Kansas City plans still in works

by James Mirtle on Sep 23, 2008 2:08 PM CDT Comment 10 comments

Tim Leiweke, president of Anschutz Entertainment Group, which owns the Kings and manages the Sprint Center, met with some business leaders before the game in an attempt to line up local ownership in the event a team becomes available after the 2008-09 season.

"I can’t think of any reason this doesn’t work here," Leiweke said. "Kansas City has the best arena without a hockey team in the world. I didn’t look at this as an audition game (for the NHL). I’ll bet we have as many in here tonight as we have in LA. Preseason hockey the first couple of weeks in any market is a bit of a trick."
— The Kansas City Star

Some were skeptical yesterday when I mentioned the connection between the exhibition game and the continued pursuit of an NHL franchise, but here we have talk of having a team there as soon as next fall.

Hard to believe.

The exhibition game, which looked to be a bit of a snoozer, only drew an "announced crowd of 11,603" but that's not far off what a lot of U.S. markets are getting for exhibition hockey. There were only 8,200 at the game in Los Angeles last night.

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ok, Senators drew 17,000, but they have established fan base. KC doesn't have their own team, imagine Quebec attendance on Predators - Panthers game. I can bet even Canadian city w/o their own team won't get 11K for an exhibition game between the teams out of the region

by tj on Sep 23, 2008 2:18 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

"I can’t think of any reason this doesn’t work here."

Gee, Tim, the claim that the Kings lost more money last year than ever before doesn't enter your mind?

by Earl Sleek on Sep 23, 2008 2:24 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I thought Toronto had the best arena without a hockey team in the world!

This just looks bad, wanting to be in K.C., no offence.

by sager on Sep 23, 2008 2:53 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

"Kansas City has the best arena without a hockey team in the world".

Well, the novelty of the building may have already worn off on many of your potential fans. It's not like it's brand new and you're getting an expansion or established team in there during it's first year.

The arena doesn't pay the bills; the fans do. And I'm not convinced that KC has enough of them to have another go at an NHL franchise. Vegas, Winterpeg or Quebec City (if the CDN $ stays relatively strong) have better shots at floating a team long term IMHO.

by JoBu on Sep 23, 2008 6:12 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Concerned the NHL will expand or move a franchise to KC?

Call Jim Balsilie. Ask him to state publicly that he wants to be involved.

Gary Bettman will veto the idea immediately.

by Bob Roberts on Sep 23, 2008 6:30 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Well....Are there any other failed markets the NHL can go back to?

by Anonymous on Sep 23, 2008 6:41 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Seeing as Leiwike and the Kings are involved I presume that they are moving their franchise to KC then? Because if not this would all appear very unseemly. I know the NHL would certainly want to avoid that, right?

Oh wait a second, its the NHL!

What a bush league. But then again what's another embarrassment.

by Black Dog on Sep 23, 2008 7:29 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I’ll bet we have as many in here tonight as we have in LA."

Then move the Kings to KC.

by Anonymous on Sep 23, 2008 10:31 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Although they got 11K people there, anything less then a sell-out should be a disappointment for KC. It may not be a home team that they can root for, but it shows they aren't starving for NHL hockey...

by GMCN Innovations on Sep 24, 2008 4:00 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs