Toronto will not be getting a second NHL franchise. I can guaranfukingtee that.
The MLSE will NEVER allow it as someone posted in the NHL by-laws. They cannot own another franchise here either. That's a monopoly.
As much credit as you people give the great City of Toronto as the Center of the Universe. It's pretty funny actually
Toronto is a hole. On it's own it is nothing. Compared to Paris, London, Berlin, New York it is a shitstain. Seriously.
What gives Toronto it's power is the surrounding area. The Greater Toronto Area (oh the audacity of naming it that even!) or better said...The Golden Horseshoe. The population of this market is huge and growing at a greater rate than any where else in Canada.
Here's something that few know, it is Not your Toronto Maple leaves that are blocking Hamilton from getting an NHL franchise. No sirree Bob it is Buffalo. They almost went bankrupt a few years ago. Hamilton, Burlington, Oakville and Niagara area have many Canadian fans that are tired of the losing reality distortion hockey club to the North East.
Simply put. You put a pro hockey team in Steeltown. The Sabres are done!
Surrey = Scarborough
Good areas. Bad areas. Not going to change. In fact Scarborough, despite having some of the worst crime areas in Toronto, has some of the most exclusive and costly homes in Toronto.
Nuff said.
Surrey was a hole 30 years ago and it's a hole now. I'd rather live in downtown Saskatoon than that hellhole of a suburb (mind you that goes for most burbs).
So back to big bad Toronto. Toronto is not growing. Terrible public transport and road system. No room but up. It is the GTA that grows. Particularly North and to the West of here in a place formally known as New Berlin.
Kitchener/Waterloo and the surronding area are huge (London, Geulph). Even if RIM is based there. I don't know why JB doesn't concentrate on re-locating a franchise there. Well actually I do know. Lack of an Airport doesn't help (Hamilton has a very good one, if small...think Abbotsford).
What makes Toronto though is the hub. It is the Center of everything around here. I can go to the cottage and the old growth forrest camping up North in 4-8 hours. Beautiful peaceful Canadian Shield country. Want entertainment? Montreal in 5-6 hours. Chicago in 6-8. New York City 8-10. This is driving of course. With a local Turbo prop it is mere minutes and cheap too.
Do I miss the West Coast? You bet. But then, I have the gorgeous East Coast in 8-10 hours (when I drive through the New England States...which has great skiing btw). Bay of Fundy. Gaspe Peninsula. Unspoiled New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. The Prairie mentality of the PEI people. Man this country is just soooo amazing if you just travel and live other places.
To me, there is no place better than the other. They all have the good and bad. I love it all. But that's just me. Maybe I started to appreciate the whole nation after a trip to Europe in my youth.
Back to hockey. If Saskatchewan can't get an NHL franchise (and many on here argued against it getting one) because it doesn't fit into the 'romantic' puck notion or names of Bury Buttman then Surrey sure the hell doesn't. What would you call them? The Surrey Slutz?
And I agree with Soapy on this. Enough of the BS. The proof is in the posting (pudding) to paraphrase a long dead and unworthy poster from here. It's all a bunch of lies and smoke and mirrors.
Um...how many more games before the
Season starts?