Saskatoon wants an NHL Team

[killgod]

Interesting information. I'm sure there could be things put in place to alleviate some of those concerns (transportation services provided by the team for SSH holders as an example), and the TV contract would have to be solid. I think that's the reason why Winnipeg got their team back, the contract deal with TSN.

How many people in Sask tune into watch Rider games would be a good figure to look at. You'd need at least 50% of the province watching games regularly for it to work I'd bet, along with a 97%+ filled arena nightly.

The lack of economic strength is certainly a huge barrier too.

[Ravin]

4500 for a junior game is actually good. The arena they play in holds 15,000, that is fucking insane and I don't even know if the London Knights could do 15,000, and they have a 9,100 rink in the JLC, and are the best team in Canada.

In sarnia we average around 3600 and have a rink built for just over 5000. We have a smaller population and a lot of people are pissed with the team, so they don't go.

I would say though for juniors if they are averaging 4500, that is a very solid crowd for those ranks. Most teams would be happier then shit to get those numbers.

[Bigpapa42]

Interesting information. I'm sure there could be things put in place to alleviate some of those concerns (transportation services provided by the team for SSH holders as an example), and the TV contract would have to be solid. I think that's the reason why Winnipeg got their team back, the contract deal with TSN.

How many people in Sask tune into watch Rider games would be a good figure to look at. You'd need at least 50% of the province watching games regularly for it to work I'd bet, along with a 97%+ filled arena nightly.

The lack of economic strength is certainly a huge barrier too.

Bus transport is something done regularly for Rider games and it would solve some of the problems. Its still tough for someone who works full-time if its a weekday game as that bus would be leaving by 3 or 3:30.

The economy here is an interesting aspect. Saskatchewan has seen significant economic growth in the past few years, even through the recession. Its not a poor province by any means. But its a pretty blue collar province - a lot of government jobs. Cost of living (especially housing) has gone up hugely in the past few years, so there is disposable income but not tons. Even if a decent percentage of the populace have signfiicant disposable income, the small size of the overall population (right around 1 million) means its not really a huge number of individuals. Its an area that I'm not 100% on and would take some serious feasability studies.

Winnipeg is going to make for an interesting comparison but also a dangerous one. If they try to correlate things here directly, its going to be making some stiff assumptions (same as pointing to the Riders as the expectation). Winnipeg had a team, so a lot of hockey fans in Manitoba grew up as Jets fans. The youngest ones may not have but a lot of whem who are my age did. Getting a team back makes it easier to switch allegiences if you've taken to supporting another team. Most hockey fans here support a team already, and its not the same situation as in Winnipeg. Some will give up their existing team... but some won't. I don't think I could give up being a Flyers fan after 25 years to throw myself fully behind a Saskatoon team.

The way I see it, the NHL has a number of other options they would look at before they ever got to Saskatoon and that's a good thing. This is a scenario which could, conceivably, work if a number of elements came together almost perfectly. But there is a lot of risk there.

[Bigpapa42]

4500 for a junior game is actually good. The arena they play in holds 15,000, that is fucking insane and I don't even know if the London Knights could do 15,000, and they have a 9,100 rink in the JLC, and are the best team in Canada.

In sarnia we average around 3600 and have a rink built for just over 5000. We have a smaller population and a lot of people are pissed with the team, so they don't go.

I would say though for juniors if they are averaging 4500, that is a very solid crowd for those ranks. Most teams would be happier then shit to get those numbers.

Yeah, 4500 (or a touch under) isn't bad. But the Saskatoon Blades and the Regina Pats have both had the same slight decrease in the past few seasons as the rest of the WHL, which has been through a period of significant economic growth in the province and the Blades have been one of the best teams in the division. From what I've read, attendance in Saskatoon really suffers early in the season when they are going head-to-head with Roughriders and U of S football games. I imagine the same happens with the Regina Pats.

I'm not entirely certain what the logic of having an arena that size in Saskatoon was. I know the Blades used to draw bigger attendances, but I'm thinking more in the 5-6k range, not filling that place.

Saskchewan as a whole is a pretty good hockey market. I don't question that. I just don't know that its an amazing hockey market where passion of fans will overcome all the other barriers.

Found some WHL numbers:

2010-2011: S'toon - 4,380 Regina - 3,861
2009-2010: S'toon - 4,393 Regina - 4,382
2008-2009: S'toon - 4,825 Regina - 4,825
2007-2008: S'toon - 4,300 Regina - 5,095
2006-2007: S'toon - 4,277 Regina - 4,676
2005-2006: S'toon - 4,265 Regina - 4,223
2004-2005: S'toon - 5,133 Regina - 4,282
2003-2004: S'toon - 3,361 Regina - 4,253
2002-2003: S'toon - 3,915 Regina - 4,642
2001-2002: S'toon - 3,205 Regina - 4,402

[Ravin]

Here is just some interesting notes on Jr. B in Ontario, and just going by the Sarnia Sting and London Knights.

Oct 16 - London @ Sarnia - 3,726 *first time London came to Sarnia and biggest crowd since the home opener which was 4414.

Oct 30 Sarnia @ London - 8,770 *First game for Sting in London.

Sarnia'a highest attendance in October other than London, 3595 vs Sudbury and it was the fourth game of the season on a Saturday night.

Dec 30 - Sarnia vs London - 9046
Jan 1 - London vs Sarnia - 4546
*this two play every year on a new years battle. Two times the crowd size going to London.

Feb 20 - London @ Sarnia - 5,100
* biggest crowd in Sarnia for a home game against London

Basically if you ever need to understand why London Knight players are so ready for the NHL is because they basically play in it every night.