How would an NHL franchise in Wisconsin effect the Badgers?

[gounhwildcats]

Re: How would an NHL franchise in Wisconsin effect the Badgers?

Marlins = fire sale. Win, then purge. Again, just sayin'. And I hate the *ing Yankees.

Well clearly we'll never agree on the whole AL/NL thing, and that's cool. At least we can agree on one thing though. The Yankees are the most loathsome creatures on the planet.

 

[Puck Swami]

Re: How would an NHL franchise in Wisconsin effect the Badgers?

I think DU hockey has been certainly helped by the Avalanche's 1995-1996 move from Quebec to Denver. There is a strong crossover between the NHL and the DU fan bases, and the Pioneers picked up a a lot more Avs fans during the NHL lockout a few years ago, and many of them have stayed on. Growing interest in the sport in this area has produced a serious hockey community now, but it's still small relative to other sports. There are also a lot of DU connected people involved with the Avs, and that also helps.

The only problem with the crossover is that many of the pro hockey fans at DU games are simply fans of the sport, and not so much vocal supporters of the Denver team - they aren't emotionally invested in the outcomes as much as they are just enjoying a hockey game. This is particularly true in Denver, where most people at DU games didn't grow up here and find it harder to really engage emotionally with a private school like DU.

I think having an NHL team in Wisconsin would probably help Badger Hockey more than hurt it.

 

[Timothy A]

Re: How would an NHL franchise in Wisconsin effect the Badgers?

It would have minimal effect. UW is in Madison, they would be in Milwaukee, pro vs college, 2 completely seperate markets. Most people in Milwaukee don't care about college hockey as the Badger Hockey Showdown (a holiday tourney that was held at the Bradley Center) died; that tells me not very many are treking down I 94 to watch UW games on a regular basis either if they weren't coming to games in their own back yard. Maybe UW would lose a couple hundred fans a game.

FYI....UW averages 13,000 in attendance, the Milwaukee Admirals average 6,000. If Milwaukee ever got a NHL team, UW would still have a higher average attendance. I live an hour from Madison and Milwaukee, and I'd have no interest in going to Milwaukee to see and NHL game.

 

[TigerFan86-87]

Re: How would an NHL franchise in Wisconsin effect the Badgers?

But being an RIT fan, I'm obligated to take shots at Wisco when possible.

I'm not really sure what this is supposed to mean, but she does not speak for all of us. If she feels obligated to take shots at any team RIT has ever played (and or lost to?), she's got a long list of obligations to fill. I can't speak for the other Tiger fans, but I don't feel any sort of deep-seated rivalry or "hatred" towards Wisconsin because of the fact that RIT played them once, ever. And it wasn't even much of a game, at that. It's not like there was an emotional high energy finish that may have left a bad taste in anyone's mouth towards the other team. I wouldn't be surprised if 20 years from now I can't even remember who kicked RIT's butt in that game. The memories we got from last season were the journey to get to that game more than the game itself. If RIT had been able to put up a fight, maybe that would be different. Who knows?

 

[GoBucky36]

Re: How would an NHL franchise in Wisconsin effect the Badgers?

Anyway. I don't try to be a troll. But being an RIT fan, I'm obligated to take shots at Wisco when possible.

Awww, dont be bitter just because Bucky crushed your Frozen Four hopes in less than 5 minutes.
If it makes you feel any better, a lot of schools have had their postseason hopes crushed by the Badgers, so youre in good company.

 

[GoBucky36]

Re: How would an NHL franchise in Wisconsin effect the Badgers?

FYI....UW averages 13,000 in attendance, the Milwaukee Admirals average 6,000. If Milwaukee ever got a NHL team, UW would still have a higher average attendance. I live an hour from Madison and Milwaukee, and I'd have no interest in going to Milwaukee to see and NHL game.

The Ads play in the AHL and no one cares about the AHL. The highest average attendance in the AHL is the Hershey Bears and they average about 9,500 and even the Chicago Wolves only average 8,000. I have a feeling that if the Ads played in a higher-profile league like the NHL the would draw a lot more people.
Just my opinion though, Ive accept the fact that Wisconsin will likely never get an NHL franchise and I need to just be thankful for the hockey that we do have in this state. I mean, we do have 2 of the best college hockey programs in the country.

 

[aparch]

Re: How would an NHL franchise in Wisconsin effect the Badgers?

The Ads play in the AHL and no one cares about the AHL. The highest average attendance in the AHL is the Hershey Bears and they average about 9,500 and even the Chicago Wolves only average 8,000. I have a feeling that if the Ads played in a higher-profile league like the NHL the would draw a lot more people.
Just my opinion though, Ive accept the fact that Wisconsin will likely never get an NHL franchise and I need to just be thankful for the hockey that we do have in this state. I mean, we do have 2 of the best college hockey programs in the country.

It's funny, for a while, the Wolves outdrew the NHL club downtown regularly.

I was downright disappointed in 2006 when I saw the crappy attendance for the Calder Cup championship game. For a chance for Milwaukee to win their second Calder cup, there were barely any people in the building. A group of us from Chicago came up for the game, and we were able to get tickets at the door just a couple rows off the glass.

 

[GoBucky36]

Re: How would an NHL franchise in Wisconsin effect the Badgers?

It's funny, for a while, the Wolves outdrew the NHL club downtown regularly.

I was downright disappointed in 2006 when I saw the crappy attendance for the Calder Cup championship game. For a chance for Milwaukee to win their second Calder cup, there were barely any people in the building. A group of us from Chicago came up for the game, and we were able to get tickets at the door just a couple rows off the glass.

I think part of it is marketing. Ive NEVER see an Admirals ad on TV or heard one on the radio.
In comparison, during hockey season its not at all uncommon to see Rockford Icehogs commercials on all the time.
Like I said, Im just grateful that we have teams like the Badgers, Admirals, Green Bay Gamblers and Janesville Jets. As much as I may feel like its incomplete without an NHL team, theres lots of good hockey to be seen in this state.

 

[Big A HG]

Re: How would an NHL franchise in Wisconsin effect the Badgers?

I personally would love to see it happen, but I know it never would (nor should it really).

I think the Bucks should move to a new city and then a southern NHL club not doing well should move into Milwaukee. I think it would do good because there wouldn't be a pro winter sport in Milwaukee then.

If I become a billionaire (which I plan to), I'll buy the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo and start a new NHL franchise under that nickname.

 

[Timothy A]

Re: How would an NHL franchise in Wisconsin effect the Badgers?

If I become a billionaire (which I plan to), I'll buy the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo and start a new NHL franchise under that nickname.

Just make sure there's no green in the uni's. I'd hate for there to be any confusion.

 

[davyd83]

Re: How would an NHL franchise in Wisconsin effect the Badgers?

First you have arena problems in both cities. There is nowhere for an NHL team to play in Madison. Don't think for a minute that UW would let an NHL team in the door there. In Milwaukee, the Bucks are hoping for a new arena in the near future.

 

[jen]

Re: How would an NHL franchise in Wisconsin effect the Badgers?

I think a litmus test is Boston, which arguably has more hockey played in and around it than most other U.S cities...when you factor in NHL, AHL, and college. And when you factor in Providence, Lowell, Manchester, and Worcester...which all (to a greater or lesser degree) fall within the orbit of 'Boston.'

Really a completely different situation. Denver is closer to what the situation would be in Milwaukee - a new NHL team moving into a market where there's already college hockey.

I think part of it is marketing. Ive NEVER see an Admirals ad on TV or heard one on the radio.
In comparison, during hockey season its not at all uncommon to see Rockford Icehogs commercials on all the time.
Like I said, Im just grateful that we have teams like the Badgers, Admirals, Green Bay Gamblers and Janesville Jets. As much as I may feel like its incomplete without an NHL team, theres lots of good hockey to be seen in this state.

The Admirals do have commercials (both radio and TV), and used to draw very well during the period when the IHL thought it could compete with the NHL. But even then, they didn't make money for years and years. The Pettits were rich enough and loved hockey, so they didn't care. Then after Jane Pettit died, nobody wanted to put any money into the team when they knew it would lose money, and it still suffers (even though the new ownership has done a good job). Milwaukee was very lucky to have owners that weren't really interested in money - they were just interested in keeping hockey here.

 

[Onion Man]

Re: How would an NHL franchise in Wisconsin effect the Badgers?

I think you have it backwards. How would the Badgers effect a potential NHL franchise. From the time I've spent up there, the Badgers are the king when it comes to hockey. I bet attendance would be higher at Kohl than any NHL team would get in Milwaukee.

 

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

Re: How would an NHL franchise in Wisconsin effect the Badgers?

Keep in mind, back in the day when Lloyd Petit was trying to lure the NHL to Milwaukee, the Admirals were in the IHL and averaging well over 10,000+ a game. Back then, Milwaukee could have totally handled an NHL team.

I don't blame Petit for being cheap. I blame the NHL owners for trying to charge him TONS more than they did to the ****ing Gund brothers for that unholy abomination of a franchise in San Jose. I blame them for cowtowing to Bill Wirt$ and his desire to not have competition nearby. I blame them for being an old boys club who picked and chose who to let in instead of looking at the quality of bids for NHL franchises.

In either case, Milwaukee's changed a lot since the early 90s. Not as strong of an economy, nowhere near as strong of a hockey culture, and just not enough free money to go around. Maybe if we start making more money off the brewing industry like we used to. Maybe if some other industries pick up around here. Maybe if the Bucks move. But really, there just isn't enough to go around to expect an NHL team to be a success. I hate to say it, but its true.

I'll also second the notion that the Madison and Milwaukee sports fans don't exactly travel back and forth much. There's enough of a difference to suspect that they wouldn't have much effect on each other. The most would be that each team would build interest in hockey, which is good for everyone.

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: How would an NHL franchise in Wisconsin effect the Badgers?

First off, they would never put an NHL team in Madison as the demographics wouldn't support it. Not in terms of income, but in terms of population and what that population spends money on. This is a Badger town, which all of the minor league hockey teams have discovered.

Secondly, Milwaukee is not a hockey city. Never has been, never will be. Maybe if there was no other pro sports in town and an NHL team was the only thing going. Even then...

For me, I couldn't care less as I am a lifelong Hawks fan although it would be nice to only have to drive an hour(to Milwaukee) to see my team play.