Comments on: Balsillie To Buy Preds!

By: AHLoldie

AHLoldie — Fri, 25 May 2007 21:40:35 +0000

Forget it Source. I got it from A PRETTY RELIABLE SOURCE that the only Canadian team involved in this merry-go-round will be a new AHL team in the vicinity of Hamilton and Toronto. This will increase the AHL from 29 to 30 teams, and move the Predators farm team from Milwaukee to the new team in Ontario. The Milwaukee Admirals will then become affiliated with the Oilers who shared an agreement with the Penguins in Wilkes Barre this year. That agreement was just broken off two weeks ago. This will increase the count to four Canadian teams in the AHL. The other three being the Toronto Marlies, Hamilton Bulldogs and Manitoba Moose. The NHL franchise is currently being shopped to Kansas City, where it can open immediately this coming season. The league has been approached by Las Vegas, but is reluctant to wait, even though the market is much more lucrative. Balsille has already been informed as to the choices. He will get an AHL team in Canada. He knows an NHL team is not feasible in Canada under current financial situations. Every team in Canada, except Toronto, is losing money. Ottawa will end up in the black because of the playoffs. They will just barely make money this year.

By: AHLoldie

AHLoldie — Fri, 25 May 2007 15:26:39 +0000

When Mario was supposedly shopping the Pens, Houston showed very little interest in acquiring the Pens.

By: Glucker

Glucker — Fri, 25 May 2007 10:51:46 +0000

cool

By: Glucker

Glucker — Fri, 25 May 2007 10:51:21 +0000

hell, that team would move above the leafs on my list, i love the leafs(best jersey in the league) but another southern ontario team thats properly run? I'd still cheer for the leafs, but not when they face the Waterloo Napoleons (that would be a funny name:P)

By: simplyhabby

simplyhabby — Fri, 25 May 2007 08:06:59 +0000

People commute to and from the cities along the 401 corridor every day. There is a Toyota plant in Cambridge that has people coming from the GTA and London areas to work daily. In addition, people make this drive all the time to Toronto for a work commute everyday.

I commuted from Dundas and Hwy 10 to the west end of Kitchener 3x a week including Friday rush hour. Barring any accidents, it took 1 hour. (30 mins of it driving to the 401 in Mississauga) One of the reasons why I did not include Toronto east because I know how bad traffic can be east of the 410. If you are on the west side of the city, it is definately a mild commute to see a game. I do inquire, where do you live in the GTA? Heading down to the ACC is a 45 min venture from where I lived in Mississauga. That is either by GO or by car.

Bands do stop in KW howvever, top bands go to TO for the premier venues there and not to mention the bulk of the population. Coincedentally, a lot of people this way goes to concerts in TO. However, your point about bands in KW is moot considering that is not a determining factor for an NHL team and besides, I am sure there would be a few more bands (not the TO draw of course) would come to KW with an NHL arena here.

Fanbase, financially sound management and corporate support are the keys to a viable team whihc KW would have in spades. The only factor missing is the arena which would be built once it was determined a team would come here.

By: TheDonkey

TheDonkey — Thu, 24 May 2007 22:53:56 +0000

Or you could move it to Houston, with what is either the 3rd or 4th largest market in the US (not sure if it is ahead or behind Chicago now).

By: Pucked

Pucked — Thu, 24 May 2007 21:37:31 +0000

So development is out of the question? Do you blow a team out of the league because it's not developing as quickly as hoped? I agree with you points about the team, so why not give it more time to develop. If we had moved original six teams out so soon, where would the league be? Do you want to develop the game and league, or do you only want it it snowy, cold climate cities? I've heard that argument before. Boring is in the eye of the beholder.

Your evaluation of them as worst because of attendance versus excitement factor is purely subjective. My Sharks team had great attendance initially, and it has backed off some, but I consider them exciting too. Because they are not statistically the highest attended games, should we move them too? Guess again! Cut them some slack like we have for all NHL franchises that start out.

By: WDF

WDF — Thu, 24 May 2007 21:17:44 +0000

I fully agree with you on the second OHL team here, but Some local owners (including Balsillie) were planning on purchasing the Ice Dogs and moving the team to Waterloo. Then it gets intresting, If Waterloo gets the OHL team, the Rangers are rumoured to move out of the tough western confrence and join the east, just to spread out the talent.
Who knows, id prefer an NHL team any day rather then a second junior team in waterloo.
-wdf

By: Neely4Life

Neely4Life — Thu, 24 May 2007 20:37:09 +0000

well, scotia bank place is about 25-30 km from downtown ottawa, the east end of the city, its probably closer to 50-60, then u add in traffic. But ya, this is just all speculation

By: TheDonkey

TheDonkey — Thu, 24 May 2007 20:22:13 +0000

But there are casinos everywhere. You can place bets anywhere. How is putting another casino near a rink going to draw fans.

As I recall, they did have a pretty successful IHL team (the Thunder, I think), but I am still hardly sold that Vegas is a guaranteed hockey market any moreso than Nashville.