Florida Bailout: What an $80 Million Exit Would Buy

The reality is, they have one of the cushiest arena leases out there (and for 14 more years). So I've never put too much stock in the Panthers-to-this-city-or-that noise. But this recent article makes things a little more interesting.

The Ask, and the Adjective

The word "unsustainable" is doing real work here, and so is the $80 million buyout figure. My adjective shifted to "mostly" posturing, from "totally."

A New Owner With Options

I'm sure new owner Vincent Viola would totally take the taxpayers' money if it happens, but I also don't think it's far-fetched for him to move the team if he doesn't get an even more favorable agreement in Sunrise.

Where the Expansion Money Goes

Picture if you will, an NHL where the league finally admits they are ready to expand. Thanks to crazy money being talked about for a second GTA team, and, I'm sure somewhat crazy money for a return team for Quebec City, some 1-2 billion bucks are to be split between the 30 ownership groups. If Viola can negotiate down from the $80 million he'd have to pay Sunrise to leave, plus a bunch o' new money in his pocket, it's not too far-fetched that he'd do it.

Kansas City, Houston, Vegas or Seattle

Now in this scenario he could be the owner for the "we don't have an owner" but let's get the NHL in Vegas hullabaloo we've all heard. Or he could be the guy that finally hitches his wagon to Hansen and gets the MOU changed to allow hockey-first in the Seattle arena deal? Or perhaps he could just move over to existing NHL arenas in Kansas City or Houston. Whichever way, let's look at the maps that show this new NHL... just in time for the league's centennial celebration:

The Schedule, and the Caveats

• 48 games, home and home versus non-conference opponents
• 28 games, 2 home and 2 away versus conference-mates
• 6 games, an additional home and away versus one team in each of the other three conferences, rotating through all teams every eight years

Good Night

Caveats for all this: I'm tired and not good at math, so there might be something wrong in the above schedule... I have no insider info on the goings on of the NHL, the Panthers, or any other team... I'm just a guy with photoshop, wordpress, a nurse wife working an overnight tonight and a daughter that mercifully went to bed at a decent hour ... No need to call me an idiot in the comments, I already know this... don't take this seriously (hey, my name is Tom Fulery)... I don't wish any ill on the Panther fan base, losing a team must suck really badly (my friend and former Thrashers season-ticket holder, still isn't over it)... I used the "Toronto Legacy" logo from the now defunct torontolegacy.com site, I claim no rights to it (nor any of the other logos)... I stuck a scorpion in Las Vegas, just cuz.