An Analysis of Possible Expansion Locations

[PotatoKing 46]

An Analysis of Possible Expansion Locations

 

As the effervescence and enthusiasm for fans of the VHL rages on ever since the announcement of two expansion teams being added to the fold (officially holding up the number of major league teams from ten to a historic total of twelve), rumors are bound to start propagating as to which lucky cities will see Hockey brought to their front door next year. With all the excitement this thrilling sport can bring, it may be an endearing prospect to find the league expand its horizon within your local area, but be warned, it may yet not be time for your dream city to host a VHL team at its gates. There are, after all, only so many locations that be covered with a middling twelve dots on a world map.

 

This media spot will cover an analysis of which cities are likely to be among the chosen few for the purposes of this upcoming expansion. Please keep in mind none of these predictions are official in any capacity, and are only made in the good spirit of statistical likelihood.

 

North America Region

Firstly, let's have a look at our current lineup in North America. Self-appointed as the nominal mainstay of Hockey in the eyes of many fans, it will surprise next to no one that the region invariably holds half the teams in the VHL (as shown in red below), as well as the entirety of the teams in the VHLM (in blue) :

 

Montréal

While it may be too early for fans to see another team like the Québec Meute of the past, it is undeniable that every expansion team discussions behooves still starry-eyed eastern Canadian province of Québec fans the possibility to raise the question of the VHL opening its doors to the french-speaking region once more. It is possible the best way to preemptively discard controversy while keeping the Hockey-adoring province happy would be to locate an expansion team elsewhere than its very capital city. That being said, the Montreal island seems like the logical choice for an Eastern Canada expansion. Reason being that it holds the majority of the province's population and serves as both an accessible and potent Hockey market, as evidenced by the non-negligible amount of players hailing from Québec both past and present. Will the future be kind to the fleur-de-lys hearted sports fanatics?

 

Chicago

Perhaps the largest gap revealed by the graphic above is that a particular area is especially deprived of our beloved sport, that area in question being the Midwest region of the United-States. We'll eventually cover this region, however, it generally seems sensible to tug the proverbial reach of the major league towards that geographical segment of the red, white and blue country. With that in mind, a likely candidate could involve Chicago as a possible location, being that the city is both a departure from the already-established team localities all the while fitting the overall "picture" of current locations within a reasonable reach; not to mention the sizeable fanbase awaiting a potential opening to the world of the VHL. There is yet hope to be had for the Illinois state.

 

Anchorage

Though this may surprise many, there is a request that has persisted in the whispers of the hopeful expansion team recipients speculators: and that persistence holds its roots in Alaska. The far North state may be hampered in its possibility to compete Hockey-wise due to a lower population, but Hockey is ripe within the heart of Alaskans far and wide. Not only due to its proximity with Canadian ground (and therefore cable TV) but also because of the general weather making ice-skating sports more favorable. The biggest city therein is the inescapable prime choice for a VHL home ice, with the added bonus that the obvious polar bear logo to be assigned to a possible Anchorage team still being free of any current claims.

 

Denver

Sweet sweet Colorado. The landscape-ridden beauty home of the rockies is front and center for the aforementioned American Midwest gap highlighted above, and therefore poses another likely candidate for a team expansion. As if that wasn't enough in terms of strategical proportions, the snow-tipped state also holds a sizeable fanbase that has a potential worth tapping into without hesitation from league officials. Denver could hail as a Hockey lighthouse for a large segment of the United-States, attracting not only local fans but fans of the general area that have been more or less left out throughout the years (Kansas, Wyoming, Utah, the list goes on.). In short, a Colorado team is a safe investment of ongoing interest from future GMs and players and is, in sum, a commendable choice for a VHL team location.

 

Florida

Last but not least, the south-eastern state of Florida acts as our wildcard selection for a hypothetical expansion team. This may strike some readers as an odd selection of sorts, with its not-so-sizeable local fanbase, but Florida may indeed find itself becoming a central hub for Hockey. Why? Well, this comes down to location once more, and if one were to look closely at the map, it becomes clearer why the state makes sense business-wise. A proximity is established between several eastern US states, all the while connecting an area with some yet untapped Hockey potential: Central America. Yes, yes, some people are already clamoring for South American teams, but realistically, it hardly seems like an open possibility in the relative near future. However, where would these seemingly isolated fans turn to, were the VHL to make a step their way? The answer may surprise more than one.

 

Europe Region

Secondly, as the league seems rather evenly split between Europe and North America (with the below red markers indicating current VHL teams), it seems worth a passing mention that one of these two projected expansion teams will hold one within the old continent:

 

 

Berlin

Ice Hockey may not be the favorite spectator sport in Germany (Only second to soccer/football), but the fact remains the country holds a presence that can hardly be dismissed in terms of possible expansion locations. First, the emplacement fits within the mold of the current European teams with ease. Second, the viewer market to be tapped into must be said to be large and passionate as evidenced by its viewership of the sport that already dwarfs some of the other already-established VHL teams. Subsequently, it would not come off as a surprise to many, were one of the expansion teams turn out to include the German capital.

 

Oslo

For all the reasons any Scandinavian market generally opens itself to hosting more ice rinks as time passes, Norway would strike any observant bystander as the logical conclusion of having teams in both Sweden and Finland. Thus, the VHL would solidify its grip on the Northern hemisphere with a triumvirat of principal Hockey worlds within the same region. It is also worth mentioning that the same can be said of a potential Denmark team; onlooking fans should gleefully look forward to a team settling within the area, that much is certain. The only question remains whether this will happen now or further down the line.

 

Prague

Another oftentimes mentioned sweet spot for new VHL flagships is the Hockey-loving Czech Republic. In terms of location, this certainly makes sense, as it situates the VHL heart and center of a relatively large market (somewhat similar to Berlin) with a strengthened foothold into Central Europe. The argument here makes itself. The only thing giving reservation to the idea that Prague could see itself as an expansion team (hence its delayed mention) is the possible unwanted ripple effect on the Riga team viewership. It is safe to assume, after all, that the VHL would certainly look to extend its current reach rather than hamper its existing franchises.

 

Iceland

Don't let the isolated island and small population fool you: Iceland has Hockey fevor, and a craving that demands for action. Though the logistics complicate this possibility greatly, it is a possibility nonetheless, and one would do well not to disregard the hunger for a VHL arena from the few but passionate viewers. An unlikely scenario? To be continued...

 

Rome

Similar to the last American selection, this one is more of a wildcard with a low probability of seeing realization. On the off-chance that the league would wish to extend its reach to an increasingly "woldly" market, it makes sense that a team could be hosted at an unlikely location. Not to rebuff many enthusiastic suggestions of an East Asian, Middle-Eastern or even African expansion, but logic dictates such departures would prove too drastic a change and, perhaps, too inconvenient a coordination problem with team schedules. In any case, whether that is true or not, it seems likelier that an Italiant, Bulgarian or Romanian team would see the day before these wilder propositions.

 

These were but a handful of possibilities explored above, and quantifiably more analysis is being made in that area by other dedicated fans; therefore we invite readers to let everyone know your thoughts on the subject. Do these suggestions appear as likely candidates? Were you surprised? Thank you for reading and we look forward to your input on the topic!

 

(1563 words)
(Using PT for weeks ending at 8-18, 8-25 & 9-1)

Edited August 13, 2019 by PotatoKing

[Peace 1,518]

There was actually a VHLM team in Oslo one time, but with enough complaints it was relocated to Minnesota because - IIRC - no one wanted to play for Oslo because they didn't know where it was. Yeah, I know, strange reason. Good write up! 

[McWolf 3,112]

1 hour ago, Peace said:

There was actually a VHLM team in Oslo one time, but with enough complaints it was relocated to Minnesota because - IIRC - no one wanted to play for Oslo because they didn't know where it was. Yeah, I know, strange reason. Good write up! 

It was also the last remnant of an internationally distributed VHLM. With Halifax joining the mix in S62, Oslo became the odd team out of 6, the only one not in NA. They decided they'd either split it back even or send all in NA, and it was easier that way because it meant they only needed to change a team, instead of 2.

[PotatoKing 46]

7 hours ago, Peace said:

There was actually a VHLM team in Oslo one time, but with enough complaints it was relocated to Minnesota because - IIRC - no one wanted to play for Oslo because they didn't know where it was. Yeah, I know, strange reason. Good write up! 

 

An idea of mine so good they stole it!

 

Pre-emptively.

[Victor 10,580]

23 minutes ago, PotatoKing said:

 

An idea of mine so good they stole it!

 

Pre-emptively.

Also Quebec’s expansion buddy back in day was Cologne, so Germany was covered once until it got contracted. Hopefully will be revisited soon, lots of attractive cities there.

[Sullvino 289]

Nicely done media spot! sign me up for Florida and Berlin!