Islanders Shmilanders

Charles Wang's Lighthouse Project appears dead, which has lead to more baseless but predictable mentions of KC as a potential landing spot for the Islanders. To me there is zero link between the Islanders and KC at the moment, but it's made enough noise on the intertubes I figured I'd toss up some links.

It's true Wang was mentioning KC as a bargaining ploy a year ago, but to his credit, he hasn't brought up KC once since the preseason game last September that I'm aware of. (Perhaps he wasn't pleased that we didn't play along with a big turnout for the game.) Wang bought the Islanders because he loves Long Island, not because he loved hockey. By his own admission, he didn't know much about hockey when he bought the team. I can see him selling the team, but I can't see him moving the team out of the NYC area. Oh, and the Isles' lease at their current arena doesn't expire until 2015.

Linkage:
Report: NY Islanders Keeping KC As A Backup Plan (the interview with Chris Botta on that page is worth a listen)
Kansas City Reportedly Remains An Option For The NHL's NY Islanders
Is Kansas City a Plan B if NY Islanders' Lighthouse Project falls through?

KC Still In Mix For Islanders? Doubtful

Why Not KC For The NHL?

Wang Exploring All Options...In The New York Area

Things sure have been quiet on the Islanders front ever since owner Charles Wang claimed he'd be "exploring all options" as of October 3rd. Chris Botta of the Islanders Point Blank blog has an informative post today however. The pertinent quote:

"Although Wang is flattered by the interest from other communities, he has little desire to move the team away from Nassau County — so much so that he has yet to rigorously pursue his options.

And finally, know this:

Brooklyn is very much in play.

Queens is very much in play, although it’s a close second to Brooklyn now.

Suffolk is not a serious option.

The Islanders will not leave the New York metropolitan area during this generation or the next one."

Wang Abandoning Light House?

According to the Long Island Press, Islanders owner Charles Wang has quietly abandoned his Light House development plan that included a new home for the Islanders. Sean Leahy on Puck Daddy questions whether it might be just another political move in his attempt to get the project approved; seems to me if that were the case, Wang would be stating this publicly. But so far, Islanders brass has been completely mum.

I still would expect Wang to explore other Long Island-area options before considering selling or relocating the team.

Update: 19 hours after the story, Wang got around to denying it. Long Island Press stands by it.

Isles vs. Kings Quick Hits VI

• Want to see the difference between crude and nuanced sports reporting? Compare and contrast Stan Fischler's take on the KC preseason game with Dominik's on Lighthouse Hockey:

Fischler: "With Kansas City proving itself a bust – a half-empty arena for an NHL exhibition – as a future NHL city, other towns must be considered."

Dominik: "Attending the preseason game in Kansas City was quite fun, opened my eyes to a few things, and cemented my impression that gauging a marginal market's readiness for pro hockey by counting its skeptical fanbase's attendance at a meaningless preseason game between two distant teams is, simply, fool's play...I thought just under 10,000 on a Tuesday night was hardly "a miserable failure." That's not to say I think K.C. should have a team -- just that if you're arguing against it, there are far better reasons than an exhibition game."

Be sure to check out Dominik's full post on his experience.

• Charles Wang's October 3rd deadline for a definite answer on his Lighthouse Project has come and gone with nothing decided. As promised, he says he'll be "exploring all options" now, meaning he will at least listen to anyone interested in buying or relocating the team.

Isles vs. Kings Quick Hits V

• National Post: "Kansas City Shows No Interest In Hockey"

• Pierre LeBrun of ESPN: "Long Island or Kansas City? Give Me a Break, It's No Contest"

• J.J. From Kansas on Kukla's Korner Member Blog: "Kansas City Didn't Fail The Islanders"

• KSHB-TV: "Still In Search of an Anchor Tenant, Sprint Center Hosts NHL"

• FOX4 TV: "AEG CEO: Don't Expect Hockey In Kansas City Soon"

9,972 Just Got A Little Bigger

If preseason attendance numbers are going to be used as the gauge, I guess you could make the argument that Kansas City made a stronger showing for the Islanders last night than Long Island did tonight. The official attendance for the Islanders only preseason game at home and the home debut of John Tavares is 8,256. Arthur Staple at Newsday puts the actual attendance at just 4,000. (Seems like the NHL could and should regulate a way for "announced" attendance to be tied to actual attendance.)

Or, if you want to make KC's 9,972 sound a little smaller, you could point out that the average attendance in the other five preseason games played last night was 13,926. (One of those games was also played in a non-NHL market: the Lightning and Coyotes played in front of 7,281 in Everett, Washington.)

In any event, things don't appear to be going well for Charles Wang getting his Lighthouse Project approved by his deadline of October 3rd. Sounds like this is about to get really ugly, with Wang talking to any and all courters...will be interesting to see if KC will be a player or not. I have no doubt AEG and NHL21 will try to get Wang's ear...but if there's no owner for KC, it might be a short conversation. Maybe he'll surprise me, but I can't imagine Wang being interested in remaining owner of the team in a new market outside of the NY area.

Isles vs. Kings Review

The game: There was intensity to the action that rarely let up. The game was played as if it mattered; of course, for guys trying to make the team or make an impression, preseason games do matter. I could do without the many fights (though of course the crowd in general loved them), but the plethora of solid body checks was a thrill. Several of the goals were a result of pretty passing plays. The fans that bothered to show up where treated to what I love so much about hockey: the combination of skill and finesse with grit and physicality.

The Kings didn’t entirely dominate, but they certainly had the upper hand. LA sent a fairly strong group of players to the game, while the Islanders sent the B-squad. The most glaring difference was on special teams. The Kings took control of their power plays. When the Islanders went up a man, they could do little more than jump off-side, give up a shorty, or take a penalty themselves to put an end to their advantage. Wayne Simmonds, Teddy Purcell and Drew Doughty all stood out for the Kings, and not just because they were the goal scorers. It wasn’t as close as the 4-2 score indicates.

Kings netminder Jonathan Quick was good, but rarely tested. In net for the Isles was Nathan Lawson, after Dwayne Roloson took a shot in the neck during warmups. Lawson performed admirably considering he was left out to dry by his teammates for much of the night. He stood on his head during the 3^rd period (plus got a little help from the crossbar), keeping the Isles in a game they otherwise didn’t deserve to be in.

My experience: Once again, the Sprint Center sparkled, and screamed out to host hockey much more often than once a year. I arrived just in time to catch warmups, and moved down to the glass behind the end the Islanders were skating on to take some pictures and be reminded how huge NHL players are when you’re right next to them. I somehow completely missed Roloson getting hit in the neck. A puck flew up and landed in the netting just behind the glass in the corner to my left, where there are no stands. I saw a guy knock it down with a shovel and quickly asked him to toss it to me—he did! I was psyched to get a small piece of the NHL in Kansas City. My night was already made before the game even began. Did you know there’s an official “practice puck” that is apparently used for warmups? I didn’t.

The attendance: 9,972 is the official number. Three quarters of the upper deck were curtained off. The lower bowl had empty spots. I don’t think attendance numbers at preseason games between teams KC has no rooting interest in should be a major factor in gauging us as an NHL market, but there just aren’t many other ways to judge it, so it takes on a falsely inflated importance. And a crowd that didn’t hit five figures was a disappointment. It’s amusing how you can spin the number any way you want; the AP recap says “9,972 showed up Tuesday night, so Kansas City seems to be ready (for a team).” Long Island’s Newsday meanwhile reported that KC reacted to the game with “one huge, collective yawn.”

I think what we saw last night was the small core of hockey die-hards in KC. Unfortunately, I don’t know that a secondary, more casual group of fans exist to augment the die-hards. I would love for KC to get a chance to find out if a large enough group of new fans could be created and sustained if we had a home team. At the same time, I can’t help but point out that a moderately sized base of passionate hockey fans would be a great start for an AHL team.

But the question for now is, do we deserve the chance to find out if we could grow those fans with an NHL team of our own? I’m blinded by my desire to have a team, and probably can’t answer objectively. But if I were fabulously wealthy, I’m not sure I’d be willing to take that chance. KC hockey fans are left to hope someone who is fabulously wealthy feels differently.

Linkage:

Kansas City Star report

PucKChaser recap

Lighthouse Hockey recap

From Newsday:
Fans In Kansas City Show Little Interest In Isles
With Isles In KC, Big Game Is Lighthouse Hearing

Newsday reporter Jim Baumbach had some interesting Tweets from KC

Score sheet

Mayor's Manor draws some connections between LA & KC hockey

Well, Shit

No Tavares.

On one hand, perhaps KC hockey fans should just be happy to get whatever we can as far as NHL action goes. But on the other hand, we're being used as a pawn by a fabulously rich owner in a political game that has nothing to do with us. So is it surprising that ticket sales are so weak that ticket prices have been slashed at the last minute?

Is sending Tavares - the one player with a little star power on either team - to KC so much to ask?

You can see why the Islanders are holding him out - thanks to some brilliant scheduling, the only Islanders home preseason game is the very night after the KC game. No way they're going to play him in back-to-back games, and the Islanders presumably would have suffered a backlash from their fans, who are already upset that the Isles are playing in KC at all, if they'd chosen the KC game over the Long Island game to play Tavares.

But isn't Wang's entire purpose for playing the game in KC to generate pressure on Long Island politicians? The not-so veiled veiled threat? Wouldn't placing the new face of the franchise smack dab in a supposed suitor city be the way to do that?

Islanders vs. Kings Game Preview

New York Islanders vs. Los Angeles Kings

Tuesday, September 22, 2009 • 7:00
Sprint Center • Kansas City, Missouri

I can’t speak for the rest of the city, but I’m excited for what I believe will be the 87th NHL game played in Kansas City. The first 86 were made up of two Scouts preseason games, 80 Scouts regular season games, and four preseason games between 1998—2008. The Blues played in all four of the recent preseason games, which means Tuesday’s game will be the first played in Kansas City to not feature a team from Missouri. To make up for the lack of a regional team, I think AEG was banking on the Islanders appearance generating a buzz in KC. As far as I can tell, that hasn't happened. I think KC fans understand the Islanders are not on the brink of moving here, and that we’re being used as a bargaining ploy again. Not exactly inspiring stuff.

In spite of all the nonsense surrounding the game, I’ll just be soaking up the game itself, enjoying the unbeatable atmosphere of a live NHL game taking place in my home town.

The Sprint Center has cooked up this ad for the game. The Kings have posted an interview with assistant coach Jamie Kompon about the two Kings games in Kansas City. It sounds almost like an AEG promo for the Sprint Center:

John Tavares Watch: The much heralded Islanders rookie made his NHL debut on September 16th in Edmonton, but has sat out three of the Islanders’ first four preseason games. That means we’ll be seeing either his second or third game. He didn’t get a point in his first game, so perhaps KC fans will be treated to his first NHL point.

That’s all assuming he’ll play Tuesday night - something I fully expect, but I’ll breathe easier once he’s officially announced.

Here’s some video of Tavares in Islanders training camp:

Quick Links

• From the Hamilton Spectator:
  

  “Speculation in NHL circles suggests league executives have been working to find prospective owners to buy and move the (Coyotes) to Kansas City, Las Vegas or even Winnipeg.
  
  They want to block any move to Hamilton because relocating the Coyotes kills the promise of a huge expansion fee for a second team in southern Ontario.”

  There doesn’t seem to be any evidence to support those statements, so I wouldn’t put much stock in them.
  
  
• A long interview with Islanders owner Charles Wang in which Kansas City is brought up numerous times. Wang says he plans to be in KC for the preseason game September 22nd. He also repeatedly says that if the Lighthouse Project (which would include a new rink for the Isles) is not approved by October 3rd, all options will be open. Maybe the most interesting part of the conversation to me was when the host asks if Wang would be interested in owning a team that is located somewhere other than Long Island; I’ve always assumed he wouldn’t, but he indicates he may like to stay in the league even if the Islanders relocate. Of course, everything coming out of Wang’s mouth right now is calculated to put pressure on the powers that be to approve the Lighthouse Project.
  
  
• Don’t forget to get your tickets to go hang out with Charles on September 22nd.

Isles Owner Wang: “Kansas City BBQ Is Delicious”

See this link for an interview with Islanders owner Charles Wang about the status of the Islanders and the Lighthouse Project that is supposedly the make-or-break factor for him to remain as owner and keep the team on Long Island. Kansas City is brought up, and Wang jokingly says, “Where's Kansas City? Oh, yeah, Kansas City, that’s a nice place, right?” and “Kansas City barbecue is delicious.” He is ratcheting up the rhetoric and scare tactics to push a new arena through.

Star columnist Randy Covitz has this article today: “Islanders owner gets more serious in threat to move or sell NHL team”

That Didn't Last Long

Well, right on cue, after posting last night that I didn’t plan on covering the Islanders or Coyotes situations anymore, I wake up to this article in the Star: “Islanders Have Escape Clause in Coliseum Lease.” (Here’s a similar article from the Long Island perspective.)

Technically, I said I wouldn’t be covering minor developments, and this does qualify as a fairly significant twist in the Isles’ situation. Previous reports suggested the Islanders couldn’t have broken their current lease that runs through 2015 even if they’d wanted to.

What this doesn’t change is that owner Charles Wang does not want to leave Long Island, KC is being used as a pawn, and progress seems to be happening on a new arena deal on Long Island. It just leaves the door ever so slightly ajar for KC in the event that an arena deal falls through.

Phoenix and Long Island Making Moves To Keep Their Teams

Some recent news out of both Phoenix and Long Island about concessions being made to improve the teams’ respective situations in their current towns.

Neither the Coyotes nor Islanders are anywhere close to moving to Kansas City right now. As such, I don’t plan on covering future minor developments in regards to either team.

I unfortunately don’t sense any traction for the NHL coming to KC anytime soon.

If the Islanders do get an arena deal, it will be too bad that KC will still be stuck with them coming to town for the preseason game this September. The minor buzz of a 1% chance of the Islanders coming to KC will be completely shot. (The only plus for die-hards will be if the Islanders land either John Tavares or Victor Hedman in the draft and we get to see them in one of their very first NHL games—but those names don’t mean a thing to the average Kansas City sports fan.)

Islanders Reading

If you can stomach more coverage of the Islanders' situation, here you go:

Queens, you say? K.C. isn't giving up on the Islanders

NY Islanders landlocked in KC? Not so fast

Leaving Long Island? Islanders Just May

A Note From Islanders Fans

More Newsday Coverage

Newsday has now added a "Complete Coverage: KC coveting Islanders?" page that collects all of their coverage on the story. Two items worth a read:

"The man behind the Isles possible move to Kansas City" is an informative look at Tim Leiweke.

"Isles moving? Not likely" is a refreshingly realistic piece. (Though it is a little misleading to say Kansas City has a population of 450,000 when the metro is around two million. Here's a link to the "Islanders next contestant on 'Who's Threatening to Move to K.C.?' " post on fieldofschemes.com mentioned in the article.)

Newsday Freaking Out

Well, there's plenty of buzz about the Islanders vs. Kings preseason game on Long Island, at least from Long Island's Newsday newspaper. Isles owner Charles Wang wanted to scare the community about the potential relocation of the Islanders. Looks like he has succeeded.

More links than you need, all from Newsday.com:

News of preseason game in KC worries Isles fans

Keep Isles with their namesake

Give Wang, Islanders credit for making bold threat

KC has the arena, but no major sports team
(I notice Paul McGannon scales the rhetoric back when talking to Newsday: "We're not looking to take anybody's team.")

Isles game in KC doesn't phase Hempstead's Murray

Plus, here's some talk from New York sports radio.

Perhaps if all of this speculation keeps up through September, there will be buzz in Kansas City too and fans will come out to try and make a statement that we want a team.

Puck Daddy Delivers More Reaction To Isles In KC

Submitted for your consideration, the amazing Puck Daddy blog's roundup of reaction to the Islanders game in KC.

Star Article on Isles/Kings Game

The Kansas City Star’s Randy Covitz has an article on the upcoming preseason game at the Sprint Center. There is a piece of good news in it: The game will “most likely (be) on Saturday, Sept. 26.” It’s going to be important to attendance for the game to be on a Friday or Saturday. Covitz also covers the speculation about the Islanders participation signalling a veiled threat to Long Island that they had better build a new arena if they want to keep the Islanders.

Paul McGannon, the head of NHL21, an organization (or just Paul McGannon?) dedicated to bringing the NHL back to Kansas City, makes some rather bold comments in the article. He cuts right to the quick: “New York has three teams. If they don’t want to build a new rink in Long Island, we’ll take their team.” Also: “I think it’s a big deal, that we’re having two teams on the coast meet in Kansas City for a game, and we better sell it out. I love the regional appeal of the Blues and the Blackhawks, but we better send a message and sell the game out.”

Hopefully the NHL doesn’t take the view that Kansas City “better sell it out,” because I just can’t see that happening. I’ll be glad if we can top last year’s crowd.

According to the Kansas City Hockey History website, here are the attendance figures for preseason games in Kansas City (all at Kemper except for 2008):

9,346 Blues vs. Predators 1998
17,285 Blues vs. Blackhawks 2003
12,686 Blues vs. Predators 2005
11,603 Blues vs. Kings 2008

(For an average of 12,730)

Islanders & Kings To Play In Kansas City This September

According to Darren Dreger on TSN (Canada's ESPN), the New York Islanders and Los Angeles Kings will be playing a preseason game at the Sprint Center this September.

I have mixed feelings about this development. I am excited that there will be another NHL game coming to town. But that much was expected. Beyond the initial excitement, I'm surprised that the Islanders will be involved in the game. As Dreger points out in his article, it "could be perceived as a veiled threat of potential relocation if plans for a new arena on Long Island aren't soon finalized." In other words, prepare for Kansas City to once again be used as a pawn for an owner to use in an attempt to blackmail his city into a new arena. While that possibility is distasteful for obvious reasons, there may be a silver lining. It has been suggested that the NHL was very pleased with Kansas City playing along with Pittsburgh to help them get a new arena, and that it has placed Kansas City in good standing with the league. It's possible that if the powers that be in KC and at the Sprint Center play ball again, Kansas City's standing will improve even more. And I suppose it is not completely out of the question that if Islanders ownership cannot get an arena deal on Long Island that moving to KC would be a remote possibility.

But that is small comfort. It's hard to imagine a match up with less intrigue and star power than Islanders vs. Kings. There is zero regional tie; the two teams couldn't be further from KC or from each other. While I'm not surprised the Islanders opponent will be the Kings, I am disappointed. The Kings return for a second straight year only because Tim Leiweke is CEO of the company that operates the Sprint Center (AEG) and a governor of the Kings. So basically, because they're easy to get. Beyond that, there is no reason for them to be selected for a KC preseason game. No star power, no regional interest. It was fine last year since they met the St. Louis Blues. But Islanders/Kings in Kansas City? What?

My biggest fear is that such a lackluster match up will draw a pitifully small crowd and damage KC's chances for a team. I just can't imagine any buzz around this game. The Sprint Center is no longer brand new, there's already been the first hockey game, and, again, it's Islanders vs. Kings! If last year's crowd of 11,603 seemed just okay, how bad would 7,000 look?