Who does Balsillie think he is?

[apuszczalowski]

Moyes wisely wanted to sell the team for the best possible deal. Taking it to bankruptcy was the only way he could do it. This is not collusion. Bias makes for some ridiculous arguments...

BullSh*t

 

Bankruptcy and working a deal with Balsillie is the only chance he had at making some money back that he lost. The NHL was taking control of the team cause he didn't want to lose more and needed the NHL to bail him out and keep the team afloat. Of course Moyes wanted the best deal, he knew that without Balsillie in Bankruptsy he wouldn't get anything back, and if the NHL kept control of the team, he would get nothing back. Of course he wants the best deal so he can make money back, who wouldn't?

[apuszczalowski]

As a proud Canadian I call BullShite on this one, we don't think Americans are stealing anything away. But having NHL teams in cities in the States that could care less about them is what is painful. I would NEVER want a real hockey city to lose their team, wether the team is American or Canadian. Winnipeg should have never lost their team, and at this time having them move back to a hockey hot bed would be a great thing for Canada and the NHL.

As a fellow Canadian, I could care less if Canada had more or less teams. I'm a Sabres fan and thats the only team I care about. And if you want proof of what I said, go to TSN and read the "your Call" posts under any storey refering to Balsillie/Phoenix. What makes a city a City a hockey Hot bed is they have never had a hockey team or had one and lost one? Winnepeg lost a team cause they lost some support, same with Quebec City, most Canadians will still call those Hockey hot beds that deserve teams. Would you seriously care about, or pay money to see the Coyotes team play over the last 5-10 years? Sports can work anywhere, but it all starts with having successful teams and marketing them right. Dallas is not a typical "hockey Hotbed", along with LA or Anaheim, yet they have teams and areas that support hockey because hey have teams that are successful. Even Tampa has success occaionally when they are good.

[apuszczalowski]

By the way, what makes everyone think Hamilton will be so successful with a team? Because its in Canada? Most of the opinions from people in the area is that they are all for it and will support it cause it will be more affordable then the Leafs and Balsillie will spend money to build a great team, but those are just assumptions. For all anyone knows, Hamilton could wind up the same as TO and have the lower levels filled with suits not paying attention, and ticket prices average fans can't support. And as for balsillie spending money for a winner, didn't we Sabres fans think the same with TG cause he is a billionaire? Jim could be the same and focus on the bottom line, he is a buisnessman after all

[nfreeman]

Moyes wisely wanted to sell the team for the best possible deal. Taking it to bankruptcy was the only way he could do it. This is not collusion. Bias makes for some ridiculous arguments...

 

BullSh*t

 

Bankruptcy and working a deal with Balsillie is the only chance he had at making some money back that he lost. The NHL was taking control of the team cause he didn't want to lose more and needed the NHL to bail him out and keep the team afloat. Of course Moyes wanted the best deal, he knew that without Balsillie in Bankruptsy he wouldn't get anything back, and if the NHL kept control of the team, he would get nothing back. Of course he wants the best deal so he can make money back, who wouldn't?

APus -- end the curse has a number of good posts, but for some reason he goes off the deep end with the conspiracy theories and overheated rhetoric when it comes to Balsillie/Phoenix/etc. Anyway, I agree with just about everything you've posted in this thread (aside from posting 3 times in reply to 3 other posts, when one "multiquote" post in reply would do).

[shrader]

The support Balsillie is getting is from the Canadian fans cause they feel cheated that they don't have more teams for the country. Canadians are very patriotic, and they feel its their game and that the Americans are stealing it away

 

I love every time you post about this subject because I'm glad to see that not every single canadian has their shirt pulled up over their eyes. Balsillie has done a great job fooling an entire country. This thing is not about Canada and it has never been. It's all about Jim Balsillie and his ego. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that though. The only problem is all those canadians who don't realize it.

[nobody]

By the way, what makes everyone think Hamilton will be so successful with a team? Because its in Canada? Most of the opinions from people in the area is that they are all for it and will support it cause it will be more affordable then the Leafs and Balsillie will spend money to build a great team, but those are just assumptions. For all anyone knows, Hamilton could wind up the same as TO and have the lower levels filled with suits not paying attention, and ticket prices average fans can't support. And as for balsillie spending money for a winner, didn't we Sabres fans think the same with TG cause he is a billionaire? Jim could be the same and focus on the bottom line, he is a buisnessman after all

 

 

How is Hamilton's support with their AHL team?

[...]

I love every time you post about this subject because I'm glad to see that not every single canadian has their shirt pulled up over their eyes. Balsillie has done a great job fooling an entire country. This thing is not about Canada and it has never been. It's all about Jim Balsillie and his ego. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that though. The only problem is all those canadians who don't realize it.

 

 

You mean one man with enough money, well-prepared rhetoric, and a PR staff can fool an entire country? That could NEVER happen in the USA. :wallbash:

[DR HOLLIDAY]

You mean one man with enough money, well-prepared rhetoric, and a PR staff can fool an entire country? That could NEVER happen in the USA. :wallbash:

 

LOL, everyone knows that Jim's ego is a part of this, but it takes movers and shakers to get things done sometimes. So a successful Canadian business man wants to own a hockey team, and bring it to Canada......Good God what a stupid idea, what a bastard......He's fooled everyone, damn him, what Southern Ontario residents would want to watch a hockey game, what an idiot, better keep the team in Phoenix because Bettman, rat face knows better then everyone, stupid Canadians.

[end the curse]

I just don't see the logic in arguing how a man can be at fault for offering above market value for a franchise that has failed in an untenable location, the bankrupt owner accepting the offer to essentially bail out ruinous debt and pay off creditors, and then offer the condition to move the franchise to an area that will guarantee long term financial success. In the end, all the arguments against this deal are generated from myopic Sabres fans who deep down mean well, but are simply carried away with irrational fear that it will destroy the team and cause them to disband or relocate.

 

It won't, and the Sabres will be successful with or without a team in Hamilton. If anything, I believe having another rival will add to the value of the franchise and increase area interest in the Sabres. I understand you doom-and-gloom folks mean well, but you just aren't thinking with your heads right now.

[nfreeman]

LOL, everyone knows that Jim's ego is a part of this, but it takes movers and shakers to get things done sometimes. So a successful Canadian business man wants to own a hockey team, and bring it to Canada......Good God what a stupid idea, what a bastard......He's fooled everyone, damn him, what Southern Ontario residents would want to watch a hockey game, what an idiot, better keep the team in Phoenix because Bettman, rat face knows better then everyone, stupid Canadians.

FWIW, I don't think Balsillie wanting to own a team in Hamilton makes him a bad guy. He's entitled to want what he wants. And there's also nothing wrong with thousands (if not millions) of S. Ontario hockey fans being thrilled at the prospect of getting a team and accordingly supporting Balsillie's efforts. Similarly, though, Bettman and ALL of the other NHL owners not wanting Balsillie as a partner doesn't make them bad guys -- and neither does their sun belt expansion strategy. They are entitled to want what they want, just like Balsillie is.

 

I think Balsillie's ego/arrogance/impatience/other personality issues really came back to bite him, though. He should've just bought the Penguins or the Predators, gotten in, gotten to know the other owners, played the game, bided his time, and he probably would've ended up getting what he wanted. Instead he wanted it right away, couldn't see why he wasn't entitled to it right away, tried to muscle his way in, and behaved in a manner that alienated everyone. I don't expect him to get a team for at least 5 years now, if ever.

[...]

I don't expect him to get a team for at least 5 years now, if ever.

 

 

I don't know - it's not over yet. Balsille is taking the best approach now to getting his team: the US judicial system.

[nfreeman]

I just don't see the logic in arguing how a man can be at fault for offering above market value for a franchise

Nothing wrong with this at all.

 

that has failed in an untenable location,

While the franchise has lost a ton of money, this doesn't prove that the location is untenable. As APus points out, locations like Anaheim, Dallas, Tampa, San Jose, etc. have all done very well once winning records have been established and favorable economic arrangements with the arena and host city put in place. Those critical items are simply not and have not been present in Glendale. Until they are, there is no way of knowing whether or not the location is viable. Certainly the other pro sports have flourished there. There is no reason the NHL cannot do so.

 

the bankrupt owner accepting the offer to essentially bail out ruinous debt and pay off creditors,

The only creditor that is getting treated better by this offer than by the other offers is the bankrupt owner himself. This is a critical point. He screwed up. His business failed. He's the one who should take the hit, not the NHL, not the local hockey fans, not the city of Glendale, and not the other local vendors who will be deeply harmed by the team moving.

 

While it's human nature to want to recoup losses, no one should be under any illusions that Moyes is trying to do anything other than breach agreements with the city and the NHL in exchange for millions of Balsillie's dollars.

 

and then offer the condition to move the franchise to an area

What's wrong with this is that it breaks a core principle of his (and every other owner's) agreement with the NHL -- that the individual owner has no right to move a team without NHL approval. It's that simple. He agreed to this, and now he's deciding that he'd rather take the cash and break a cornerstone-type rule.

 

that will guarantee long term financial success.

The same type of success that Quebec and Winnipeg had? There is no guarantee of this whatsoever.

 

In the end, all the arguments against this deal are generated from myopic Sabres fans who deep down mean well, but are simply carried away with irrational fear that it will destroy the team and cause them to disband or relocate. It won't, and the Sabres will be successful with or without a team in Hamilton. If anything, I believe having another rival will add to the value of the franchise and increase area interest in the Sabres.

You aren't the only one who believes this, but I completely disagree. The Sabres derive a lot of their revenue from S. Ontario. I think most of that will evaporate if Hamilton gets a team. Buffalo is a shrinking city with a shrinking economy. The Sabres are walking a very fine line in terms of their economic survival. They simply can't afford to take a 10% hit or 15% or whatever it would be to their top line if Hamilton got a team.

 

I understand you doom-and-gloom folks mean well, but you just aren't thinking with your heads right now.

While I appreciate that you have reduced the insults and inflammatory tone of your posts, this is still phrased pretty obnoxiously.

[nfreeman]

I don't know - it's not over yet. Balsille is taking the best approach now to getting his team: the US judicial system.

You are right on both counts. I just think that the NHL owners would do whatever they had to do to avoid letting Balsillie win this way -- even something like contracting the franchise out of existence.

[end the curse]

The only guarantee of staying in Phoenix is losing money. The NHL even admits as much, and has indicated in their offer that they will be including an escape clause to move the franchise. Saying that the Coyotes are not tenable in Phoenix is may be the least controversial part of this entire case.

 

Regarding Hamilton, everyone is in agreement that they would prosper there. Your comparison to Winnipeg is very flawed because A; they sold out every game right to the bitter end, and B; they were sent packing as part of the "southern strategy" that has been an epic fail and everyone in hockey knows it. Even the examples you are trying to use with Dallas and Anaheim are still considered franchises wavering on the brink.

 

Look, we can argue all day, and I respect that underneath all the reaching and grabbing for excuses to justify keeping the team in Phoenix, and bashing every attempt to move them to Hamilton, is an admirable partisan bias that fears encroachment on the Sabres extended market. We have both outlined opposing views on this matter, and I doubt either of us are about to be swayed, but in the end I believe that Balsillie's plan is better for both the NHL, the creditors, and the Sabres.

 

I still would buy you a beer and be your friend, but we just respectfully disagree. Thank you for mentioning me in a semi-positive light above, btw. Considering how we disagree on this issue it shows you're a pretty stand up guy.

[...]

 

The same type of success that Quebec and Winnipeg had? There is no guarantee of this whatsoever.

 

 

How can these two Canadian markets lose their NHL hockey teams?

 

Winnipeg (pop. 648,000) is not nearly the market Quebec City is/was, so we'll ignore the market comparisons - however, it WAS a Canadian franchise that FAILED.

 

Quebec City (pop. 491,142) is right next door to Montreal, but, still, that's a huge market, right? If you include Montreal, and exclude Quebec City, the Nordiques enjoyed an additional 3 million-plus people potentially feeding into its market. Not all of those people would be Canadiens fans. ;)

 

Hamilton (pop. 504,559), Niagara (pop. 427,421), and Halton (pop. 439,256) feed, arguably, both the Toronto and Buffalo markets. Let's not forget that Toronto is 2.5 million people alone, not to mention the huge areas around it.

 

So, the Quebec City and Hamilton markets share lots of similarities. The analogy being that Montreal = Toronto, and Ottawa = Buffalo. A third team didn't work in that huge market - someone will whither on the vine. Hell, even the Islanders are struggling, which may change after they get their new arena (and/or a new owner and/or a better FO), but that market down there is larger than all three of those Canadian markets combined.

 

So, I'm not buying the idea of the area being able to support a third team - Quebec City could not. Not even a remote in-the-sticks town with nothing else to do like Winnipeg could handle having its own franchise. Just because it's a Canadian market - doesn't mean its a STRONG market - or a hockey market. :bag:

 

 

You are right on both counts. I just think that the NHL owners would do whatever they had to do to avoid letting Balsillie win this way -- even something like contracting the franchise out of existence.

 

 

I hope they stop him - on principle alone, if for nothing else. The league has survived for a long-ass time and I think despite its Bettman's here and there, it knows what it's doing. The rules are there for a reason.

[shrader]

I don't know - it's not over yet. Balsille is taking the best approach now to getting his team: the US judicial system.

 

Yeah, but we continue to hear nothing from the recent hearing, all while Balsillie's hard deadline he built into his offer quickly approaches.

[nfreeman]

The only guarantee of staying in Phoenix is losing money. The NHL even admits as much, and has indicated in their offer that they will be including an escape clause to move the franchise. Saying that the Coyotes are not tenable in Phoenix is may be the least controversial part of this entire case.

 

Regarding Hamilton, everyone is in agreement that they would prosper there. Your comparison to Winnipeg is very flawed because A; they sold out every game right to the bitter end, and B; they were sent packing as part of the "southern strategy" that has been an epic fail and everyone in hockey knows it. Even the examples you are trying to use with Dallas and Anaheim are still considered franchises wavering on the brink.

 

Look, we can argue all day, and I respect that underneath all the reaching and grabbing for excuses to justify keeping the team in Phoenix, and bashing every attempt to move them to Hamilton, is an admirable partisan bias that fears encroachment on the Sabres extended market. We have both outlined opposing views on this matter, and I doubt either of us are about to be swayed, but in the end I believe that Balsillie's plan is better for both the NHL, the creditors, and the Sabres.

 

I still would buy you a beer and be your friend, but we just respectfully disagree. Thank you for mentioning me in a semi-positive light above, btw. Considering how we disagree on this issue it shows you're a pretty stand up guy.

Well said. Thanks.

[apuszczalowski]

The only guarantee of staying in Phoenix is losing money. The NHL even admits as much, and has indicated in their offer that they will be including an escape clause to move the franchise. Saying that the Coyotes are not tenable in Phoenix is may be the least controversial part of this entire case.

 

Regarding Hamilton, everyone is in agreement that they would prosper there. Your comparison to Winnipeg is very flawed because A; they sold out every game right to the bitter end, and B; they were sent packing as part of the "southern strategy" that has been an epic fail and everyone in hockey knows it. Even the examples you are trying to use with Dallas and Anaheim are still considered franchises wavering on the brink.

 

Look, we can argue all day, and I respect that underneath all the reaching and grabbing for excuses to justify keeping the team in Phoenix, and bashing every attempt to move them to Hamilton, is an admirable partisan bias that fears encroachment on the Sabres extended market. We have both outlined opposing views on this matter, and I doubt either of us are about to be swayed, but in the end I believe that Balsillie's plan is better for both the NHL, the creditors, and the Sabres.

 

I still would buy you a beer and be your friend, but we just respectfully disagree. Thank you for mentioning me in a semi-positive light above, btw. Considering how we disagree on this issue it shows you're a pretty stand up guy.

Dallas and Anaheim are teams waivering on the Brink? Ah, they are on the brink as much as Edmonton, Buffalo, the Islanders, Ottawa, etc. The only guarantee that hamilton has for being a success is that its a Canadian City. Fans are basing the success also on the thought that the ticket prices are going to be priced more competitive to Buffalo then Toronto, and that the locals will be able to afford tickets in the lower bowl of the arena.

 

The league in their bid is including the out clause IF they can't work out a new lease with Glendale for the arena, which is something that has been the biggest noose around the neck of the team.

 

Jims plan is not better for the creditors, I have shown this in a previous post. His bid is better for Moyes (I don't blame Moyes for trying to get monwy back, who wouldn't try to get money back that they lost), and will leave the true creditors with less then what the other 2 bids will give them. If you remove what Moyes receives from Jims Bid ($104 million, something everyone seems to forget about when they talk about how Jims bid is obviously better cause its for more money) its about $36-40 million less to the real creditors then the other bids cause the other bids pay Moyes (who is only a creditor cause he is trying to say that as the owner he "loaned" the team money) next to nothing, which is what normally happens when you file for bankruptcy. For example. If I bought a McDonalds franchise, and it was losing money, so I file for bankruptcy, in bankruptcy, the creditors will get their money back, but the chances of me recouping the money I put into the franchise are slim to none

 

Sure, I am against this because it will affect the Sabres more then it will help. The Sabres are already a team struggling financially in what most would consider a hockey market, how will putting a team near by, making the team share a market they have been fighting to expand into help them? Its not like putting a team there is going to mean everyone has more money to spend on hockey. It might bump up ticket sales to some Sabres/Coyotes games (which will be what, 4 more games might be sold out because of Canadians coming accross the border like the Leafs fans?) but that will depend mostly on IF the Coyotes would then be moved into the Eastern Division and not remain in the West with Detroit and Chicago where Buffalo might face them at home once a year.

 

Oh, and if you look at Jims support, the majority of it comes from people that just want another Canadian team cause they don't think its right to have hockey teams in the south, and because they dispise Bettman and want to see him lose.

[end the curse]

Dallas and Anaheim are teams waivering on the Brink? Ah, they are on the brink as much as Edmonton, Buffalo, the Islanders, Ottawa, etc.

 

Dallas Stars on the brink of bankruptcy.

 

Meanwhile, despite their on ice success, Anaheim ranks bottom five in television ratings and as a result has been shut out of national television broadcasts on Versus. In addition, their owner was sent to prison after being convicted of fraud.

 

If one wants to argue against having Balsilie succeed, one should limit the argument to fear that they will potentially harm the Sabres in some economic way, because even though I would argue the opposite is true, trying to make the case for Phoenix as a good hockey market is simply not an intelligent position. Hell, even the residents of Phoenix don't buy it.

[apuszczalowski]

Dallas Stars on the brink of bankruptcy.

 

Meanwhile, despite their on ice success, Anaheim ranks bottom five in television ratings and as a result has been shut out of national television broadcasts on Versus. In addition, their owner was sent to prison after being convicted of fraud.

 

If one wants to argue against having Balsilie succeed, one should limit the argument to fear that they will potentially harm the Sabres in some economic way, because even though I would argue the opposite is true, trying to make the case for Phoenix as a good hockey market is simply not an intelligent position. Hell, even the residents of Phoenix don't buy it.

"This situtation is surely no good for the NHL or for hockey. Dallas had been one of the Southern franchises that worked. Since relocating from Minnesota in 1993, the Stars have put a Stanley Cup in their trophy room and enjoyed at least the perception of strong ownership. Now they appear on the endangered species list."

 

That was taken from the bottom of the article. Dallas financial troouble is stemming from the owner having personal financial trouble in the economy, not because of lack of a fan base.

 

Heres some lists I found with the source of the info coming from the NHL and NHLPA, yet I don't find Anaheim near the bottom of any of the lists

 

Here is the NHL's ranking

 

1. NY Rangers 1.68MM/game (2nd)

2. NJ Devils 1.31MM/game (3rd)

3. Chicago 1.26MM/game (4th)

4. Detroit 1.15MM/game (5th)

5. Florida 1.09MM/game (7th)

6. Philadelphia 1.08MM/game (8th)

7. Los Angeles 1.07MM/game (9th)

8. Anaheim 1.03MM/game (10th)

9. San Jose 0.99MM/game (11th)

10. Boston 0.97MM/game (12th)

11. Dallas 0.96MM/game (13th)

12. St. Louis 0.95MM/game (15th)

13. Minnesota 0.93MM/game (16th)

14. Colorado 0.92MM/game (17th)

15. Carolina 0.92MM/game (18th)

16. Pittsburgh 0.90MM/game (19th)

17. NY Islanders 0.89MM/game (20th)

18. Columbus 0.89MM/game (21st)

19. Washington 0.87MM/game (22nd)

20. Atlanta 0.86MM/game (24th)

21. Buffalo 0.86MM/game (25th)

22. Tampa Bay 0.84MM/game (26th)

23. Nashville 0.71MM/game (29th)

24. Phoenix 0.66MM/game (30th)

 

(Canadian Teams)

1. Toronto 1.72MM/game (1st)

2. Montreal 1.14MM/game (6th)

3. Vancouver 0.96MM/game (14th)

4. Calgary 0.87MM/game (22nd)

5. Edmonton 0.83MM/game (26th)

6. Ottawa 0.81MM/game (27th)

 

 

Revenue/Capita

1. Toronto

2. NY Rangers

3. Montreal

4. Pittsburgh

5. NJ Devils

6. Detroit

7. Ottawa

8. Philadelphia

9. Minnesota

10. Colorado

11. Edmonton

12. Chicago

13. Vancouver

14. Los Angeles

15. San Jose

16. Calgary

17. Buffalo

18. Florida

19. Carolina

20. Washington

21. NY Islanders

22. Anaheim

23. Dallas

24. St. Louis

25. Columbus

26. Phoenix

27. Atlanta

28. Boston

29. Tampa Bay

30. Nashville

 

 

TV Ratings

1. NY Rangers

2. NJ Devils

3. Toronto Maple Leafs

4. Anaheim Ducks

5. Los Angeles Kings

6. Montreal Canadiens

7. Detroit Red Wings

8. Dallas Stars

9. Calgary Flames

10. Chicago Blackhawks

11. Florida Panthers

12. NY Islanders

13. Philadelphia Flyers

14. Vancouver Canucks

15. Ottawa Senators

16. Washington Capitals

17. Boston Bruins

18. Edmonton Oilers

19. Pittsburgh Penguins

20. Minnesota Wild

21. Carolina Hurricanes

22. Tampa Bay Lightning

23. Atlanta Thrashers

24. Columbus Blue Jackets

25. Buffalo Sabres

26. St. Louis Blues

27. Colorado Avalanche

28. San Jose Sharks (keep in mind, only the Buffalo market is smaller)

29. Phoenix Coyotes

30. Nashville Predators

 

 

And, the league's final audited profitability numbers as agreed upon between the NHLPA and the NHL

 

1. New York Rangers 38.9MM

2. New Jersey Devils 27.4MM

3. Los Angeles Kings 18.8MM

4. Toronto Maple Leafs 18.1MM

5. Chicago Blackhawks 17.6MM

6. Philadelphia Flyers 13.9MM

7. Anaheim Ducks 12.7MM

8. Dallas Stars 11.9MM

9. San Jose Sharks 11.3MM

10. Pittsburgh Penguins 11.1MM

11. Boston Bruins 9.4MM

12. Washington Capitals 8.1MM

13. Columbus Blue Jackets 5.9MM

14. Colorado Avalanche 5.3MM

15. Florida Panthers 4.4MM

16. Detroit Red Wings 4.2MM

17. Montreal Canadiens 3.8MM

18. Carolina Hurricanes 3.6MM

19. St. Louis Blues 3.1MM

20. Minnesota Wild 2.9MM

21. Vancouver Canucks 2.6MM

22. Buffalo Sabres 1.9MM

23. New York Islanders 0.8MM

24. Calgary Flames -4.4MM

25. Atlanta Thrashers -6.1MM

26. Nashville Predators -7.4MM

27. Edmonton Oilers -10.3MM

28. Tampa Bay Lightning -11.8MM

29. Ottawa Senators -22.7MM

30. Phoenix Coyotes -37.2MMSource(s):

NHL and NHLPA

[KK6666]

Actually, not at all. This is an anti-trust case where Toronto (MLSE) would insist they have the exclusive veto rights to a territory, while the NHL contends that territory is the property of the league as a whole, and any relocation/expansion matters are determined by majority vote of the NHL board and not a single team owner.

 

It's a turf war.

In addition to that there is the issue of the creditors.

The court has to decide what takes precedent.

 

Balsillie has little to lose here.

If the court decides in favor of the interest of the creditors Balsillie ends up with a team in one of the most profitable markets, the value of which will far exceed the bid price.

[Eleven]

 

Heres some lists I found with the source of the info coming from the NHL and NHLPA, yet I don't find Anaheim near the bottom of any of the lists

 

 

I thought the Sabres supposedly were tops in TV ratings in the US. Or is that market share, while the ranking you posted is households?

[...]

That was taken from the bottom of the article. Dallas financial troouble is stemming from the owner having personal financial trouble in the economy, not because of lack of a fan base.

 

I'd have to agree. The teams are doing well, it's the owners who are not doing well. The market those teams are in seem to support the team very well if the numbers say anything.

 

I also agree with the point made in the article that the NHL does very well handling teams "in trouble". Like I said before, the league has been around a long time and knows what to do - that, for me, is the principle reason for supporting the league over Balsille. Balsille can potentially take down the league just because he wants a team, by tearing down the foundations that have kept it strong over the years.

 

Gee, another incidental analogy - AMERICA ARE YOU LISTENING? Nope.

 

Now here are team that ARE in trouble:

 

24. Calgary Flames -4.4MM

25. Atlanta Thrashers -6.1MM

26. Nashville Predators -7.4MM

27. Edmonton Oilers -10.3MM

28. Tampa Bay Lightning -11.8MM

29. Ottawa Senators -22.7MM

30. Phoenix Coyotes -37.2MM[/i]Source(s):

 

 

Even Buffalo's meager profit looks better than this.

[apuszczalowski]

In addition to that there is the issue of the creditors.

The court has to decide what takes precedent.

 

Balsillie has little to lose here.

If the court decides in favor of the interest of the creditors Balsillie ends up with a team in one of the most profitable markets, the value of which will far exceed the bid price.

Not necessarily. The court has to decide if Moyes is even a creditor. As I have said a million times before, Jims bid pays Moyes $104 million, leaving $108 million for other actual creditors. The NHL and Ice Edges Bids both give $140/$150 million to the actual creditors and nothing to Moyes. If the courts decide that Moyes isn't a true creditor, then Jim doesn't have the best bid

[KK6666]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/hockey/nhl/09/02/basillie.games.ap/index.html

 

everybody knows he is doing this in the best interest of himself and ONLY himself.....this has nothing to do with the fans or the game

Yeah he's a businessman taking a shot in a court case in what promises to be a big payoff if the ruling goes in his favor.