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Post by mikecubs on Oct 11, 2017 7:06:08 GMT -6
Sounds like he’s a hockey fan. From the Houston Business Journal: Billionaire Tilman Fertitta, the new owner of the Houston Rockets, didn’t rule out a National Hockey League franchise for Houston during his first press conference Oct. 10 at the Toyota Center after acquiring the team for $2.2 billion. It would be the second NHL franchise in Texas behind the Dallas Stars. Do I want to see Toyota Center filled up 300 nights a year? “Definitely.” Fertitta said. "I would put an NHL team here tomorrow (but it has to make sense)." NHL executive Larry Tanenbaum is “very excited” to meet with Fertitta, Rockets CEO Tad Brown said at the press conference. Houston and the NHL have discussed deals in the past to bring a team to the Bayou City but nothing has worked out, Brown said. “Everything’s open,” Brown said. “Tilman is aggressive.” Great to hear this! Move the Coyotes there after this season. Sell for less than $500M if you have to and call it $500M if you want. Along with no Quebec no Houston is a terrible black eye to the NHL. Unfortunately I think it may go like this. Coyotes to Houston, Seattle gets team 32.
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Post by phillymike on Oct 11, 2017 8:49:14 GMT -6
Sounds like he’s a hockey fan. From the Houston Business Journal: Billionaire Tilman Fertitta, the new owner of the Houston Rockets, didn’t rule out a National Hockey League franchise for Houston during his first press conference Oct. 10 at the Toyota Center after acquiring the team for $2.2 billion. It would be the second NHL franchise in Texas behind the Dallas Stars. Do I want to see Toyota Center filled up 300 nights a year? “Definitely.” Fertitta said. "I would put an NHL team here tomorrow (but it has to make sense)." NHL executive Larry Tanenbaum is “very excited” to meet with Fertitta, Rockets CEO Tad Brown said at the press conference. Houston and the NHL have discussed deals in the past to bring a team to the Bayou City but nothing has worked out, Brown said. “Everything’s open,” Brown said. “Tilman is aggressive.” Great to hear this! Move the Coyotes there after this season. Sell for less than $500M if you have to and call it $500M if you want. Along with no Quebec no Houston is a terrible black eye to the NHL. Unfortunately I think it may go like this. Coyotes to Houston, Seattle gets team 32. How about Calgary to Seattle, Arizona to Houston, Carolina to Quebec, NYI to Virgina Beach, expansion goes to Kansas City, or Milwaukee, or Toledo! This is the NHL we talking about!
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Post by mikecubs on Oct 12, 2017 7:41:34 GMT -6
LOL That's probably too positive since it is the NHL we are talking about. -Calgary to Seattle would be typical - Call me hard headed by I think with a new owner Carolina can be saved - NYI should move so of course they will stay. The Belmont arena will get done and it will fail. - Virginia Beach getting a team would be a total NHL move - The league would be dumb enough to go to Milwaukee but the Bucks owners wouldn't allow it - You forgot to mention Memphis, New Orleans, El Paso, Albuquerque and Mexico City
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Post by mikecubs on Oct 12, 2017 7:46:14 GMT -6
In all seriousness read an interview with the new Houston owner. He talked about what a great buy an NBA team is in general given the global popularity(hello China)/immigration patterns. He mentioned how an NFL team is a serious risk he wouldn't take and the NFL people he talks to don't know what will happen to the league long term(CTE).
Given that I really do wonder how much he'd be willing to risk on another contact sport facing a players lawsuit. He may be thinking ya I'll take a distressed team(Coyotes) on the cheap but may balk at a $500M expansion fee.
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Post by Bruinsfan on Oct 26, 2017 20:08:34 GMT -6
hockey works in texas, would love to see this.
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Post by Ric O. on Oct 26, 2017 20:14:49 GMT -6
I think Houston would be a huge success too...seems only a matter of time now. Not sure what's going to happen with QC though...unfortunately it feels like they're being pushed down the list of expansion/relocation options.
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Post by mikecubs on Oct 11, 2018 6:32:36 GMT -6
Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta teases future of Toyota Center as stadium turns 15October marks the 15th anniversary of the opening of Toyota Center, the home of the Houston Rockets and hundreds of concerts over the decade-and-a-half since it opened its doors. It was the second stadium of four that were constructed within seven miles of one another in the last 20 years — and that doesn’t include University of Houston’s new TDECU Stadium and under-construction Fertitta Center across the street. More importantly, the three stadiums within eight blocks of one other — Toyota Center, Minute Maid Park, and BBVA Compass Stadium — have radically altered the landscape of downtown, which coincided with the urban renewal that launched projects like Discovery Green and the recent transformation of Avenida De Las Americas. That wasn’t always the case. There were many who doubted the ability of sports stadiums to attract visitors into downtown from the suburbs, let alone convince them to live there. Prior to Minute Maid Park, that part of downtown — most of downtown for that matter — was largely vacant after 6 pm and on weekends. Few developers were taking chances on the abandoned warehouses and empty lots that dotted the east side of downtown. Now, the entire area is loaded with prime real estate, a fact that is not lost on Rockets owner Tillman Fertitta. “Everything that’s happening [around Toyota Center], that’s all happened after the fact,” Fertitta says during a press conference. Just on the other side of the George R. Brown Convention Center, Astros owner Jim Crane remains committed to his slice of downtown. He recently renewed his team’s lease at Minute Maid Park through 2050 — it had been set to expire in 2030. “The Astros look forward to furthering our investment in downtown Houston,” Crane says in a statement in July after signing the new lease. Fertitta acknowledged that the Astros saw the value of his ballpark’s address and the boom in construction around the area when he decided to extend the team’s lease. “That’s what Jim saw with Minute Maid. You’ve got the two hotel bookends. Behind one hotel is us. Behind the other hotel is Minute Maid Park.” F ertitta hasn’t committed to sign a new lease at Toyota Center — the current lease runs through 2033 — though he understands the value of both the location and the building itself. “It’s a great building,” he says. “And now that you have cities expanding the way they have, you’re running out of land to build a project like Toyota Center.”Considering what the area looked like before either Minute Maid Park or Toyota Center existed, it is clear those stadiums were vital to the improvements of downtown. From new residential developments to the boom in retail just across U.S. 59 in EaDo, the entire area owes its success, at least in part, to these facilities. It doesn’t hurt that both teams have been diligent in maintaining their facilities. Like the Astros, the Rockets have made nearly constant updates to Toyota Center over the years. “When you move into a building, you immediately realize you could have done things better,” says Rockets CEO Tad Brown. They have retrofitted a number of areas and plan to continue making upgrades including what Fertitta calls a “major overhaul” in the next five years. “We have a lot of ideas and a lot of plans on what we are going to be doing,” Brown says. With internal plans already in place, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Rockets extend their lease at Toyota Center in the coming years much the way the Astros did. It makes sense not only because it is still a very good facility, but also because of where it sits, a point of emphasis for Fertitta:
“You’re not going to find a better location than the Toyota Center.”houston.culturemap.com/news/city-life/10-08-18-toyota-center-turns-15-houston-rockets-tilman-fertitta-tad-davis-houston-astros-jim-crane/
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Post by mikecubs on May 19, 2019 18:58:11 GMT -6
NHL commissioner: No active efforts to bring team to HoustonThere aren’t any active efforts to bring an National Hockey League team to Houston. That’s the word from NHL commissioner Gary Bettman during a meeting Friday with members of the Associated Press Sports Editors. “I don’t think there’s anything active right now with the Rockets’ ownership in terms of bringing an NHL team to Houston,” Bettman said. “Houston’s now the fourth-largest city in the United States. If there were ever to be a team there, unless there’s a new arena, Mr. (Tilman) Fertitta would control the entry point. But as of right now, there’s nothing for anybody to focus on.” When he was introduced as the Rockets’ owner in October 2017, Fertitta said he’d consider bringing an NHL franchise to Houston either as owner or in his role as Toyota Center landlord if the numbers worked out. "I would put an NHL team here tomorrow," Fertitta said then. "This one has got to work. But I'd love to have the other dates in the building. Do I want to see Toyota Center filled up 300 nights a year? Definitely. We'll do whatever we can do, but whatever we do has to make sense.” Fertitta met with Bettman a month later and tweeted, "As I've mentioned before, I'm very interested in the possibility of bringing the NHL to Houston, but it will have to be a deal that works for my organization, the City, fans of the NHL throughout the region and the NHL Board of Governors. We are in the very early stage of evaluating what opportunities may exist but look forward to a thorough process." Boston Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs, the chairman of the NHL’s board of governors, is bullish on Houston, telling Boston radio station 98.5 The Sports Hub in October 2018 that “Clearly the one area that is missing is Houston because that’s a great city.” Houston has not had a pro hockey team since the American Hockey League's Aeros moved to Des Moines, Iowa, after the 2012-13 season. www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/article/NHL-commissioner-No-active-efforts-to-bring-team-13817324.php
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Post by mikecubs on May 19, 2019 19:02:31 GMT -6
Not a surprise. Typical NHL. No Houston or Quebec but Arizona and Florida stay to continue to lose $20M+ per year. LOL
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Post by Bruinsfan on Jun 20, 2019 12:31:49 GMT -6
keep an eye on AZ at this point this billionaire owner having the keys to the castle has nothing to keep him from moving, if its houston it puts the NHL in a top market and far enough west to play in the conference.
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Post by mikecubs on Jun 20, 2019 22:20:22 GMT -6
keep an eye on AZ at this point this billionaire owner having the keys to the castle has nothing to keep him from moving, if its houston it puts the NHL in a top market and far enough west to play in the conference. The problem is 2 fold. This new owner would have to sell to the Rockets owner. The NHL doesn't have enough TV money for any NHL team to be a tenant. With all the shared arenas they are either half owned where the teams split the cost/split the revenue like Chicago/Dallas, owned by the same owner like New York/Toronto or where the NBA team is the tenant(Boston, Philly, Detroit, LA Lakers). The other problem is the NHL isn't interested in Houston because the Rockets owner won't pay $500M for a team and the NHL doesn't want Houston anyway because too many northern fans approve of Houston getting a team.
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Post by mikecubs on Oct 12, 2023 12:03:30 GMT -6
Houston's Toyota Centre set to undergo $30,000,000 renovations keeping NHL expansion in mind With NHL expansion in mind, Houston's Toyota Center, currently home to the NBA's Houston Rockets, is poised for a substantial $30 million renovation. This transformative project will focus on the installation of ice-making equipment essential for creating NHL-quality ice, potentially paving the way for the venue to host NHL games. H ere's what Rockets President of business operations, Gretchen Sheirr said:
"Making sure this building is ready for anything, which includes making sure it's hockey ready." While there are no immediate plans to bring an NHL team to Houston, the addition of the required ice-making machinery could pave the way for future NHL expansion.Chris Johnston @reporterchris · Follow Of note: The renovation underway at Houston's Toyota Center will include the installation of ice-making equipment that will ensure the building can ultimately be NHL-ready. Jonathan Feigen jonathan_Feigen ICYMI, Toyota Center opened 20 years ago tonight. It's changed a bit since that night and will keep changing with a $30 million renovation underway houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/rockets/article/toyota-center-upgrades-houston-rockets-18410399.php?utm_campaign=CMS%20Sharing%20Tools%20(Premium)&utm_source=t.co&utm_medium=referral via @houstonchron The prospect of Toyota Center hosting NHL games aligns with the league's exploration of potential markets. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman mentioned Houston as one of the cities showing interest in hosting an NHL franchise, alongside Atlanta, Quebec City, and Salt Lake City. U nlike other arenas, Toyota Center's downtown location and existing infrastructure meet the NHL's standards, making it a viable candidate for hockey. The addition of ice-making equipment is the only major requirement for this transformation, eliminating the need for extensive construction.As Sheirr noted: " Making sure it's hockey-ready is going to be important for the future of the city and the future of the arena."While there may be no immediate plans for NHL action in Houston, Toyota Center's renovation sets the stage for a potentially chilling future in the world of hockey. NHL Expansion Speculation: Commissioner Bettman hints at Future Growth NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman's recent remarks have sparked discussions about the potential for the NHL expansion, possibly making it the first 33 or 34-team professional sports league globally. Although Bettman emphasized that the league isn't currently in formal expansion mode, he hinted that if the right opportunity arose, they would consider it.
With the impressive expansion fees paid by the Vegas Golden Knights ($500 million) and the Seattle Kraken ($650 million), the next expansion fee could reach the billion-dollar mark, according to Bettman. Recent franchise sales, like the Ottawa Senators for $950 million and the pending sale of the Nashville Predators for $880 million, have set a precedent for the league. Bettman acknowledged continuous interest from various cities, stating: "We aren’t there yet, and it’s just an expression of interest. As you all know, I take meetings all the time on a variety of subjects, so if someone wants to talk, I’ll talk to them.." However, he stressed that the NHL isn't actively pursuing expansion and would require potential suitors to meet specific prerequisites, including market size, suitable arenas, and strong ownership groups, before considering any NHL expansion. www.sportskeeda.com/ice-hockey/news-houston-s-toyota-centre-set-undergo-30-000-000-renovations-keeping-nhl-expansion-mind
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Post by mikecubs on Oct 12, 2023 12:16:07 GMT -6
If Houston and Atlanta are willing to pay for an NHL team and Atlanta hopeful ownership can finish a deal for a new arena by the Braves north suburban ballpark they are going to get teams 33 and 34. With that the league would have ever MAJOR US market covered. The only not covered major markets in the 4 major pro sports leagues are Seattle(NBA) which is about to get the reborn Sonics after the NBA finished the new TV deal that expires after next season and Houston(NHL), Atlanta(NHL).
I think the Rockets owner and Atlanta ownership will be very encouraged to see that 2 nights ago the NHL set the regular season record for US viewership on the Chicago Pittsburgh game. Keep in mind the current TV deal in the US with ESPN/TNT is for $1B per year meaning that even Arizona with no arena and Florida made profits since the deal was signed. The NHL is looking at this this, we have this 18 year old star on our legacy franchise/most popular in the US and if we cover Houston/Atlanta they will pay even more next time.
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Post by 2b9 on Oct 12, 2023 18:16:21 GMT -6
If Houston and Atlanta are willing to pay for an NHL team and Atlanta hopeful ownership can finish a deal for a new arena by the Braves north suburban ballpark they are going to get teams 33 and 34. With that the league would have ever MAJOR US market covered. The only not covered major markets in the 4 major pro sports leagues are Seattle(NBA) which is about to get the reborn Sonics after the NBA finished the new TV deal that expires after next season and Houston(NHL), Atlanta(NHL). I think the Rockets owner and Atlanta ownership will be very encouraged to see that 2 nights ago the NHL set the regular season record for US viewership on the Chicago Pittsburgh game. Keep in mind the current TV deal in the US with ESPN/TNT is for $1B per year meaning that even Arizona with no arena and Florida made profits since the deal was signed. The NHL is looking at this this, we have this 18 year old star on our legacy franchise/most popular in the US and if we cover Houston/Atlanta they will pay even more next time. I’m for Houston getting an NHL Team, not sure sure about Atlanta, Atlanta has failed enough already when it comes to the NHL. Arizona is a 20 plus year disaster/joke, time for Arizona to be annexed. Still believe that Quebec City deserves a Team/I’m Canadian/from Winnipeg, believing that the rivalry between Montreal and Quebec City would be awesome for the Province of Quebec including the NHL. Other U. S. Cities to consider: Kansas City. Seattle. Milwaukee, yes Milwaukee, they have the NBA and Major League Baseball. Basically what I’m saying is, Winnipeg is 900,000 in population, Milwaukee does not even come close to that, yet Milwaukee has the NBA, Major League Baseball, surely Milwaukee could support an NHL Team. Winnipeg has a CFL Team, NHL Team, AHL Hockey Team, Professional Soccer, Professional Basketball, Professional Baseball Team/Independent League, etc., etc. Thinking that Milwaukee not even close to the size of Winnipeg could support an NHL Franchise based already on the fact that Milwaukee has the NBA and Major League Baseball, and supporting both very well. Just my thoughts😉👍.
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Post by mikecubs on Oct 12, 2023 21:52:26 GMT -6
If Houston and Atlanta are willing to pay for an NHL team and Atlanta hopeful ownership can finish a deal for a new arena by the Braves north suburban ballpark they are going to get teams 33 and 34. With that the league would have ever MAJOR US market covered. The only not covered major markets in the 4 major pro sports leagues are Seattle(NBA) which is about to get the reborn Sonics after the NBA finished the new TV deal that expires after next season and Houston(NHL), Atlanta(NHL). I think the Rockets owner and Atlanta ownership will be very encouraged to see that 2 nights ago the NHL set the regular season record for US viewership on the Chicago Pittsburgh game. Keep in mind the current TV deal in the US with ESPN/TNT is for $1B per year meaning that even Arizona with no arena and Florida made profits since the deal was signed. The NHL is looking at this this, we have this 18 year old star on our legacy franchise/most popular in the US and if we cover Houston/Atlanta they will pay even more next time. I’m for Houston getting an NHL Team, not sure sure about Atlanta, Atlanta has failed enough already when it comes to the NHL. Arizona is a 20 plus year disaster/joke, time for Arizona to be annexed. Still believe that Quebec City deserves a Team/I’m Canadian/from Winnipeg, believing that the rivalry between Montreal and Quebec City would be awesome for the Province of Quebec including the NHL. Other U. S. Cities to consider: Kansas City. Seattle. Milwaukee, yes Milwaukee, they have the NBA and Major League Baseball. Basically what I’m saying is, Winnipeg is 900,000 in population, Milwaukee does not even come close to that, yet Milwaukee has the NBA, Major League Baseball, surely Milwaukee could support an NHL Team. Winnipeg has a CFL Team, NHL Team, AHL Hockey Team, Professional Soccer, Professional Basketball, Professional Baseball Team/Independent League, etc., etc. Thinking that Milwaukee not even close to the size of Winnipeg could support an NHL Franchise based already on the fact that Milwaukee has the NBA and Major League Baseball, and supporting both very well. Just my thoughts😉👍. Houston is my number 1 choice for a team. Emotionally I wish Quebec would get a team, I love that city and miss the Montreal-Nordique rivalry but it does nothing to help the US TV deal and Winnipeg has recently struggled with attendance. There aren't a lot of corporate headquarters in Quebec, it's a government town so that is another strike against it. There's rumors that Quebecor couldn't afford the expansion price. Milwaukee would be the smallest NBA/NHL market by far and it is shrinking population wise. Combined Statistical area is just over 2M which is tiny for both NBA/NHL or 3 teams. The Bucks historically haven't been well supported. They currently get good attendance because of the new car smell of the new arena and they have Giannis Antekompo and recently won a title. Fast foward 5-10 years when he's gone and Milwaukee will be a viable NBA market but one of the weaker teams. I live in Wisconsin and there is absolutely 0 talk of an NHL team here. Kansas City would be the smallest 3 team market, it's not growing, they don't support the Royals that great and the owners of the modern sprint center can make more money on concerts. They won't pay an expansion price. Seattle already has a NHL team Arizona will be taken away if they don't get a new arena on the east side where well $$$ people live. There are so many municipalities(Scottsdale, Tribal land etc..) that some one will cave and give them money. That market is so big and growing so fast the NHL is going to move hell and high water to stay. They stayed all the years they lost 20M plus per year, they aren't going to leave now when they make a profit(thanks new ESPN deal) If they build a new arena in Salt Lake City I could see them getting a team. The current arena was built in 1991 and wasn't at all made for hockey. It's worse than Barclays Center for hockey. The Utah Jazz owner has made it be known he wants the NHL. Salt Lake City is underserved with only 1 team and it is growing fast. As far as Atlanta try 1 was when Atlanta wasn't that big a city with the Flames. Atlanta has grown a lot in the last 30-40 years. Try 1 is ancient history. Try 2 Atlanta Spirit was awful and didn't want them. The arena wasn't in the best location for white hockey fans. Downtown Atlanta is heavy african american which most aren't hockey fans. Most $$$ white people live in the north Atlanta suburbs by the Braves new park. You put a new arena in that area with the leeway of the sport now actually having TV money and not being as reliant on gate revenue anymore and they will make it. If the freaking Coyotes can make a profit in a 4,600 seat college arena anyone can make it. LOL
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