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What if…: The NHL Does Return To Quebec City?
The year was 1994. It was the eve of the 94-95 season and the smallest market in the league (second smallest market in professional sports next to Green Bay) was looking fit to take a run at the big boys. Sure there had been attendance problems in the past, but the previous four to five years it had been at, or just a hair below, the league average. And yes, they never ended up being able to sign that "second comIng" number 1 draft pick they had selected, but they landed a great mix of young up and comers and seasoned vets when they traded him to the Flyers. While it was also true that money was tight within the franchise, the economy seemed to have gone down as far as it could, and a full season of winning ways could surely allow them to make the US dollar player payroll in spite pa using a weak Canadian dollar.
The reality of the situation was quite bleak, however. The schedule was cut in half due to a lockout, taking away half a year of potential revenues. The value of the Canadian dollar relative to that of the US continued to fall to unseen levels. Corporate involvement and monies were scarce in a small market such as this as well, thereby cutting out an important source of income available to many other clubs. And despite the protestations of many, player salaries continued to skyrocket. Team owners approached the provincial government in the hopes of obtaining some form of temporary bailout until they could get back on solid ground, but officials balked at the notion, refusing to prop up a team paying million dollar plus player salaries. In short, the writing was on the wall: The Nordiques, despite putting together the best record in the Eastern Conference during the shortened 1995 season, were not going to survive. Team owner Marcel Aubut had no option but to sell the team to a group of investors from Denver, and the following year the Colorado Avalanche were born. And that season, the fruits of many years of support in Quebec City were born when the Avalanche won their first Stanley Cup championship, a bitter victory for many a hockey fan of the Nordiques.
Fast forward 15 years. Its Friday, October 9, 2009 and Quebec City mayor Regis Lebaume has announced that he and former Nordiques owner Marcel Aubut had met that day with NHL Commishioner Gary Bettman. The topic? The return of the NHL to Quebec City. Bettman reportedly reiterated a statement to the mayor that he would consider Quebec City as a possible NHL city if it built a top end arena and if a team were for sale. Follow ups to this report by the Toronto Star saw Deputy Commishioner giving the following quotes:
"We do have an interest in returning teams to Canadian cities that have hosted and supported NHL teams historically. Both Winnipeg and Quebec City have done that, so we'll see how things transpire. That doesn't mean southern Ontario won't or can't be considered. It will be."
What has changed in the past 15 years? Well we have a cap in place, the Canadian dollar is much improved, corporate support for a team in Quebec City is greatly improved (more than 70 corporate boxes have already been sold, with a waiting list also in place, for a $250 million dollar arena to be built as part of an Olympic games bid) and as many as 10 current NHL clubs either up for sale or in dire financial straits, including Atlanta, Florida, Tampa, Dallas, Phoenix and the New York Islanders.
It seems the perfect location at the perfect time in league history, a feeling shared by spokesman for the non-profit group "J'ai Ma Place":
"Right now there's a small window with the NHL. Clubs are in trouble. So in the last six months our project is moving faster. We're all hockey crazy. We want the NHL to come back to Quebec."
Agreed. Yet at the same time the NHL remains steadfast that their number one priority is keeping franchises where they are. While I take the NHL at their word on this, I believe there is reason to suspect that the extent to which the league will act on this priority will vary on a case to case basis. For example, in the case if the Phoenix Coyotes we know the league fought to keep the team in Glendale to an extent that I'm sure, were they completely frank on the matter, they wouldn't have had the fight not been one of principle: you do not tell us where our franchises can be placed. At the same time, documents released through the trial process reveal that Gary Bettman actively sought out potential ownership in Winnipeg over the past year in a bid to determine whether the Coyotes could return to the city. Taken in tandem with recent develoments also linking the Atlanta Thrashers to Winnipeg, one must take the NHLs preferences to mean just that: they would prefer not to, and will explore options to avoid it, but ultimately would relocate if need be.
So the NHL is not guaranteed to be back in Quebec City, but one has to be more optimistic about the prospect now than at any point previous. Which leads me to ask:
What if the NHL relocated back to Quebec City?
I've wondered about a number of things when it comes to this possibility. First, do they come back as the Nordiques? For the record, my preference would be yes!
Second, if they did retain the Nordiques name, do they sport revamped versions of the old jersey or do we get to see the jerseys they were meant to be wearing for the 95-96 season:
Third, what would be the best possible team to be relocated from a talent standpoint? Atlanta? Florida? Tampa? Dallas? Islanders? Phoenix? Would you have a preference?
Fourth, does the predominantly french speaking environment of the city become problematic in attracting players who do not speak the language? Remember, Quebec City is not Montreal in that while the latter has an abundance of English-based media and fluent population, the former has no daily English newspaper (one weekly though), two English radio stations (both CBC radio, one focused on jazz/classical music and the other talk), two English TV channels pumped in from Montreal (CBC and Global), and a predominatly unilingual French speaking population. Even the PA announcements at Nordiques games were only in French, not French and English as is the norm at Habs games.
Fifth, what does the team have to do as the smallest market in the league in order to survive the second time around? Is there anything to be learned from the way the Green Bay Packers operate being that they're the only smaller market in pro sports?
Sixth, would a team back in Quebec change your opinion of the NHLs investment in Canada, or would you perhaps view it as a PR move of sorts following all of the Ballsille mess?
Seventh, how could you NOT want to see this rivalry renewed?
Just a few points to ponder, and as usual I'm sure you'll have your own thoughts to offer as well! As usual I'm looking forward to reading your thoughts!
Cheers!
Shawn Gates [email protected]
Twitter: ShawnHockeybuzz
Facebook: Shawn Gates
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Remember to visit us at www.hockeyden.net and get details on how YOU could be our winner of a 2010 SIDNEY CROSBY TEAM CANADA OLYMPICS JERSEY!!! Contest runs from now until February 14, 2010, so enter now and often!!! Capture The Passion with HockeyDen.net!!
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