NHL Team/Franchise Discussion Thread

Qikdraw · Post by **Qikdraw** » Wed May 06, 2009 3:23 am

http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/vi ... p?t=545925

http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/ccustance.tsn/190920

With the NHL's statement I wonder if they'll try and block moving the team to Canada...

What are your thoughts???

BaerXIII · Post by **BaerXIII** » Wed May 06, 2009 6:01 am

There is no doubt in my mind that Bill Daly and Gary Bettman will do everything in their powers to keep another team coming to Canada. They would sooner but millions upon hundreds of millions of dollars into putting a team into a terrible market. Sooner to Puerto Rico then Hamilton or Quebec City.

Peterman5000 · Post by **Peterman5000** » Wed May 06, 2009 6:55 am

First off, it's Phoenix.

My first thoughts when learning about this situation(I am a resident of Arizona), was not of shock or sadness. The Coyotes made the worst mistake a team could make. They played for many years in downtown Phoenix, accessible to many of the diehard fans that the Coyotes HAVE actually retained over the last 10+ seasons. The teams fan base has and will always be in the eastern part of the Phoenix metro area. Phoenix and Scottsdale primarily. The new arena although state of the art with lots of parking is totally out of the way for the busy people of Phoenix. It takes way to long for people to drive to and with the crazy traffic in and around Phoenix, it was doomed.

The team should have stayed in Phoenix proper, until a new arena could be approved in Phoenix or the more affluent Scottsdale. Many people know that location is a huge factor in real estate but for a hockey team starving for attention, it has proven to be critical. My hope is the Jobbing.com arena is used for other sports and events and the Coyotes simply return to the center of the city so the fans can once again reclaim their franchise.

Post by **joehelmer** » Wed May 06, 2009 8:39 am

I wonder if this means that Kansas City is going to finally get their NHL-team.

Pittsburgh Penguins was close to have to move not too long ago, but the city of Pittsburgh built a new arena for them. So maybe now it's time for KC.

Qikdraw · Post by **Qikdraw** » Wed May 06, 2009 8:41 pm

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=421711

Bettman speaks...

Gary Bettman reiterated the League's commitment to keeping the Phoenix Coyotes in Glendale, Ariz.

I'm not sure thats a good idea. Why wasn't he so committed to keeping the Jets in Winnipeg for the same reasons he says he wants to keep it in Pheonix?

Post by **CeeBee** » Wed May 06, 2009 11:24 pm

Qikdraw wrote:http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=421711

Bettman speaks...

Gary Bettman reiterated the League's commitment to keeping the Phoenix Coyotes in Glendale, Ariz.

I'm not sure thats a good idea. Why wasn't he so committed to keeping the Jets in Winnipeg for the same reasons he says he wants to keep it in Pheonix?

Because he's an idiot?

Post by **getzlaf15** » Wed May 06, 2009 11:26 pm

Is there no way to get rid of Bettman? He's killing the sport we all love soo much. If the NHL was more popular. Maybe another EHM could be made!!!

Post by **joehelmer** » Wed May 06, 2009 11:40 pm

That statement from Bettman shows even more that he wants the NHL-teams to be in the same place as NBA, NFL and MLB teams. Even though those markets isn't suitable for hockey, when will he realise that the Coyotes is in the desert?!

I vote for this thread to be moved to The Bettman-Avery thread.

Pax25 · Post by **Pax25** » Thu May 07, 2009 12:14 am

joehelmer wrote:I wonder if this means that Kansas City is going to finally get their NHL-team.

Pittsburgh Penguins was close to have to move not too long ago, but the city of Pittsburgh built a new arena for them. So maybe now it's time for KC.

Didn't you guys already have the old Kansas City Scouts? Whatever happened to them?

leafsnation · Post by **leafsnation** » Thu May 07, 2009 1:06 am

Pax25 wrote:
joehelmer wrote:I wonder if this means that Kansas City is going to finally get their NHL-team.

Pittsburgh Penguins was close to have to move not too long ago, but the city of Pittsburgh built a new arena for them. So maybe now it's time for KC.
Didn't you guys already have the old Kansas City Scouts? Whatever happened to them?

The moved to Denver and became the Rockies...then to Jersey and became the Devils...were called Mickey Mouse by Gretzky...and WON THE STANLEY CUP!!

BaerXIII · Post by **BaerXIII** » Fri May 08, 2009 1:34 am

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=421867

I just read this on NHL.com and there's one quote that really stood out to me.

"In the final analysis, what we do is all about, really, our fans," Bettman said. "Our fans play an essential role in all the decisions that we make. You support our clubs and we have a commitment to you. We don't run out on our fans when issues arise with our clubs. We fix the problems. Our track record of fixing clubs is pretty strong. The Pittsburgh Penguins are a good example of this and now they are thriving. Over the years, there have been others, in Buffalo, Ottawa and at least two other Canadian teams."

First of all I doubt he knows any other Canadian team then Ottawa.

Second if it's really about the fans how come in Canada we couldn't get the Devils-Canes matches, wouldn't Winnipeg and Quebec still be in the league?, why are ticket prices so high.

And lastly you we're ready to move Pittsburgh to Vegas or Kansas but they got lucky and we're able to re-rent Mellon arena.

Bettman is a joke.

Hypnotist · Post by **Hypnotist** » Fri May 08, 2009 2:39 am

BaerXIII wrote:http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=421867

I just read this on NHL.com and there's one quote that really stood out to me.

"In the final analysis, what we do is all about, really, our fans," Bettman said. "Our fans play an essential role in all the decisions that we make. You support our clubs and we have a commitment to you. We don't run out on our fans when issues arise with our clubs. We fix the problems. Our track record of fixing clubs is pretty strong. The Pittsburgh Penguins are a good example of this and now they are thriving. Over the years, there have been others, in Buffalo, Ottawa and at least two other Canadian teams."

First of all I doubt he knows any other Canadian team then Ottawa.

Second if it's really about the fans how come in Canada we couldn't get the Devils-Canes matches, wouldn't Winnipeg and Quebec still be in the league?, why are ticket prices so high.

And lastly you we're ready to move Pittsburgh to Vegas or Kansas but they got lucky and we're able to re-rent Mellon arena.

Bettman is a joke.

As much as we may all agree on your opinion, Buttman serves at the whim of the owners/governors. As long as the majority of those people are happy with him and his policies, he'll stay. Sad, but true.

Post by **Shadd666** » Fri May 08, 2009 2:46 pm

If Bettman cares so much about the fans, then it's time for the fans to express themselves. As soon as he announced his offer to buy the Yotes, Balsillie had a website to receive support from the fans to move the Yotes to Southern Ontario. The site is MakeItSeven.ca and received over 65.000 registrations in its first 24 hours of existence (including mine).

Of course, it won't have any real impact on this affair, but it should be fun to see how many supports Balsillie can get from there, and then see how much Bettman cares about the fans.

I guess we all know the answer though...

Post by **joehelmer** » Fri May 08, 2009 2:47 pm

I've now signed up.

Post by **CeeBee** » Fri May 08, 2009 3:20 pm

Shadd666 wrote:
I guess we all know the answer though...

Sad but true. Even if the court rules that the Phoenix owner is still in control of the team the NHL WILL find some way to block the deal. It's obvious Buttman hates Balsilie and as long as he's alive Jim will NEVER be a part of the NHL...

Post by **Shadd666** » Sat May 09, 2009 9:30 pm

Depends... If the court states the franchise MUST move to have any chance to be viable financially and forces the league to take the best offer for a relocation, Butthead is done and will have no other choice than accepting Balsillie's offer.

Post by **B. Stinson** » Mon May 11, 2009 3:06 am

I hope everything stays the way it is.

Then when it all inevitably fails, crashes, then burns: everyone, not just hockey fans, will know what a complete idiot Gary Bettman is. And 300 million-trillion people around the world will simultaneously point and laugh at him... leading to history's first ever confirmed death-by-'realization-of-own-stupidity'.

That would be highly entertaining. Much better than seeing him standing all alone at center ice being booed by some 21,000 fans at the 2009 All-Star Game.

bruins72 · Post by **bruins72** » Mon May 11, 2009 4:31 am

Hate Bettman much?

Qikdraw · Post by **Qikdraw** » Sun May 17, 2009 12:14 am

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=422803&intcmpid=tckr

The Commissioner said he anticipates that some people "will point to Winnipeg and Quebec City" to dispute his statements, but noted that in both of those cases there was no prospect of a new building and "we couldn't find anybody who wanted to own the teams there."

Bettman is

.

Winnipeg did have a buyer (in Winnipeg), in fact people donated money to save the team. Not just fans, but I worked with a lady who gave $100 to help buy the team and she hated hockey. There was heated talks about a new stadium, but that could have been ironed out if the owner and Bettman wanted it to.

I just got off the phone with my mother, who still lives in Winnipeg, and she's still widdled at Bettman. Winnipeg wants another NHL team, but somehow I doubt that will happen.

bossman · Post by **bossman** » Sun May 17, 2009 8:22 pm

Now the idiot (and his stooge, the fat man himself, Bill Daly) has stated a while back that he would prefer a team to go back to Winnipeg if a team returned to Canada.

What a crock of Adam Oates. He is saying this now so that people might not want a team in Hamilton or it will split allegiances to either city. Also, it might halt some of the support for Balsillie. At least this is Bettman's plan.

The fact that he wants the franchise to continue to lose money rather than make the franchise (and the league itself) stronger points to the fact that this is a personality clash and nothing more. If I was a creditor I would be widdled right off if Balsillie's bid (which, by my estimation, is about $80 million more than the next highest bid) wasn't accepted.

And to top it off, now Bettman is throwing scheduling problems at him. Give me a break. As soon as thing is done, the schedule could be changed very quickly. And it's not like the arenas won't have a certain amount of nights per week set aside for hockey purposes anyway.

MOD NOTE: We do NOT allow talk like this here at TBL. I've edited the offending text out of the post. - B72

Post by **timmy_t** » Sun May 17, 2009 11:33 pm

I don't like your closing comment bit: you shouldn't make post's like this...

"So, in conclusion, hopefully Balsillie gets his team (and moved to Canada) and Bettman takes xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx "

Poor form man

Qikdraw · Post by **Qikdraw** » Sun May 17, 2009 11:36 pm

I did some digging around about Bettman and moving Phoenix to Winnipeg.

http://www.thestar.com/article/635571

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinio ... 49047.html

One of the things mentioned is while Wpg could probably be able to handle a team again (financially), where is a buyer willing to move the team to Wpg? I'd love to see it happen, hell I'd even move back to Wpg and buy season tickets, but I highly doubt its ever gonna happen.

Post by **getzlaf15** » Mon May 18, 2009 12:44 am

Qikdraw wrote:I did some digging around about Bettman and moving Phoenix to Winnipeg.

http://www.thestar.com/article/635571

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinio ... 49047.html

One of the things mentioned is while Wpg could probably be able to handle a team again (financially), where is a buyer willing to move the team to Wpg? I'd love to see it happen, hell I'd even move back to Wpg and buy season tickets, but I highly doubt its ever gonna happen.

I can't remember where i saw it but Winnipeg doesn't have an adequate arena for an NHL team does it? Whether it be too small capacity wise or not up to date with regards to the facilities there? I may be totally wrong about this but i'm sure i've seen it someone.

Anyone confirm or shut me up on this one?

Qikdraw · Post by **Qikdraw** » Mon May 18, 2009 4:03 am

getzlaf15 wrote:I can't remember where i saw it but Winnipeg doesn't have an adequate arena for an NHL team does it? Whether it be too small capacity wise or not up to date with regards to the facilities there? I may be totally wrong about this but i'm sure i've seen it someone. Anyone confirm or shut me up on this one?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MTS_Centre

MTS Centre, opened 2004, can seat 15,015 for hockey. Several thousand less than current NHL arenas, so if Wpg did get a team they would have the smallest arena. However, you'd probably sell out almost every game for, at least, the first season. If Wpg could seat 13-14k fans a night it would work. It would just suck for playoffs, if they ever got there.

*edit* This from the wiki site...

A 2008 survey was made by the Pollstar Magazine. Through the first nine months of this year, the MTS Centre has sold 270,095 tickets. These ticket sales include only non-sporting events and do not include hockey games. It is now the 19th busiest arena in the world. Also the arena now sits 11th among facilities in North America, its highest ranking ever, and it remains in the 3rd spot in Canada, after the Bell Centre in Montreal (fourth overall) and the Air Canada Centre in Toronto (third overall).

The MTS Centre is usually seen as much too small and would require a significant increase to the seating capacity and significant cost. Its current capacity is 15,015 and the potential ownership including Manitoba Moose owner Mark Chipman has stated that it is in fact not too small, it would create a supply and demand situation. It could also be renovated. Talks were sparked when Commissioner Gary Bettman stated "Under the current CBA..I think an NHL franchise could work in Winnipeg".

Qikdraw · Post by **Qikdraw** » Tue May 19, 2009 11:32 pm

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=423259&intcmpid=tckr

No ruling today in Coyotes bankruptcy hearing

PHOENIX -- The hearing related to the Phoenix Coyotes in a U.S. Bankruptcy hearing is under way here.

But there won't be a decision Tuesday, according to Judge Redfield T. Baum.

"To save the suspense I'm not going to rule from the bench today," Baum told the court.

Baum is presiding over a crammed courtroom and will ultimately determine if Coyotes majority owner Jerry Moyes has the right to put the NHL team into Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

The league has argued in court documents that Moyes gave up control of the team in a proxy agreement he signed in November after getting a cash advance from the NHL to help keep the Coyotes afloat.

Moyes says he never gave up control of the team and argues that he has a right to place it into bankruptcy, opening the door for Jim Balsillie's bid to buy the team and move it to Hamilton, Ontario.

A couple reporters are twittering the stuff going on... http://twitter.com/kmcgran http://twitter.com/damospin

http://www.thestar.com/searchresults?As ... &q=phoenix bankruptcy&r=all:1

List of stories from The Star on the whole deal.

NHL Team/Franchise Discussion Thread

NHL Team/Franchise Discussion Thread

Bettman talking in circles