Could the NHL be headed to Seattle?
Ok here's what we know about the Coyotes re-location plans.
As of Sunday, the NHL has been permitted to start negotiating with other markets regarding a potential move of the Phoenix Coyotes.
It makes sense from a league perspective to move Phoenix somewhere other than Toronto or Quebec City. Problem is, this isn't entirely up to the league from what I can tell from reading stuff online about the possible destinations.
Seattle's name keeps popping up.
Compared to Kansas City and or Quebec City its sort of an untapped NHL market. They've never been in Seattle, so the ceiling is not known.
Unless the new owner is willing to finance losses waiting on the new NHL club to get established this could be a dicey proposition.
THE CBC's NHL guy wrote this week "Coyotes could fetch around $170 in relocation, etc. fees for the 29 owners."
Now if the Coyotes move to Seattle, that still leaves the hockey mad town of Quebec City available for the league to pursue.
Don Levin owner of the Chicago Wolves AHL hockey club (The farmteam of the Vancouver Canucks) had this to say.
Quote:
“Time is of the essence a city needs to step up.”
Levin does not hide his interest in owning an NHL franchise, and operating it in the Seattle region.
It’s clear the NHL likes Levin too.
Quote:
“We know Don Levin. A good man and a good hockey owner,” wrote NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly.
Daly also denied the league had any further discussions with a Seattle ownership group.
Levin says he can’t build the arena, but would like to partner with an NBA ownership group to fill a new facility.
Basically folks it all boils down to this. NHL hockey will work in Seattle. But you need an arena.
