Note: A press release, not an article that was writen for one website, and one website only. For Immediate Release April 15, 2003 Four days after the announcement of the formation of WHA2, the World Hockey Association today disclosed plans for its inaugural season in 2004. The World Hockey Association will initiate play in the 2004-05 season in as many as 12 North American cities. The league hopes to expand by six teams into European markets for the 2005-2006 season making it the first ever truly international league. The WHA is headquartered in Niagara Falls, Ontario, but plans to move its head office to Toronto this summer. In a full-page Hockey News advertisement this week, the WHA lists its mission statement and identifies 29 North American cities as prospective franchise sites. Many of these cities have large capacity arenas not presently being used in the National Hockey League. The original WHA, founded by Dennis Murphy, played from 1972-79 before four of its member teams -- Edmonton, Hartford, Quebec City and Winnipeg -- were granted franchises in the NHL. Superstars like Bobby Hull, Gordie Howe, Frank Mahovlich, Ralph Backstrom, Pat Stapleton, Gerry Cheevers, Derek Sanderson, Glen Sather, Bernie Parent, Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier and Mike Gartner performed in the league. Messier remains the only active player from the original WHA. Murphy will again be involved in the WHA as an honorary founder. With a salary cap structure, the new WHA will provide a sound economic model for pro hockey in this decade. However, each team will be allowed to exceed the salary cap for one “franchise” free agent player. Last Friday plans were announced for the formation of WHA2, a developmental league, under the umbrella of the WHA but operated independently by the WHA2 Board of Governors. Miami, Orlando, Jacksonville, Fla., and Macon, Ga., will begin play in October 2003 and as many as six additional franchises are expected to join.
If they're smart, they'll put as many teams as possible in places like Quebec City, Winnipeg, and Hartford that lost their NHL teams, then buy the naming rights for the Nordiques, Jets, Whalers, etc. Fill in the rest of the league with cities that don't have NHL teams--expanding into NHL markets, with the possible exception of hockey-crazy cities like Toronto, Montreal, and NYC (and there only if they provide very low-price tickets; I'd add Philly to the list but we already have the AHL Phantoms) would be suicide. How about: Eastern Division-Quebec Nordiques, Hartford Whalers, Baltimore, Syracuse, Cleveland Western Division-Winnipeg Jets, Saskatoon, Houston, Milwaukee, Salt Lake City, Kansas City
Would this league be trying to compete against the NHL or AHL or both? If they are going up against the AHL, I'd say it would be good for this new league swoop in and lure some of the more successful non-AHL markets such as OKC Blazers, San Diego Gulls...not to mention untouched large markets without either NHL or AHL teams such as Portland, OR. Winnipeg and Hartford have AHL teams, so I'm not sure if they will jump or not. If they're competing or trying to compete with the NHL, maybe they will have some good teams jump ship. I think the east coast is pretty oversaturated with hockey teams, I wonder what European cities would be considered. West: San Diego, Bakersfield (new building), Portland (state of the art), Boise (new building), Kansas City , Oklahoma City East: I would like to see a couple Canadian teams, Quebec, Hamilton, maybe a suburban Toronto team (or a team playing at Maple Leaf Gardens) Baltimore, Hartford, after that ???
Don't forget that Toronto will have an AHL team next season, the Roadrunners. I personally feel that it won't succeed, the NHL and AHL tap all of the decent players and already have the name recognition. Players will go where the name and reputation is.
This sucks. The NHL and AHL are already too expanded and watered down. Now we're bringing back a second-sister league with plans of competing with the NHL? Anyone remember the XFL?
Winnipeg has the Manitoba Moose of the AHL and as well the city has a new arena to boot. Hartford also has an AHL team as well. Quebec has the Ramparts of the QMJHL and it's sucess beyond the "Q" has been mixed. The rest of the Canadian hockey market is saturated at that.
Doesn't every city in the country already have a hockey team (or two) of some sort? My family all lives in Kearney, Nebraska, and they have a hockey team. I'd rather watch juniors (such as in the WHL) than some third tier professional league.
So would Portland and Seattle. You're pretty much correct. Unless a lot of ECHL teams have been dropping of late, there's probably no markets bigger than 100K that don't have an NHL, minor-league or junior team in NA.