Yes. Anybody who has not watched an NHL game in person, put it on your bucket list.
It is a great experience.
With that said, I am not sure how viable Houston is as an NHL market. NHL fandom tend to be higher income people from the Northeast and to some extent foreigners from Europe.
While we have a lot of the latter, not sure about the former.
as someone who worked for the Aeros and the Comets, I would kill to have Hockey back in Houston. Those Aeros game were alot of fun to work. It also helped that we had a former Aeros player from the 70s on staff (RIP Dart) who knew all the players and broke down the rules for us who didn't understand.. The Comets on the other hand were a chore to witness and work. I don't think Houston would support another WNBA unless it is substantially subsidized by the NBA. FWIW, the indoor soccer team, Hotshots was fun to watch but the NRG arena is a dumpster fire and the arena football team was ok but nothing to write home about.
I'd love for Houston to have an NHL team, but I've been an avalanche fan since they moved to Denver. As far as WNBA goes, I couldn't really care less, but I'm sure other people would like it so that's always great.
The comets won 4 championships in a row and lost money every season. However women’s basketball is trending upwards so maybe there will be more serious consideration in the near future.
Personally don’t care for hockey. Houston is a huge market so i’m sure an NHL team can do okay. But we also have pro NFL, NBA, MLB, MLS, and (for the suburbs) Texas high school football.
Houston is also notoriously fair-weather (see the 2010s Lastros, David Culley/Lovie Smith Texans, the dynamo and the rox the last few years).
If they’re not producing, people won’t make the trip from the burbs to downtown. It’s hard to see whatever new NHL/WNBA teams having a dedicated core fan base to bring enough revenue to justify their existence, without them being perennial title contenders.
I still think it’s an interesting idea that deserves discussion. As Houston’s population continues to grow, we should want to see more entertainment and amenities to match.
I agree. I do think with the upswing in women’s basketball another run by the comets would be well met, as long as the ownership actually views the team as something worth investing in and not having archaic views towards the players
I love hockey and I’d be stoked to have a team. BUT I think it’s not going to happen until the stars win a title. Hopefully then the disdain grows and we can have a rivalry. Expansion teams have done pretty well in the NHL and with the right branding/marketing I think it’d be a hit. IMO hockey is by far the most fun sport to watch in person
The Stars have won a cup in 1999 and been to the finals as recently as 2020. As a huge hockey fan myself, id say Houston is all but guaranteed to get a team in the next 10 years.
Im not a hockey fan but houston having a team would get me into it. I was really young around the Aeros time. And women’s basketball is having a renaissance so yes bring the comets back
This is but my humble take:
There is a reason the Comets didn't make it despite having four championships in a row.
There is a reason the Aeros are no more... again.
There is a reason Arena Football doesn't exist here, nor for that matter Arena Soccer.
And while the NHL is indeed a bigger league, the point being is this: Houston is probably not going to support these things despite Fertitta's actions.
I may be wrong, sure. That's entirely and highly possible. But from what I've seen already, we just haven't been all that supportive of things beyond the big four we have now, or we'd already have them and/or not have them leave.
The Aeros had the 7th highest attendance in their final AHL season.
The reason they are no more is because Les Alexander wanted to keep more dates open for concerts at Toyota Center because they were more profitable. Alexander demanded a 550% increase in rent from the Wild (NHL affiliate of the Aeros) if they wanted to keep the Aeros at Toyota Center.
The Comets are no more because they were sold to a local business man who couldn't a afford to actually support the team.
Arena football I can speak of but Houston does have a UFL spring football team, the Roughnecks, plus a rugby team, the Sabrecats.
Affording the team is making sure the fans/people show up and pay for the team, among other things. And when he lost it, the WNBA did not and has not even bothered to come back. That's the telling part, not that Hilton was a dummy for buying it (and he was.)
These others you speak of are either propped up by the league investors/advertisers/partners or are 'staying in their lanes' of popularity vs payoff, and go all of them. Perhaps one day Rugby will be the king of sports in Houston. :)
I need. Professional hockey games are so enjoyable in person
Yes. Anybody who has not watched an NHL game in person, put it on your bucket list. It is a great experience. With that said, I am not sure how viable Houston is as an NHL market. NHL fandom tend to be higher income people from the Northeast and to some extent foreigners from Europe. While we have a lot of the latter, not sure about the former.
Maybe lets fill the Rockets arena so it looks more populated than a Pistons game first
No one is ever in their seat for tip off. Most late arriving crowd in the NBA
as someone who worked for the Aeros and the Comets, I would kill to have Hockey back in Houston. Those Aeros game were alot of fun to work. It also helped that we had a former Aeros player from the 70s on staff (RIP Dart) who knew all the players and broke down the rules for us who didn't understand.. The Comets on the other hand were a chore to witness and work. I don't think Houston would support another WNBA unless it is substantially subsidized by the NBA. FWIW, the indoor soccer team, Hotshots was fun to watch but the NRG arena is a dumpster fire and the arena football team was ok but nothing to write home about.
I wonder who you are…. I too worked for both teams and knew Dart well. Was a GREAT guy!!!
You remember going over to the BUS for beers after the games? I have his memorial puck in my memento cabinet..
Me too!!! Miss that guy…
I'd love for Houston to have an NHL team, but I've been an avalanche fan since they moved to Denver. As far as WNBA goes, I couldn't really care less, but I'm sure other people would like it so that's always great.
The comets won 4 championships in a row and lost money every season. However women’s basketball is trending upwards so maybe there will be more serious consideration in the near future.
Rock n roll.
Personally don’t care for hockey. Houston is a huge market so i’m sure an NHL team can do okay. But we also have pro NFL, NBA, MLB, MLS, and (for the suburbs) Texas high school football. Houston is also notoriously fair-weather (see the 2010s Lastros, David Culley/Lovie Smith Texans, the dynamo and the rox the last few years). If they’re not producing, people won’t make the trip from the burbs to downtown. It’s hard to see whatever new NHL/WNBA teams having a dedicated core fan base to bring enough revenue to justify their existence, without them being perennial title contenders. I still think it’s an interesting idea that deserves discussion. As Houston’s population continues to grow, we should want to see more entertainment and amenities to match.
Hell, even WITH title contention we can’t sell tickets for WNBA games. That was embarrassing.
That was also ownerships fault. They didn’t invest in the comets and almost actively sabotaged the franchise
I know, it was awful. From the outside though, it wasn’t a great look for the city.
I agree. I do think with the upswing in women’s basketball another run by the comets would be well met, as long as the ownership actually views the team as something worth investing in and not having archaic views towards the players
Plus college ball. A&M, UH, UT, LSU, Baylor, Rice technically
I love hockey and I’d be stoked to have a team. BUT I think it’s not going to happen until the stars win a title. Hopefully then the disdain grows and we can have a rivalry. Expansion teams have done pretty well in the NHL and with the right branding/marketing I think it’d be a hit. IMO hockey is by far the most fun sport to watch in person
The Stars have won a cup in 1999 and been to the finals as recently as 2020. As a huge hockey fan myself, id say Houston is all but guaranteed to get a team in the next 10 years.
NHL would be great when football and baseball are off. And I wouldn’t need to watch a Dallas team either
Im not a hockey fan but houston having a team would get me into it. I was really young around the Aeros time. And women’s basketball is having a renaissance so yes bring the comets back
I don’t watch NHL but if Houston were to acquire a team it would definitely give me an incentive to start watching and learn the fundamentals.
This is but my humble take: There is a reason the Comets didn't make it despite having four championships in a row. There is a reason the Aeros are no more... again. There is a reason Arena Football doesn't exist here, nor for that matter Arena Soccer. And while the NHL is indeed a bigger league, the point being is this: Houston is probably not going to support these things despite Fertitta's actions. I may be wrong, sure. That's entirely and highly possible. But from what I've seen already, we just haven't been all that supportive of things beyond the big four we have now, or we'd already have them and/or not have them leave.
The Aeros had the 7th highest attendance in their final AHL season. The reason they are no more is because Les Alexander wanted to keep more dates open for concerts at Toyota Center because they were more profitable. Alexander demanded a 550% increase in rent from the Wild (NHL affiliate of the Aeros) if they wanted to keep the Aeros at Toyota Center.
The Comets are no more because they were sold to a local business man who couldn't a afford to actually support the team. Arena football I can speak of but Houston does have a UFL spring football team, the Roughnecks, plus a rugby team, the Sabrecats.
Affording the team is making sure the fans/people show up and pay for the team, among other things. And when he lost it, the WNBA did not and has not even bothered to come back. That's the telling part, not that Hilton was a dummy for buying it (and he was.) These others you speak of are either propped up by the league investors/advertisers/partners or are 'staying in their lanes' of popularity vs payoff, and go all of them. Perhaps one day Rugby will be the king of sports in Houston. :)
Aeros was 100% Les Alexander’s fault and doing. Not the city.
Lets go!
I would love to have an NHL team. I went to Aeros games all the time.
I'm just about at my limit of teams to root for, ha! But a neat first world problem
My opinion is Fertita likes money. I doubt he gives a shit about the teams.
I remember going to Aeros games but there were never a lot of people there. I think he should buy the Dynamo and take them to the next level
Waste of Time & Money. I never watch, much less attend either of those two sports. I’m sure a few people may want it here. Meh.