Why should Jim Balsillie be allowed to bring another NHL team to Southern Ontario?

[stajan55]

I am writing an english paper on Jim Balsillie and whether or not he should be allowed to move a team to Southern Ontario. I need some reason's why he SHOULD be allowed to move the Coyotes to Southern Ontario.

James

 

[marvelman55]

The market. Pheonix is not a hockey market, and they are not sustainable there. Southern Ontario has enough people who would pay to see NHL quality but cannot afford to see the Leafs...not that the Leafs are NHL quality, lol.

 

[chemicalstylez]

Pheonix is a joke of a market. Just build off that. Attendance is crap, no fans, bad management, etc...

Almost sounds like the devils except their management is A+ lol.

 

[EvadrSix]

New Job opportunities..

 

[GrimUSMC]

The market. Pheonix is not a hockey market, and they are not sustainable there. Southern Ontario has enough people who would pay to see NHL quality but cannot afford to see the Leafs...not that the Leafs are NHL quality, lol.

What makes you think this team would be any cheaper?

Id argue that even if they dont rise to the level of the Leafs or Sens, they will still do better then most teams in the Sun Belt. Plus him having a team there will bring soem stabillity to the league in times of great economic instability.

 

[chakhae1]

It makes total sense if the NHL is going to move a team and expand in the near future. Why? All the statistics and the reality of the situation is that hockey doesn't sell in the U.S.A unless it's in a hockey craving environment. Moving a team to Kansas, Las Vegas or wherever else is just going to lead to turmoil such as we have in the poor hockey markets in the N..H.L currently.

Moving a team to Southern Ontario would generate instant excitement and revenue and will absolutely have more stability than a new U.S market. That being said, I think the way Balsillie is going about this is all wrong. He is shoving his money into the face of the N.H.L and his forceful tactics are not working. He should have gone about this in a more business like manner and perhaps then he would have a better chance in getting a franchise here sooner

 

[mrconie]

Pheonix is a joke of a market. Just build off that. Attendance is crap, no fans, bad management, etc...

Almost sounds like the devils except their management is A+ lol.

Ive been to 1 game...mid season vs the Kings and it was sold out.

Just saying

 

[Jester240]

I dont really think you will see a team moved from the US to Canada. I think it would be far more likely for a expansion team to be put in Canada than one being moved there. It seems the NHL is looking at they have been trying hard for a while now to get the NHL to grow in the US and moving a team from the US to Canada will only lead US non hockey fans to say that hockey is only a Canadian sport.

Lots of people talk about the fan base and the growth moving a team to the greater Toronto area will have. I dont think it would do that much for the sport. I agree that it would give a short term boost in sales and attendance would be higher than in many US cities. The problem is that in Canada hockey fans to population is probably already maxed out. You arent going to pick up any new hockey fans by adding or moving a team in Canada.

So why is the NHL trying so hard to grow hockey in the US? POPULATION. There are more people living in California than in all of Canada. The problem that the NHL faces is that they can figure out how to rein in the US population to watch hockey. Hockey isnt like football, soccer or basketball. In bigger US sports all you need to do is drop off a ball at every field in the US and watch kids play it. Even baseball all you have to add after the ball is a bat. With hockey you need a stick for every kid, ball/puck, and a flat area rink/parking lot/tennis court to play.

Now a little bit on Jim Balsillie. First off let me say I only know what TSN says about him so forgive me if I get something wrong. I dont believe with how he has delt with the NHL in the past they will let him be a team owner. He doesnt listen or work with what the NHL wants to do. But besides that I think he could be great for hockey. He would be good to get peoples attention like Mark Cuban does for the NBA. People do love passionate owners.

 

[Stadium Sports]

New Job opportunities..

This has merit as it fits directly into the Premier's "Open for Business" initiative here in the Province of Ontario.

As others have already mentioned, the market is there and he would no doubt attract the minimum advance ticket sales for a viable operation.

 

[allstarcollectors]

You arent going to pick up any new hockey fans by adding or moving a team in Canada.

I don't agree. I think at least in the Greater Toronto area, kids have so little chance to watch an NHL game live, because the tickets are expensive, and still sold out. Another team in the area, would give the new generation a chance to actually see a game.

 

[sholi2000]

Revenue Sharing from the top NHL teams would decrease, adding more profit to the existing NHL owners. One less NHL team not collecting other teams profits is a good thing.

Revenue sharing would increase for the remainder of the troubled teams. Having another team in Sth On would add to the NHL profit margin. So the new NHL team makes money, then other less fortunate teams would receive more.

Population of Glendale is over 200K, how many of that population are hockey fans? 15%? (my estimate, not fact)

Population in the Phoenix area over 1 million. How many are hockey fans, I’m guessing the same amount in Glendale?

Population of Hamilton is over 500K, how many of that population are hockey fans? 50-65% (my estimate, not fact)

Population in the Sth On area? 5 x that of Phoenix? How many fans there? Many more than the Phoenix area.

New fans no, but more fans spending money would be a yes! Increase is retail NHL merchandise would increase. More sales equals more employment. (Invest in the best parts of the pig now haha)

No new fans, however with the fan base in Sth On that can’t get to a game in TO, then the opportunity to get to Hamilton may be a great option, if not, the Hamilton population IMO will be able to fill the seats.

The Best reason has to be just because. I know hockey is a business, but I firmly believe that people know what it's like to lose something important (hockey). Winnipeg, Hartford, and KeBec, are all seeing that now.

These are just a few opinions. Make it a good one, and lets see it on Market Place.

Make it Seven!!

Too bad you’re not writing on the reasons why they are moving, that would be a pretty easy paper.

Hamilton is a no brainer move. Too bad ol Jim is irking the people who control that!

 

[penguinfan]

Being that Pens fans were in a similar situation I would not wish, even the possibility of a team moving on anyone. But I don't see a problem with the team moving back to Canada if options on keeping the franchise stable in Phoenix are exhausted.

The one thing that the Pens had was Lemieux who had a great connection to the team he was trying to save(and not to mention the casinos coming to Pit)...While I won't question how much Gretzky cares about the Coyotes he probably doesn't have the same connection or resources that Lemieux was given

 

[HelloDestiny]

all im gonna say is IF Balsillie wins this battle and gets his team here in Hamilton.. I would KILL to be a fly on the wall in the next owners meetings, just to see the look on bettmans smug face while jim introduces himself etc etc. oh man, that would be amazing

 

[suitman19]

sholi2000 - check your facts on google. You are not even close on the population of the Phoenix/Glendale metro population. More like close to 4 million people!!! America's 12th largest metro area and growing vs 8 ofthe 11 that are shrinking!!!!
However - your comments on revenue sharing are spot on! But those dollars don't go to Canadian teams as a general rule - they go to the teams that bleed money!!!

penguinfan - exactly - this is not about canada vs the US. It is about a professional sports league having control of it's franchises and movement.

Jester240 - also totally correct!! The growth in hockey is in the US population.

allstarcollectors - I disagree. It gives them MORE opportunities to enjoy the game and to experience the highest level. It does not grow the game - they are already fans.
And if the demand is as high as everyone says - what are you thinking .... that Bassille will make the seats dirt cheap???? The seats will be very expensive due to supply and demand.

There are a lot of valid reasons to have a team in Southern Ontario.

Maybe a better option is to move the Islanders - Wang wants out, they draw fewer fans in an area where there are already 5 teams within 350 miles!!! Unless you take the time to look at why the 'Yotes are in trouble - stop making assumptions. It is neither the attendance nor the ladck of interest. It was an incredibly inept ownership group that gave away the farm to get a new arena.

bruce

 

[sholi2000]

Glendale Pop

Phoenix

Ok I misunderstood the numbers thx for the help.

To be honest the argument to move just got stronger with the real numbers on population. 4 million people, and they can't put people in the stands.

In Leaf land the team hasn't won a cup since 1967, yet people fill the arena. That's heart!

I wonder if the ACC had 100,000 seats would it fill it every game. The answer without ever being to a game in TO is yes. Anyone from Leaf land want to disagree?

So instead of making the arena bigger, make another arena same area, same result. (The result is there are hockey fans within the 7 million strong, I can't say the same about the Phoenix numbers)

The die-hard Leafs fans would cheer for their teams, but throughout time as the younger generation got older, the fans in the Sth On area would forget about the Leafs, and be like the Sens fans (old Habs and Leafs fans).

That's one big circle!

Lord Phoenix, get your act together and support your team!

Bettman time to release the hounds and move to a city that will support them.

As far as revenue sharing, I think you misunderstood what I was saying. I know the money doesn't go to Canadian teams. Every team in the NHL that produces a profit (not just from tickets, but from all areas of sales) sends a % of that profit to teams in the smaller markets to help break even (the 15 teams with the lowest producing revenue out). I know that, in fact I hope every NHL fan knows that.

The Phoenix Coyotes have lost 30 million each of the last three years, however thx to team like The Rags, Habs, Leafs, (well every Canadian team this season) and others, teams like Phoenix and others have managed to stay afloat. But why? Why keep throwing this money to them? Just because a city has an NHL team now, doesn’t mean that it belongs.

Basically Buttman is saying I’m wrong. He says, “we just don’t leave a city because they are losing money”……tell that to two Canadian cities and see who would be hanging from a tree!

The move to Hamilton is the right move, not because I say so (yes mostly lol), but because the numbers are there. It’s where the fans are.

Ok, that caffeine fix just ran out. Thx for everyo9ne’s time. Remember Carey Price for Hart, and Vezina!!

 

[ctbj]

Good points fella's, I'm pretty sure either way this will be the end of Bettman, Jimmy Balls knows this and he will get a team one way or other, How can the other owners not let him make more money for them LOL, I'm tired of Bettman trying to shove the NHL down the american market, cmon Kansas city LOL, If you build a rink in Ontario they will all come, and also pay big bucks to go see. Will the tickets be cheap? Hell no, basic supply and demand, I can see the leafs not being to happy about another team that will win a cup before their next one LOL, yes leaf fans that a dig so flame away LOL

 

[sholi2000]

Good points fella's, I'm pretty sure either way this will be the end of Bettman, Jimmy Balls knows this and he will get a team one way or other, How can the other owners not let him make more money for them LOL, I'm tired of Bettman trying to shove the NHL down the american market, cmon Kansas city LOL, If you build a rink in Ontario they will all come, and also pay big bucks to go see. Will the tickets be cheap? Hell no, basic supply and demand, I can see the leafs not being to happy about another team that will win a cup before their next one LOL, yes leaf fans that a dig so flame away LOL

Holy Chris..........pick your hockey pool prizes already

 

[leafschik1967]

Good points fella's, I'm pretty sure either way this will be the end of Bettman, Jimmy Balls knows this and he will get a team one way or other, How can the other owners not let him make more money for them LOL, I'm tired of Bettman trying to shove the NHL down the american market, cmon Kansas city LOL, If you build a rink in Ontario they will all come, and also pay big bucks to go see. Will the tickets be cheap? Hell no, basic supply and demand, I can see the leafs not being to happy about another team that will win a cup before their next one LOL, yes leaf fans that a dig so flame away LOL

Most reports indicate that a majority of owners are against this. It sets a terrible precedent if Balsille can walk in, buy a team and move it whereever he wants.

It wasn't that long ago that Calgary, Edmonton and Ottawa were in dire financial straights. The rules put in place by the NHL kept some rich Kansas City businessman from walking in and moving them.

Just because popular opinion says this particular move would be 'good' for hockey - it also sets the precedent for anyone with the money to make a move that could be terrible for hockey.

 

[ctbj]

Most reports indicate that a majority of owners are against this. It sets a terrible precedent if Balsille can walk in, buy a team and move it whereever he wants.

It wasn't that long ago that Calgary, Edmonton and Ottawa were in dire financial straights. The rules put in place by the NHL kept some rich Kansas City businessman from walking in and moving them.

Just because popular opinion says this particular move would be 'good' for hockey - it also sets the precedent for anyone with the money to make a move that could be terrible for hockey.

Good points also, but not only is his rich but he is willing to go to great lenghts to secure a team in ontario, I understand other owners might not be happy, the businessman in Kansas City, build a arena before he had something to put in, not very smart. Sometimes huge EGO's get in the way of business sense, and I can't see anyway another team somewhere in ontario cannot succeed, I challenge anyone to explain how and why this won't be good for the league?:beer:

 

[leafschik1967]

Good points also, but not only is his rich but he is willing to go to great lenghts to secure a team in ontario, I understand other owners might not be happy, the businessman in Kansas City, build a arena before he had something to put in, not very smart. Sometimes huge EGO's get in the way of business sense, and I can't see anyway another team somewhere in ontario cannot succeed, I challenge anyone to explain how and why this won't be good for the league?:beer:

If the precedent is set that owners can move teams anywhere without approval or consent from the league (which is what Balsille is trying to do) - what if the eventual buyer for the Habs decides he'd rather be in KC?