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Ottawa Senators Blogger •
At this point in time, anyone that has any interest in the Phoenix/Jim Basillie situation knows what’s has happened already. So here is it all in point form
- JB and Jeremy Moyes conspired together to put the team in Bankruptcy so JB could buy it up.
- NHL is contesting that, because it loaned Moyes over 20 million dollars during the season, Moyes doesn't have the power or legal right to put the team in Bankruptcy.
- JB has launched a Pro-Canada campaign - Makeitseven.com to rally support and has signed on with Labatt’s and Home Hardware to have them on as sponsors.
- They've gone to court over ownership, where it has been basically determined the team is actually bankrupt, but both sides have been forced in mediation to try and resolve the situation without the courts.
- Neither side has really budged.
- JIB has set a July/ End of June deadline on his offer
- The Courts have rushed the preceding ahead to June 9th, to partially accommodate the JB bid and to maximize the potential return for investors.
------------------------------------------
Before I continue, I will point out I'm VERY much infavor of a 3rd Ontario team, and moving Phoenix to any market that actual shows a potential to be successful even if it isn't a Canadian city.
Also let me clarify that Gary Bettman isn't anti-Canadian, he's kind of an idiot and extremely stubborn, but Gary Bettman helped save Ottawa and Edmonton from poor ownership, so tossing around the anti-Canadian argument would be short-sighted.
I feel for the few loyal fans of the Phoenix Coyotes, all 250-500 that reportedly showed up to "the save the Coyote rally."
But let’s be realistic, this franchise has NEVER had a profitable season, ever. Even when they were the new kid on the block in '96, the failed to turn a profit.
The majority of the blame on this clearly dead franchise has been where they play. The U.S. Airways Center never had proper seating arrangements and had a lot of seats with severely obstructed views. This is a valid argument, if Phoenix had sold out the arena, or came close to selling it out for Coyote home games, but that just never really happened enough for it to be a serious issue.
Enter the insane 30-year lease to play at the Jobing.com arena. The lease is ridiculous, with a ton of restrictions that restricts the amount of additional income Phoenix actually receives.
While I can't matter-of-factly say a team in Phoenix can't/won't work, I can point out that the writing is on the wall and, again, the franchise has NEVER had a profitable season even when they made the playoffs.
The NHL shouldn't be looking to keep the team in Phoenix. Whether or not they want JB in their ownership group, they should be devoted 100% to putting this deadweight franchise in a market that can successfully sustain it.
Cities like Las Vegas and Kansas City have shown the collective support of their respective cities to house and support a team. An NHL team in Vegas would be a cash cow, all arguments of devoted fans aside; this team would be among the top 5 of most profitable in the league.
Now dealing with the team in Hamilton and how it affects Toronto and Buffalo.
Flat out, how it effects MLSE shouldn't even be considered, MLSE likely won't even notice the loss in revenue. The Air Canada Centre will always be packed, plain and simple. Leafs merchandise will always sell. MLSE's only concern with Hamilton is whether than can win a season series against both Ontario team's and appear to be the dominant Ontario team.
As for Buffalo suffering because of a team in Hamilton.
Right now a large portion of Buffalo's fan-support comes from Canadians in Southern Ontario, so an American franchise is being supported by fans because they don't have their own Canadian team?
Basically what I'm saying is Canada shouldn't be held back from having another Canadian team because it could possibly pull fans and damage an American team. If Buffalo's managed properly they should be fine.
True fans are going to remain true fans regardless of what teams the closest.
There's no question Buffalo would loss money with a team in Hamilton, how much they would lose is debatable.
Buffalo should be able to maintain its own team, with its own fan base. At least to me, that is kind of the point of putting a team in a location.
This isn't an issue of whether JB deserves a team or not. He doesn't deserve one based on his actions thus far, but in a tough economic period the NHL should be welcoming him with open arms.
The main issue in all of this is - Canada/Southern Ontario can support another team and should have a 3rd team. And Phoenix is dead franchise, plain and simple.
And with Judge Redfield Baum, saying in court that this franchise is without question bankrupt and that the NHL, Moyes and JB are fighting over a "speeding truck driving off a cliff", I'm tending to believe this franchise is going to be auctioned without restrictions.
In the end the NHL Fans (excluding Phoenix fans) win if Bettman loses. JB isn't a savoir and it doesn't matter who purchases the team in the auction as long as it’s pulled out of a failed location.
- Sorry Buffalo fans, I mean no offence, I'm just saying in my opinion the Sabres franchise shouldn't be relying on last-resort fans from Southern Ontario. And I do realize some Southern Ontario people are huge Sabres fans but some are also fans by default.
- Sorry Phoenix Fans, you guys are truly in a very terrible situation. Now you understand what Winnipeg fans went through when you obtained their Jets.
- Sorry Sens fans for no real updates.
- And a big thank you to the Hockeybuzz readers who have been understanding with the lack of updates and realizing why there isn't very much to update.
-Oh and I went 0-2 in Conference final predictions. Anyone else having a hard time deciding who to cheer for?
Be back Saturday with an in-depth look at who the Sens will draft at 9th, based on ISS, CIS, THN, TSN and Redline draft projections.
Mark Christopher
m_christopher@live.ca
- JB and Jeremy Moyes conspired together to put the team in Bankruptcy so JB could buy it up.
- NHL is contesting that, because it loaned Moyes over 20 million dollars during the season, Moyes doesn't have the power or legal right to put the team in Bankruptcy.
- JB has launched a Pro-Canada campaign - Makeitseven.com to rally support and has signed on with Labatt’s and Home Hardware to have them on as sponsors.
- They've gone to court over ownership, where it has been basically determined the team is actually bankrupt, but both sides have been forced in mediation to try and resolve the situation without the courts.
- Neither side has really budged.
- JIB has set a July/ End of June deadline on his offer
- The Courts have rushed the preceding ahead to June 9th, to partially accommodate the JB bid and to maximize the potential return for investors.
------------------------------------------
Before I continue, I will point out I'm VERY much infavor of a 3rd Ontario team, and moving Phoenix to any market that actual shows a potential to be successful even if it isn't a Canadian city.
Also let me clarify that Gary Bettman isn't anti-Canadian, he's kind of an idiot and extremely stubborn, but Gary Bettman helped save Ottawa and Edmonton from poor ownership, so tossing around the anti-Canadian argument would be short-sighted.
I feel for the few loyal fans of the Phoenix Coyotes, all 250-500 that reportedly showed up to "the save the Coyote rally."
But let’s be realistic, this franchise has NEVER had a profitable season, ever. Even when they were the new kid on the block in '96, the failed to turn a profit.
The majority of the blame on this clearly dead franchise has been where they play. The U.S. Airways Center never had proper seating arrangements and had a lot of seats with severely obstructed views. This is a valid argument, if Phoenix had sold out the arena, or came close to selling it out for Coyote home games, but that just never really happened enough for it to be a serious issue.
Enter the insane 30-year lease to play at the Jobing.com arena. The lease is ridiculous, with a ton of restrictions that restricts the amount of additional income Phoenix actually receives.
While I can't matter-of-factly say a team in Phoenix can't/won't work, I can point out that the writing is on the wall and, again, the franchise has NEVER had a profitable season even when they made the playoffs.
The NHL shouldn't be looking to keep the team in Phoenix. Whether or not they want JB in their ownership group, they should be devoted 100% to putting this deadweight franchise in a market that can successfully sustain it.
Cities like Las Vegas and Kansas City have shown the collective support of their respective cities to house and support a team. An NHL team in Vegas would be a cash cow, all arguments of devoted fans aside; this team would be among the top 5 of most profitable in the league.
Now dealing with the team in Hamilton and how it affects Toronto and Buffalo.
Flat out, how it effects MLSE shouldn't even be considered, MLSE likely won't even notice the loss in revenue. The Air Canada Centre will always be packed, plain and simple. Leafs merchandise will always sell. MLSE's only concern with Hamilton is whether than can win a season series against both Ontario team's and appear to be the dominant Ontario team.
As for Buffalo suffering because of a team in Hamilton.
Right now a large portion of Buffalo's fan-support comes from Canadians in Southern Ontario, so an American franchise is being supported by fans because they don't have their own Canadian team?
Basically what I'm saying is Canada shouldn't be held back from having another Canadian team because it could possibly pull fans and damage an American team. If Buffalo's managed properly they should be fine.
True fans are going to remain true fans regardless of what teams the closest.
There's no question Buffalo would loss money with a team in Hamilton, how much they would lose is debatable.
Buffalo should be able to maintain its own team, with its own fan base. At least to me, that is kind of the point of putting a team in a location.
This isn't an issue of whether JB deserves a team or not. He doesn't deserve one based on his actions thus far, but in a tough economic period the NHL should be welcoming him with open arms.
The main issue in all of this is - Canada/Southern Ontario can support another team and should have a 3rd team. And Phoenix is dead franchise, plain and simple.
And with Judge Redfield Baum, saying in court that this franchise is without question bankrupt and that the NHL, Moyes and JB are fighting over a "speeding truck driving off a cliff", I'm tending to believe this franchise is going to be auctioned without restrictions.
In the end the NHL Fans (excluding Phoenix fans) win if Bettman loses. JB isn't a savoir and it doesn't matter who purchases the team in the auction as long as it’s pulled out of a failed location.
- Sorry Buffalo fans, I mean no offence, I'm just saying in my opinion the Sabres franchise shouldn't be relying on last-resort fans from Southern Ontario. And I do realize some Southern Ontario people are huge Sabres fans but some are also fans by default.
- Sorry Phoenix Fans, you guys are truly in a very terrible situation. Now you understand what Winnipeg fans went through when you obtained their Jets.
- Sorry Sens fans for no real updates.
- And a big thank you to the Hockeybuzz readers who have been understanding with the lack of updates and realizing why there isn't very much to update.
-Oh and I went 0-2 in Conference final predictions. Anyone else having a hard time deciding who to cheer for?
Be back Saturday with an in-depth look at who the Sens will draft at 9th, based on ISS, CIS, THN, TSN and Redline draft projections.
Mark Christopher
m_christopher@live.ca
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