The new arena has arisen. The year 2015 will see construction completed and the finishing touches in place. Then the grand opening.
The above scenario is for the new arena in Quebec next year, one of the cities considered an early favorite to get an NHL franchise if and when the next phase of expansion happens.
But in the other favored city, Seattle, construction is not started nor is it projected when it will ever start.
With no Arena Plans, Time Could Be Running Out For Seattle Expansion Hopes
Earlier this year, Seattle along with Quebec, Toronto, and Las Vegas publicly stated that it would bid for an NHL franchise should the league expand. But whoever is fronting the bid will not get very far if there is no arena for the team to play in.
It started when Seattle lost the NBA Supersonics to Oklahoma City in 2009, mostly because the Seattle arena had become obsolete. Since then there has been a movement to build a new arena to get the team back and as an added sweetener, an NHL franchise.
In 2012, investor Chris Hansen and the city of Seattle came to an agreement about building a new arena if certain pre-requisites were met… but that was 2012 and now it is 2014 and there is still no word about any definite construction plans.
There is no doubt that new expansion teams in both the NBA and NHL would be winners. Seattle has the fan-base for both sports. Seattle supported the Supersonics until their departure and has a long history of competing in Canada’s Junior Hockey League, the CHL. Seattle in fact was the first American team to win the Stanley Cup so the only surprise is why it has taken so long to get an NHL team.
But it will not get any new sport franchises if it does not have a proper sports facility and though financing plans seemed in place in 2012, there has been no concrete developments announced since. The backers on an NHL franchise were basing their bid on an arena being built. They may end up with egg on their faces.
To date, the NBA has never announced any definite expansion plans, and the NHL publicly has stated that it is only in the listening stage to see who is interested. The league is also allowing a prospective Las Vegas owner to hold a season ticket drive to explore the viability of the market.
But behind the scenes the NHL has obviously been doing some talking including Seattle and with Quebec and other cities prepared to throw a combined expansion fee pot of over $1 billion as soon as expansion is announced, even front-runners like Seattle can fumble a franchise away if they are not ready.
Hamilton could warn Seattle about such a pit-fall. They were the front-runner for an NHL team only to fumble it away to Ottawa when the city balked at paying a then $50 million expansion fee up front, prefering instead to give the league two $25 million payments spread over several years. When Ottawa promised (and then didn’t deliver… but I digress) the full $50 million up front, they got the team. Similarly, Houston seemed an odds-on choice to get an NHL team during the last round of expansion but history records that it was Atlanta, Columbus, Minnesota and Nashville who got teams.
So far three other cities have publicly announced that they want an NHL team but more could join in once the NHL announces definite expansion plans.
As mentionned, Las Vegas has a perspective owner and is starting a season ticket drive. Hamilton already tried to get the Phoenix Coyotes and the city is willing to help fund an upgrade to its arena in order to get an NHL team. A Houston bid, with its huge market and as a potential rival to Dallas would be welcomed. Kansas City already has an empty NHL-NBA arena built and is looking for an tenant. Portland would get serious consideration, and to make matters more galling, Oklahoma City – a failed bidder for an NHL team during the last expansion – might try again.
Seattle could also lose its favored position if the NBA decides to expand and Seattle is not ready. All one has to do is take a tour of all the NHL cities who do not have an NBA team but play in NBA-size arenas.
These include every Canadian city including Quebec and Hamilton with the exceptions of Toronto, Winnipeg, and Edmonton. South of the border, besides Kansas City are Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay, St. Louis, New Jersey, Nashville, Columbus and Buffalo. So a Seattle franchise in both leagues could be lost if the arena question is not settled.
Next year, Quebec will open its new arena with expectations of an NHL team in the near future. Right now Seattle is considered a joint favorite to get a team, but will it be ready when expansion is announced or will it fumble it all away?
The NHL may not have divulged their expansion plan, but the recent Las Vegas announcement indicates its being talked about behind the scenes. The NBA may not be far behind. Seattle needs to put in place a concrete plan for an arena, secure the necessary funding, and break ground on a complex in the near future. While we don’t know when midnight will strike, we do know that the clock is ticking.
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