Imagine having to move from Arizona to Utah

No free agents will sign there
- mr.sir

I thought Houston made way way more sense.

Shatkins needs to go. Too soon?
- mjones242

not to mention Schneider and his Bass O' Matic 76 blender

Shatkins needs to go. Too soon?
- mjones242

I’m open to any ideas for them currently

Well the Jays had an interesting tenth
- Dozzer

Mayza and White got curb stomped. Just for a useless comparison. How White is still gainfully employed by the Jays is a mystery. Kirk runs better than White pitches.

I thought Houston made way way more sense.
- Zezel

Plopping a team down in a city just because it has a high population is a bad idea.

See Arizona (lol) and Atlanta.

But I’m hoping the Utah team is an utter disaster, and Bettman looks like a fool.

Mayza and White got curb stomped. Just for a useless comparison. How White is still gainfully employed by the Jays is a mystery. Kirk runs better than White pitches.
- winsix

There’s a few question marks around this team… I am genuinely curious if suffering through this is to obtain a goal or is it simply piss poor management

Plopping a team down in a city just because it has a high population is a bad idea.

See Arizona (lol) and Atlanta.

But I’m hoping the Utah team is an utter disaster, and Bettman looks like a fool.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

I'm sure Bettman will think "That was mighty big of me" when approves the Coyotes move to Utah.

Imagine having to move from Arizona to Utah

No free agents will sign there
- mr.sir

Utah is great if you love mountain biking/winter sports, flirting with cute girl-next-door blondes, and drinking your face off (alone).

I actually spent a month in Moab a couple of decades ago ...it was a blast.

I'm sure Bettman will think "That was mighty big of me" when approves the Coyotes move to Utah.
- GalacticStone

Nah… be more like Uoneoftwomoreteamsah

I thought Houston made way way more sense.
- Zezel

Utah has a guy who owns an arena. I think it's super attractive to Bettman at this point.

There’s a few question marks around this team… I am genuinely curious if suffering through this is to obtain a goal or is it simply piss poor management
- Dozzer

Hard to say much positive about the management. A very public humiliation with the Ohtani fiasco, then virtually nothing. Save a little more cash by not signing Chapman, Merrifield, Hicks and Belt and double down by signing virtually no players except Turner and Danny Burgers (the only major league player I can think of that is fatter than Kirk)

Hard to say much positive about the management. A very public humiliation with the Ohtani fiasco, then virtually nothing. Save a little more cash by not signing Chapman, Merrifield, Hicks and Belt and double down by signing virtually no players except Turner and Danny Burgers (the only major league player I can think of that is fatter than Kirk)
- winsix

It does make me question the weight of its location. The only non-American team… I mean who cares about taxation for MLB but there might be players who simply don’t want to play in a country they didn’t grow up in.

My point is that yes, management looks iffy however do they truly have another option?

As for Ohtani this may sound dumb but I’m kind of glad he signed with the dodgers and not here… a living soap opera is who he is.

Utah has a guy who owns an arena. I think it's super attractive to Bettman at this point.
- Aaron_85

Meruelo is laughing all the way to the bank. He paid $300M for the Coyotes in July of 2019, let the NHL and higher income teams pay his expenses. Now he's looking at a capital gain of over 100% (selling price will be in the $700M range) The guy is a piece of poop and Bettman and the NHL owners got fished in.

Plopping a team down in a city just because it has a high population is a bad idea.

See Arizona (lol) and Atlanta.

But I’m hoping the Utah team is an utter disaster, and Bettman looks like a fool.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

I'd like my long-term chances better in Houston or Quebec than Salt Lake.

Meruelo is laughing all the way to the bank. He paid $300M for the Coyotes in July of 2019, let the NHL and higher income teams paid his expenses. Now he's looking at a capital gain of over 100% (selling price will be in the $700M range) The guy is a piece of poop and Bettman and the NHL owners got fished in.
- winsix

I read the league might buy it back for 1 billion and resell for 1.3 to Smith.

I don't know Merulo so no idea on what kind of person he is.

It does make me question the weight of its location. The only non-American team… I mean who cares about taxation for MLB but there might be players who simply don’t want to play in a country they didn’t grow up in.

My point is that yes, management looks iffy however do they truly have another option?

As for Ohtani this may sound dumb but I’m kind of glad he signed with the dodgers and not here… a living soap opera is who he is.
- Dozzer

If they were really in on Ohtani as reported, how the (frank) did they not have $100 to $200M to spend on a couple a superstars? Ohtani signed for $700M!

I'd like my long-term chances better in Houston or Quebec than Salt Lake.
- Zezel

I’m agreeing with that all day man. I even liked KC when I heard of that as a potential. I’m not sure how puck will go there a few years removed from the hype

If they were really in on Ohtani as reported, how the (frank) did they not have $100 to $200M to spend on a couple a superstars? Ohtani signed for $700M!
- winsix

That's the smoke being blown up fans asses. They didn't want to spend. Settled for the guys they got. Came out and was all like "we just gotta play better"

I’m agreeing with that all day man. I even liked KC when I heard of that as a potential. I’m not sure how puck will go there a few years removed from the hype
- Big23Questions

I don't know how it'll go down long term but there's reason for some optimism.
Utah is a relatively wealthy state, they've got a much better 'winter sport' culture than Arizona or Texas or the southeast, and they love sports. Beer sales might be light though.

They sell 6000 seats per night for ECHL hockey right now.

I don't know how it'll go down long term but there's reason for some optimism.
Utah is a relatively wealthy state, they've got a much better 'winter sport' culture than Arizona or Texas or the southeast, and they love sports. Beer sales might be light though.

They sell 6000 seats per night for ECHL hockey right now.
- The Law

I don’t know how to gauge the winter sport culture - not sore any hot climate has one until you try (Cali, Fla) and I know the Stars do well for sure.

But the ECHL sales are very positive for sure. That’s definitely cause for optimism. Either way I hope it works out - I don’t like the look for the league when it fails you know. I’d like another team in Quebec as a Canadian but ultimately just want a lucrative league (also kinda because I’m Canadian ha)

I don’t know how to gauge the winter sport culture - not sore any hot climate has one until you try (Cali, Fla) and I know the Stars do well for sure.

But the ECHL sales are very positive for sure. That’s definitely cause for optimism. Either way I hope it works out - I don’t like the look for the league when it fails you know. I’d like another team in Quebec as a Canadian but ultimately just want a lucrative league (also kinda because I’m Canadian ha)
- Big23Questions

Winnipeg is struggling to sell tickets again so I doubt they want to move another team to Canada again.

Winnipeg is struggling to sell tickets again so I doubt they want to move another team to Canada again.
- Aaron_85

Oh no doubt. I can’t believe they are screwing it up for a second time fack

If they were really in on Ohtani as reported, how the (frank) did they not have $100 to $200M to spend on a couple a superstars? Ohtani signed for $700M!
- winsix

Kind of my point… $700M in LA would be $900M for Toronto. It’s not simply about transaction as it is simply knowing that baseball is an American sport plain and simple. The players don’t want to be up in Toronto unless it’s for a significant amount of more money.

I don’t know how to gauge the winter sport culture - not sore any hot climate has one until you try (Cali, Fla) and I know the Stars do well for sure.

But the ECHL sales are very positive for sure. That’s definitely cause for optimism. Either way I hope it works out - I don’t like the look for the league when it fails you know. I’d like another team in Quebec as a Canadian but ultimately just want a lucrative league (also kinda because I’m Canadian ha)
- Big23Questions

I just meant that winter sports are already a big deal in Utah. California has it too. Skiing, winter olympics, etc... People own winter coats and boots already. Park City is one of the elite winter sports destinations.

It's not like Arizona, Texas, or Florida where most people haven't seen snow or ice.

The biggest concern with Utah is that SLC is only ~200k ...small market. But it's a wealthy market without a bunch of competition so maybe it works.

I just meant that winter sports are already a big deal in Utah. California has it too. Skiing, winter olympics, etc... People own winter coats and boots already. Park City is one of the elite winter sports destinations.

It's not like Arizona, Texas, or Florida where most people haven't seen snow or ice.

The biggest concern with Utah is that SLC is only ~200k ...small market. But it's a wealthy market without a bunch of competition so maybe it works.
- The Law

Good point man - I just hope it’s soon. Can’t stand how Arizona disrespected the game like it did. Get out move on….take off eh they’re hosers