Nashville's days appear numbered

[Legionnaire11 0]

I can't see how the BoG is going to stand for this. He's clearly pissing them off. He might be upping the value of their franchises, but that's only good for them if they're planning on selling anytime soon. That might not be as much of an incentive as everyone is making it out to be. But balsillie's actions so far are more than enough to make the other owners dislike him and vote against the sale.

[Guest bullocks]

Balsillie will start selling season's tickets and private boxes for Copps Coliseum tomorrow (or at least gathering names via deposits). Deposits range from $500 for an upper-bowl seat, to $1000 for a lower-bowl seat.

beat me to it

i guess nashville fans prolly still think he really wants to keep the team there? haha

[Legionnaire11 0]

beat me to it

i guess nashville fans prolly still think he really wants to keep the team there? haha

did any of us ever say we thought that?

[T-Ruff 47]

I can't see how the BoG is going to stand for this. He's clearly pissing them off. He might be upping the value of their franchises, but that's only good for them if they're planning on selling anytime soon. That might not be as much of an incentive as everyone is making it out to be. But balsillie's actions so far are more than enough to make the other owners dislike him and vote against the sale.

But would disliking Jim be enough reason to vote down the sale? Wouldn't they feel they'd be screwing over Craig?

[Hiei 192]

http://www.cambridgetimes.ca/cam/news/news_792440.html

Like I said in an earlier thread: this is too good of a thing to overlook people. Note the date of said article: May 18th 2007. Around the time that he signed the letter of intent??? Little too much coincidence for me.

Cambridge ON is toward the Hamilton side of K/W. Shares a common highway and common rail link with Hamilton. If Copps is too old, I think 25.7 Acres is large enough to put a 20,000+ seat stadium.

[Jwo 7]

Man it would be great to have another Eastern time zone team in the West.

[Guest DetroitIan]

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=210730&hubname=nhl

It's definitely looking more and more like Canada is getting a new team. Good. I'de rather see actual die-hard hockey fans have a winning team rather than crappy Nashville, where most of the fans don't even know what icing is(and im not joking about that).

[Production Line 1]

They started out numbered...

[Guest bullocks]

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=210730&hubname=nhl

It's definitely looking more and more like Canada is getting a new team. Good. I'de rather see actual die-hard hockey fans have a winning team rather than crappy Nashville, where most of the fans don't even know what icing is(and im not joking about that).

this was actually posted in the other thread, but it is good news...well for me atleast, as i live 30 mins from hamilton

[Kp-Wings 3]

Man it would be great to have another Eastern time zone team in the West.

Yeah, instead of just one, we'd have two!

[IDLE19 3]

tickets anyone?

http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=210730&hubname=nhl

Go Hamilton! i mean Detroit.

[toby91_ca 620]

I can't see how the BoG is going to stand for this. He's clearly pissing them off. He might be upping the value of their franchises, but that's only good for them if they're planning on selling anytime soon. That might not be as much of an incentive as everyone is making it out to be. But balsillie's actions so far are more than enough to make the other owners dislike him and vote against the sale.

What about expansion fees? Because of Balsillie's impending purchase, fees for Las Vegas and Kansas City just went from about $80 million to $150-160 million (speculated).

He's way overpaying for Nashville as well (probably in excess of double the fair market value). If the BoG does not approve the sale, I will seriously start to question their intelligence.

[KnightFire420 0]

Being a Wings fan that grew up in Hamilton I can tell you that this would be awesome for both cities.

First off let me say that Hamilton WOULD be able to support the team there and sellout every night. I know Hamilton hasn't been that supportive to minor league teams but that is in part because they've always dreamed of having the NHL and the locals just can't see past that.

Secondly I would guess that if Nashville moved to the Hammer that both them and Detroit would now become Eastern teams. When the NHL talked of relocation this past year and names like Blue Jackets moving to the East it was reported and discussed several times that the Wings told the NHL that if anyone was moving to the East it would be the Wings.

This would be great for the Wings because the new division would probably be Detroit, Toronto, Hamilton, Ottawa and Montreal which would be amazing for fans and the teams. Imagine the Wings not having to fly out West for playoff rounds. No more back to back Califorina playoff road trips for the Wings I think would make a huge difference to playoff success. Even cutting down on the travel during the regular season would help.

In my heart as a hockey fan, Wings fan and native Hamiltonian I would love to see this happen unfortunately the NHL is a poorly run business and the people making the decisions don't have a clue when it comes to making the NHL better for everyone. If you don't believe me do what I did and research this yourselves and you'll see I'm right.

This league shouldn't be about expanding to places where no one cares about hockey like Vegas or KC it should be about making sure the teams we have now do well and putting the teams that no one wants in places where people are dying for hockey. Since the lockout the NHL has been carried on the backs of Canadians (this is getting to long now but you can check it out yourselves cause I'm right) and because of that Canada should get another NHL team and Hamilton deserves it more than the rest.

GO WINGS GO!

[toby91_ca 620]

Secondly I would guess that if Nashville moved to the Hammer that both them and Detroit would now become Eastern teams. When the NHL talked of relocation this past year and names like Blue Jackets moving to the East it was reported and discussed several times that the Wings told the NHL that if anyone was moving to the East it would be the Wings.

Well, you would be talking about a major re-alignment then because moving one team out of the Western conference is not solved by moving 2 more.

[Hank 0]

What about expansion fees? Because of Balsillie's impending purchase, fees for Las Vegas and Kansas City just went from about $80 million to $150-160 million (speculated).

He's way overpaying for Nashville as well (probably in excess of double the fair market value). If the BoG does not approve the sale, I will seriously start to question their intelligence.

Start to? The BOG has proven to be a collection of bobbleheads several times over in the past and present. Nothing they do makes sense most of the time.

I totally agree with you that they'd be idiots not to accept the sale, but you never know with a group of guys that still consider Bill Wirtz a valued owner.

Listening to XM204 last night, some Preds fans came on saying that they're only 150 season tickets short of activating the 14,000 paid attendance clause. But I have a feeling that Ballsillie has an Ace up his sleeve. He's not going to spend this kind of jack to be stuck in Nashville for the next 10 years. He'll probably move this team ASAP and drag that lease through the courts in the meantime.

If the move happens I hope it happens this year already. Get it over with.

Well, you would be talking about a major re-alignment then because moving one team out of the Western conference is not solved by moving 2 more.

I know this is crazy-talk, but I heard a rumour that the NHL actually wanted to expand to 33 teams and make 3 conferences.

Each team would play the teams in their conference 4 times (40 games) and then play each team outside their conference twice (44 games) totaling 84 games.

Not sure how playoffs would work but I imagine they'd simply seed each team 1-16 and play it out from there.

It's only crazy rumours but I wouldn't put the league past this type of expansion/re-alignment.

[StevieY9802 6]

Yeah, instead of just one, we'd have two!

Actually if Nashville/Hamilton stayed in the west, which would be dumb, there would be 3 eastern time teams in the west.

As for the selling of the tickets the biggest reason is to make sure there is interest in the city if he does move the team there. Obviously it seems he wants to move them but this doesn't mean they are moving for sure. There are still a lot of other things that need to happen first, as everyone has mentioned. And I don't see how the NHL can say no to him buying this team. Hes paying well over value and it helps out a guy whos losing money. If the NHL says no just because they don't like the idea of him moving the team out of Nashville to a canadian city I will slap them. If he buys them its his right pretty much. They let Winnipeg and Hartford move from hockey markets, yes I know they were having problems, to cities that had no idea what hockey was but they aren't ok with moving a team from Nashville to Hamilton. I know they have only been there 9 years and all that and you can argue that all you want and I udnerstand that but I think you see my point.

[JayUp88 1]

This would be great for canada, plus when i go to visit my friends from the north we can go to some games, unlike the leafs who you can't go to unless you are rich

[Legionnaire11 0]

once again. the $220M isn't just for the $130M predators.

He's also getting their managing company "Powers Management" who, unlike the predators, have made profits of $43M since the team came.

He was also bidding against the Kansas City group who had their offer up to $200M.

[drwscc 212]

Actually if Nashville/Hamilton stayed in the west, which would be dumb, there would be 3 eastern time teams in the west.

And I don't see how the NHL can say no to him buying this team. Hes paying well over value and it helps out a guy whos losing money. If the NHL says no just because they don't like the idea of him moving the team out of Nashville to a canadian city I will slap them. If he buys them its his right pretty much. They let Winnipeg and Hartford move from hockey markets, yes I know they were having problems, to cities that had no idea what hockey was but they aren't ok with moving a team from Nashville to Hamilton. I know they have only been there 9 years and all that and you can argue that all you want and I udnerstand that but I think you see my point.

So. let's move Chicago instead. Call Balsille, and get him to make an offer for Chicago. They didn't even make the playoffs this year, and God knows they won't in the near future. Move the Hawks to Hamilton. If you don't want to move the Hawks to Canada, you should be slapped.

The fact is, hockey is not just a Canadian or Yankee sport anymore. There's plenty of people all over the country that love the game. Just because you don't agree with having a team in Nashville doesn't mean that Nashville doesn't deserve a team. They have passionate fans just like every other team.

Edited June 14, 2007 by drwscc

[Legionnaire11 0]

Just because you don't agree with having a team in Nashville doesn't mean that Nashville doesn't deserve a team. They have passionate fans just like every other team.

and we're definitely not the worst market in the league either. just have an out clause in our lease. That makes it doubly sickening.

[StevieY9802 6]

So. let's move Chicago instead. Call Balsille, and get him to make an offer for Chicago. They didn't even make the playoffs this year, and God knows they won't in the near future. Move the Hawks to Hamilton. If you don't want to move the Hawks to Canada, you should be slapped.

The fact is, hockey is not just a Canadian or Yankee sport anymore. There's plenty of people all over the country that love the game. Just because you don't agree with having a team in Nashville doesn't mean that Nashville doesn't deserve a team. They have passionate fans just like every other team.

Not sure what part of my post you are commenting on but for the first part 3 teams in the east time zone would be Det, Hamilton, CBJ. And second where did moving Chicago come from? Even though I think Chicago is the biggest joke ever right now, an original 6 team isn't moving. I agree that it is a sport everywhere and would I like Nashville to stay put? I honestly don't care. It wouldn't hurt me one way or another. I just think Balsille should be able to do what he wants with the team, if he buys them and within the rules of the lease and all of that. If the lease is broken and TO and Buffalo are ok with Hamilton getting a team and there is major interest it should be his right to move them and I don't think the NHL should say no just because they want to try and grow the game down there. My point was they let the Jets move to the desert where they still struggle. So whats wrong with moving the team to Hamilton? For the hardcore fans of the Preds out there I hope they stay because thats who it sucks for the most. I just don't think the NHL should say no as long as Balsille is doing everything correct in regards to the lease and all of that.

Edited June 14, 2007 by StevieY9802

[RedFX 48]

There is only one way the team will not be moving next year, and that is attendance. If the average paid attendance is 14,000 or above, the team cannot move for at least 4 more years. The way this plays out is now entirely in the fans hands. Everyone says how passionate those fans can be. It's time to prove it. All those people cancelling season tickets are screwing themselves over more. Instead of admitting defeat, go and support your team. Again, tickets are cheap and it's a great way to spend a night where you have nothing to do.

[toby91_ca 620]

There is only one way the team will not be moving next year, and that is attendance. If the average paid attendance is 14,000 or above, the team cannot move for at least 4 more years.

This is the general understanding, but I wouldn't be betting my house on that.

You gotta believe they are confident they can win a legal battle either way.

[Legionnaire11 0]

All those people cancelling season tickets are screwing themselves over more.

Actually Renewals are coming in at the same pace that thee have for the last two seasons. Which actually means growth, since season ticket numbers went up both seasons.

Plus the preds marketing team has set a goal of adding 2,000 new season tickets. And Our Team Nashville has set a goal of adding 3,000 new season tickets. No modest plans here by any stretch. We're planning on not only reaching 14,000 but totally blowing it away.

This is the general understanding, but I wouldn't be betting my house on that.

You gotta believe they are confident they can win a legal battle either way.

speaking of confidence, Balsillie might want to check his at this point considering the buildup of dislike and distrust among the BoG

[Kcjacoby 10]

I believe Nashville has a good chance to make up those season tickets, coming off one of the best years down there... I think they have a damn good chance.

When I was down there in Feb for Wings / Preds game... I was blown away at the following they did have down there. If they don't realize the chance that they have to keep that team down there, then its their own fault.