HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS EXCEPT IN GLENDALE
What is the deal with Gary Bettman and The NHL? Just a few short weeks ago its was announced by Gary Bettman (NHL Commissioner) and the NHL that although at this time they were not expanding the league that Southern Ontario could support another team in the market. That being said on May the 5th Jerry Moyes, owner of The Phoenix Coyotes declared Chapter 11 for the team which in layman's terms is basically protection from bankruptcy for the ownership group.
Now it should be known that this team has lost in excess of $100 million over the last 4 years and Mr Moyes has decided he wants out. Does this make him a bad man? Well that is something to be decided at a later date. Mr Moyes I would like to think sat down with all his partners and his Board and they made a decision to fold up the tents as they say and declare bankruptcy. now Mr Bettman says that they did not have the right to do so and that is a matter that will be decided on on the 19th.
So Mr Moyes fills out the paper work and files it with the courts in Phoenix. At some point aconversation was launched with Jim Balsille in regards to purchasing the team. Mr Balsille, Co-CEO of Research in Motion or RIM then made an offer of $212 million which included $17 million which would hold up the club while the transfer went through.
The catch to this deal is that Mr Balsille wants to move the team to the afore mentioned Southern Ontario area (Copps Coliseum in Hamilton for a time TBD). This bid would solve two problems in one deal.
1) Satisfying the creditors who have backed the Coyotes and stand to lose money by backing a team that is not being supported by the community and
2) Bringing a team to a location where the fans have been starving for an NHL franchise since 1925 when the Hamilton Tigers were sold to a group to become the New York Rangers.
Now Mr Balsille is not just blowing smoke but there are stats to back him up. If you will
1) During the expansion in which a franchise was awarded to Ottawa, Ron Foxcroft held a campaign in which Hamiltonians paid a deposit to purchase seasons tickets for the new team if it was awarded. The seats were sold out in a matter of days.
2) There are over 7,000,000 people in the area in question and only two choices for a hockey starved community (Toronto and Buffalo)
3) Mr Balsille set up an online petition at www.makeitseven.ca and in less than a week has 100,000 people who have signed up from all over the area plus North America.
So Mr Balsille has offered to save the team only to be stonewalled by Mr Bettman. Mr Balsille has on two previous occasions offered to buy a team (Pittsburgh in 2006 and Nashville in 2008) only to be told that he could not move the team on the first occasion and Mr Bettman found a buyer willing to keep the team in Nashville in spite of the fan base. Now it is true folding or moving a franchise should be the last thing an owner wants to do and in the two previous cities that has worked out with both teams doing ok.
now in this case the situation is much different than the others because you have a franchise that has not drawn a profit since it was started in the late 90's and the team is now bankrupt. You have a man who's only mistake was making the announcement that he wanted the team on the condition that he be able to move the team upon purchase, and a commissioner who is stating that he is a rebel and aman who thinks he is above the league. Now I don't profess to have knowlege of a personal conflict between these two people and although I do not know Mr Balsille I get the feeling he knows there is a procedure that must take place he is just expressing his desire to save a dying franchiseand make it viable.
My only wish is is that Mr Bettman and Mr Balsille would stop talking to us and talk to each other and make the necessary steps to resolve this situation as this not only impacts two cities but also the players, coaches, scouts etc. With the draft coming in just over a month this needs to be solved as Copps will need renovations and players etc will need to know what plans to make for the coming season. Mr Bettman I implore you please let this deal go through and allow Mr Balslle to make the next step which is to make a pitch to the league govenors and let them decide what is best.
What is the deal with Gary Bettman and The NHL? Just a few short weeks ago its was announced by Gary Bettman (NHL Commissioner) and the NHL that although at this time they were not expanding the league that Southern Ontario could support another team in the market. That being said on May the 5th Jerry Moyes, owner of The Phoenix Coyotes declared Chapter 11 for the team which in layman's terms is basically protection from bankruptcy for the ownership group.
Now it should be known that this team has lost in excess of $100 million over the last 4 years and Mr Moyes has decided he wants out. Does this make him a bad man? Well that is something to be decided at a later date. Mr Moyes I would like to think sat down with all his partners and his Board and they made a decision to fold up the tents as they say and declare bankruptcy. now Mr Bettman says that they did not have the right to do so and that is a matter that will be decided on on the 19th.
So Mr Moyes fills out the paper work and files it with the courts in Phoenix. At some point aconversation was launched with Jim Balsille in regards to purchasing the team. Mr Balsille, Co-CEO of Research in Motion or RIM then made an offer of $212 million which included $17 million which would hold up the club while the transfer went through.
The catch to this deal is that Mr Balsille wants to move the team to the afore mentioned Southern Ontario area (Copps Coliseum in Hamilton for a time TBD). This bid would solve two problems in one deal.
1) Satisfying the creditors who have backed the Coyotes and stand to lose money by backing a team that is not being supported by the community and
2) Bringing a team to a location where the fans have been starving for an NHL franchise since 1925 when the Hamilton Tigers were sold to a group to become the New York Rangers.
Now Mr Balsille is not just blowing smoke but there are stats to back him up. If you will
1) During the expansion in which a franchise was awarded to Ottawa, Ron Foxcroft held a campaign in which Hamiltonians paid a deposit to purchase seasons tickets for the new team if it was awarded. The seats were sold out in a matter of days.
2) There are over 7,000,000 people in the area in question and only two choices for a hockey starved community (Toronto and Buffalo)
3) Mr Balsille set up an online petition at www.makeitseven.ca and in less than a week has 100,000 people who have signed up from all over the area plus North America.
So Mr Balsille has offered to save the team only to be stonewalled by Mr Bettman. Mr Balsille has on two previous occasions offered to buy a team (Pittsburgh in 2006 and Nashville in 2008) only to be told that he could not move the team on the first occasion and Mr Bettman found a buyer willing to keep the team in Nashville in spite of the fan base. Now it is true folding or moving a franchise should be the last thing an owner wants to do and in the two previous cities that has worked out with both teams doing ok.
now in this case the situation is much different than the others because you have a franchise that has not drawn a profit since it was started in the late 90's and the team is now bankrupt. You have a man who's only mistake was making the announcement that he wanted the team on the condition that he be able to move the team upon purchase, and a commissioner who is stating that he is a rebel and aman who thinks he is above the league. Now I don't profess to have knowlege of a personal conflict between these two people and although I do not know Mr Balsille I get the feeling he knows there is a procedure that must take place he is just expressing his desire to save a dying franchiseand make it viable.
My only wish is is that Mr Bettman and Mr Balsille would stop talking to us and talk to each other and make the necessary steps to resolve this situation as this not only impacts two cities but also the players, coaches, scouts etc. With the draft coming in just over a month this needs to be solved as Copps will need renovations and players etc will need to know what plans to make for the coming season. Mr Bettman I implore you please let this deal go through and allow Mr Balslle to make the next step which is to make a pitch to the league govenors and let them decide what is best.
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