KANSAS CITY, HERE WE (DON’T) COME
Breaking the news gently to Michael Coleman
Small world. Sportscaster Michael Coleman, recently with News 12 for six years, starts a new job at the CBS affiliate in Kansas City. The NBC station in KC, off a mention in Newsday, makes the leap the Islanders are moving there and plays it up big. Mike called to invite me on his newscast last night. I told him in advance I didn’t have good news for Kansas City. He had me on anyway. Here’s the clip. Comments.
42 Responses to KANSAS CITY, HERE WE (DON’T) COME
Breaking the news gently to Michael Coleman
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Andy says:
Well that took the wind out of their sails, hah! Although I do hope KC gets a team… would be nice to have KC cs. St.L to grow some hockey in that region.
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a REAL hockey fan says:
.. I as well as most Isles fans just wish this damn thing was resolved ASAP, wake up politicians ASAP, Long Island needs a jumpstart and taxes/jobs!
.. Its a story that will have a pulse and breath from time to time until its laid to rest for sure! That means getting your azz in gear Wang, Murray, Mangino and everyone involved!
.. Just a headsup CB the link was running a lil slow and kicked me off 2X, just a headsup
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Mitch says:
I thought the interview was solid and I like that you made a point to say “hey Im just gonna tell you like it is”..Kind of odd there was so much name dropping of Nassau officials that people in KC likely tuned out from. But overall its good you made reference to the Whalers to get the analogy in.
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Mike R. says:
K.C. does not deserve a team. Please let’s not put another team in a non hockey market. Do you think three thousand people would show up for a July scrimmage in K.C.? It’s nobodys fault that they built an arena there without a team.
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Oye Comeau Va says:
Nicely done. Botta Coast-to-coast. First on the radio in Tor, then via phone in KC. Hopefully one day you’ll be making all these appearances talking about an Islanders championship instead of a mess of an arena situation.
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John says:
Kansas City had hockey once and it failed. Just like Atlanta had hockey, they have another team there now and it’s not doing so hot again. The leagues been there and done that… in non hockey markets with bad fan support and if they are going to go that route they should look to Winnipeg and Quebec… where the problem wasn’t attendance, but corporate support.
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sean says:
NHL would not let them leave new York
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Optimo says:
You don’t take your business from one of the largest markets in the world, and move it to Kansas City….. or pretty much anywhere else for that matter. It’s just not smart business, people are letting go of this obvious fact while they grasp at straws.
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Darren Ingersoll says:
The NHL dos not want to move a team out of the NY Media market for KC. Not going to happen. No offence KC.
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Ari says:
NY teams don’t move to Kansas City. What’s next, should we honor the Boss and have the Yanks replace the Royals?
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Russel Ginart says:
I do not the NHL will be consider KC for a new expansion team. This was tried before with the Scouts and it did not work. Before KC can be even remotly considered there are markets in Canada that come first such as Quebec. IMO.
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hyedray says:
Solid presentation C.B.
I agree that too many good options exist for Wang locally for there to be talk of relocating to K.C., Quebec, Hamilton, Vegas or any other place.
Queen’s should be at the top of every Isles fan list at this point. It is for me. I am tired of the Hooples of Hempstead and just as tired of the Nassau Naysayers…
We need a fresh approach, and I think Queens has it.
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Themass says:
More people came out to see a PROSPECT scrimmage last week than to see us play the Kings in KC last September. That should say something.
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I hope Wang makes a lot of money on any deal, so he can put money into this team, if he does not make money, we will be perennial losers. I believe he really does care about this team, but not at the expense of his family. So Charles, PLEASE, you need to start thinking about the team and the thousands and thousands of fans that took many days off from work to support you, and do what is best for them. Either spend money, or sell them to someone who has money to invest in a very promising young core of players, and will keep the team local (N.Y area). The TOH will always play games under their current appointments. Seriously think Queens, Suffolk, or Brooklyn. Let’s make the fans proud again. To quote George Stienbrener, Winning is the most important thing to me, next to breathing.” I want the Yankee fan to always be proud”. And that’s why, my friends, the Yankees are the most successful team in pro-sports.
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KO21 says:
I hope you’re right Chris
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JD says:
I hope KC gets a hockey team but just not ours. I know it has little chance of happening but I hope before the next season starts we have some positive (local) news on our future. Wishful thinking on my part.
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Chris G says:
You sound that all very well. Hopefully all goes well. I once more, don’t mind about it moving out of Hemp to Nassau or even by CitiField
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Michael says:
No wonder that clown worked at Ch12 for 6 years. Great job Chris that made that guy look like a fool.
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Eric says:
KC Lol what a crap town! Missouri does not need 2 teams and they will NEVER get an nhl team. They dont have the market or liking for hockey. The league will not keep making the same mistakes. I am sure they regret going back to Atlanta. Not sure why colorado moved in the first place, thats a good market. Nashville, atlanta, phoenix not so much. Florida supports there teams when they win.
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JT-27 says:
Nice job in shooting down any KC angle while still remaining cordial and friendly. There is a fine line there but Chris you handled it well.
As for the rest, same old/same old. Casino and 24/7 traffic ain’t ever happening. Either a compromise between the respective Wang/Murray proposals is reached, or they head to another local venue.
Wilpon must be an overwhelming favorite for the winning bid over Willets Point, but let’s see if he moves fast enough. Otherwise all attention will be on Brooklyn where arena construction has begun.
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TM says:
I went to Kansas City on a Friday
By Saturday I learned a thing or two
But up ’till then I didn’t have an idea
Of what the mod’rn world was comin’ to.
I counted twenty gas buggies goin’ by theirselves
Almost every time I took a walk
An’ then I put my ear to a bell telephone
An’ a strange woman started into talk.
What next! What next?Everything’s up to date in Kansas City
They gone about as fer as they can go
They went an’ built a skyscraper seven stories high
About as high as a buildin’ orta grow.
Everything’s like a dream in Kansas City
It’s better than a magic lantern show.
You can turn the radiator on whenever you want some heat
With every kind of comfort every house is all complete.
You could walk the privees in the rain and never wet your feet!
They’ve gone about as fer as they can go.
They’ve gone about as fer as they can go!Everything’s up to date in Kansas City
They’ve gone about as fer as they can go
They got a big theatre they call a burleque
For fifty cents you could see a dandy show!
One of the gals is fat and pink and pretty
As round above as she was round below
I could swear that she was padded from her shoulder to her heel
But then she started dancin’ and her dancin’ made me feel
That every single thing she had was absolutely real!
She went about as fer as she could go
Yes, Sir! She went about as fer as she could go! -
Isle Be Damned says:
Why become the KC Drylanders when you can stay in the largest media market in the world in nearby NYC?
Oh and I hope KC doesn’t get an NHL franchise (unless someone else moves). There’s far too many teams as it is.
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gary9-19-22 says:
With all the craziness why/how could anyone rule out anything?
I refuse to beleive anything until it happens… still 9 mil under the cap… why dont we sign someone…
Who knows… maybe Wang lets another rumor bubble up (i.e. KC) so he gets some real movement on the LH/Wangwoods/Shin-e-Wang Casinos/Wangata/Wangboat/Wangicana/Wangaggio
Lets start a big box pool with every possible location the Isles might land or Vegas can take odds… my money is on Queeens
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There are these KC fans who are arguing that its gonna happen, that we are just not facing it. I actually feel bad for them- because theres no way this team is going there, but they hold on to the hopeless dream, anyway.
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Brian says:
KC is a cow town and a crappy hockey market, they couldnt even sellout a game with free tickets. Nothing has changed since they’ve had the Scouts other than a new arena.
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StevieL says:
It can’t be fun to be a hockey fan in KC! Sounds like they are on the same emotional roller coaster that we are, except they are the bizarro world (remember Seinfeld?) They have a new arena and no team, we have a team and no new home! CB i loved the no sugar coat, telling it like it is. Cosell would have been proud!!
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Nick says:
Well done CB…Boy do we all hope you’re right!
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Dinerboss says:
The isles are not moving to KC,for one reason is they have the most lucrative TV contact I think like 16 or so million a year,there’s no way they can make anything close to that there.I think that’s one reason the league won’t let the isles move.to big of a market to much moneyfrom TV.Wont look good for the NHL,to have a team relocate.
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Jim Clark says: I don’t think Kansas City has the market size or interest to support an NHL team. The Scouts flopped horribly in the mid 70s but they were also a weak team in an era of the NHL-WHA war, a weak economy in the Midwest and poor ownership. But it’s a shame they have an arena and no team. But if there is going to be any relocation or expansion, do it north of the 49th parallel.
Are any NHL teams playing an exhibition games there this year just to see how they will draw? -
Brian says:
Eric said:
“Florida supports there (sp) teams when they win.”
Just like the Islanders so be careful what you say.
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27Tonelli says:
After the Dodgers and Giants left NY, anything is possible ! Don’t let it happen again ! Come on move to Queens already, we need to get rid of all those junkyards in Willets Point ! Forget Long Island, politicians are always playing games out there ! In 5 years we will all be rooting for the N.Y. Dragons (formerly known as the Islanders) !
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Matt says:
CB – Good for you. Its nice to see responsible reporting. A lot of media today is completely irresponsible and will report anything for ratings.
Great job!
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AJAX says:
#30 – Please tell me the EXACT offer you speak of. When I tried looking into when it ended, all I could dig up was that there was a “signed” offer that extended the deal. Signed by John Spano.
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rick says:
As a long time Islander fan, i find it absolutely disgusting that we have a kansas city news station talking about moving one of the most successful sports franchises to a non-hockey town. CB thanks for shutting them up(In a respectful way of course).
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orngfan says:
i can say pretty confidently that NO nhl team will ever move to kansas city.
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19 Isle in NJ 22 says:
CB – I’ve never heard Charles mention Kansas City or imply Kansas City is a viable option once. I’ve never seen it in print, or seen it in the media. Almost all of the KC talk with the Isles was speculated on by various media outlets. I’m not saying that Charles didn’t use the KC factor during exhibition to force the TOH’s hand … Big Fail BTW. I’m just saying that Charles has never implied a move to KC … or any other place. Infact he’s never stated a desire to move to Queens … He’s always said … He’s weighing his options, adding that his primary interest is to remain in Uniondale.
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Do you truely believe KC deserves an NHL team? Have you ever been to that city? I’m not knocking KC … I’ve been there …Their ribs and steaks are dynamite, friendly fun loving people and they know their sports. Mostly Basketball, Footbal and baseball. Hey. I even attended a Royals game … place was half full… and Royals were above .500.
KC and its satellite cities of Independence, Lawrence and KC, Kansas are sleepy cities. I’m not kidding either, but in the downtown area … restaurants close after 5pm. Try going anywhere other than a bar after 8pm. I had to drive out of the downtown area to grab a burger after a seminar let out at 5:30.
Maybe a lot has changed in the last 10 years … who knows… But KC is not a major league city by any stretch of the imagination. It’s a river town with a 15 x 15 block downtown area … then its all local industry and houses. I don’t think it’s a strecth to say that the TOH by itself is more populated than KC. Last I heard Staten Island had a bigger population with 490K plus people. I know TOH has more. Then when you incorporate the entire county of Nassau by itself it has to blow away KC.
OK … no more KC debates.
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Nobody says:
Hey all, PLEASE get some facts straight…1. Queens would have WAY fewer obstacles (not starting from scratch) because the arena would inevitably be built on Wilpon property (where Shea was) not requiring new zoning approval ADJACENT to the Willits Point development, which would be instantly more valuable. The big question is do the Wilpons win the development rights. If yes, we’re probably in business, if no, not so much. 2. WE ARE NOT 9 mil under the cap. Please check out capgeek….after weight and moulson are signed we will be at around 41 mil, about 2 mil under the cap.
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Isle fan in NJ:
I’ve never been to KC but have recently started traveling to other parts of the Midwest. Can’t believe how small all of these cities are. Can’t believe how early they shut down too. Each place I’ve been to (Clev, Det, Mil, Min) practically becomes a ghost town after working hours. They each made Hoboken seem hopping!
That said, it’s not market size which keeps the Isles in NY, it’s that tasty chunk of Cablevision cash. $20M/year will not be found in KC!
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Isles Fan says:
Sad thing is this is the sports headline of the day in KC and this topic doesn’t even make the news on the NY stations other than channel 12 or the newspapers other than Newsday.
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Orange&Blue says:
CB, we all appreciate you shooting down that story before it gained any momentum. We are all sick and tired of hearing it from people, especially Ranger fans.
Why anyone would think that the NHL would move a franchise out of Long Island is beyond me. Atlanta, Florida, and Phoenix are much better targets.
So sick and tired of this KC none sense. Isles are were they belong. Proud to be an Islanders fan.