SeattleB次元官网网址檚 new NHL team may seem like a natural foe for the Vancouver Canucks, but some in the hockey world say building a rivalry between the regional neighbours will take time.
Canucks owner Francesco Aquilini welcomed TuesdayB次元官网网址檚 news that the NHL board of governors unanimously approved a yet-to-be-named franchise in Seattle, set to start play in the 2021-22 season.
B次元官网网址淕reat to welcome Seattle to the NHL!B次元官网网址� he tweeted. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e got a feeling this will become a classic rivalry.B次元官网网址�
Welcome to the !
B次元官网网址� Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks)
We canB次元官网网址檛 wait for this rivalry to begin. 馃敟
But while the Emerald City is located just over 200 kilometres south of Vancouver, Canucks head coach Travis Green said rivalries arenB次元官网网址檛 solely based on where teams are located.
B次元官网网址淭hey come from hard playoff series, going through battles and being battle tested against each other,B次元官网网址� he said.
Vancouver defenceman Troy Stecher B次元官网网址� whoB次元官网网址檚 from the Vancouver suburb of Richmond, B.C. B次元官网网址� also believes creating a grudge between teams requires some history.
B次元官网网址淚 definitely think it could become something, but itB次元官网网址檚 going to take time,B次元官网网址� he said, noting that a thereB次元官网网址檚 already an intense competition in Major League Soccer between the Vancouver Whitecaps and their regional adversaries, the Seattle Sounders.
B次元官网网址淵ou canB次元官网网址檛 just say itB次元官网网址檚 a rivalry. YouB次元官网网址檝e got to go through games, youB次元官网网址檝e got to build that personality, youB次元官网网址檝e got to have battles with guys on their teams. And I think thatB次元官网网址檚 what creates it.B次元官网网址�
Giving both Vancouver and Seattle fans an opportunity to drive to games in another market will be huge, Stecher said.
B次元官网网址淚 played at a college that had really good fans that would travel a ways,B次元官网网址� said the University of North Dakota alum. B次元官网网址淪o maybe this is a good step for the Canucks.B次元官网网址�
Creating a new rivalry could be a boon for the Canucks business side, said Peter Tingling, a professor with Simon Fraser UniversityB次元官网网址檚 Beedie School of Business in Burnaby, B.C.
B次元官网网址淵ou want engaged fans and it will certainly be good from that perspective,B次元官网网址� he said, noting that itB次元官网网址檚 been a long time since VancouverB次元官网网址檚 Rogers Arena was regularly sold-out for hockey games.
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Having a new team in the Pacific Division could also put pressure on the Canucks to perform both on and off the ice, Tingling added.
The NHLB次元官网网址檚 last expansion team, the Vegas Golden Knights, upped the ante for competition and entertainment, making the Stanley Cup final in their first year in the league, and quickly gaining a reputation for over-the-top in-game experiences and fan engagement.
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 nothing like footprints behind you to make you up your game,B次元官网网址� Tingling said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not just winning in the arena, although thatB次元官网网址檚 always a good thing. If you start to see some innovation in how they engage with fans, for example, thatB次元官网网址檚 going to put pressure on Vancouver.B次元官网网址�
The Canucks are currently in rebuild mode after finishing second last in the Pacific Division last year. The club had a hot start to the season, thanks in part to rookie sensation Elias Pettersson, but the team has since cooled, winning just one of their last 12 games.
A continued slump could be dangerous if another franchise enters the market and performs well, Tingling said.
B次元官网网址淔ans can be fickle,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址漈hey will only put up with a poor performance for so long. And if they can look a few hours south to a winning team, thatB次元官网网址檚 going to create some resentment, I would expect.B次元官网网址�
While a new rivalry with Seattle could capture attention short-term, itB次元官网网址檚 not the best way to create and retain fans, Tingling said.
B次元官网网址淨uite simply, thereB次元官网网址檚 nothing like winning to fill an arena,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址滱nd if youB次元官网网址檙e not winning, then what else are you doing?B次元官网网址�
While some say animosity between the Pacific Northwest teams could take time to boil over, politicians were already trading barbs Tuesday.
Won't be as bad as the sunburn your goalie's going to get from playing golf after the regular season's over. 馃槈
B次元官网网址� John Horgan (@jjhorgan)
Congratulations City of Seattle.
Go go!
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 excited to see SeattleB次元官网网址檚 #ReturnToHockey today,B次元官网网址� Washington Governor Jay Inslee tweeted. B次元官网网址滻 look forward to seeing the goalie sunburned by the goal light as the new @NHLSeattle_ team beats the Vancouver @Canucks in 2021.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淲onB次元官网网址檛 be as bad as the sunburn your goalieB次元官网网址檚 going to get from playing golf after the regular seasonB次元官网网址檚 over,B次元官网网址� responded B.C. Premier John Horgan. B次元官网网址滳ongratulations City of Seattle. Go @Canucks go!B次元官网网址�
Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press
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