It’s funny: The less excitement this game generates, the weaker one of Wang’s “hammers” in getting the Town of Hempstead to proceed. I don’t think he’d ever want to sell the team to K.C., but I’m sure he’d like it to be a stronger threat. (Of course, the NHL has shown any market can be a threat if it wants it to.)

But yeah, the market’s particulars aren’t overwhelmingly positive; of course the Royals have been awful for a long time. I hear from some locals who testify to an appetite and growing amateur hockey in the area, but it’d be an uphill climb that — like 2/3rds of NHL markets, would require a billionaire’s investment to move it along.

One counterpoint I don’t accept is the “hockey already failed in K.C.” meme. That was 30 years ago, under atrocious ownership. Hockey failed in Denver 27 years ago, too — and in fact, 33 years before the Blues arrived, NHL hockey failed in St. Louis. Conditions change.

And I’d much sooner think the Isles take up the offer to move to the Boroughs of NYC than to another market all together.

I’m with you there; it would be interesting to see how much support followed them. A lot of people can’t stand the thought.

The Royals are a tough case because they’ve been run so poorly for so long, and they’re a summer sport. Corporate support (and a rich benefactor) would be the key. But in places with hot, outdoorsy summers but cold winters, it’s nice to have a ritual like hockey to bring you out of the house. Still, would it make sense for the NHL as a whole (and player/owner revenue partnership) to move a team there? Not over Hamilton, certainly.

I figured the situation of the Royals was well known enough not to bother mentioning it.

The NBA would have to be the first sport to have a team in Vegas, then Hockey might follow. Baseball and Football will refuse to put a team there till the very end.

Not saying it would be a shutout, but I’m not sure this game wouldn’t normally do better (and who knows what it will be like until we get there — it’s possible they were discounting lower bowl seats to fill it up, as those were I think as high as $150 originally).

I always find this guy interesting for a hockey in K.C. perspective:

To make up for the lack of a regional team, I think AEG was banking on the Islanders appearance generating a buzz in KC. As far as I can tell, that hasn’t happened. I think KC fans understand the Islanders are not on the brink of moving here, and that we’re being used as a bargaining ploy again. Not exactly inspiring stuff.