|
Wpg Sun
May 18, 2009 21:44:20 GMT -5
Post by Darren Ford on May 18, 2009 21:44:20 GMT -5
Winnipeg should have dibs on Coyotes E-mail confirms Bettman's statement
By JASON HALSTEAD SUN MEDIA
Last Updated: 18th May 2009, 7:33pm Email Story Print Size A A A Report Typo Share with: Facebook Digg Del.icio.us Google Stumble Upon Newsvine Reddit Technorati Feed Me Yahoo Simpy Squidoo Spurl Blogmarks Netvouz Scuttle Sitejot + What are these? Winnipeg should have first dibs on getting its old team back if the failing Phoenix Coyotes must move to another city, National Hockey League commissioner Gary Bettman confirmed in an internal e-mail he sent last month.
Bettman sent the e-mail to the NHL’s deputy commissioner Bill Daly on April 4 after talking to Earl Scudder, a lawyer who works for Coyotes majority owner Jerry Moyes.
Earlier this month Moyes filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, allowing BlackBerry billionaire Jim Balsillie to put in a US$212.5-million offer to buy the Coyotes, under the condition he be allowed to relocate the club to southern Ontario.
In the e-mail, which was filed in a U.S. bankruptcy court, Bettman said, “I told (Scudder) that at some point, if we don’t have an alternative, I will have to start looking at the moving option.”
Referring to the conversation with Scudder, Bettman said “He then asked about southern Ontario and I responded that it’s a league opportunity, the building (Hamilton’s Copps Coliseum) is too old, etc., and, frankly, if this team had to move it should first be offered to Winnipeg.”
The Winnipeg Jets moved to Arizona following the 1995-96 season and were renamed the Coyotes.
The Jets were one of the founding franchises in the World Hockey Association in 1972, and merged with the NHL in 1979.
In the same e-mail, Bettman talks about the difficulty of securing a buyer for the Coyotes franchise in light of the team’s serious financial problems, saying “this is looking more and more difficult since no one seems to be excited about a team losing 40 (million dollars).”
Daly told the Toronto Star on Sunday that relocating the Coyotes to Winnipeg would be worth exploring only if there were no other options.
“The whole idea Bettman said this about Winnipeg and being first on their agenda doesn’t shock me,” said Winnipegger Darren Ford, who runs the Return of the Jets Campaign on his website, jetsowner.com.
“Mostly what it says to me, and should say to everyone, is that this isn’t just about Phoenix, but that for any team that comes down the pipe with difficulties and needing a place to move, we’re the No. 1 possibility because we have an NHL-ready building.”
While Ford is confident Winnipeg will someday regain an NHL franchise, he said he wouldn’t bank on the Coyotes due to the legal problems surrounding the club.
“But in terms of some team coming back, I’d give it 100% (odds),” Ford said. “I think this is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of teams saying they’ve had enough and calling it quits where they are.”
A judge will preside over a bankruptcy hearing Monday afternoon in Phoenix and determine who controls the Coyotes.
|
|
|
Wpg Sun
May 18, 2009 21:50:25 GMT -5
Post by DEATHBYPOPCORN1990 on May 18, 2009 21:50:25 GMT -5
Today wasnt a holiday in Phoenix, so we should definately hear somethings tommorrow!
|
|
|
Wpg Sun
May 18, 2009 23:26:42 GMT -5
Post by suitup17 on May 18, 2009 23:26:42 GMT -5
I feel like something similar already came out, did it not?
|
|
|
Wpg Sun
May 19, 2009 9:18:53 GMT -5
Post by The Unknown Poster on May 19, 2009 9:18:53 GMT -5
This puts the pressure on the apparent Winnipeg ownership group. Certainly, Bettman's statement seems to confirm that there is an ownerhship group in place, or why else make an offer (to whom would he make an offer if there was no ownership?). But they have to be prepared to accept that offer.
The NHL seems to value the Coyotes around $130mm. But that takes into account luring an owner in with a deal attached to land development etc. What would the price be to move to Winnipeg?
|
|
|
Wpg Sun
May 19, 2009 9:25:19 GMT -5
Post by Hannu Smail on May 19, 2009 9:25:19 GMT -5
Really, that's the next big "exciting" tidbit to come, isn't it? Who are the "deep pockets" backing the Chipman/Winnipeg ownership group? An everyday name/group of names we are all familiar with? Someone else less obvious? I recall DF's statement at one point (I think?) mentioning to look "outside the perimeter", or something to that effect, no?
|
|
|
Wpg Sun
May 19, 2009 9:30:39 GMT -5
Post by mcguire4 on May 19, 2009 9:30:39 GMT -5
I read the article and i am fuming mad at the people that live here. here is my comment ( everybody, please leave a comment )
Kevin Report CommentMay 19th 2009, 9:24am First off, to posters like JG. It would be better for you to not leave a comment on an issue that you have absolutely no clue about. I would dare say to ALL of you naysayers that you all are ignorant of the FACTS. go to either jetsowner.com or manitobamythbusters.com and look at the NUMBERS. ACTUAL,FACTUAL, NUMBERS. Is it so far fatched to think we cant do better than HAMILTON?....hmmmm, let's see. The Copps is over 30 years old, no luxury boxes. Couple that with their own AHL team the Bulldogs, which draw flies in comparision to the Moose. ( I wont say "our" MOOSE because they aren't, they belong to Vancouver). But the Moose draw fans.......LOTS of them. LOSERS are the naysayers, i SAY pack your bags and move to Regina, more room for us.
|
|
|
Wpg Sun
May 19, 2009 10:04:51 GMT -5
Post by mcguire4 on May 19, 2009 10:04:51 GMT -5
get on it people! www.winnipegsun.comlet your voices be heard!http://www.winnipegsun.com/news/winnipeg/2009/05/19/9495451-sun.html
|
|
|
Wpg Sun
May 19, 2009 10:11:20 GMT -5
Post by NewJets on May 19, 2009 10:11:20 GMT -5
I am appauled and even ashamed over some of the comments from fellow Peggers.
Seriously, this city and its people really have some kind of inferiority complex; a 'can't do attitude'.
The mere mention of the Jets returning has these folks rolling their eyes and saying crap like "we can't afford it."
yeah, but you can afford to pay for 200 dollar tickets to see shows at the MTS Centre and pay rediculous amounts of money to dine in any of the Peg's fine restaurants. But nooooo, we can't afford NHL hockey.
Idiots.
|
|
|
Wpg Sun
May 19, 2009 10:15:47 GMT -5
Post by The Unknown Poster on May 19, 2009 10:15:47 GMT -5
These same people said we can't build an arena.
These same people said we can't build a new Stadium.
These same people always say the same thing. And they arent the ones who will support the team. I often wonder why people who really don't care either way get so worked up? Why not just say "well, I'm not a hockey fan so I dont care." or "I dont think I would spend money on NHL hockey but if True North thinks they can make it work, more power to them."
How can these people see NHL hockey in Edmonton and think it can't work here?
|
|
|
Wpg Sun
May 19, 2009 10:40:40 GMT -5
Post by pank on May 19, 2009 10:40:40 GMT -5
I really can't believe the negativity in a lot of those comments. The NHL is very close to returning to the city and all people can think of are negative thoughts.
They will be eating their words very soon I'm thinking.
|
|
|
Wpg Sun
May 19, 2009 11:12:11 GMT -5
Post by pbonomo on May 19, 2009 11:12:11 GMT -5
There should be a space after the exclamation point...
|
|
|
Wpg Sun
May 19, 2009 11:14:42 GMT -5
Post by djk on May 19, 2009 11:14:42 GMT -5
My response:
"What a bunch of negative tightwads are posting here. You seriously think that out of 700,000 people we can't find enough people to consistently fill the building at reasonable prices? You need to give your head a shake. NHL ticket prices wouldn't need to be outrageous in order for it to work in Winnipeg at all. Screw your inferiority complexes and negative attitudes about this city. If its so bad, move somewhere else. And do some research before you blab on about how it can't be done. Darren Ford's site provides more than enough to prove it. Also visit manitobamythbusters.com.
It's about time people in this city started believing that we CAN do things instead of we CAN'T do things. As if this city is inferior to Hamilton..."
|
|
|
Wpg Sun
May 19, 2009 12:01:57 GMT -5
Post by NewJets on May 19, 2009 12:01:57 GMT -5
My response: "What a bunch of negative tightwads are posting here. You seriously think that out of 700,000 people we can't find enough people to consistently fill the building at reasonable prices? You need to give your head a shake. NHL ticket prices wouldn't need to be outrageous in order for it to work in Winnipeg at all. Screw your inferiority complexes and negative attitudes about this city. If its so bad, move somewhere else. And do some research before you blab on about how it can't be done. Darren Ford's site provides more than enough to prove it. Also visit manitobamythbusters.com. It's about time people in this city started believing that we CAN do things instead of we CAN'T do things. As if this city is inferior to Hamilton..." Good job! Its sad that our fellow citizens don't see the NHL working in Winnipeg but its even worse to hear from hockey fans to the west and east of us saying the same thing! I mean, what gives? Why so much negativity towards Winnipeg and the NHL?? Then I read the same thing over and over again: fans didn't come out to the games and that's why we lost the team. The level of ignorance in Canada towards the reason why the Jets moved is astounding! Idiots.
|
|
|
Wpg Sun
May 19, 2009 12:11:33 GMT -5
Post by mcguire4 on May 19, 2009 12:11:33 GMT -5
im getting a taste of what Darren must have/is going through. for some reason people are singiling me out on the comment section. backup please ?
|
|
|
Wpg Sun
May 19, 2009 12:21:46 GMT -5
Post by bromine on May 19, 2009 12:21:46 GMT -5
We're getting slaughtered in the poll.
Do you believe Gary Bettman would give Winnipeg another chance in the NHL? Yes 26% No 74%
VOTE VOTE VOTE!
|
|
|
Wpg Sun
May 19, 2009 12:25:59 GMT -5
Post by djk on May 19, 2009 12:25:59 GMT -5
mcguire4, if you are Kevin, I've been in there a few times posting backup.
My latest (in response to a question about whether we'd rather have a bad NHL team like the Yotes over a good AHL team like the Moose):
"dusty fields: Yes, we are. Because AHL hockey, while decent enough just isn't the same as the NHL. I like the Moose, but if it was between them and a NHL franchise, I'd say don't let the door hit you in the Go Jets Go on the way out. No one will cry if the Moose leave because the NHL is back. They do a nice job of keep the lights on and the place warm, but Winnipeg can do better than that. At least for those of us who actually are proud of this city and aren't stuck in the "we're too cheap and didn't support the Jets before" class."
And also:
"Newsflash, the Jets didn't leave due to lack of fan support. Except in the final lame duck season Jets attendance (in a dump of an arena) was about on par with average attendance for that time period. The Jets weren't generating revenue because of the crap deal they had with Winnipeg Enterprises over the arena. Hey, that problem doesn't exist with MTS Centre, one of the busiest and best arenas in Canada!
But I don't expect to change any minds. Just hope you won't be at the games when the time comes."
I won't be going back though. Too many idiots.
|
|
|
Wpg Sun
May 19, 2009 15:16:14 GMT -5
Post by mcguire4 on May 19, 2009 15:16:14 GMT -5
BT is laying the smackdown on those naysayers right now.
|
|
|
Wpg Sun
May 19, 2009 15:32:06 GMT -5
Post by macitect on May 19, 2009 15:32:06 GMT -5
My response: I am not even going to delve into the cost of running an NHL team in Winnipeg, but I will say that Winnipeg CANNOT AFFORD not to have the NHL!!!
I grew up in the peg and left in 96 after the Jets - to pursue my studies. I now live and work in California with my wife and 4 kids (I cheer for whoever plays the Sharks...). The number of people that I meet everywhere I go that come from Wpg is astounding. Why do they leave? Because they feel the city has nothing to offer and refuses to think big. As sure as I live the return of the NHL will have more people considering Wpg to live and more born and bred Wpgers will want to stay.
And of course I will buy 6 jerseys to watch them in the shark tank while I contemplate coming home... and my follow up for dumbasses: My point being of course that NHL back in Winnipeg is going to help make the city grow and once again put it on the map (even during my 12 years in Montreal I never heard anything about Winnipeg...). The spinoff benefits would be priceless. (More than a hundred human rights' museums anyways!!!...)
|
|
|
Wpg Sun
May 19, 2009 15:50:18 GMT -5
Post by razorsedge on May 19, 2009 15:50:18 GMT -5
I said my part. It's amazing how some people are so negative toward a good thing.
|
|
|
Wpg Sun
May 19, 2009 15:55:53 GMT -5
Post by gojetsgo15 on May 19, 2009 15:55:53 GMT -5
as did i.....look for sc lol
|
|