Listen to this steaming pile of garbage coming out of Boston yesterday.
“I don’t know if there’s a desire or a will within the board of the existing franchises for expansion yet,” said Boston Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs.
Hmm? There’s not a will to collect $1 billion dollars from two owners willing to pay way more than the current value of two thirds of the league’s franchises?
There’s not a desire to grow the league to a burgeoning market in Las Vegas and a hockey-starved city in Quebec?
“There’s a capacity out there, but I don’t know if there’s a will from a league standpoint.”
What successful business sees an opportunity to grow, has the investor backing to do it, has proof in the form of 13,500 already sold tickets in the tougher market to sell, and then says, “I’m not sure if there’s a will?” If you see the capacity, why isn’t there a will?
“(We will do) the best thing for the league as a whole, and what’s the best thing for Boston.”
This is an owner that is well-known for being focused on his money. A real dollars a cents guy. And now with the chance to add $1 billion in immediate revenue, plus the obvious benefits of having 164 (82×2) more games, and all else that comes with a larger league, he says they’re unsure?
The man runs a $750 million dollar business, and I run a website that’s struggling to make our way up the search results on Google, so I understand that my business mind is not quite as sharp as his, but the quotes that were thrown around yesterday simply don’t add up.
There has to be something missing here. Concern over struggling franchises in Arizona and Florida. A will or desire to be in Seattle. Fear over the strength of the Canadian dollar. Something other than a relative “lack of desire” to make an astute business decision.
He’s right to do what’s best for his beloved city and the league he has part ownership in, but what he said yesterday was certainly not it.
Don’t worry though,
“Jacobs did say if the NHL were to expand, Las Vegas might make more sense than Quebec City.”
Well that’s nice, but I think we here in Vegas, and especially all of you in Quebec, have a “will or desire” to be really ticked off.

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