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Post by Rubber_Duck on May 24, 2007 15:43:27 GMT -5
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Post by Nashville Predators on May 24, 2007 18:44:57 GMT -5
Hamilton? Winnipeg? Quebec?
I wonder about Portland, Oregon actually.. the Winterhawks have great support there
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Post by Vancouver Canucks on May 25, 2007 9:41:25 GMT -5
I wish a team would come back to Winnipeg.
But from what i learned from the Pittsburgh negotiations. Kansas City would probably be "THE" destination if Predators were to move.
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Post by Eric - Washington GM on May 25, 2007 10:29:00 GMT -5
I agree with you Robert, but I'd have to say I see Nasvhille being much better than KC.
Move'em somewhere north where the fans will actually care.
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Post by ianintheam on May 25, 2007 11:20:36 GMT -5
This is the one who tried to buy the Penguins and despite all logic in the world against it, wanted to move them to Hamilton.
I bet that would be his first choice, with Kansas City a strong second.
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Post by Eric - Washington GM on May 25, 2007 11:33:51 GMT -5
Every time I've heard Hamilton brought up, and discussed it usually gets disproved by analysts who say it's too close to Toronto for them to develop a successful Identity.
Any of you Leaf fans hear any truth to that?
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Post by ianintheam on May 25, 2007 13:49:08 GMT -5
That is true.
If he wanted to move them there, he would have to make arrangements (Bribes) to the Buffalo and Toronto franchises. But, that's where he is from and where he wants to put a hockey team at.
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Post by Vancouver Canucks on May 25, 2007 20:04:27 GMT -5
If a team would be moved to Canada, the top choice would be Winnipeg, The Province has stated they would do everything possible to make it happen, And they would not have to do too much to the MTS Center except add about 3-4 seats.
But any move, Kansas would be the front runner as they already have a state of the art arena already built.
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Post by FincanSJGM on May 26, 2007 1:09:59 GMT -5
Not a large enough population and not nearly enough money in Winnepeg. If Edmonton and Calgary are on the lower end of nhl cities financially (though I dont buy this at all anymore) how can Winnipeg support a team? Edmonton has a population of 730,000 with a metropolis population of over 1 million not including the populations of Northern alberta, Northern Saskatchewan, and from Red Deer North to Edmonton which are areas of Mainly Oiler fans. Calgary has a similar impact on Southern Ab and Sask. Winnepeg has a population of 633,000 with a metropolis population of under 700,000. They also dont have near the money as can be found in Edmonton and Calgary. Average family income in Alberta 67,000 in 2004 and has skyrocketed since, while Manitoba is at 53,000. Yeah housing costs are skyrocketing in AB but with the large number of people who bought before the boom or already paid off their houses there is a crapload of disposable income floating around this province, something that would not be as true in Winnepeg.
Winnepeg is a pipe dream. Hamilton due to the metropolis population, and money in the area, and the fact that there are non-leaf fans, and would be converts who cannot afford or dont have the patience for Leaf Tickets is an ideal location. The NHL is throwing away money by not having another team in southern Ontario and it is ridiculous to cave to the Leafs for this. They would still be the richest team in the league with the largest fan base. Not having another team there might be slightly better for the Leafs, but is significantly negative for the NHL. I think the Leafs main concern is that the other team would be managed better and win a cup before them. Again, only good for the NHL.
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Post by Rubber_Duck on May 26, 2007 1:16:59 GMT -5
nashville has had a solid team for the past couple years, and if a franchise went to winnipeg, i would approve... every points out that the arena in winnipeg only holds 16,000.... well, right now the average for nashville home games was 13,500.... and knowing how many people would like a franchise in winnipeg, i'm sure for at least the first season, most of the games would be sellouts....
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Post by edmontongm on May 26, 2007 4:19:11 GMT -5
With the history of the Leafs, it's hard to tell.
However, if there is a city in the world that would be able and willing to support a 2nd professional hockey team it's Toronto. The amount of financial support for the Maple Leafs is astronomical comparatively (how else can Toronto sell out every game but the ACC look empty half the time?). Would they have their own identity - sure. The real "Steel City" (Oh burn!) hates being implied that they are from Toronto. Also with a club that is instantly successful, generating fan interest for a new club would be easy. (Even with expansion I'm sure it wouldn't be a problem).
It is unquestionable that a 2nd NHL club could easily thrive in the Golden Horseshoe area. (Anywhere from Hamilton to Oshawa). Here's some food for thought - the Durham region area (for those not from southern Ontario - it's the eastern side of the GTA which includes Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, Clarington and Oshawa) and would have a population support area as large as Ottawa, Edmonton or Calgary. (support areas for those regions are listed at 900k to 1.2 million - Durham region has 600,000 people, and the support area would likely include City of Kawartha Lakes and the Peterborough region - both of which combined have another 200-300,000 people - as those regions are within one hours drive from it's larger centers).
I believe Hamilton is more than a viable option, although I think that Durham region (believe it or not) might actually have a more feasible reasoning (as Hamilton is closer to Buffalo, Toronto and Detroit; while Durham is closer to only Ottawa and Toronto).
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Post by Nashville Predators on May 26, 2007 12:08:03 GMT -5
Durham just doesn't have an NHL sounding name. The average American (sorry Eric, Ian) has trouble pinpointing Vancouver, or Calgary on a map Durham would probably be just too confusing....
I support a Seattle / Portland venture as it keeps the franchise in the Western Conference and would allow Dallas (Pacific Division) to move to Central.
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Post by Eric - Washington GM on May 26, 2007 15:33:17 GMT -5
No Offense taken. I think the case holds true on the reverse side. I wouldn't expect most Canadians to be able to pinpoint or know where 2nd and 3rd tier cities are in the U.S.
I hope the Preds don't move to KC, because I sure as hell don't see KC as being a bigger hockey bed than Nashville was.
A city that I haven't heard brought up, that has a fairly high interest in hockey that is also a decent size city is Milwaukee. I think that because they haven't suggested that they'd like a team, is the main reason they aren't brought up. But they would fit into the same division as the Preds. Would have a close rivalry with the Blackhawks. NCAA Hockey is a big deal up there.
I think that if they move, they should pick a location where they can draw a crowd and fan support. It's a different story with Nasvhille than with Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh had one of the top attendances in the league, when there was talk of them moving. Nashville has been a top team for the past 2-3 years and they are having trouble drawing serious crowds. I don't know if KC would do any better. Or Oklahoma City. Or Las Vegas. Houston, maybe. They have an AHL Team that I've heard does OK, but NHL is something completely different. Seattle is having a hard time trying to keep their NBA Franchise. Heard that the city doesn't want to build another arena / stadium. The NHL needs a team that can help them out.
Time will tell, but I don't think Operation Predators has necessarily worked out.
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Post by KingsGM on May 28, 2007 10:09:26 GMT -5
As a part-time Hamiltonian, I'd LOVE to see a team there, but it won't happen. He'll pretend to try hard to bring it to Kitcherloo and then move it Kansas City.
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Post by sens on Jun 2, 2007 6:50:40 GMT -5
As an australian but former GTA member, the area could certainly support another team. Balsillie sees the market and has the cash to do it. I suspect he pays the penalty to T.O. and Buff and does get a team somewhere in the southern Ontario area. Just my thoughts but another team is needed. JH
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Post by Eric - Washington GM on Jun 2, 2007 10:41:59 GMT -5
I think it's becoming more and more apparent that a team in Hamilton is a possibility.
If so, will they keep the Hamilton team in the Western Conference? doubt it. But who would move to the West in exchange? I think Atlanta is the geographically the furthest West of any Eastern Conference team. Meanwhile Hamilton is fairly close to Detroit, so they could stay in the West.
I guess it's something I'm just thinking out loud about.
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Post by Nashville Predators on Jun 2, 2007 10:58:41 GMT -5
Looking at this map I'd say the Pacific Northwest could use a team in the Seattle/Portland area. That would free up the Minnesota Wild to join the central division. Rename the "Pacific Division" to "Southwest" as Dallas is not really Pacific. And you've got a plan. CURRENT NHL MODELMY PROPOSITION
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Post by Tampa Bay on Jun 2, 2007 12:47:44 GMT -5
Its gonna be Hamilton.
The Hamilton Spectator reports that the City of Hamilton has re-activated an agreement with Waterloo billionaire Jim Balsillie, giving him exclusive rights to bring an NHL team to Copps Coliseum.
The news comes just one week after Balsillie, co-CEO of BlackBerry innovator Research In Motion, agreed to buy the NHL's Nashville Predators last week for US$220 million.
According to The Spectator, Balsillie approached the city late last week through Toronto lawyer Richard Rodier which led to several behind-the-scenes discussions with Hamilton Mayor Fred Eisenberger.
"He has assured me that he wants to secure a team and he is interested in bringing it to Hamilton," Eisenberger told The Spectator. "Certainly he has the resources to do it and we will leave it up to him to pull it together."
The paper adds that the city is also negotiating to give Balsillie the right to run Hamilton Place and the Convention Centre if he brings in an NHL team franchise. Files from The Hamilton Spectator were used for this report
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Post by Tampa Bay on Jun 2, 2007 12:48:21 GMT -5
BTW that picture is so purdy Ken.
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Post by ianintheam on Jun 14, 2007 19:41:47 GMT -5
I hear that they are taking season ticket deposits already in Hamilton
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Post by Tampa Bay on Jun 14, 2007 21:02:16 GMT -5
I hear that they are taking season ticket deposits already in Hamilton Jumping the gun a bit me thinks, Balsillie doesnt even officially own the team yet.
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Post by Tampa Bay on Jun 16, 2007 12:29:21 GMT -5
The City of Nashville not Giving Up on Preds YetNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Nashville Predators' fans are fighting back to hold onto their beloved team.
The threat of relocation has hung over the Predators since Craig Leipold announced May 24 he was selling to Canadian billionaire Jim Balsillie. The co-CEO of Blackberry makers Research in Motion Ltd. told NHL commissioner Gary Bettman he didn't intend to move the team but now is taking season-ticket deposits in Hamilton, Ontario.
Nashville's best hope?
Sell more tickets -- quickly -- to keep whoever ends up owning the Predators from escaping because of poor attendance.
"Our Canadian friend thinks we can't sell 14,000 tickets ...," Butch Spyridon, president of the Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau, said Friday. "I think he's underestimated us."
Balsillie's attorney Richard Rodier declined to answer questions when reached at his Toronto office. Reports said more than 7,000 fully refundable deposits came in Thursday, the first day deposits were taken.
Spyridon said Balsillie is gambling that Nashville doesn't care enough.
The Predators averaged 13,815 paid attendance during a season in which they finished third in the NHL with 110 points, and Leipold decided Friday to exercise the "cure" clause in the lease forcing Nashville to make up the difference next season.
Web sites have been designed and are online.
Fans are calling the NHL office to plead their case, planning rallies and a radio ticket-thon.
Businessmen are networking, trying to convince colleagues to buy the expensive seats that have been empty the past few seasons.
A legal battle easily could develop over the lease for the government-owned arena.
Nashville authorities say Leipold can't use attendance from the first season after the NHL lockout in counting two seasons of attendance under 14,000. But Leipold said in a statement late Friday he had no choice but to tap the clause after five seasons of sub-14,000 attendance.
That's the number the team must meet to collect all of its revenue-sharing money from the NHL. Nashville will be forced to either pay the difference or say no, breaking the lease after the 2007-08 season.
"Our hope remains that the combination of passionate fans that we know this team has, along with renewed efforts of the business community, will enable the franchise to meet the necessary goals to make the franchise successful on and off the ice in Nashville," Leipold said.
Spyridon told the Nashville Sports Authority their goal is selling 3,000 tickets before the season starts through the "Our Team" group. He could not estimate how many tickets have been sold in the week since the group announced its existence but said interest is high from companies previously not involved with the Predators.
"It's our team and our time, and we can keep the Nashville Predators in our town," Spyridon said.
Jim Leutgens, a 44-year-old project administrator for hospital construction, designed a Web site for fans to vent, plan and lobby others. A season ticket-holder who has doubled his own purchase from two to four for the 2007-08 season, he said they still need to buy more seats, especially if the team stays in Nashville.
"We're going to do everything we can to see that happens," Leutgens said.
The sale must be completed by June 30 under the deal agreed to by Leipold and Balsillie pending an extension. The NHL also must approve the sale, but the proposal is not expected to come up when the league's board of governors meet Wednesday because league bylaws require sufficient advance notice of proposed sales.
Even if fans buy 3,000 more tickets, Balsillie still could buy his way out of the lease.
Sports authority member Steve North pointed out a buyout clause with a prorated scale that could be $27 million now. Spyridon said Balsillie certainly can write that check, leaving Nashville relying on Bettman's promises.
"I think it's a severe black eye on the NHL if we live up to our agreement and they let him break the lease," Spyridon said.
A local group reportedly has emerged to buy the Predators if Balsillie's bid falls through despite Leipold's inability to find a local minority investor.
Both Spyridon and Kevin Lavender, current chairman of the sports authority and former Tennessee banking commissioner, said they had not heard about who might be involved in such a bid. But Spyridon said Nashville is a wealthy community.
"There is a lot of money in this town. ... I'm pretty certain if they're in it, they're in it for keeps," he said.
Middle Tennessee is home to both country and Christian music industries, headquarters for Nissan North America Inc., Dollar General Corp., Louisiana-Pacific Corp., CBRL Group -- owner of the Cracker Barrel restaurant chain-- and HCA Inc. Pharmacy benefits manager Caremark Rx Inc., recently bought by CVS Corp., has offices here.
For now, the issue is how Nashvillians react. Leutgens credited a local columnist for correctly saying Nashvillians don't get stirred up until their backs are against the wall.
"Then they come out swinging," he said.
On the Net:
Save The Predators: www.savethepredators.com Our Team: www.ourteamnashville.com
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