It got two shots at big-time hockey. In six short years, the franchise has had two coaches, two arenas and two Stanley Cups. Fans who six years ago didn't know a blue line from blue sky plunk down hundreds of dollars for authentic Avalanche jerseys. Not a shabby existence for those nouveau rich fans considering Toronto and Montreal, the real hotbeds of hockey, haven't had a sniff of a championship lately. New Jersey has played for three Cups in the past seven seasons and can't sell out its building on a consistent basis.
Hockey is in right now in Denver but stay tuned.
Sooner or later, Colorado will have to face the same realities as its NHL brothers. The Avs can't win forever, not at their current level. In the past eight years, Denver has imported hockey, acquired major-league baseball, won two Super Bowls and built a new football stadium. Those aren't exactly indicators of an economic slowdown. In fact, Denver got the Avalanche-Nordiques because the old Quebec owners couldn't afford to stay in business.