Does the triumph of the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Stanley Cup Finals mean that the future of hockey is bright in the Sunshine State? Consider what's happened to hockey in the last few years in other warm weather cities:
Anaheim supposedly proved that hockey works in California last spring, when the Mighty Ducks came within a Game 7 of the Cup. This March the Ducks had an announced crowd of 12,747 (capacity 17,174) for a rematch of the conference finals with the Wild. A scan of the crowd suggested more empty seats than occupied.
Just Tuesday, Anaheim General Manager Bryan Murray bolted the Ducks to become head coach in Ottawa. In parting, he said, "I wanted to come back to a hockey country where hockey meant something."
Carolina supposedly proved that hockey works in the South in 2002, when the Hurricanes advanced to the Cup finals. This season, they drew fewer than 10,000 fans to 25 percent of their home games. Attendance bottomed out on Jan. 25, when 7,596 showed up to see the Buffalo Sabres.
I would love to believe that winning the Cup will bring success and security to the Lightning franchise for years to come. But I don't have much confidence that two years down the road Tampa won't be in the same boat as Carolina and Anaheim, with sagging attendance and little interest in the team.
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