Balsillie puts in $212.5 mil offer for the Coyotes

[guyincognito]

They'd find a way to do it. They're not just going to walk away from a large market in a warm weather city. That's Bettman's baby.

their only other options are 1) find a patsy with deep pockets to keep the team in Phoenix or 2) round up the owners and buy the team themselves. this is open bidding. all of the various rats are going to be lining up to relocate the team. you'll have to outbid them all.

and the league is not going to own/operate the team. it's not as if a major market team went under and they intervene to keep it running. It's not worth the trouble.

 

[Gulol]

I'm not sure the bankrupcty court judge is responsible for dealing with the league. He's responsible for getting the creditors their money back

I don't think that the BK court is responsible either as they, in theory, should be looking to maximize monies back to any and all creditors. I suppose another question to ask then if this is the case is if the sale is approved by the courts and obstacles are removed by the BK court to move the franchise out of Phoenix, can the NHL file suit against Balsillie in an attempt to block the move, threaten to revoke the franchise, or just make things so difficult for Balsillie to succeed (perhaps keeping them in the Pacific Division and reinstituting Lou's "rivalry" schedule which would have the relocated team on the coast an awful lot and playing a geographical rival like the Leafs at home once every three years?

On a side note, anyone want to guess how quickly this thread will hit 1000 posts? My guess is by Thursday night!

 

[JeffYear92*]

Boedker back to K/W

Im down

 

[MountainHawk]

The difference is, this is a hockey market. Long Island doesn't have the market for hockey that Southern Ontario does. Southern Ontario isn't as highly populated as NYC is, but it is arguably the fourth largest market USA/Canada after NYC, LA and Chicagoland.

*Note before someone brings up the list of US metro populations(CSMA) that are inflated and calculated different than Canada's(CMA), consider that if Toronto was in the USA it would include Oshawa, Hamilton, Niagara, Guelph, Brantford and maybe even K-W etc in it's population bringing the total to over 8 million..

There hasn't been any real hockey in that market in 15 years or so.

 

[Enstrom39]

They'd find a way to do it. They're not just going to walk away from a large market in a warm weather city. That's Bettman's baby.

While I'm sure Bettman is loath to abandon Phoenix that lease agreement with Glendale might leave him no choice if there are zero buyers for a bankrupt team.

 

[seanlinden]

I don't think that the BK court is responsible either as they, in theory, should be looking to maximize monies back to any and all creditors. I suppose another question to ask then if this is the case is if the sale is approved by the courts and obstacles are removed by the BK court to move the franchise out of Phoenix, can the NHL file suit against Balsillie in an attempt to block the move, threaten to revoke the franchise, or just make things so difficult for Balsillie to succeed (perhaps keeping them in the Pacific Division and reinstituting Lou's "rivalry" schedule which would have the relocated team on the coast an awful lot and playing a geographical rival like the Leafs at home once every three years?

On a side note, anyone want to guess how quickly this thread will hit 1000 posts? My guess is by Thursday night!

I think the NHL's only play after a BK court approved the sale & move would be to revoke the franchise. If they did that Balsille woudl sue them under anti-trust laws and seek a court injunction... which he'd problably get from Canadian authorites at least.

I think the only way for the NHL to stop this at this point is to find some money and either buy the team themselves, or find someone in Portland, Seattle, KC, or Phoenix who wants to have the team play there.

Doing things like keeping the team in the pacific division would be an inhibitor, but its not goign to sto p balsille and at some point you'd just have to accept it. I tihnk eventually they'd have to move to the Northeast. Boston would move to the Atlantic, and perhaps Philly to the Southeast.

This thread is going to get big VERY fast.

 

[GKJ]

So the owners wouldn't approve a team going from revenue sharing to paying into revenue sharing?

Bettman cares more about his precious new hockey markets.

They should do what is best for them and best for business, I am with you all on this. And I have a double-edged sword about it as I'd love to see teams back in Hartford, Winnipeg and Quebec, but wouldn't feel good about dumping on Phoenix and their fans like that. The rigors of business I suppose.

I said all along that the league can't hide from Balsille forever. A guy with a wad full of money willing to make a large investment at seemingly such an underlay, eventually he's going to get his way, and he clearly knows when to make his voice heard.

 

[Puckclektr]

There hasn't been any real hockey in that market in 15 years or so.

There might not have been any hockey in the Southern Ontario market for 15 years, but you can't get a ticket without giving up your first born. Since the late 60's or at least the early 80's(as far back as I can remember), the team was really only very competetive in the early 90's and better than average around 2000. This team has been horrible ever since ans was arguably the worst team through the 80's. But still the toughest place to buy tickets. If that commnet was a stab at the Leaf fans. Well, I am not one, and not everyone is...a Leaf fan.

 

[JeffYear92*]

Bettman is a complete tool,

He has not a clue of what he's doing

Getting a team in Southern Ontario is the best thing the NHL could do at this point

But again he's 2 stupld to realize that

 

[bodybreak]

Hockey Night in Canada reported, before the start of the Blackhawks game, that a judge would indeed be getting involved in this situation, and that the opportunity to purchase the Coyotes could be extended to other parties. Regardless of what happens, the Phoenix franchise's final destination is expected to be known by June 30.

 

[BigMac1212]

I kinda wonder what would happen to all the hockey programs in the Phoenix area shoudl the Coyotes move.

Sometime, I wish hockey never existed...

 

[Puckclektr]

I think a team in the most populated hockey Mecca(arguing that Calgary, Edmonton and Montreal are Meccas as well) would flourish. If it is impossible to get tickets to a team that has done virtually nothing for over 40 years, I am sure another team could be succesful. I know numerous Leaf fans who are through with this team and are fed up with the fact that this team has been so horrible when you have some ofthe worlds best players produced right in your own backyard.

 

[GKJ]

Hockey Night in Canada reported, before the start of the Blackhawks game, that a judge would indeed be getting involved in this situation, and that the opportunity to purchase the Coyotes could be extended to other parties. Regardless of what happens, the Phoenix franchise's final destination is expected to be known by June 30.

Someone who knows a little more (despite what I'm saying in this thread, it's all based on my own speculation), is this something that could happen as soon as next year?

 

[Enstrom39]

I think a team in the most populated hockey Mecca(arguing that Calgary, Edmonton and Montreal are Meccas as well) would flourish. If it is impossible to get tickets to a team that has done virtually nothing for over 40 years, I am sure another team could be succesful. I know numerous Leaf fans who are through with this team and are fed up with the fact that this team has been so horrible when you have some of,the worlds best players produced right in your own backyard.

I have little doubt that a 2nd Toronto team would make money. I think putting it in Toronto proper makes more sense then way out in Waterloo or Hamilton. There are thousands of fans and businesses that are priced out of the ACC each season.

Toronto is a much more attractive market than Quebec or Winnipeg or Hamilton IMO.

 

[VelvetJones]

Bettman cares more about his precious new hockey markets.

Remember Bettman is an employee of the owners, he might get the boot if he screws up the deal this time.

After the Nashville thing he better keep his mouth shut.

 

[Jumptheshark]

I don't see how the NHL could move the team this off season.

If they were to move, I would say next off season at earliest. That being said, the apathy I am getting from different sites I visit in the state and the city towards the taem is concerning

 

[Northern Dancer]

Bettman is a complete tool,

He has not a clue of what he's doing

Getting a team in Southern Ontario is the best thing the NHL could do at this point

But again he's 2 stupld to realize that

Show me the math on how a 500 million dollar investment (the team plus a rink) in a team in Southern Ontario is expected to make money?

 

[SOLR]

I disagree. An English-speaking owner going to Quebec is bound to have problems later on. He's from Ontario anyways.

Uhh, It's Quebec City you are talking about? Montreal & Quebec are two totally different political climate. Relatively speaking, it's often said that fans in Quebec are hockey fans and fans in Montreal are habs fans, if you get my drift.

Still, Quebec need a new arena to get a new team, but you are talking about the one of the most vibrant economies in Canada, so who knows.

 

[GKJ]

I kinda wonder what would happen to all the hockey programs in the Phoenix area shoudl the Coyotes move.

Sometime, I wish hockey never existed...

If the Coyotes moved, they will return. Now within the next few years, but they will be back. Phoenix is too big to ignore.

Remember Bettman is an employee of the owners, he might get the boot if he screws up the deal this time.

After the Nashville thing he better keep his mouth shut.

What did he say? (I'm not challenging you I just need a refresher).

 

[Yaremchuk]

Someone who knows a little more (despite what I'm saying in this thread, it's all based on my own speculation), is this something that could happen as soon as next year?

I have a basic understanding of bankruptcy law. From what I can gather from the news reports so far, the Coyotes will be or have filed for bankruptcy. This will need to be heard in front of a court and likely opened up to other bidders, but generally on a very limited basis. Its possible that another bidder could, with a larger offer, oust Ballsillie. The court will prefer the Delaware Group offer over a local offer of smaller monetary value.

The only thing I don't know is how the regular bankruptcy law is altered within the context of large sports corporations and particularly how the influence of the BOG impacts this. I think their impact would be limited once the courts are involved - which reduces Bettman's ability to prevent such a move.

So to answer your question, if the BOG stay out and creditors are satisfied with the way things proceed, its very possible the Yotes have played their last game in Phoenix. If other bidders step forward or the BOG get involved, then all bets are off over how long it could be.

 

[guyincognito]

Someone who knows a little more (despite what I'm saying in this thread, it's all based on my own speculation), is this something that could happen as soon as next year?

Why not? If they have a building lined up, even if it's an inferior building, they can relocate. If you were buying with the intention to relocate, the BOG would approve both at the same time, right??

The main obstacle would be the lease, but it seems as if this shot the lease in the head, or at least removes the new owner from any obligation to pay up, as per the lease.

 

[GKJ]

I don't see how the NHL could move the team this off season.

If they were to move, I would say next off season at earliest. That being said, the apathy I am getting from different sites I visit in the state and the city towards the taem is concerning

This I would agree with.

Part of the reason the offer is so large is because Balsille would have to endure a whole season in front of an empty arena and incur its losses.

 

[LadyStanley]

Someone who knows a little more (despite what I'm saying in this thread, it's all based on my own speculation), is this something that could happen as soon as next year?

The Arizona Republic article on the bankruptcy filing (with sale to Balsillie) makes it sound as if everything *could* be transferred by 30 June *and* the franchise could begin playing in Ontario in the fall.

 

[BigMac1212]

Yeah, Phoenix is the 5th largest city in the US. The NHL will get a black eye if the Coyotes move.

 

[guyincognito]

I don't see how the NHL could move the team this off season.

If they were to move, I would say next off season at earliest. That being said, the apathy I am getting from different sites I visit in the state and the city towards the taem is concerning

if they could pull a hasty move, why not? the situation in Phoenix would be beyond toxic next season.