the NHL says "NO" to Canada

Steve says:

Well, it looks as though Jim Balssilie is S.O.L. when it comes to buying an NHL team...it would appear as though Betteman has used his muscle to convince the Preds owners to sell to some other party for $50million LESS than Balsillie because they will move the team to Kansas City instead of Hamilton Ont. as Balsillie would like to.

First of all, it sucks the Batteman is putting teams into markets where they will fail as opposed to putting them in Canada, where the fans will camp overnight to get tickets.

BUT, I also wonder if MLSE, and maybe Buffalo didn't have a hand in this. A team in Hamilton would certainly put a strain on each of those markets. And even though a good portion of the seats at the ACC are corporate season tickets every year...it would still make a dent...and I just don't think that MLSE is terribly interested in working hard at putting a super strong team on the ice in order to keep their fanbase...they would rather just sweep any new threats (Balsillie's Hamilton Blackberries) under the carpet.

Good luck maybe buying Atlanta in a year or so Jim!

Chris says:

I've been back and forth on this issue. But in the end I have to say, Bring the Preds to Hamilton.

I love the Leafs and my feelings aren't going to change either way butI think having a team in Hamilton will only improve the hockey experience in T.O., not detract from it.

Think we've got a rivalry going with the Sens now? What happens when you can take in a game on the other team's turf just 45 minutes down the road?

Ticket prices will almost certainly come down. If Hamilton starts bleeding off the fringe fans MLSE is going to want to get butts in seats. And that means dropping the ticket prices to manageable levels. Forget about the corporate drones who leave after the second period. It'll be fans in the seats again. Real fans. Loud, cheering, bang on the glass fans.

It'll force the Leafs to be more competitive. If Hamilton starts winning games and making us look bad MLSE will have to pull out all the stops. The Leafs simply can't coast by on tradition and the good will of their fans anymore. They need to go out and put together a winning team.

And finally, Hockey belongs in Canada. Hamilton and Southern Ontario will treat an NHL franchise a hell of a lot better than Nashville, Kansas City or Las Vegas ever will.

So it may be dead in the water now, but I say keep fighting Jim. Bring hockey back to Canada and we'll love you for it.

Steve says:

Everything you just said is exactly why I suspect that MLSE called up Betteman and put the screws to him. A team in Hamilton would mean all of those good things you listed (lower prices, more competitive team, etc.) but in order to achieve those things, it means work.

and MLSE has shown time and time again, that if there is one thing they don't want to do, it's work towards a better Leaf team.

Don't get me wrong, i love the Leafs and will cheer for them the whole way through, but it is painfully obvious that the idea of a Hamilton team to MLSE is like a Tim Horton's Owner watching a Starbucks open on the same block. They will do everything they can to stop it.