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DOES ANYONE IN PHOENIX EVEN KNOW WHAT HOCKEY IS?
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kentona
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CloseIf you follow the NHL at all (read: Canadian), you might have noticed a slough of articles about Jim Balsillie's latest attempt to purchase an ailing NHL team and move it to southern Ontario.
Some background: Jim Basillie is the co-CEO of Research In Motion (RIM), makers of the BlackBerry, based in Waterloo, Ontario (that's in Canada). He's also a billionaire. This is his third attempt in as many years (I think) to purchase a financially strapped NHL team and move it to southern Ontario (most likely Hamilton). First it was the Pittsburg Penguins, and then the Nashville Predators. Both attempts were blocked through various legal means by the NHL and its commissioner Gary Bettman.
The Phoenix Coyotes were once the Winnipeg Jets, who moved from Winnipeg back in 1995. They didn't make the playoffs this year, and its current owner, Jerry Moyes, lost $100 million on the team in the past 3 or 4 years alone. The team is roughly $300 million in debt, and valued at roughly $144 million.
This current mess started last Tuesday (May 5th) when Moyes filed for Chapter 11 Bankrupty for the Coyotes franchise. Within hours, Basillie swept in and offered $212.5 million for the team on condition that he gets to move the team. Sounds like Win-Win right? A bankrupt team gets a wildly overvalued offer from a passionate billionaire. The teams stays afloat, the creditors are paid (mostly), and hockey-mad Canada gets a 7th team (while hockey-indifferent southern USA loses a team).
Wrong.
In comes NHL commish Gary Bettman to "save the day" from the evil Jimmy B once again! Almost immediately the NHL brass file that Moyes doesn't actually control the team (that he owns) - the league asserts that Moyes gave up control of the Coyotes when he was given $38 million to keep the franchise afloat back in November.
And, out of nowhere, apparently the owner of the Chicago Bulls has been in talks with the NHL about buying the Coyotes all along! There are even papers to prove it! Except that when the bankruptcy judge asked for those papers, the NHL filed an injunction saying that the judge can't look at them! I can't imagine why any business person would want to bail a team out of bankruptcy and operate them in a dead market after the organization has lost $100 million over the last four years, but what do I know?
The NHL Players Association (NHLPA) is all for the move from the money-losing desert to a market that cares about hockey.
Polls have most Canadians as "cautiously optimistic" about a 7th team, and there's even a website http://www.makeitseven.ca that people can sign up with.
If you started a brand new NHL club, where would you set up your team? In the middle of a desert or in the frozen tundra that is Canada? Even somewhere in the northeast USA has 10x more potential than Arizona. Hockey has traditionally been a local phenomenon, with high interest with the cities/states with a team, but flagging interests nationwide.
To add to the fun, there is another group of investors in Vancouver trying to purchase the Nashville Predators right now, and also move them to Hamilton. Or maybe Winnepeg. There have also been reports that a Russian oil tycoon trying to buy an NHL club and move it to Quebec.
But is it wrong for us to poo-poo Bettman's dream that the NHL might one day beat badminton in US national TV ratings?
Articles:
Basillie makes 212.5M bid
NHL says it controls Coyotes
NHL told to turn over offer documents
Canadians back bid for 7th Canadian team; poll
Balsillie's online petition hits 100K mark
NHLPA boss supports southern Ontario locale
Discuss.
Some background: Jim Basillie is the co-CEO of Research In Motion (RIM), makers of the BlackBerry, based in Waterloo, Ontario (that's in Canada). He's also a billionaire. This is his third attempt in as many years (I think) to purchase a financially strapped NHL team and move it to southern Ontario (most likely Hamilton). First it was the Pittsburg Penguins, and then the Nashville Predators. Both attempts were blocked through various legal means by the NHL and its commissioner Gary Bettman.
The Phoenix Coyotes were once the Winnipeg Jets, who moved from Winnipeg back in 1995. They didn't make the playoffs this year, and its current owner, Jerry Moyes, lost $100 million on the team in the past 3 or 4 years alone. The team is roughly $300 million in debt, and valued at roughly $144 million.
This current mess started last Tuesday (May 5th) when Moyes filed for Chapter 11 Bankrupty for the Coyotes franchise. Within hours, Basillie swept in and offered $212.5 million for the team on condition that he gets to move the team. Sounds like Win-Win right? A bankrupt team gets a wildly overvalued offer from a passionate billionaire. The teams stays afloat, the creditors are paid (mostly), and hockey-mad Canada gets a 7th team (while hockey-indifferent southern USA loses a team).
Wrong.
In comes NHL commish Gary Bettman to "save the day" from the evil Jimmy B once again! Almost immediately the NHL brass file that Moyes doesn't actually control the team (that he owns) - the league asserts that Moyes gave up control of the Coyotes when he was given $38 million to keep the franchise afloat back in November.
And, out of nowhere, apparently the owner of the Chicago Bulls has been in talks with the NHL about buying the Coyotes all along! There are even papers to prove it! Except that when the bankruptcy judge asked for those papers, the NHL filed an injunction saying that the judge can't look at them! I can't imagine why any business person would want to bail a team out of bankruptcy and operate them in a dead market after the organization has lost $100 million over the last four years, but what do I know?
The NHL Players Association (NHLPA) is all for the move from the money-losing desert to a market that cares about hockey.
Polls have most Canadians as "cautiously optimistic" about a 7th team, and there's even a website http://www.makeitseven.ca that people can sign up with.
If you started a brand new NHL club, where would you set up your team? In the middle of a desert or in the frozen tundra that is Canada? Even somewhere in the northeast USA has 10x more potential than Arizona. Hockey has traditionally been a local phenomenon, with high interest with the cities/states with a team, but flagging interests nationwide.
To add to the fun, there is another group of investors in Vancouver trying to purchase the Nashville Predators right now, and also move them to Hamilton. Or maybe Winnepeg. There have also been reports that a Russian oil tycoon trying to buy an NHL club and move it to Quebec.
But is it wrong for us to poo-poo Bettman's dream that the NHL might one day beat badminton in US national TV ratings?
Articles:
Basillie makes 212.5M bid
NHL says it controls Coyotes
NHL told to turn over offer documents
Canadians back bid for 7th Canadian team; poll
Balsillie's online petition hits 100K mark
NHLPA boss supports southern Ontario locale
Discuss.
Yoshio
774
That team should be moved to Canada
although speaking from experience the Dallas Stars have a strong cult following down here
but if the commish knew what he was doing then he'd allow failing hockey franchises to move north where fans might actually attend the games
its his loss, hopefully someone who is willing to admit that hockey will never make money in the southern markets (Dallas is a rare exception) will get that job real soon like
6 teams out of 30 aren't enough for a nation where hockey is the #1 sport
I also hope that judge cuts through the bullshit and demands to see those papers, you know, in order to prove that they actually exist, which I seriously doubt
Maybe this guy doesn't want a Mark Cuban on his hands (Mavs owner)
but what I REALLY want to see is for Hartford to get its frnachise back, but file that in the realm of "never going to happen" The Hurricanes are popular
that's why I hate Sidney Crosby. We were THIS close to stealing that team before that punk came in and made them good again
although speaking from experience the Dallas Stars have a strong cult following down here
but if the commish knew what he was doing then he'd allow failing hockey franchises to move north where fans might actually attend the games
its his loss, hopefully someone who is willing to admit that hockey will never make money in the southern markets (Dallas is a rare exception) will get that job real soon like
6 teams out of 30 aren't enough for a nation where hockey is the #1 sport
I also hope that judge cuts through the bullshit and demands to see those papers, you know, in order to prove that they actually exist, which I seriously doubt
Maybe this guy doesn't want a Mark Cuban on his hands (Mavs owner)
but what I REALLY want to see is for Hartford to get its frnachise back, but file that in the realm of "never going to happen" The Hurricanes are popular
that's why I hate Sidney Crosby. We were THIS close to stealing that team before that punk came in and made them good again
Shinan
4314
The KHL is the future. I think one NHL team should be in Mexico, so that it'd be a proper north american league. Or perhaps a Cuban NHL team.
Hurricanes are a bit of an exception. They are very well managed and put out a great product (plus their cheergirls are f***ing hot!).
I was watching the pre-game for the 'Canes-Bruins game, and was impressed by the parking lot BBQ parties they were showing. Very NFL-esque. It makes me optimistic about NHL catching on the the states in the long term.
I was watching the pre-game for the 'Canes-Bruins game, and was impressed by the parking lot BBQ parties they were showing. Very NFL-esque. It makes me optimistic about NHL catching on the the states in the long term.
We don't have hockey in New Zealand. Never even heard of NHL teams. The closest we get to hockey would be the NHL games from EA haha. I don't understand why they wouldn't allow that guy to buy the team in the long run though. Shit he's losing more then anyone here.. Oh and fans of the team if they go under.
Yoshio
774
that does little to comfort us Whalers fans!
yes the Canes are great and all, but the owner is a skunk.
Like I said, we aren't getting that franchise back, its running too strong where it is now
Canes and Stars are exceptions, there may be others but Phoenix isn't one of them. Get that team outta there, give it to the Canadians or give it to Hartford! Anywhere that would actually want it
yes the Canes are great and all, but the owner is a skunk.
Like I said, we aren't getting that franchise back, its running too strong where it is now
Canes and Stars are exceptions, there may be others but Phoenix isn't one of them. Get that team outta there, give it to the Canadians or give it to Hartford! Anywhere that would actually want it
I think the lol answer is no one in the middle of a desert cares about an ice sport. I think the real answer is the Coyotes have terrible management, haven't made the playoffs in years and the fans they did have gave up on them and now wear Suns jerseys.
Hockey can be successful anywhere, even in the desert. But they still have to be managed right! Lots of franchises are struggling right now in all sports. I chalk it up to higher ticket prices caused by mediocre players commanding high salaries.
Hockey can be successful anywhere, even in the desert. But they still have to be managed right! Lots of franchises are struggling right now in all sports. I chalk it up to higher ticket prices caused by mediocre players commanding high salaries.
I think they are called the Canucks.
and wow. Carolina just knocked off the east top seed Boston, in overtime.
and wow. Carolina just knocked off the east top seed Boston, in overtime.
Estrella
0
Bettman just doesn't like Ballsilie (s/p?). I can from a degree understand his excuse behind trying to deny the move, saying that he is protecting the markets. I live in Edmonton and with what the Oilers had going on with ownership issues.. I'm glad the team stayed here. But there's a big difference between Edmonton and Phoenix as a hockey market. Even the last few years, with the Oilers being garbage after making it to the Stanley Cup finals, everyone calls them a bunch of bums here but we still care. Do people in Phoenix really care?
An unsuccessful Canadian team will still have better support from its fanbase than an unsuccessful American team. There's enough teams as is right now so expansion shouldn't be the answer for bringing in another Canadian team.
I hope the Hurricanes can knock out the Penguins too, lol. I'm mad at them for knocking off the Capitals!
An unsuccessful Canadian team will still have better support from its fanbase than an unsuccessful American team. There's enough teams as is right now so expansion shouldn't be the answer for bringing in another Canadian team.
I hope the Hurricanes can knock out the Penguins too, lol. I'm mad at them for knocking off the Capitals!
I feel the same way about the Penguins! I know, as a Canadian, that I'm supposed to LOVE Sidney Crosby (otherwise I'm unpatriotic), but I really have a hard time doing so. The guy is just so wooden. He's like the Al Gore of hockey - he's really good at what he does, but about as charasmatic as a piece of furniture. Ovechkin is just so much more fun to watch. Still, Crosby is an awesome player.
Being from Regina, I don't really have a home team to root for, so I find myself just rooting for good hockey, with a soft spot for the underdog in any given contest. I'd have a tough time naming a favorite team right now. Except Detroit. I hate Detroit. I hate them even more than the Maple Leafs and Canadiens, if you can imagine.
Edmonton Oilers tagline: Hey, remember the '80s? We had a real good team in the '80s!
Being from Regina, I don't really have a home team to root for, so I find myself just rooting for good hockey, with a soft spot for the underdog in any given contest. I'd have a tough time naming a favorite team right now. Except Detroit. I hate Detroit. I hate them even more than the Maple Leafs and Canadiens, if you can imagine.
Edmonton Oilers tagline: Hey, remember the '80s? We had a real good team in the '80s!
Yoshio
774
author=kentona link=topic=3747.msg75235#msg75235 date=1242400353
I think they are called the Canucks.
and wow. Carolina just knocked off the east top seed Boston, in overtime.
ARRRGHHH! That could have been the CT Whalers in the conference finals!
Every time that team does good I think things like this, God help me if they win the cup again
Estrella
0
author=kentona link=topic=3747.msg75266#msg75266 date=1242417038
I feel the same way about the Penguins! I know, as a Canadian, that I'm supposed to LOVE Sidney Crosby (otherwise I'm unpatriotic), but I really have a hard time doing so. The guy is just so wooden. He's like the Al Gore of hockey - he's really good at what he does, but about as charasmatic as a piece of furniture. Ovechkin is just so much more fun to watch. Still, Crosby is an awesome player.
Being from Regina, I don't really have a home team to root for, so I find myself just rooting for good hockey, with a soft spot for the underdog in any given contest. I'd have a tough time naming a favorite team right now. Except Detroit. I hate Detroit. I hate them even more than the Maple Leafs and Canadiens, if you can imagine.
Edmonton Oilers tagline: Hey, remember the '80s? We had a real good team in the '80s!
That's exactly why I don't really like the Penguins too. They're a great team, they can make beautiful plays and.. they're just not that interesting. Screw Don Cherry (actually I like him) telling kids they shouldn't celebrate like Ovechkin does because that's not the Canadian way. On ice Crosby projects the image that hockey is his job, Ovechkin seems to treat it more like a game he loves. Still, I definitely respect Crosby's talent and work ethic and if I was a GM I'd totally want him on my team.
I used to feel the same way about the Redwings too, haha. My feelings towards them changed post lockout because I find how they're consistently so good with the salary cap in place very respectable. That said, I'm cheering for the Blackhawks. They're a great young team and it's great to see a franchise that has struggled for so long back in good shape.
So the Pittsburgh Crosbys have swept the 'Canes in 4 games and move on to the Stanley Cup finals again.
With Detroit on the verge of beating the 'Hawks, we might have a repeat of last year's final. I wonder when the last time that happened?
EDIT:
Why did I even bother asking? Sports writers love stats.
With Detroit on the verge of beating the 'Hawks, we might have a repeat of last year's final. I wonder when the last time that happened?
EDIT:
Why did I even bother asking? Sports writers love stats.
If Detroit moves on, it will mark the first rematch of Stanley Cup finalists in consecutive post-seasons since the Edmonton Oilers and the New York Islanders clashed in 1983 and 1984.
Estrella
0
Wow. With all the comparisons the Penguins have gotten since the year they first made it back into the playoffs to the old Oilers, it's abit eerie they have a chance to win their first Stanley Cup with a rematch against the team they lost to last year as the Oilers did the first time they won.
I can't stand Crosby. It's like the guy isn't even having fun out there, I'd rather see the Swede team win this one because let's face it: Detroit's sports teams as of late are about as competitive as a father showing his son a harsh basketball lesson in "Why Daddy's jumpshot ain't nothin' to fuck with".
