Sun Shines on the Sunbelt in Realignment

Within 24 hours of the NHL's announcement of a significant divisional realignment, the potential on-ice effects of the new arrangement have been analyzed, scrutinized, and dissected by all of the so-called experts. Early returns indicate that new rivalries will be forged, with a greater probability of these rivalries being played out in the first two rounds of the proposed playoff format. Perhaps the most attractive feature of the new schedule is that each team will have a home and home series with out-of-division opponents. Gone will be the days of having to wait one, two, or even three years in cases where an injury keeps a star player like a Sidney Crosby from making an appearance in an out-of-conference building.

Monday's realignment shows that the league has reached a point in its post-lockout history where it can apply a progressive (and potentially less-frugal) line of thought to its scheduling as teams are expected to have anywhere between $400,000 and $850,000 of additional travel expenses for the 2012-2013 season. While the supposed on-ice winners, (Detroit - no longer having to play in the Western Conference despite being located in the Eastern time zone, and Winnipeg - no longer having to assume the schedule of the Atlanta Thrashers in the Southeast Division) have been a hot topic amongst hockey insiders, the off-ice winners have yet to be proclaimed.

At first blush, I couldn't help but notice the potential boon this realignment might provide for the NHL's Sunbelt franchises. Tampa Bay and Florida will now host Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Boston and Buffalo up to three times per season. Phoenix, Los Angeles, and Anaheim will now count Vancouver, Calgary, and Edmonton amongst their closest rivals. Not only will the new format place these new divisional foes in direct competition for playoff spots, but it will also provide these sunbelt franchises with an opportunity to directly market, both in and out of their local market, to "snowbird" fans of these Canadian and Northeastern teams. Fans currently living in these cold weather climates can conceivably plan multiple vacations to Florida, Southern California, and Arizona each season.

Without question, this will increase attendance figures for the Sunbelt franchises. The atmosphere in a building filled to near capacity creates an infinitely better fan experience than what Sunbelt fans have become accustomed to in Phoenix and Florida. As the rivalries between traditional market teams and Sunbelt teams intensify, local fans will feel more compelled to support their team and experience the festive atmosphere that thousands of boisterous visiting team fans create. As individual game tickets become a more sought after item, season ticket packages will purchased in greater numbers. Assuming the revenue sharing provision of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement isn't dramatically altered prior to the 2012-2013 season, increased revenues for "have-not" franchises will ease the burden currently placed upon the owners of the league's most profitable franchises. Does this mean that long term viability exists for Gary Bettman's Sunbelt vision? Could the Phoenix Coyotes stave off what seems to be an inevitable move to Quebec City? Maybe not so fast.... 

Yours in hockey,

JK