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Comment by wmat | Hacker News Reader

Interesting article. I think it underestimates the number of regions in Canada that could support an NHL franchise. For example, the Region of Waterloo, with a population of 500,000+. If Junior Hockey attendance can be used as a predictor of NHL attendance, consider that the Kitchener Rangers sell out their 7000 seat arena for every home game.

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The problem with that is the Maple Leafs. You're not likely to see any teams pop up within 200km of Toronto, because the Leafs will likely have to get compensated very heavily for the right to do that.

I live in Markham, Ontario -- just north of Toronto, and they wasted a ton of money "studying" the construction of an NHL class arena. I think hell would freeze over before the Leafs allowed another team to enter their geographic monopoly.

Heh, try living in Hamilton.

Is Hamilton claimed by both Buffalo and Toronto? I know Niagara is claimed by Buffalo, despite being in a different country.

Buffalo has a huge fan base throughout southern ontario.

Even most Leafs fans I talk to (and myself) think a second Toronto (or at least southern Ontario) franchise would be good for the Leafs, because it might actually force them to be good to draw in fans.

I agree 100%, but when you're making money hand over fist by being the only game in town...

I'm also guessing, but I am thinking the compensation alone might be enough deter many investors from starting a new team in the region.

I read an article about the possibility of these teams popping up. One example of how it could work is if the Leafs had the TV rights to the new team. I believe this is how the Nationals and Orioles operate in the MLB.

Honestly, it's better to just put another team in Toronto. Toronto can support two teams easily, and you have a access to a bigger sponsorship market.

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