The NHL's expansion to Las Vegas will "represent a significant part" of Commissioner Gary Bettman's legacy, according to Scott Burnside of ESPN.com. With an assembly of the "strongest group of owners in the league’s history, the expansion into uncharted territory in Las Vegas looms as a major undertaking for the league, one that will draw attention to it from the broader sports landscape." The success or failure in Vegas "will reflect on Bettman in the same way it will reflect on" team Principal Owner Bill Foley and the people he "brings in to run his team." Foley "is determined -- as is Bettman, apparently -- that Vegas' road to success be a short one" (ESPN.com, 6/22). USA TODAY's Kevin Allen writes the bottom line is Las Vegas "is a sexier choice" than Quebec City "because it allows the NHL to be the first major pro sports franchise in the city." Las Vegas is not a major TV market, "but it has high visibility." Having a team in Las Vegas "is like having free international marketing" (USA TODAY, 6/23). The NATIONAL POST's Michael Traikos notes Las Vegas is "certainly not a traditional hockey market," and is "not even a traditional city." And that "might be part of the appeal" (NATIONAL POST, 6/23). In N.Y., Ken Belson notes the Las Vegas area "has 2.1 million residents, up from 1.4 million" in '00. The economy "has diversified from its well-known casinos and entertainment as aviation and technology companies have moved" there. UNLV professor Michael Green said, "Because there’s so much new population, because it’s a 24-hour community, because it’s so suburbanized, there isn’t the same sense of community (N.Y. TIMES, 6/23).
NO ROOM FOR ERROR: USA TODAY's Hemal Jhaveri lists five reasons the NHL expansion to Las Vegas "is doomed to fail." First, hockey in the desert is "already a tough sell." Next, there is "no built in fan base. Third, people "don't go to Vegas to watch hockey games." Additionally, games "will take place on the Vegas Strip at T-Mobile Arena." Lastly, there "could be an NFL team coming to Vegas" (USATODAY.com, 6/22). THE HOCKEY NEWS' Ken Campbell noted Las Vegas has a chance to show it "belongs in the big leagues." But you "cannot build a sustainable fan base on tourists and transients." The good people and corporations of Las Vegas "will make or break this franchise." Campbell: "I’m not convinced that support will be there after the novelty wears off and this team is bad and boring instead of cute and cuddly" (THEHOCKEYNEWS.com, 6/22). In L.A., Helene Elliott writes Las Vegas will "be a sure draw for fans seeking a break from winter." If tickets are "priced right, the cost could be about the same or less than many visitors lose at the slots or the craps tables" (L.A. TIMES, 6/23).
IS THE AREA READY? BayAreaSportsGuy.com's Steve Berman said of why the NHL wants a team in Vegas, “Two million people are in the region and they have an arena ready to just roll right into." But Berman asked, “Why do they keep expanding? It seemed like the NHL, when they had all those problems in the mid-2000s and they had the lockout. ... It sort of seems like they expanded too quickly, especially in the western part of the country and in desert territories" (“Sports Talk Live,” CSN Bay Area, 6/22). NHL Network's Kevin Weekes said of Vegas, "It's always abuzz, people are always coming here. It's a global magnet, people want to be here. There are a lot of existing hockey fans here, there are a lot of hockey fans and business people that travel here that want to be a part of the NHL and get a little flavor." NHL Net’s Brian Boucher called Vegas an "untapped resource and a place where there's a lot of sports fans" and a "lot of hockey fans as well" ("NHL Tonight," NHL Network, 6/22).
PRICE OF POKER: VICE SPORTS' Neil DeMause wrote the "truly stunning part" of yesterday's deal "is less that Las Vegas is the city getting an expansion team, and more that someone is paying a half-billion to make it happen." The last NHL team to change hands, the Coyotes, "changed hands for a mere" $170M three years ago (SPORTS.VICE.com, 6/22). In Boston, Steve Conroy notes the 30 owners will split the $500M expansion fee, which "does not count as hockey-related revenue and thus won’t affect the salary cap" (BOSTON HERALD, 6/23). Based on that math, each team will receive $16.67M (THE DAILY).
LEAGUE REACTION: Wild Owner and NHL Exec Committee member Craig Leipold, who as former Predators Owner was part of that franchise's expansion efforts, said, "Whenever you look at a possible expansion, the three things you look for is owner, arena and market. And I don't think there's any question, this is a total package. There's so much going on in this city. I'm looking out the window right now, and there's construction going on everywhere. Plus frankly, it'll be fun to come to Vegas. It is a fun city. There's a lot to do and lots of action" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 6/23). Capitals GM Brian MacLellan said, “I’m kind of curious how it goes. It’s like 120 degrees here, I think. Not exactly a hockey environment. I’d be curious how the ice holds up" (WASHINGTON POST, 6/23). Blues RW Vladimir Tarasenko said, "I’m looking forward to games here. I just saw the hockey rink yesterday and it’s beautiful" (SI.com, 6/22).
