Coyotes working on deal to play at College Arena

[Stalinism]

Don't get me wrong, that's a really nice looking rink...for a junior hockey team. No way should an NHL team be there.

This team should be moved asap. Stick them in Quebec, do a massive ticket sale drive, get corporate backing and move that team. Quebec would have everything ready in a week if they got the go ahead for an NHL team

[2014olympicgold]

In the 80s the Flames played in a 3,500 seat arena while the saddledome was being built. I think they played there for 3yrs

[Rustyrug]

Did anyone? read the link in the 1st post. https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article...eat-arena-asu/
"The Coyotes have the third-lowest attendance in the league, averaging 11,575 per game, above only the Ottawa Senators and Buffalo Sabres."
Hard to believe 2 NHL teams have worse attendance than Yotes.

The question is, how many of the Coyotes Tickets are giveaways?

[2014olympicgold]

It blows my mind the NHL is ok with the Yotes playing in a 5,000 stadium.

[PenguinHunter]

It blows my mind the NHL is ok with the Yotes playing in a 5,000 stadium.

I am surprised that the other owners and the NHLPA are not making a bigger deal about this... even the Yotes playing in a small arena is cutting down on revenues.

[TrailerParkFlyers]

Did anyone? read the link in the 1st post. https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article...eat-arena-asu/
"The Coyotes have the third-lowest attendance in the league, averaging 11,575 per game, above only the Ottawa Senators and Buffalo Sabres."
Hard to believe 2 NHL teams have worse attendance than Yotes.

Does Ottawa's low attendance have anything to do with COVID? I don't know the answer but that may be why the Sens are lower.

[saucelife90]

I wonder how the broadcasting feeds will look. I'm sure they'll struggle to get some angles and whatnot, but I could be wrong?

[TrailerParkFlyers]

It blows my mind the NHL is ok with the Yotes playing in a 5,000 stadium.

Things like this are why so many US sports fans think of the NHL as a bush league and not worthy of being grouped in with the NFL, NBA, and MLB. Does anyone know if any teams in the NFL, NBA, or MLB are being supported by their leagues to stay in crappy markets? Maybe Tampa Bay in MLB?

[2014olympicgold]

Oakland As, TBRays, WFT (Maryland, 64.3% attendance this yr), Miami Marlins, Baltimore, Pirates.

All have low attendance. Except the difference is how each league gets their money. MLB gets it predominately from TV deals, so attendance isn't an issue. Marlins had like less than 8,000 people attend each game in 2021. But that doesn't matter to the league really because other markets have such strong TV deals to make up for these lowly ones. Whereas the NHL needs butts in the seats to make money (according to them).

Also, I think there's a stigma around empty NHL arenas vs MLB ones. It's just another day in the neighbourhood when you see empty seats in an MLB stadium. But it's a big deal in the NHL media as it is on TV a lot more. MLB has a much bigger issue with attendance than the NHL, but it doesn't care because of where the money actually comes from.

[stevegamer]

Does Ottawa's low attendance have anything to do with COVID? I don't know the answer but that may be why the Sens are lower.

It has to be, as attendance is down pretty much everywhere by a little, due to the fact that almost no team is selling out solely on season tickets.

One thing about baseball is that it's basically expected to not sell out a lot. With 81 home games, weather issues, etc, you expect some empty seats most of the time.

[Paches6767]

Sound like Quebec has a nice new area.....

[2014olympicgold]

Well. If there is a positive to this, it's that the team might bring in more fans as the arena will be more intimate. Having a full arena might up the atmosphere, and the noise, and bring a more close-in-action experience which is different. Maybe that brings in some new fans. You can likely make more money from the 5,000 seat stadium being sold out vs a 18,000 seating stadium with only 11,000 seats sold. Wouldn't surprise me they break even, or slightly below. The university students might get pulled into the fandom of Yotes. Which is the crowd you want to bring in (disposable income, eventually), and if you get them you get their future kids likely.

If you build a separate building that houses the NHL level training facilities, maybe even have a separate building for the NHL locker rooms (or NCAA locker rooms), you can maximize the space of the arena.

If anything, the league has put full faith into the team/organization and I doubt they move it unless something big happens.

[finnys_fanatsy]

Well. If there is a positive to this, it's that the team might bring in more fans as the arena will be more intimate. Having a full arena might up the atmosphere, and the noise, and bring a more close-in-action experience which is different. Maybe that brings in some new fans. You can likely make more money from the 5,000 seat stadium being sold out vs a 18,000 seating stadium with only 11,000 seats sold. Wouldn't surprise me they break even, or slightly below. The university students might get pulled into the fandom of Yotes. Which is the crowd you want to bring in (disposable income, eventually), and if you get them you get their future kids likely.

If you build a separate building that houses the NHL level training facilities, maybe even have a separate building for the NHL locker rooms (or NCAA locker rooms), you can maximize the space of the arena.

If anything, the league has put full faith into the team/organization and I doubt they move it unless something big happens.

is what i came here to post.

i attended a Yotes game a few years back. it was "fullish" but ZEROOO atmosphere. a smaller tighter venue with "exclusivity" to tix may actually help them.

[newfcollins]

Not sure how much of an atmosphere there will be if they are constantly losing.

[2014olympicgold]

Not sure how much of an atmosphere there will be if they are constantly losing.

College student Buck-a-beer night might help?