New York Islanders want out of Barclays Center

[AngeloV]

Alot of it is a New York thing. Nothing is bigger than the city. Everything gets lost in the New Yorkness. The Rangers are America's biggest NHL market but Bettman still has to sell the sport in the media. Actually Bettman talking hockey in New York reminds me alot of Cohon talking CFL in Toronto. Even Goodell has to sell the NFL in New York. He admitted a few yrs back that the Superbowl couldn't compete with New York City.
Yes, Its all about the Yankees, reminds me of the Leafs in TO in so many ways.
The Knicks are far more visable than any NHL team and they suck and have sucked forever. If the Knicks put together a serious run, the media and celebrities would go hog wild. Remember Jeremy Lin?

Yes, the reason I deferred to you was because when I speak to my work contacts in New York, they tell me the Rangers aren't exactly front page sports news there.

[Gill The Thrill]

Alot of it is a New York thing. Nothing is bigger than the city. Everything gets lost in the New Yorkness. The Rangers are America's biggest NHL market but Bettman still has to sell the sport in the media. Actually Bettman talking hockey in New York reminds me alot of Cohon talking CFL in Toronto. Even Goodell has to sell the NFL in New York. He admitted a few yrs back that the Superbowl couldn't compete with New York City.
Yes, Its all about the Yankees, reminds me of the Leafs in TO in so many ways.
The Knicks are far more visable than any NHL team and they suck and have sucked forever. If the Knicks put together a serious run, the media and celebrities would go hog wild. Remember Jeremy Lin?

Yes, the reason I deferred to you was because when I speak to my work contacts in New York, they tell me the Rangers aren't exactly front page sports news there.

I also remember when the Rangers and the Knicks were in the finals at the same time in 1994 and the Rangers were every bit as popular, even more so than Knicks. You could argue that College Basketball from the Big East days was more popular than the NBA in New York City. The NBA needs to use shoes, hip hop and Spike Lee sitting in the front row at MSG to market its league or they're not much better off than the NHL really. Both the Rangers and the Knicks depend on corporate tickets to suits that hang around Manhattan during weekdays. As a matter of fact, I'll say the attendance at Ranger games was probably better for most of their history when you consider that the Blues section, known for working class die hards were continually packed for decades to watch the Rangers. The NBA was known for papering attendance and not having filled buildings even to this day.