JamesM

I didn't envisage them learning the grass roots on Frensham pond.

They were just that bit more skilled than the Cradles. Place of birth is the only obvious differentiator.

JamesM

That's because American's hate Iced Hockey.

Look at the attendances of Nashville and the Southern franchises.

iaink

Im atypically british in not taking credit for something that was actually done by some colonial lackies

JamesM

Those boys done good Iain.

It was about honour in those days and they didn't wear all this fancy mamby pamby hockey gear that they wear now.

The modern players simply would not cope in the face of such adversity as the Boys of 36.

Former Lancastrian

Canadians invented basketball as well but only have 1 professional team.
Perhaps because its not played on ice it has no attraction

MarylandNed

I know why you think it's strange that there are only 6. It's because there are actually 7! Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal. Once Quebec City gets a team, there will be 8.

iaink

Im suprised its even that many. It takes a lot of money to bankroll a major sports franchise, and lets not forget there are only 4 cities in Canada with a population over a million people.

cheeky_monkey

yes but they are made up teams..did they have to fight their way up the leagues to gain a place in the NHL?..they are just a franchise that can be bought and sold

MarylandNed

Huh?

Nashville's average home attendance in the regular season was 16,690. That's 97.5% of capacity.

Tampa Bay's was 18,468. That's higher than the New York Rangers and Boston Bruins.

Novocastrian

This, IMHO, is the core reason that NA professional sports are inherently flawed.

Former Lancastrian

Agreed and thats why its a business not a sport. Oh look at me Im the owner of such a team and I only paid X amount of millions for it.
Maybe the taxpayers will build me a new stadium for my team.

iaink

Performance in major league sports is judged by the balance sheet. Franchises that fail to make money collapse and are sold on to another city.

The maple larfs consistently sell out the A-C center, so there is no need to have a winning team. Franchise owners in less established / more sane markets sometimes have to pay up to get a team capable of generating some local excitement to get the crowds in.

None of the owners here would stand for the financial consequences of relegation, mores the pity.

MarylandNed

That's true of every team in the NHL, NFL, CFL, MLS, MLB, and NBA. That's just the way North American sports works. You get in through expansion or you move a team in from somewhere else.

Anyway, pretty much all sports teams are "franchises" that can be bought and sold these days. Check out who owns ManU, ManC, Chelsea, Arsenal, and Liverpool in the EPL.

MarylandNed

You think football (soccer) in England isn't a business?

iaink

not really the same though, there is no guarantee of ongoing income without performance on the pitch like there is with the leafs for example.

Its not all that long ago that Man U plied their trade in Division 2, and it might not be that long before Liverpool do again. Just look at Leeds!

You cant get a situation here like in the french cup where a team of 3rd tier semi pro part timers are up against the might of Lyon in the cup final.