The Seattle Kraken have added some famous names to their ownership group, adding Marshawn Lynch and Macklemore as minority investors. The two will “lead major Kraken and Climate Pledge Arena initiatives to connect with hockey fans, music lovers, and community members alike.” Though the on-ice results haven’t come yet for the expansion franchise, the ownership group, led by billionaire David Bonderman, have already established a strong connection to the Seattle area.
More from around the league:
- The New York Rangers have ruled Kaapo Kakko out on a week-to-week basis, following his injury against the Detroit Red Wings this weekend. The young forward had only recently returned from an upper-body injury that stole nearly three months of his season. In 41 games so far, Kakko has just 16 points, a career-low, despite averaging more ice time when he is in the lineup. Two of his seven goals came last week against the Philadelphia Flyers, suggesting he was back on the right track; he was injured the following game.
- The St. Louis Blues and Arizona Coyotes will play a preseason game in Witchita, Kansas next season, in the home of the ECHL’s Wichita Thunder. The two squads will do battle on September 24 in the 15,000-seat arena, giving a whole new fanbase a taste of NHL action. The full slate of preseason games will not be released until later this summer.
Testing out what kind of draw the Coyotes will have in that area, perhaps? Obviously the Blues will draw well, but still.
Also crazy to think that the Coyotes will then proceed to play their home games in an arena 1/3rd that size!
My thoughts exactly! They should also try Cincinnati. They have a great minor league hockey fan base there.
Phoenix has drawn about 11.5K fans this season on average and their new stadium apparently has a capacity of 16K. Unless they become good enough to draw about 50% more fans in the near future than they should be fine.
Their ‘new’ stadium will have a capacity of 5,000.
link to golfdigest.com
They’re basically praying that 5,000 drunk college kids will want to pay to watch hockey a few times a week, thinking that will somehow prove hockey is viable in that area.
Or, more likely, this plan is set up to fail as the ‘last real shot’ for this team there, and after it indeed does fail, they’ll move somewhere else.
Having a team in Columbus ensures that Ohio will never have more than one NHL team.
I don’t think St.Louis needs a new home but sure looks like Coyotes will probably land in Kansas…15000 seat arena compared to the downsized one they are moving in to….its funny can’t move them like to Quebec City right Mr.Bettman…