Saskatoon listed as front runner for Bakersfield Condors relocation
Photo credit: Kevin Jordan
An intriguing article has recently been published by the Saskatoon Star Phoenix which has sparked quite a bit of conversation in Oil Country - the relocation of the Bakersfield Condors.
It's no secret that there's quite a bit of political tension between the USA and Canada right now.
That said, the uncertainties surrounding the relationship between these two nations have sparked discussions among fans and media about relocating the Edmonton Oilers farm affiliate from Bakersfield to Saskatoon.
Saskatoon is a prime city for a hockey market
According to Kurt Leavins of the Edmonton Journal, At more than 300,000 people, the Paris of the Prairies is smaller than Bakersfield, a city of about 411,000. But Saskatoon's current arena, SaskTel Centre, with seating for about 15,000, can accommodate twice as many fans as the arenas in Kelowna and Red Deer and thousands more than the one in Bakersfield.
Plus Saskatoon is planning a $1.2-billion downtown entertainment district anchored by a new arena. So a new high-profile tenant would be more than embraced, even though the WHL's Saskatoon Blades would be far from thrilled.
As for attendance, there are no guarantees, but Saskatoon has proven itself a strong supporter of sports. Nobody predicted sellouts for the Saskatchewan Rush in a city with little history of lacrosse, but fans came out in droves, although the initial enthusiasm faded.
-Kurt Leavins
As for attendance, there are no guarantees, but Saskatoon has proven itself a strong supporter of sports. Nobody predicted sellouts for the Saskatchewan Rush in a city with little history of lacrosse, but fans came out in droves, although the initial enthusiasm faded.
-Kurt Leavins
Additionally, the NHL is no stranger to farm systems being relocated. Take Calgary for instance - back in 2022, the American Hockey League's board of governors approved the relocation of the Stockton Heat, the Calgary Flames' affiliate, allowing it to move its home base permanently from California to Calgary.
In terms of fan perspective, relocating the Condors to a city within striking distance of Edmonton makes total sense, and it would be a great way to reward the citizens of Saskatoon as well.
Will it happen? Time will tell.
