Balsillie Makes Offer To Purchase Phoenix Coyotes
- Thread starter pencilneckgeek2
- Start date
21pro said:
Not likely, the Leafs are considered the most valuable franchise in the NHL, and according to today's papers (Sun, Globe, Star, Post) their worth is somewhere around $450,000,000 .
No, things can change. GM use to rule the roost but they got lazy. The SC's used to be packed but new competition sprung up. The only reason the Leafs have a monopoly is because they have a monopoly not because of the quality of their product.Bob Loblaw said:
Balsillie doesn't need to borrow anything. He's sitting on a huge pile of cash, something like $2.0 Billion U.S. and wondering what to do with it.guyroch said:
He's probably hoping that the judge in the bankruptcy case tears up the lease that Glendale Arizona has , orders the league to sell the team to Balsillie and then orders team moved to Canada so the sale can go through.
NHL rules are only valid if they comply with broader business laws and free trade rules in effect in Canada and the U.S. ; so, the leagues' ability to legally dictate things like franchise relocation and territorial fees has always been a murky, grey, ambiguous area and this is likely what Balsillie is trying to exploit and drive a Mack truck through.
In past, franchise relocation has always been settled in back rooms with businessmen making pragmatic business decisions.
But, since NHL won't let Balsillie in the NHL club in a "dignified" way; well, I think he wants to do it by dropping a bomb on the league in the form of a bankruptcy court judge's ruling and then it's going to get really dirty and really nasty if it goes down like that.
all of the above being said, Balsillie's strategy is clearly to go mano-to-mano with the Count. He figures that he has the Count by the short and curlies on this one because the court will get to control the outcome with the exception that the NHL will have to approve the franchise. It will be hard for the Count to turn it down with the only other alternatives will be liquidation or the NHL supporting the money losign franchise. Hard to imagine the Count getting this by the Board of Governors many of which Balsillie has been courting behind the scenes for the past year. Again though...the issue is not the Maple Losers but the Sabers who would go down in flames if a Hamilton franchise came to pass.
BG didn't have $212 million plus another 15 for DIP financing. BG counted on keeping the greedy players who were forgoing large portions of the life earnings to stick by his side while Balsillie is counting on a handful of greedy owners on side by waving big bucks in theor faces. I'd give Balsillie better odds than BG. Not saying it will ever happen but Balsillie is a serious CEO who knows how to play with the big boys and has made billions......BG was a lawyer who never really achieved much before getting his job. Apples and oranges if you ask me.guyroch said:
My money is on the Blackberry guy. Remember how he found those patent vultures tooth and nail?mac said:
Good! Balsillie will do to hockey what Curt Flood did to baseball. Aren't you sick and tire of the old boys club making up the "rules" in some smokey backroom?guyroch said:
I was listening to a bankruptcy lawyer on McCown's show today and he said Balsillie has a very good case.
He said the judge can void the Glendale arena lease, can order the team be sold to Balsillie and the lawyer also said that the bankruptcy judge can nullify NHL bylaws and regulations pertaining to franchise transfer and relocation by finding that they are an illegal restraint of trade and commerce.
That kind of ruling would give Balsillie cart blanche to move franchise to a location he sees fit.
Of course if everything breaks Balsillie's way in this bankruptcy court the NHL will find some way to bog the case down in muck so that Balsillie can't do anything.
Bettman is totally delusional and nuts if he thinks an NHL team can make money in Arizona.
He said the judge can void the Glendale arena lease, can order the team be sold to Balsillie and the lawyer also said that the bankruptcy judge can nullify NHL bylaws and regulations pertaining to franchise transfer and relocation by finding that they are an illegal restraint of trade and commerce.
That kind of ruling would give Balsillie cart blanche to move franchise to a location he sees fit.
Of course if everything breaks Balsillie's way in this bankruptcy court the NHL will find some way to bog the case down in muck so that Balsillie can't do anything.
Bettman is totally delusional and nuts if he thinks an NHL team can make money in Arizona.
Nothing against Gary but I just like Balsillie who along with his partner built a great Canadian company from scratch and made more Canadian shareholders millionaires than mighty Royal Bank and Canadian Pacific. I place my bets with the Blackberry guy and if the NHL governors are smart so will they (but whoever said that NHL governors are smart?).guyroch said:
Why does Bettman want to keep hockey in non traditional hockey Markets? Give it up it doesn't work. UFC/MMA, even Golf is more popular than the Coyotes in Arizona. Time to bring hockey back to where it will suceed...Canada. Bettman you should be fired as league commish because you are failing the sport of hockey and the NHL.
These two guys (Bettman and Balsillie) do not like each other...AT ALL. The fact that it's got personal means we all suffer as Southern Ontario hockey fans. Bettman will never endorse Balsille, because to do so now would be to lose face publicly. Even if the courts rule in Balsillie's favour, Bettman will do everything possible to block this.
NHL hockey could thrive in Hamilton, if only as a venue to see other good teams, and great players like OV, and Crosby and Malkin when they come to town. Personally, the potential team in Vaughn would have the best shot of making it. Central, easy access by the 407, and lots of parking available. People would come from as far east as Bowmanville, and as far west as Kitchener Waterloo. If they put a team in Vaughn, I would buy seasons tickets.
I wish Balsillie success, if only to see that smug little bastard Bettman take it up the ass for a change.
NHL hockey could thrive in Hamilton, if only as a venue to see other good teams, and great players like OV, and Crosby and Malkin when they come to town. Personally, the potential team in Vaughn would have the best shot of making it. Central, easy access by the 407, and lots of parking available. People would come from as far east as Bowmanville, and as far west as Kitchener Waterloo. If they put a team in Vaughn, I would buy seasons tickets.
I wish Balsillie success, if only to see that smug little bastard Bettman take it up the ass for a change.
This has become personal because Bettman has rejected Balsillie twice now. As a successul businessman, he can't stand the bumbling Bettman.Bob Loblaw said:
I hate Bettman, he has IMO ruined hockey!The Cunning Linguist said:
He over-expanded
He keeps changing the rules
He made the season too long, whoTF wants to watch hockey in June when its 20C ??!!
He hasnt done anything to rid trap defense, which makes hockey low scoring and dull
He's failed to bring in a large TV deal
He moved Canadian clubs to the States, in places where they shouldnt be (Florida, Arizona)
Etc...etc
I wish he pissed off already!!
Last edited:
dont blame Bettman yes the man is a jackass but he is merely an employee and yes man for the owners, who in their infinite wisdom still think hockey is a national sport in the US instead of a regional one (northeast, midwest)The LoLRus said:
now when you have your deputy sounding like a kid in grade 9 (we dont start fights, we finish them) and talking about the "emotional" attachment that the people of Phoenix have towards their team I had to control myself from laughter. What emotional attachment you mean like the people of Quebec City and Winnipeg had for their teams before they got the rug pulled out from under them.
I think the Kitchener Waterloo - Guelph - Cambridge area has become a promising region for a new NHL team.
This area is well populated and expanding, diverse economy, some of which is doing very well. Hamilton has population, but the economic base is disappearing.
Probably, the only way a professional sports team can succeed anywhere nowadays is in relation to the new arena - private box scenario. In KW-G-C area, there are numerous candidates to support this.
Also, probably, in the KW-G-C area, if you build it the fans will come, Hamilton not so much; I think Toronto Maple Leaf support is minimal outside GTA
Also, Balsillie owns a growing sports entertainment company: he bought most of the golf courses in the KW-G-C area and they are operated now by his "Golf North", and has a large conference-sports-community center right in KW with hectares/acres of open area.
This area is well populated and expanding, diverse economy, some of which is doing very well. Hamilton has population, but the economic base is disappearing.
Probably, the only way a professional sports team can succeed anywhere nowadays is in relation to the new arena - private box scenario. In KW-G-C area, there are numerous candidates to support this.
Also, probably, in the KW-G-C area, if you build it the fans will come, Hamilton not so much; I think Toronto Maple Leaf support is minimal outside GTA
Also, Balsillie owns a growing sports entertainment company: he bought most of the golf courses in the KW-G-C area and they are operated now by his "Golf North", and has a large conference-sports-community center right in KW with hectares/acres of open area.
I am sure the league governors have been talking. The best out for them right now would probably be to fire Bettman (they can make up any excuse they want for public comsumption) and talk to Balsillie and Moyes...the governors can ask that the matter be withdrawn from the courts and sanction the sale and move of the team to Waterloo. This way they will avoid the risk of a legal precedent allowing teams to move anywhere they want and they will get tbhe Phoenix nightmare off their hands.
It will take Balsillie a couple years to build a new rink on the plot of land he owns near the 401...as part of the buyout of the Glendale lease he would agree to stay there two years and pay a lump sum.
Glendale would get more than they would under a court order, the NHL would keep their rules in tack, and Balsillie would get his team.
It will take Balsillie a couple years to build a new rink on the plot of land he owns near the 401...as part of the buyout of the Glendale lease he would agree to stay there two years and pay a lump sum.
Glendale would get more than they would under a court order, the NHL would keep their rules in tack, and Balsillie would get his team.
