Say Buh-Bye to the Blue Jackets?
1-liner, NHL November 5th. 2009, 5:00pmColumbus Blue Jackets: “The Columbus Blue Jackets could leave central Ohio if the team can’t fix an economic model that is causing losses of $12 million a year, according to a report issued today by the Columbus Chamber. But a deal to keep the hockey team here and the Arena District alive — the team and the district generated $30 million in taxes last year — probably will include asking for public dollars, and soon.” What are the chances the public will pony up to keep the team in town? At best, the Jackets are third banana to the Buckeyes and the Crew. Last year, the Jackets made the playoffs for the first time since the franchise began. [Dispatch]
27 Responses to “Say Buh-Bye to the Blue Jackets?”
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November 5th, 2009 at 5:01 PM
Winnipeg!
November 5th, 2009 at 5:03 PM
of all the teams that may move in the NHL…everything south of it, first.
November 5th, 2009 at 5:06 PM
Behind the Crew? False.
November 5th, 2009 at 5:07 PM
I’m gonna go ahead and say that the Blue Jackets are more popular than this “Crew” you speak of. I base this on no research and the assumption that the crew is associated with some floppers that kick something around instead of skate and have to deal with the chances of skull and facial fractures.
/earlier today’d
November 5th, 2009 at 5:07 PM
I will also say again, that Rick Nash is a fucking stud.
November 5th, 2009 at 5:08 PM
how’s about they worry about Phoenix first…
Quebec City is working on a new arena to bring the NHL back. It would be amazing to see the Nordiques again.
November 5th, 2009 at 5:08 PM
Benny and the Jets > Winnipeg Jets
CAN YOU BELIEVE WE GOT TWO, COUNT THEM, TWO(!!!) HOCKEY POSTS IN ONE DAY!
/lights bat signal
November 5th, 2009 at 5:09 PM
LOL @ Crew > Blue Jackets. From what i’ve heard, going to that arena for a game and that downtown is pretty fun. if only they werent in a division stacked against them.
November 5th, 2009 at 5:09 PM
sigh, if only Dany Heatley didn’t kill hockey in Atlanta along with his best friend.
November 5th, 2009 at 5:09 PM
ohh yea, the Buckeyes play in Columbus…..nobody cares about the Blue Jackets, move them to a city that would appreciate them.
November 5th, 2009 at 5:13 PM
I clicked on the “NHL” tag just out of curiosity. It’s like a link to “The Round-Up”. Or “Carrie Underwood”.
@lefty – you know hockey doesn’t belong in Atlanta…
November 5th, 2009 at 5:15 PM
Supposedly Canada is going to start Brodeur in net in the Olympics. Dear all other teams: There’s your opening
November 5th, 2009 at 5:20 PM
Another Gary Bettman failure! What a debacle the NHL is right now.
November 5th, 2009 at 5:21 PM
what is gonna happen to eddie murphy’s red jacket from delirious?
/stuff i care more about than the blue jackets.
November 5th, 2009 at 5:24 PM
Kansas City will make a full court press. They built the Sprint Center on tax dollars approved by the voters in promises that either a NBA or NHL team would be there by opening. It has been opened for two years. The NBA and NHL will fail here. Again.
November 5th, 2009 at 5:24 PM
I’d wager the Red Wings are more popular that the Blue Jackets in Ohio.
November 5th, 2009 at 5:26 PM
Was suppose to be the Kansas City Penguins.
November 5th, 2009 at 5:26 PM
I dislike the topic of every post on the internet.
/mrejr
November 5th, 2009 at 5:29 PM
The Lake Erie Monsters are more popular than the Columbus Blue Jackets in Ohio.
November 5th, 2009 at 5:50 PM
I’m just happy the feezing weather has killed off all the Yellow Jackets that were living behind my shutters.
November 5th, 2009 at 5:59 PM
Was suppose to be the Kansas City Penguins.
We’d have a title by now!!!
November 5th, 2009 at 6:21 PM
Maybe the NHL could move them to the Eastern Conference and put them in the same division as the Pens. We take over their arena every time we come to town.
I really don’t know why Columbus is in so much trouble. They have a great arena and they have an up and coming team. Finding a fanbase takes some time, but they’ll be OK if they keep fielding a competitive team.
November 5th, 2009 at 6:24 PM
they sold out most nights before the lockout. After the lock out attendance became more of a problem.
November 5th, 2009 at 6:39 PM
TBL who told you the Crew have a bigger allegiance in Columbus? There are plenty of people here you could have asked about that before you wrote it!
Anyway, my prediction…CBJ move… LeBron eventually leaves (maybe this contract or next), and Cavs move to Columbus to become Ohio’s NBA team.
November 5th, 2009 at 6:56 PM
It isn’t fanbase problems here in Columbus… It’s arena rights. Columbus doesn’t get many of the same revenue streams that other arenas get, i.e. parking, naming rights, etc… That part of the deal to get the team did not help their ownership. The study is true, but part ploy to get the ownership some needed help on their franchise.
Secondly, OSU built a similar arena 4 miles north of Nationwide Arena, which houses the CBJ. They compete for the same concerts and events, thus driving price down to the point to make it virtually impossible to make decent profit from additional events. This is Ohio State’s fault, but entirely too much back story to put here.
As for the Jackets, the fan base is much larger than one from outside of Ohio would assume it to be. The Red Wings may have had a bigger base until about 3 years ago. Now, I’d say that the CBJ owns their own town (fighting Pittsburgh and Detroit fans).
And the arena? Simply outstanding. Seriously. Great, great place. Also a great place for March Madness, which they will be hosting 1st and 2nd round games again in 2012. That should be a yearly event with the arena and the amenities the area provides.
November 5th, 2009 at 7:47 PM
I honestly never heard of the columbus crew.
November 6th, 2009 at 9:29 AM
We get that you like soccer, but I honestly had to look up who the Crew were. The NHL might not be close to the big three, but they are miles ahead of the MLS in every market they share together.