Mike Wickett

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I know a ton of hockey fans, but I played growing up and coached high school hockey for about 10 years. There's no way Milwaukee could support a team. It's all about the cost, you nailed it. I'd like to see a major junior team here in asmaller arena. I think that might work, but no way an NHL team works.

You can get a seat for $45.00 for a home game for the Blackhawks. Standing room is less than $30.00. I can't believe Milwaukee CAN'T support an NHL franchise. There have been sports teams sharing the same name in other cities: New York Giants, St. Louis Cardinals as examples. If you don't want to use Brewers, the Milwaukee Crew (as in Brew Crew).

i'd love to see it, but you're probably right about not getting enough fan support. i do think if they were to bring in a team, and it was succesfull early, they would draw well. i think wisconsin is one of if not the best supporting state of local sports teams. im not sure if it's because theirs not much else to do up here or what, but we love to sit around, drink beer, and scream for our home team. your right about the admirals. it's not a pro team, it's different. i love hockey, but i have a hard time really getting excited about the admirals. the good players get called up to nashville, and by the time the playoffs come around, nashville has called up our best players. i think a pro team would draw better. i hate the fact that chicago has a say in weather or not we get a team. i aslo hear the argument that they brought in exhibition hockey in the past, and it didnt draw well. im not sure who played in those games, but it's exhibition. nobody gets excited about exhibition. then i hear people tell me to root for the blackhawks. im sorry, i cannot root for any chicago team. you're probably right though, nhl in milwaukee is a pipe dream. if it ever does happen though, you'll be sure to find me in the stands with a jersey on, a beer in my hand, and screaming for the home team.

I like the blog Wickett. Weather or not we'll ever a see a pro team here in Milwaukee, I guess we'll see. I for one would love it. If it is ever to happen, we'll need more blogs like this. I think the first step is to get some chatter going about it. Maybe a little more talk on the radio. You and Chuck outta do a segment or two on the subject. A little bit of hockey talk here and there can only help. Keep up the good work Wickett!!

The Milwaukee Blades

The Blackhawks according to their website charge fiftyfour bucks for the least expensive ticket face value. This state loves the Green Bay Packers and everybody else has to win to get support.

Miller sponsered.....people would buy merchandise with will help fund towards the new arena. This would Start a new rivalry to the south. Another reason to buy a ticket.

Ok, maybe not the Milwaukee Coyotes, but it sounds like the Phoenix Coyotes may be looking for a new place to call home. Get on the phone Wickett. Figure out a way to get em up here.

To make it work, you have to market it as a team that represents the entire state and make a constant effort to developing a winning team. It's the reason the Brewers and Packers draw well and the Bucks.....well......don't.

The NHL will never allow a team in the Blackhawks "trading Zone" Old man Wirtz fought that idea like crazy claiming that the hawks drew fans from a :"regional Market" Wirtz may be gone but the barrier may remain...Oh BTW- who hasthe $$ to buy an expansion franchise?

Milwaukee had its chance to get NHL hockey when Lloyd Pettit was alive. There are cities in the U.S that would not be able to support NBA team, such as St. Louis, Buffalo, Nashville, or Pittsburgh. So, Milwaukee happens to be a town that would not support hockey as long as the Bucks are around. Heck, the local newspaper refuses to provide coverage for Wisconsin hockey, and that's a team that has won 6 NCAA title. Simply put, Minnesota, Michigan, and the greater Chicago area are hockey areas, while Wisconsin has always supported basketball more.

I'm a Hawks fan down here in the Chicago area and I think it would be awesome if the NHL came to Milwaukee...I think a rivalry would quickly develop between the two teams. As far as the Hawks claiming Milwaukee as a part of their regional market, well I'm sure Bill Wirtz did that back when the Hawks were struggling to fill the Chicago stadium back in the 90's-2000's. Now he is gone and after winning the Cup in 2010, hockey has never been more popular in Chicago. Point is...the Hawks don't NEED Milwaukee support to fill the United Center like in the past...every game is a sellout and there are more people who want to go to games but can't find tickets.

I agree it comes down to how much people like hockey. Remember, the Blackhawks ticket prices only got so high in recent years due to skyrocketing demand (that's what a successful team with a promising future will do). Prices match the demand, and a team starting out would have lower prices at first. But what if the games weren't at the Bradley Center but in a new stadium built in one of the western suburbs? Maybe they would draw more Madison fans on a regular basis? With two cities behind one team, maybe it could be successful?

An NHL team would suceed in Milwaukee but only IF the Bucks relocated. Milwaukee is currently saturated with basketball: Bucks, Warriors, Panthers...no wonder the Bucks play to a half empty BC. If the Bucks went to, say, Kansas City or somplace else, the timing would be right for an NHL team to relocate to Milwaukee. Folks, the Bucks haven't been popular, well, since Kareem Abdul Jabbar. The notion that there are no hockey fans in Wisconsin is a myth propagated by those who are not hockey fans themselves. Time to move "Forward" Wisconsin!

Hockey is booming in popularity in Wisconsin. Hockey fans develop with the blossoming youth programs and high school programs. more kids growing up playing hockey means more adult fans looking to watch. Wisconsin as a State is more likely to embrace aprofessional hockey team than they are an NBA team. If we could somehow work out a three way trade where the Coyotes or Panthers moved up here and the Bucks went to KC it would be a dream come true.

The Milwaukee Muskies

Milwaukee Maulers. Team mascot would be a polar bear.

Wisconsin's so close to an NHL Milwaukee Admirals team; they just need an owner and a willing state's worth of hockey fans to back and support it (in order to do that, the Ads should really start talking with FOX Sports Wisconsin to show off the games even more. The Bradley Center was originally opened for pro hockey back in '88 and it really only needs the standard renovations (seating, refacing, cleanup, etc.). Heck, they've even got the amazing new video scoreboard practically made for hockey itself. Should the Ads go up the ladder, the only Wisconsin hockey affiliate left will (and should) become the AHL team: the Green Bay Gamblers (USHL) at the Resch Center (if you've never been to one of their games, I highly recommend it). My Sconnie hockey mantra has been this lately: "Support the Admirals and the NHL will look to Wisconsin." Go to their games, follow them on their Facebook page, check out their YouTube channel, watch them on AHL Live or listen to them dish it out on Sportsradio 1250 WSSP's online broadcast. I know, I sound like I'm preaching, but the NHL is watching the AHL attendance within the newly realigned Midwest Division for opportunity and I say we give it to them. With the Peoria Rivermen moving out (along with the former parent St. Louis Blues still up for sale) In the end, Wisconsin will be complete with a team. Other than that, it'll be a cold day in hell when I follow the Fibhawks after the whole territorial royalty stint the pulled in the '90s. I'll stick to my Badgers, Gamblers (FASTHockey.com) Admirals (AHL Live) thank you very much.

If you actually watched U-Wisconsin play this year attendance was horrible, but yes I do agree that hockey is bigger in Madison then in Milwaukee (they did start off bad but were on fire late until losing to Mass-Lowell). The only thing I have to say is if Florida Panthers have a team, I don't know how Wisconsin could not have a team. I could really care less anyway as I am a huge Blackhawk fan and Wisconsin Badgers fan. Been watching the Hawks for 10 years and I would not turn my back on them if Milwaukee got a team.