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From: citrin@ucbvax.ARPA (Wayne Citrin)
Newsgroups: net.sport.hockey
Subject: Re: NHL Expansion, if any
Message-ID: <7503@ucbvax.ARPA>
Date: Mon, 27-May-85 13:30:57 EDT
Article-I.D.: ucbvax.7503
Posted: Mon May 27 13:30:57 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 29-May-85 23:42:25 EDT
References: <1820@watcgl.UUCP> <5566@ucla-cs.ARPA> <511@alberta.UUCP> <512@alberta.UUCP>
Reply-To: citrin@ucbvax.UUCP (Wayne Citrin)
Distribution: net
Organization: University of California, Berkeley
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Even though I'd love to see a team back in the San Francisco area, I know it's
not realistic.  The base of hockey fans out here, although devoted, is not
large enough to sustain a team, and there's no arena large enough to support
a team (neither the Cow Palace nor the Oakland Coliseum is large enough).
I think the Bay Area would be ripe for a minor league team (as part of a
Pacific Coast Hockey League) or a WHL major junior team.

As for the most likely U.S. markets for a new team, Seattle-Tacoma is the
one mentioned most often.  They have a large arena and someone with the
money to finance the club.  However, I believe that Seattle is located in
Vancouver's territory, and even if Vancouver allowed it, they would probably
require a large indemnity for invading the Canucks' territory.
Denver is sometimes mentioned, but I don't think they will be given a second
chance.  My nominee for a new franchise is Portland.  They've shown that
they can support a major league team (the NBA Trail Blazers' games have
sold out for many years), and I believe that they get excellent attendance
for the WHL Winter Hawks' games.  Perhaps a reader in Portland could correct
me on this.

I really don't know much about the Canadian markets.  Could Hamilton really
support an NHL team?  How about Halifax, or St. John, NB?

Wayne Citrin
(ucbvax!citrin)