Post by WpgJets2008 on Mar 15, 2010 19:57:07 GMT -5
Hamilton Weighted Average Score: 3.95 Hamilton Balanced Average Score: 2.7
Southern Ontario offers one of the largest NHL markets in the world. That is why both Hamilton and Toronto are both simultaneously mentioned for teams, even with the Toronto Maple Leafs there. To be clear, we believe that Southern Ontario can thrive with an additional team, maybe even with 3 three teams in total. The fanbase is simply that large to support it. Copps Coliseum in downtown Hamilton is within the 50 mile territorial rights of Toronto's Air Canada Centre and Buffalo's HSBC Arena. The complex negotiations to share those rights will mean a windfall of new revenues for the Leafs and to some degree the Sabres, should they both allow it. Copps would require renovations to add more luxury boxes for its corporate fanbase. Should the rights negotiations prove unwieldy, it is entirely possible that a new rink could be built outside of the catchment to circumvent Leaf/Sabre claims and avoiding potentially significant renovation costs to Copps. The Kitchener-Waterloo area has been identified as one such location. However, having the Leafs onside for an expansion or relocation vote is very important, as existing clubs would be very leery to break the golden rule and undermine a fellow club. This is especially true in the case of a team relocation which provides zero financial incentive to other 29 clubs. On the coin's flipside, should expansion be on the table, look for individual club financial benefit to rule each of their votes. And these were just the preliminary concerns with attention now turning towards ownership. While Hamilton does have other potential owner candidates such as Ronald Joyce, the head of the Tim Horton's chain, or many other corporations, all discussion centers on James Balsillie, the co-leader of Blackberry maker Research in Motion based in Waterloo. It may be that his past actions have blackballed him in the rather exclusive club of NHL owners. His late backing out of the Penguins purchase and his selling Hamilton-based season tickets for the Nashville Predators even before the NHL board approved the transfer of ownership to him, cost him alot of emotional capital with what would be his future business partners. He is now seen as both the biggest enabler of a Southern Ontario NHL franchise, where ever he desires to locate it, as well as the biggest roadblock to it. Given his past unilateral actions and making almost every move a public event, it is possible that Hamilton will wait for a team longer than Mr. Balsillie has patience with the NHL.
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The above summary was derived after reviewing many news items. We have included links to various news articles, video clips and audio files in chronological order. Each item is saved as its own web address allowing for easy viewer reference:
www.manitobamythbusters.com/php/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=326
Southern Ontario offers one of the largest NHL markets in the world. That is why both Hamilton and Toronto are both simultaneously mentioned for teams, even with the Toronto Maple Leafs there. To be clear, we believe that Southern Ontario can thrive with an additional team, maybe even with 3 three teams in total. The fanbase is simply that large to support it. Copps Coliseum in downtown Hamilton is within the 50 mile territorial rights of Toronto's Air Canada Centre and Buffalo's HSBC Arena. The complex negotiations to share those rights will mean a windfall of new revenues for the Leafs and to some degree the Sabres, should they both allow it. Copps would require renovations to add more luxury boxes for its corporate fanbase. Should the rights negotiations prove unwieldy, it is entirely possible that a new rink could be built outside of the catchment to circumvent Leaf/Sabre claims and avoiding potentially significant renovation costs to Copps. The Kitchener-Waterloo area has been identified as one such location. However, having the Leafs onside for an expansion or relocation vote is very important, as existing clubs would be very leery to break the golden rule and undermine a fellow club. This is especially true in the case of a team relocation which provides zero financial incentive to other 29 clubs. On the coin's flipside, should expansion be on the table, look for individual club financial benefit to rule each of their votes. And these were just the preliminary concerns with attention now turning towards ownership. While Hamilton does have other potential owner candidates such as Ronald Joyce, the head of the Tim Horton's chain, or many other corporations, all discussion centers on James Balsillie, the co-leader of Blackberry maker Research in Motion based in Waterloo. It may be that his past actions have blackballed him in the rather exclusive club of NHL owners. His late backing out of the Penguins purchase and his selling Hamilton-based season tickets for the Nashville Predators even before the NHL board approved the transfer of ownership to him, cost him alot of emotional capital with what would be his future business partners. He is now seen as both the biggest enabler of a Southern Ontario NHL franchise, where ever he desires to locate it, as well as the biggest roadblock to it. Given his past unilateral actions and making almost every move a public event, it is possible that Hamilton will wait for a team longer than Mr. Balsillie has patience with the NHL.
~~~
The above summary was derived after reviewing many news items. We have included links to various news articles, video clips and audio files in chronological order. Each item is saved as its own web address allowing for easy viewer reference:
www.manitobamythbusters.com/php/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=326