Those are great points and, I believe, why it's been so successful.
But Jeff Hamilton was making the point the other day, that a WHL team could add a lot of local talent and really cut into the Moose market. He made a compelling case of how much cheaper it will be (cheaper tickets, cheaper parking, cheaper concessions), while still providing an exciting, fun experience for all ages of hockey fans.
I'm buying into his theory that this pushes the AHL out of the market, as a more affordable option for families.