Just back from Vegas and more then a little jet-lagged... anyway managed to keep up with the latest regarding our doings - but here's what's happening on the sport scene out there and I find it more than a little disconcerting. Vegas has never had a professional team in any sport (to the best of my knowledge) until now. The big new thing is the Lass Vegas Knights - a professional ice hockey team who were 'created' out of nothing. Shed loads of money was poured in and they have reached the finals of the Stanley Cup. The town is full of replica 'jerseys' and tons of tacky souvenirs just the same as football club shops over here. My knowledge of ice hockey could be written on the back of a postage stamp but it is huge in the States - the point is this club has no history, no real fans - and don't forget, the population of Vegas must be made up of 80% tourists. When they started you could get tickets for $20 - now they are going for $200 plus!
This is so typical of American sport/big business. American football and baseball teams - many with 100 year's of history - have been uprooted and sold off as franchises and moved to cities hundreds if not thousands of miles away from their roots. The owners don't give a toss about the fans or the history of the club (remind you of anyone?) I'm not saying it will happen to premier league or championship clubs over here (although let's not forget MK Dons). Who's to say that other clubs in trouble such as Coventry and Blackpool, under new owners, could be forced out of their stadiums and uprooted miles from their traditional homes? In the end, money talks. Many American's I spoke with, who have some knowledge of our game, understand the value we put on our clubs' roots and history and are envious of our set up.
I'm sure the takeover is happening shortly and that the Aussies realise the importance of maintaining and improving the status of CAFC which we should be grateful - and not a little relieved about.
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this post would make more sense if you were complaining about the LV Aces or if you repost in a couple of years about the Raiders
Also isn't Blackpool the closest thing we have to Vegas (admittedly an incredibly run down version these days).
The NHL set up the expansion draft is a way that guaranteed they would have access to good players. LV were then able to do deals to not select certain players, getting draft picks in return and then using the draft picks to trade for other players. They have some very good players, and, most importantly for playoff hockey, probably the best goalie out there this year.
They always give expansion teams advantages. In the US, they try to make sure it's a level playing field for all teams.
Except the Cleveland Browns, of course...
In the Western conference LA FC who are in their first ever season, have sold out every game and are 2nd in the league.
So expansion seems good for the game there.
I wonder at what stage the MLS will forced into a promotion / relegation system. There are 23 teams currently split east and west with 5 more coming.
Now it is overwhelmingly popular in Canada, although declining again at the expense of "soccer" as it is crushingly expensive to participate in.
A good example of the minority appeal of NHL in America can be seen by the rosters of most clubs - Vegas Knights are about 75% Canadian & there are maybe at most 6 Americans in a squad of 35+ - this is repeated at club after club, always puzzles me that this is mainly a Canadian sport & yet the Canadian clubs never win the Stanley Cup - 25 years and counting since a Canadian winner.