Bettman meeting with Ryan Smith, owner of Utah Jazz and Real Salt Lake (upd: Smith asks NHL to open expansion process)

[JMCx4]

Agreed, but it literally says "Our efforts are not about an arena" yet the renderings place a giant arena right in the middle.

And you literally shouldn't interpret what an entreprenuer says as being literal. English is a complex language.

 

[AtlantaWhaler]

And you literally shouldn't interpret what an entreprenuer says as being literal. English is a complex language.

Weird response. You can interpret the tweet however you want. Just looks silly saying that it's not about an arena while showing off renderings with an arena as the centerpiece.

 

[Tawnos]

Weird response. You can interpret the tweet however you want. Just looks silly saying that it's not about an arena while showing off renderings with an arena as the centerpiece.

What that tweet is saying is that the arena is a means to an end. It's not about the arena. It's about what the arena would mean to their downtown.

 

[AtlantaWhaler]

What that tweet is saying is that the arena is a means to an end. It's not about the arena. It's about what the arena would mean to their downtown.

Yes...I get what he's saying. Just an observation.

Though..."Not about the arena, but what the arena would mean to their downtown" still makes it about the arena. There is no change to downtown without the centerpiece.

 

[Tawnos]

Yes...I get what he's saying. Just an observation.

Though..."Not about the arena, but what the arena would mean to their downtown" still makes it about the arena. There is no change to downtown without the centerpiece.

If you get what he's saying, it's not a good observation and if your response is "still makes it about the arena" then I have no real reason to believe you do understand it.

 

[AtlantaWhaler]

If you get what he's saying, it's not a good observation and if your response is "still makes it about the arena" then I have no real reason to believe you do understand it.

Just quoted what you said. You're not making much sense.

 

[aqib]

Balsillie had conversations with the league during the time he was perusing the Penguins.

From an optics POV it still comes across as jumping the gun and a clown show.. Could have easily waited until the auction passed and go off that.

I was referring to what he did in his attempts to purchase the Predators. With the Penguins he hadn't gone public with the desire to move the team to Hamilton. When he did the ticket drive with the Predators he was already on bad terms with the league.

This is all broken down here: Why Balsillie went ballistic - Macleans.ca

Also Smith isn't actively engaged in a sales process with a team right now. He is campaigning for the league to expand. Again I doubt he would do that if the league didn't ok it. Maybe the league wants him out there because it will put more pressure on AZ to get a deal done then he gets an expansion team.

 

[TheLegend]

I was referring to what he did in his attempts to purchase the Predators. With the Penguins he hadn't gone public with the desire to move the team to Hamilton. When he did the ticket drive with the Predators he was already on bad terms with the league.

This is all broken down here: Why Balsillie went ballistic - Macleans.ca

Also Smith isn't actively engaged in a sales process with a team right now. He is campaigning for the league to expand. Again I doubt he would do that if the league didn't ok it. Maybe the league wants him out there because it will put more pressure on AZ to get a deal done then he gets an expansion team.

I know all about Balsillie….

Some people are seeing this survey as an early data mining campaign. Compile the mailing list for potential STH members.

Personally I think his timing is wrong.

 

[Tawnos]

Just quoted what you said. You're not making much sense.

It only doesn't make sense if you can only read things literally.

What he's saying is that he's dedicated to the city first and his sports properties second. The implication is that, while the arena is his preferred vehicle for doing this for the city, it's not the only one and if he can't do that he would still want to see downtown revitalized.

We can debate how much of this is spin for PR purposes and it definitely is... Smith isn't doing this entirely out of the goodness of his heart and his concern for the city... but it's really a very simple concept if you can just think outside of the literal for two seconds.

 

[aqib]

I know all about Balsillie….

Some people are seeing this survey as an early data mining campaign. Compile the mailing list for potential STH members.

Personally I think his timing is wrong.

My point is simply that he isn't Balsillie. Balsillie (and I have great respect for what he did in his career and all that he continues to do advocating for Canada) has become a case study on what NOT to do in trying to get an NHL team. So Smith, the guys in Atlanta, the people in QC, and everywhere else know they can only be public if the league lets them.

His timing may seem wrong for you but I think there is stuff behind the scenes that explains it.

 

[AtlantaWhaler]

It only doesn't make sense if you can only read things literally.

What he's saying is that he's dedicated to the city first and his sports properties second. The implication is that, while the arena is his preferred vehicle for doing this for the city, it's not the only one and if he can't do that he would still want to see downtown revitalized.

We can debate how much of this is spin for PR purposes and it definitely is... Smith isn't doing this entirely out of the goodness of his heart and his concern for the city... but it's really a very simple concept if you can just think outside of the literal for two seconds.

You just keep repeating my point and arguing. I don't get it.

The bolded is the point. Yes, I realize what he's implying, but it looks silly.

I'm just pointing out that the pic, and what you were quoted as saying before, and here, all show that it's spin. That was the point.

 

[BKIslandersFan]

My point is simply that he isn't Balsillie. Balsillie (and I have great respect for what he did in his career and all that he continues to do advocating for Canada) has become a case study on what NOT to do in trying to get an NHL team. So Smith, the guys in Atlanta, the people in QC, and everywhere else know they can only be public if the league lets them.

His timing may seem wrong for you but I think there is stuff behind the scenes that explains it.

I dunno. I think NHL didn't want Balsillie because they did not want Hamilton.

If Balsillie was trying to get a team to some big US cities, I think end result for either Yotes or Preds might have been different.

 

[mouser]

I dunno. I think NHL didn't want Balsillie because they did not want Hamilton.

If Balsillie was trying to get a team to some big US cities, I think end result for either Yotes or Preds might have been different.

Balsillie could have been the current owner of the Penguins if he was actually interested in owning a NHL team in Pittsburgh, rather than Hamilton.

 

[aqib]

I dunno. I think NHL didn't want Balsillie because they did not want Hamilton.

If Balsillie was trying to get a team to some big US cities, I think end result for either Yotes or Preds might have been different.

Gaglardi wanted to move the Thrashers to Hamilton but he was allowed to buy the Stars. If Balsillie tried to buy the Senators and keep them in Ottawa, I'm pretty sure he would have been declined.

 

[Tawnos]

You just keep repeating my point and arguing. I don't get it.

The bolded is the point. Yes, I realize what he's implying, but it looks silly.

I'm just pointing out that the pic, and what you were quoted as saying before, and here, all show that it's spin. That was the point.

You'll have to forgive me if you never making that point led to me thinking you weren't making that point

Anyway, moving along.

 

[AtlantaWhaler]

You'll have to forgive me if you never making that point led to me thinking you weren't making that point

Anyway, moving along.

Seemed pretty crystal clear (all 4 or 5 times), but OK. Moving on.

 

[GKJ]

Balsillie had conversations with the league during the time he was perusing the Penguins.

From an optics POV it still comes across as jumping the gun and a clown show.. Could have easily waited until the auction passed and go off that.

Ryan Smith is not doing this without a blessing from Bettman, and it’s not happening unless Bettman thinks it may be necessary. Remember, the league is not 100% committed to waiting for the auction.

 

[TheGreenTBer]

Ryan Smith is not doing this without a blessing from Bettman, and it’s not happening unless Bettman thinks it may be necessary.

I agree with this. League is applying pressure.

Remember, the league is not 100% committed to waiting for the auction.

I find it hard to believe after waiting this long that they wouldn't want until the auction, personally.

 

[GKJ]

I agree with this. League is applying pressure.

I find it hard to believe after waiting this long that they wouldn't want until the auction, personally.

That’s depending on if they believe in what’s happening. They’re still working on two timelines and making two schedules.

 

[AtlantaWhaler]

Remember, the league is not 100% committed to waiting for the auction.

The Tempe vote is coming up on a year old. With an auction date set, can't imagine they're going to fully pull the plug before the end of June at this point

 

[TheLegend]

Ryan Smith is not doing this without a blessing from Bettman, and it’s not happening unless Bettman thinks it may be necessary. Remember, the league is not 100% committed to waiting for the auction.

All speculation.

 

[GKJ]

The Tempe vote is coming up on a year old. With an auction date set, can't imagine they're going to fully pull the plug before the end of June at this point

It seems unlikely but we’re seeing all this smoke everywhere, so still possible. The league isn’t going to let themselves be surprised.

All speculation.

It’s been reliably reported about the timelines, and Bettman always exerts control. Smith isn’t operating out of line from that.

 

[TheLegend]

It seems unlikely but we’re seeing all this smoke everywhere, so still possible. The league isn’t going to let themselves be surprised.

You’re seeing a lot of wishful thinking.

We’ve seen all this rhetoric before by supposedly “reliable sources” yet here we are.

In 2009 as the Coyotes were about to begin their first playoff series against the Red Wings, several prominent (and “reliable) media outlets were reporting the Coyotes would be moving out of Arizona immediately following their elimination.

It’s been reliably reported about the timelines, and Bettman always exerts control. Smith isn’t operating out of line from that.

Anyone can make up a timeline. But nobody actually knows what anyone is thinking.

For all anyone knows Smith’s “survey” was simply a data mining operation to build a mailing list. His arena has been approved and all he needs now is the blessing from the league. He’d be nuts if he didn’t do this.

It’s the timing of this where people start letting their imaginations run.

 

[GKJ]

You’re seeing a lot of wishful thinking.

We’ve seen all this rhetoric before by supposedly “reliable sources” yet here we are.

In 2009 as the Coyotes were about to begin their first playoff series against the Red Wings, several prominent (and “reliable) media outlets were reporting the Coyotes would be moving out of Arizona immediately following their elimination.



Anyone can make up a timeline. But nobody actually knows what anyone is thinking.

For all anyone knows Smith’s “survey” was simply a data mining operation to build a mailing list. His arena has been approved and all he needs now is the blessing from the league. He’d be nuts if he didn’t do this.

It’s the timing of this where people start letting their imaginations run.

We know the league operations department knows they may be asked to move quickly. We know that. Nobody's making that up. The possibility still exists that they will need a schedule and execution plan if there is a team playing in Utah next season.

Being able to pass off anything as speculating and claiming 'nobody truly knows' because it's the simplest thing to do, but that's not how reporting and journalism works. Everything that happening, is happening for a reason. These are very calculated measures. That's why they're billionaires. Whether they end up mattering is a different question. But to say like Ryan Smith just got bored yesterday and decided to put out a name-the-team survey, I have a bridge to sell you. Bettman has never allowed these people to call attention to themselves until he was ready to.

 

[aqib]

We know the league operations department knows they may be asked to move quickly. We know that. Nobody's making that up. The possibility still exists that they will need a schedule and execution plan if there is a team playing in Utah next season.

Being able to pass off anything as speculating and claiming 'nobody truly knows' because it's the simplest thing to do, but that's not how reporting and journalism works. Everything that happening, is happening for a reason. These are very calculated measures. That's why they're billionaires. Whether they end up mattering is a different question. But to say like Ryan Smith just got bored yesterday and decided to put out a name-the-team survey, I have a bridge to sell you. Bettman has never allowed these people to call attention to themselves until he was ready to.

I don't think they would really need to change schedules. Its not like Atlanta to Winnipeg. SLC and Phoenix are close enough that teams on a road trip could easily just swap out SLC for Phoenix.

When we say "no one truly knows", I think its more in reference to the fact we don't know if this is a coordinated effort to apply pressure to AZ or if its a back up plan. Now I am seeing stuff that Houston is meeting with the NHL. So is Houston the #1 option for relo and then expansion to SLC and Atlanta since they need to build new arenas? That's the stuff we have to hear from people in the meetings