came to Houston, I would be interested and follow them.

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Same. Especially if they could bring back the Aero's name too.

Regardless, I would be going to several games a year when we get a NHL team.

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So if they brought back the Aeros name in regards to the especially does that mean you'd go to the games and buy a hoodie too?

Who owns the name and logos of the Aeros? I'm assuming the Minnesota Wild does? I doubt they'd be willing to give it up for nothing to a competing NHL team. So the new owner would have to pay relocation fees, and also buy the name and logos of Aeros. It would probably be cheaper to create a new identity.

Chuck Watson may own it.

Beat40 said:

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I'm not a hockey guy, but if a NHL team came to Houston, I would be interested and follow them.

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Same. I've lost interest in the NBA and NFL, but this would definitely be something new and exciting to follow with the family.

Looks like the NHL is intent on hanging on to Arizona, even at a substantial loss to the league
https://deadspin.com/it-sure-looks-like-the-arizona-coyotes-are-going-to-pla-1848500892

https://www.nhl.com/coyotes/news/arizona-coyotes--arizona-state-university-announce-agreement-that-will-allow-coyotes-to-play-at-asus-new-multi-purpose-arena-next-season/c-330674434?tid=282299844

Statement from NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman regarding the results of the arena vote in Tempe, Arizona. pic.twitter.com/MVL3AUWP7R

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) May 17, 2023

All I'm going to say is that there's a certain owner in Houston that already has control of an arena that can be converted to hockey that would love to get his hands on an NHL team.

Gary Bettman's been trying his hardest to keep the Coyotes in Arizona, but this might've been it.

— Schlasser (@UrinatingTree) May 17, 2023

Houston will also get an NHL team next time around with Atlanta.. https://t.co/Lq5TnPTa7J

— BucciOT.Com (@Buccigross) March 3, 2023

Fire up the speculation. Tempe voters reject various ballot propositions to build a new area.

https://www.khou.com/article/sports/nhl-houston-arizona-coyotes/285-00db4b1b-c9b5-4ee4-8ef8-fe824d67ca67

The only way the Coyotes come to Houston is if the current owner sells enough shares to give Fertitta control of the team. The league could force him to sell. They could also work to move somewhere that allows him to retain ownership.

I've been waiting for a Houston NHL franchise since the first time the owners voted against a merger with the World Hockey Association in 1977.

It's really difficult to get enthusiastic about the possibility once again. Bettman will exhaust all possibilities before he allows the team to move. And Fertitta is in his mid-60s ... is he still interested in the NHL? It would tie up Toyota Center and make scheduling concerts there very difficult.

And without Fertitta, you have nothing -- as CajunAggie pointed out.

Moving to Houston makes the most sense for this team logistically. Cities like Quebec and Atlanta are too far out east to compete in their current central division. Will Matt Ishiba of the Phoenix Suns make a move to buy out this team? Kansas City looks like a contender logistically as well.

I've read somewhere that Bettman sees Houston for only expansion and not for a relocation. I hope that was inaccurate.

Sounds like it will come down to Houston or SLC.

SLC already has a new arena under construction. Of course, SLC is tiny compared to Houston, so there's that.
I'd like to see them wind up in Houston.

Already have players family (supposedly) tweeting about holding out until the team is relocated. I went to a game here at the Mullett (ASU arena they're playing in now, seats 5000). Not a bad seat in the house, but that's not a tenable solution.

After the votes results were announced, the fact that the owners didn't have an immediate plan B on hand was telling, imo.

Whether he tanked to sell up for the relo fee, or if the Coyotes simply have no idea how to run a successful PR campaign, I think their time here in the Valley is over.

The NHL would love to move a team to Houston given the market size and because it's a relatively new hockey market. The issue for Houston was always that the Rockets have veto power over a team using Toyota center. If Fertitta wants a team, the NHL will make it happen. Seattle's expansion fee was $650m so they would likely require at least that in purchase price & relo fees.

themissinglink said:

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Seattle's expansion fee was $650m so they would likely require at least that in purchase price & relo fees.

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The Texans' expansion fee to the NFL was $700 million back in 1999. Whoever takes the bill for this one will pay upwards of $750 million or more.

Interesting that I've read tons of coverage since yesterday with speculation about the Coyotes' move to Houston. And yet not a single article has a comment from Fertitta that isn't from 2017 or so.

Did reporters forget how to pick up the phone and make a call? Surely there is someone at the Chronicle that has Fertitta's PR person's phone number.

EclipseAg said:

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Interesting that I've read tons of coverage since yesterday with speculation about the Coyotes' move to Houston. And yet not a single article has a comment from Fertitta that isn't from 2017 or so.

Did reporters forget how to pick up the phone and make a call? Surely there is someone at the Chronicle that has Fertitta's PR person's phone number.

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Fertitta's comment would be "no comment". Commenting is how deals get blown up

Irish 2.0 said:

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EclipseAg said:

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Interesting that I've read tons of coverage since yesterday with speculation about the Coyotes' move to Houston. And yet not a single article has a comment from Fertitta that isn't from 2017 or so.

Did reporters forget how to pick up the phone and make a call? Surely there is someone at the Chronicle that has Fertitta's PR person's phone number.

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Fertitta's comment would be "no comment". Commenting is how deals get blown up

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Probably so. Still, it would be nice for someone to make the effort. Maybe he's not interested at all and wouldn't mind saying so.

cajunaggie08 said:

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The only way the Coyotes come to Houston is if the current owner sells enough shares to give Fertitta control of the team. The league could force him to sell. They could also work to move somewhere that allows him to retain ownership.

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Not that I know anyone "in the know" on the hockey side. But this is also what I have heard. Tillman wants enough ownership for control or he's out. Makes sense to me given his personality and how I perceive him operate other ventures.

I believe Houston is ready for a Hockey team. Its not like its a 75,000 stadium they have to fill. 15k - 20k range will be easy to fill with the couple of first season hype with the population of the metro. Plus our diversity stats put us well up the list for new hockey market.