NHL in S-Ontario?

[spankingman]

Looks like the NHL IS entertaining the thought of a second team in Southern Ontario but NOT Hamilton!!!!! VP Bill Daly says that the Leagues KNOWS there is a market and would be a financial success. Hamiltons Copps Coliseum is not suited for the NHL style of play?????? Adding if MLSE put up a fight ,too bad!!!!!!!!!! How things have changed now that Hamilton is out of the picture.

There isnt another arena in SO that could hold an NHL team besides Copps other than the ACC. It would be far CHEAPER to retro fit Copps than build a NEW arena!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Big Michael]

Looks like the NHL IS entertaining the thought of a second team in Southern Ontario but NOT Hamilton!!!!! VP Bill Daly says that the Leagues KNOWS there is a market and would be a financial success. Hamiltons Copps Coliseum is not suited for the NHL style of play?????? Adding if MLSE put up a fight ,too bad!!!!!!!!!! How things have changed now that Hamilton is out of the picture.

There isnt another arena in SO that could hold an NHL team besides Copps other than the ACC. It would be far CHEAPER to retro fit Copps than build a NEW arena!!!!!!!!!!

The second market that would be a success in Southern Ontario is right here in Toronto (GTA). If New York/New Jersey can have 3 teams then surely Toronto can have 2.

 

[dj1470]

Oh gawd NOT this stupidity again.

People this will not happen anytime soon.
Think maybe 2020 or later. Maybe. BIG maybe.
Leafs and Sabres will NEVER allow this to happen!

 

[spankingman]

By the year 2020 how many Hockey fans will be in the GTA ???

Bring on the NCL National CRICKET League!!!!!!!!! League Offices and HQ in Brampton.

 

[cyberbard]

Looks like the NHL IS entertaining the thought of a second team in Southern Ontario but NOT Hamilton!!!!! VP Bill Daly says that the Leagues KNOWS there is a market and would be a financial success. Hamiltons Copps Coliseum is not suited for the NHL style of play?????? Adding if MLSE put up a fight ,too bad!!!!!!!!!! How things have changed now that Hamilton is out of the picture.

There isnt another arena in SO that could hold an NHL team besides Copps other than the ACC. It would be far CHEAPER to retro fit Copps than build a NEW arena!!!!!!!!!!

He didn't say 'not in Hamilton'...he said not at Copps. However, the issue with Hamilton is that it attacks two current NHL markets.

Now, should they put a team in London or Kitchener, it attacks neither. Should they put a team in York Region or Mississauga, it only affects the Leafs.

A lot of the press has been saying the Leafs are being selfish and don't want to share their pie...of course they are, but I don't think this is the real issue. In Buffalo, the Sabres are well supported, but one wonders what happens if a second team comes into their territory.

If a team comes, as suggested, back into Southern Ontario...I put it in Mississauga, York or London...certainly not the Hammer, unfortunately.

 

[21pro]

I agree with Bill Daly. Hamilton can't even support an OHL team.

They are seriously considering Vaughan. A site for a massive venue is proposed near the 400 along Teston Road.

 

[spankingman]

I agree with Bill Daly. Hamilton can't even support an OHL team.

They are seriously considering Vaughan. A site for a massive venue is proposed near the 400 along Teston Road.

We don't HAVE an OHL Team!!!!!!!!!!!!! So how can we support it?

 

[The Oracle]

We don't HAVE an OHL Team!!!!!!!!!!!!! So how can we support it?

What was the name of the last OHL team in Hamilton? The Dukes?

 

[canbreathethroughearsmale]

The world is ending in 2012, so 2020 will be too late

 

[Keyra]

I agree with cyberbard - mostly.

He didn't say 'not in Hamilton'...he said not at Copps. However, the issue with Hamilton is that it attacks two current NHL markets.

Now, should they put a team in London or Kitchener, it attacks neither. Should they put a team in York Region or Mississauga, it only affects the Leafs.

A lot of the press has been saying the Leafs are being selfish and don't want to share their pie...of course they are, but I don't think this is the real issue. In Buffalo, the Sabres are well supported, but one wonders what happens if a second team comes into their territory.

If a team comes, as suggested, back into Southern Ontario...I put it in Mississauga, York or London...certainly not the Hammer, unfortunately.

While I've never been a big fan of the NHL, I've grown up around enough people (my dad, my brother, and then later boyfriends) who were NHL nuts that I kind of learned a bit about it through osmosis, lol. And the big problem I've always had with a team in Hamilton is exactly what's been said here, by cyberbard and others - Hamilton cuts into the market radius of not just one but two teams, Toronto and Buffalo. That's just not smart business sense - you don't set up branches of your company to compete with other, already existing, branches. Doesn't make sense.

But London or Kitchener-Waterloo, on the other hand, are prime locations, because they're both far enough away from T.O. and Buffalo not to impinge on either of those two markets - and they would tap into the huge fan base in the rest of southern Ontario. I, for one, would love to see a struggling team relocate to Kitchener-Waterloo. The city has oodles of space to build a new arena, and as for where the team would play for 2-3 seasons? Well, if the San Jose Sharks could play several seasons in a place called the "Cow Palace" in front of enormous crowds of 8,800 while the Shark Tank was being built, then the K-W team could play for a few years at the Kitchener Auditorium in front of sellout crowds of over 10,000 no problem.

When Jim Balsillie was trying to buy the Coyotes, I was openly rooting for him to bring them to K-W, and use all his RIM money to build that new arena. I was dismayed when I found out he was hell-bent on relocating the team to Hamilton - I was actually kind of glad when he failed. With Balsillie's failure to bring the Coyotes to Hamilton, at least there's a chance (however ridiculously small) that some other failed team will move to Kitchener-Waterloo. A team in K-W would make more sense than teams in Tampa, Atlanta, Raleigh, Phoenix, especially Nashville, and maybe even Dallas and Columbus. But I'm just a Canadian hockey fan, what do I know? Nothing - just ask Gary Bettman.

 

[mac]

the Leafs would be better off renting the new team the ACC (making money off the franchise) and not having another multi-purpose arena built in thier backyard.

 

[C Dick]

Toronto couldn't support on OHL team either, neither could Mississauga, but they could support NHL teams. When a city is big enough, they feel they are too good for a mere OHL team. I think it would work in Toronto, Vaughan, Mississauga, Hamilton or Kitchener.

 

[cyberbard]

Toronto couldn't support on OHL team either, neither could Mississauga, but they could support NHL teams. When a city is big enough, they feel they are too good for a mere OHL team. I think it would work in Toronto, Vaughan, Mississauga, Hamilton or Kitchener.

I beg to differ on Mississauga. The Ice Dogs did well when they were actually marketing the team. The Majors are still there and could do well as well. Even the Brampton Battalion have done well.

 

[cyberbard]

The city has oodles of space to build a new arena, and as for where the team would play for 2-3 seasons? Well, if the San Jose Sharks could play several seasons in a place called the "Cow Palace" in front of enormous crowds of 8,800 while the Shark Tank was being built, then the K-W team could play for a few years at the Kitchener Auditorium in front of sellout crowds of over 10,000 no problem.

Calgary Flames played their first three or four years at the Stampede Coral in front of about six thousand. Without the '88 Olympics, I wonder if the Saddledome ever would have been built in the first place.

 

[jwmorrice]

The Kitchener-Waterloo Krauts. I like the sound of that.

jwm

 

[spankingman]

the Leafs would be better off renting the new team the ACC (making money off the franchise) and not having another multi-purpose arena built in thier backyard.

Ive read and heard THATS the biggest roadblock the Leafs have is someone building ANOTHER arean in the TO araea that could hold concerts etc.

As far as ticket sales loss iat MLSEt wouldnt happen ,it would just free up MORE tickets for those who cant get them NOW.

 

[needinit]

Balsillie tried to buy teams three times => The NHL don't like him as he doesn't play by their rules so fight against it.

The NHL are now agreeing to possibly sell the team Balsillie last went for (ie Phoenix)., now that Balsillie is out of the picture.

GTA/Hamilton win the bid for the Pan Am games => investment in New Stadium and other Downtown development in Hamilton (rapid transit etc).

NHL rules out Copps as a location => Future: City will work with private investors etc to develop the region etc. NHL will sell a team to be in Hamilton with Franchise fee attached as the market is now ready - sporting locations, transportation and infrastructure and will get some money from the city to locate in Hamilton. etc and upgrade Copps.

Team will the be sold/owned by someone 'loyal' to NHL (not Balsillie) after getting city to assist in infrastructure (not he new owner, which will have paid the franchise fee to the NHL) => NHL gets a better investment than they currently have, a market ripe for growth and don't have Balsillie owning it.

 

[Ironhead]

Balsillie tried to buy teams three times => The NHL don't like him as he doesn't play by their rules so fight against it.

The NHL are now agreeing to possibly sell the team Balsillie last went for (ie Phoenix)., now that Balsillie is out of the picture.

GTA/Hamilton win the bid for the Pan Am games => investment in New Stadium and other Downtown development in Hamilton (rapid transit etc).

NHL rules out Copps as a location => Future: City will work with private investors etc to develop the region etc. NHL will sell a team to be in Hamilton with Franchise fee attached as the market is now ready - sporting locations, transportation and infrastructure and will get some money from the city to locate in Hamilton. etc and upgrade Copps.

Team will the be sold/owned by someone 'loyal' to NHL (not Balsillie) after getting city to assist in infrastructure (not he new owner, which will have paid the franchise fee to the NHL) => NHL gets a better investment than they currently have, a market ripe for growth and don't have Balsillie owning it.

Gary Bettman was a mistake the NHL made, compounded by letting him stay on as commissioner of the league for ... what is it now 15 years ?
First, Bettman is not stupid, but like many of us he can lose sight of what the goal is because of ego. He got his back up because Balsillie wanted to just pick up and move a team to Ontario.
Here was(is) a billionaire who wanted to be an NHL owner. He did not have to be lured or sweet talked or given a deal, he just wanted to get in.
NHL not liking him ? Do not forget the owners voted 29-0 in favor of Balsillie when he was going to buy the Pittsburgh Penguins, it is only because of Bettman that this time around the vote went the other way.
Bettman has the largest ego in the NHL and in his mind he would appear weak if Balsillie were to get in on his own terms, so Bettman was running around trying to find someone, anyone with money to outbid Balsillie. He was making all kinds of deals to get Jerry Reinsdorf to buy the team.

Look at the list of NHL owners.
Samueli(Anaheim) is awaiting sentencing, may have to serve jail time.
William 'Boots' DelBiaggio(Nashville) did this guy ever have any money ? Investigated by the FBI for fraud.
Takashi Okubo(Tampa Bay) who may have used the NHL team to launder money for organized crime.
The list goes on ...
Rod Bryden(Ottawa)
Roger Marino(Pittsburgh)
John Rigas(Buffalo)
John Spano(NYI)
Bruce McNall(LA Kings)
Sanjay Kumar(NYI)
Jeff Sudikoff(LA Kings)

Somehow Balsillie is not a good enough citizen to join this fine group of individuals.

Bettman is trying so desperately to sell the game to network TV in the US, it is clouding his judgement. He cannot see how a billionaire who wants to own an NHL team, no conditions other then moving to Southern Ontario, could help him sell the game to Americans.

An arena in Phoenix at 1/3 capacity is somehow better then a sold out arena with a waiting list in Hamilton.