Talks between Ice Edge and Phoenix Coyotes break down
by Mr. Plank on May 10, 2010 9:01 PM PDT
in NHL News
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PrintAnother confusing turn for the fans in Phoenix tonight, as Ice Edge Holdings has reportedly backed out of their talks with the city of Glendale to keep the Coyotes:
Talks have broken down between the Ice Edge Holdings group and the City of Glendale over a potential arena lease agreement for the Phoenix Coyotes, CBC Sports' Jeff Marek has learned.
Ice Edge, a consortium of Canadian and American business people that failed in a previous attempt to purchase the Coyotes, recently re-entered the picture after Chicago sports mogul Jerry Reinsdorf backed away from discussions to buy the financially struggling club from the NHL.
Ever since last offseason's circus with Jim Ballsillie there have been rumblings about the viability of keeping the franchise in the desert-- as some will remember, Kevin Compton, who serves on the five member SVSE decision making committee and is a current Sharks co-owner, called the Coyotes fiasco a "joke" and stated that the owners weren't the ones keeping Balsillie out of the league.
That of course is water under the bridge now. Jim Ballsillie and Hamilton are both non-factors in the current discussions surrounding Phoenix, with Canadian billionaire David Thomson and Winnipeg the new faces entering the fray.
Ice Edge, who confirmed the breakdown via Twitter earlier tonight, is currently looking for an exclusivity agreement with the city during their negotiations. Glendale had previously rejected their bid in favor of Jerry Reinsdorf's a month ago, but after negotiations with Reinsdorf failed to produce a solid agreement, Glendale turned to Ice Edge once again. Reinsdorf, who owns the Chicago Bulls and Chicago White Sox, has not officially stated whether he has given up on obtaining the team.
All in all it's an unfortunate situation for Coyotes fans-- despite having a league-worst in attendance this season, they managed to sell out their last eight home games of the year and took the Detroit Red Wings to seven games in a thrilling playoff series. Inept ownership that leads to a poor on-ice product are enough to keep fans away from the gates in just about every NHL city, and the current off-ice theatrics that have surrounded the organization during the last year are doing nothing to help in this regard.
Tomorrow evening is when it all comes to a head according to AZ Central, as the City Council will vote on whether or not to cover the franchise's operating deficits. This is potentially a dealbreaker for the NHL and could determine whether or not the Coyotes remain in Phoenix next season, especially if either Reinsdorf or Ice Edge cannot come to an agreement with the city.
Until then it's just a game of wait and see.
Or, in other words, just the same old story with a different twist.
Visit Five For Howling for more information on the Phoenix Coyotes and their current ownership situation.
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Dan Wetzel’s take on this situation: http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news?slug=dw-winnipeg051010
From what it sounds like, Glendale was stuck between a rock and a hard place. The country, state, and Glendale are currently fighting a rescission that is winning. They simply cannot afford to keep the Coyotes.
Despite the NHL’s best efforts, including covering over $20 million in team shortfalls this season, hockey in the Southwest could be done. The league has desperately tried to find an owner committed to Phoenix but the prospects have been bleak. Ice Edge was demanding, among other concessions, that Glendale possibly cover all operating losses next season (estimated $25 million).
That was a heck of request for a 250,000-population suburb already facing a near $15 million budget deficit. It also signified a new level in public support for sports teams: taxpayers donât just have to build the stadium, now they have to meet payroll too.
And the key quote.
Yes, there are hardcore hockey fans in Phoenix who don’t deserve to lose their team any more than hardcore fans anywhere else. That’s the big thing with Bettman’s bumbling leadership through the years; in his endless quest to chase new markets, he keeps hurting the true fans everywhere.
And that is what sucks. The people over at Five For Howling and the rest of the hardcore hockey fans in Phoenix.
Sorry for the long post.
"Even the Swedes are getting mad."-Randy Hahn
"It's very cozy in the sin bin."-Randy Hahn
Ice Edge must be smoking crack
if they think the city of Glendale is going to agree to cover 2.5 mil let alone 25 mil. All this shows is Bettman is an idiot and should not be allowed anywhere near a NHL franchise ever. While I feel sorry for the die hard Phoenix fans, (having gone through the same thing with the Raiders) all I can say is hello Winnipeg.
It was particularly funny to hear Bailey asking the director, "You want me to say ‘nipple clipper’ as a question?" Susan Slusser via The Drumbeat 03/20/2010
damn
I thought the season they put up would be good enough for em to be able to stay. I’m sure the attendance would pick up after the publicity the playoff may have given them. too bad there isn’t more time.
"Don’t fuck around with Marleau. He’s like an incredibly awkward Jedi master." -adingoatemyname
Ugh, this is depressing.
Poor Yotes fans.
I’m going to go read Red Wing comments on Puck Daddy to cheer myself back up.
"Douglas Murray is a humongous human being." – Drew Remenda
Yeah, you said it ED. As much as we love hockey, it’s easy to forget that it’s a business first and foremost, at least at the NHL level. Situations like this make the league look tacky.
..:Fear The Fin:..
The artist formerly known as cyoung
Teams moving is nothing new to any sport
Still sucks when it happens, always feel bad for those fans.
"Douglas Murray is a humongous human being." – Drew Remenda
Man, just when the Yotes were starting to finally rebuild their fanbase because of their superior on-ice product, shit hits the fan again. I really hope, for their fans’ sake, people can figure out how to keep the Coyotes in the desert. Their fans deserve to enjoy their team’s good years after suffering through the bad ones. Also, the smugness of Canadians for stealing back an American franchise will be pretty annoying. Just sayin…
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
Could you imagine if that happened
and the Habs were to make it to the Finals? Jeez, talk about annoying.
by Chicago Shark on May 10, 2010 9:46 PM PDT up reply actions
Yes, it would be annoying.
I can think of one good thing about the Habs making the Finals. It would mean that Pittsburgh did not. The prospect of any other team representing the East is very appetizing.
With that being said, okay Sharks, if you meet the Habs in the Cup FInals, be sure to beat them (or beat Boston or Philly or Pittsburgh or who ever it happens to be.) And don’t forget to get past Chicago or Vancouver first.
Rocking the Red since 1975
Its very unfortunate...
I would love to see another team in Canada but I feel terrible for ’Yotes fans they have had to endure a crappy on ice product for so long, a management mess and then just a yearly summer fiasco even after an amazing season/series. For those who stuck through it all this time and to still lose the team is upsetting. This Canadian feels for them. I posted this below as well as far as the Canadian smugness goes, To an extent I agree with you on it and I will say that its one thing to get another team here… its another to support that team long term once the initial hype of it wears off. I am interested to see how it plays out.
Who’s gonna finish this off? I am going Boyle. - FML! No more OT Predictions from me!
But it’s sad for the people of Phoenix. When they finally get a good team, the prospect of it moving away is now ever so real.
I feel bad for ’Yotes fans.
But I can see one good thing about the team moving back to Winnipeg, especially if they stay good. And especially if they resume their old name, the Jets. A matchup between the Sharks and the Jets would be an epic West Side Story.
Rocking the Red since 1975
Vancouver moves to the Pacific?
Dunno. All there has been so far has been speculation.
"Playing Detroit in the playoffs is like paying your taxes. You either pay now or pay later." - Suisun Dan
I planned to do something on that after tomorrow night if it’s applicable, but I think you would move Colorado to the Pacific. Winnipeg would be in the West obviously, and Detroit would stay in the West as well, much to their chagrin.
Hamilton is really the only potential spot where the Conferences would be realigned, and the NHL isn’t moving there next season. Not with the Leafs all over their case.
"San Jose is where I want to be at the end of the day, and there's an opportunity now to make it there. It is where my heart is." - Jamie McGinn, 2/22/10
Fear The Fin: Where Selling Your Soul Is The Likely Solution
Pacific: San Jose, Los Angeles, Anaheim, Dallas, Colorado
Northwest: Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Minnesota (all due respect to the Coyotes, because in a perfect world they remain in Phoenix, but this would be a pretty damn cool division)
Central: Detroit, Nashville, Colorado, Chicago, St. Louis
I plan on crunching the numbers later, but I’m pretty sure that is the best possible travel situation for divisional games as well.
"San Jose is where I want to be at the end of the day, and there's an opportunity now to make it there. It is where my heart is." - Jamie McGinn, 2/22/10
Fear The Fin: Where Selling Your Soul Is The Likely Solution
Agreed on the realignment possibility...
If they end up in the Peg. I’m still not convinced that Winnepeg is the best place for the Coyotes to move if they can’t stay in Phoenix (which I would prefer). Winnepeg couldn’t support an NHL franchise the first time around. It’s why they moved. What makes everything think round 2 would be better? There’s a lack of corporate tie ins. Their arena is small, and old. Why would it all of a sudden be successful (for more than a few years…as I’m sure the fans could come out at first, since it’ll be new and exciting)?
Kansas City or Portland would be interesting possibilities. Do we have to move the Coyotes back to Canada?
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
by ZeroIndulgence on May 10, 2010 11:42 PM PDT up reply actions
Their arena is small, and old.
First is correct, but the second is not. MTS Centre opened in 2004, Winnipeg Arena was demolished not long after.
"Playing Detroit in the playoffs is like paying your taxes. You either pay now or pay later." - Suisun Dan
My bad, I thought they were still in the old one…when I heard how small it was, I guess I just assumed it was their old one.
My original question is still valid, though.
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
by ZeroIndulgence on May 10, 2010 11:47 PM PDT up reply actions
The only reason that Winnipeg is being mentioned is because the NHL’s rumored plan B for the Coyotes if all Phoenix options fall through is Toronto millionaire David Thompson and MTS’ operating company, and their plan is moving the team back to Manitoba.
"Playing Detroit in the playoffs is like paying your taxes. You either pay now or pay later." - Suisun Dan
I also think that Winnipeg is the leading relocation candidate is because it is the best candidate for the team to get on its feet running if it has to play in a new city next season. You have a built-in historical fanbase, and is likely a safer bet on immediate success than placing a team in KC or Portland.
"If you're going to start talking about Joe Thornton then watch the freaking games because the guy has been an absolute dominant player in this series." - Drew Remenda
- Joe Thornton, 2nd Round: 3G, 5A
Right, but that built in fanbase wasn’t good enough to keep them around the first time (for many reasons, I’m sure…but if the fanbase was awesome and making them tons of money, they wouldn’t have left in the first place), what makes people think it’ll be good enough to be viable, in the long run, in the future?
Wouldn’t a better longterm strategy be to find another place where they can build a rabid fanbase they won’t have to worry about diappearing down the road?
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
by ZeroIndulgence on May 11, 2010 12:11 AM PDT up reply actions
There’s a long history of relocation in the NHL— Minnesota, Colorado, Kansas City. Situations change and come as they go. The Jets had trouble keeping afloat in the pre-salary cap era and it wasn’t just reserved to that organization— Canada’s dollar was weak and taxes were high, the NHL kept a lot of teams afloat through the Canadian Assistance Plan. Pretty sure at one point every team not named the Maple Leafs was at risk of being relocated. Quebec and Winnipeg weren’t the only ones who were in trouble, just the only ones that paid the price. Winnipeg deserves a team just as much as Phoenix does, but it’s just shitty that it has to go down like this (if it even goes down at all).
As for another city, no one has stepped up right now, and I doubt anyone will in this economic climate. I think Kansas City offered to take the Pens a couple years ago, but that fell apart when Mario Lemieux came in to save the day.
The NHL has a schedule in place for Winnipeg. Whether that’s a) putting the heat on Glendale or b) a true contingency plan in the event the Coyotes move, it’s next to nil another city steps in right now. We likely would have heard about it already, whether or not anyone thinks it would be a more viable solution to this current ownership dilemma.
"San Jose is where I want to be at the end of the day, and there's an opportunity now to make it there. It is where my heart is." - Jamie McGinn, 2/22/10
Fear The Fin: Where Selling Your Soul Is The Likely Solution
I brought up KC because I think they have a new arena already built and are looking for a franchise (NBA, NHL, whatever) to put in it. They’d seem the most ready of any of the American cities that might want an NHL team.
Basically, all I’m getting out of this is the Coyotes would move back to Winnipeg because a) they were there before, and b) there’s already a plan to move them back there ready to go if Phoenix/Glendale falls through. Which I guess works for the reasoning in this case. I guess I was thinking too broadly in terms of relocation in general, and not specific enough for this case.
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
by ZeroIndulgence on May 11, 2010 12:42 AM PDT up reply actions
Two of my friends are from KC, and they told me how excited the city and everyone was when they thought they were getting the Penguins. And then when they realized that they weren’t, they were kind of sad/pissed off. Okay, one of them couldn’t care less, and the other barely cared at all, but they still knew about the whole Penguins thing. I mean, yeah the Scouts didn’t really work out, but there does seem to be a buzz there for getting another team.
"I think I realized after the second or third punch, I should have taken his helmet off sooner." - Ryane Clowe
Proud member of the "Re-Sign Marleau" Club
Fools and Sages
I wish KC had gotten the Penguins. Then they could have stopped darkening the days of Eastern Conference teams everywhere and we’d see a variety of teams representing the East instead of the Pens year after year after year.
The Pens deserve to be promoted to a higher conference anyway. Let them battle it out with the Wings and Chicago every year.
Would I dislike the Pens with the same passion? Probably not. But I was a St. Louis Blues fan before being a Caps fan. And I still remember the 1985 World Series.
Rocking the Red since 1975
Pretty sure at one point every team not named the Maple Leafs was at risk of being relocated.
Actually, there was once a time when the Edmonton Oilers and Toronto Maple Leafs were considering swapping locales, methinks so that Gretzky could have had a better stage.
(I’d insert the link, but I’m lazy – I put it on one of the Off the Posts a few months ago)
Fear The Fin = Man goes into cage... Cage goes into salsa... Shark's in the salsa... Our shark.
"The Sharks need to keep playing well and finish off Detroit. If they don't I guarantee a third straight Pitt-Det finals. WE'RE HOCKEY'S LAST HOPE!!!" - ZeroIndulgence, via text
Hrm, not quite.
The owners had considered swapping all the players of their respective teams. Edmonton was in a money mess, and Toronto was a mess, but cheaper. Edmonton lacked cash, Toronto lacked players. I don’t really know how seriously this was considered by either GM, but there was never a second when taking an NHL team out of Toronto was contemplated.
"Defense! Defense! Common! Do you call that blowing!?"
Semanics, really – like I said, I’m lazy.
Fear The Fin = Man goes into cage... Cage goes into salsa... Shark's in the salsa... Our shark.
"The Sharks need to keep playing well and finish off Detroit. If they don't I guarantee a third straight Pitt-Det finals. WE'RE HOCKEY'S LAST HOPE!!!" - ZeroIndulgence, via text
*semantics
I guess I’m just exTra lazy.
Fear The Fin = Man goes into cage... Cage goes into salsa... Shark's in the salsa... Our shark.
"The Sharks need to keep playing well and finish off Detroit. If they don't I guarantee a third straight Pitt-Det finals. WE'RE HOCKEY'S LAST HOPE!!!" - ZeroIndulgence, via text
Isn't there any way we can get rid of Dallas in this deal?
"Douglas Murray is a humongous human being." – Drew Remenda
I’d be ok with sending them to the AHL!
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
by ZeroIndulgence on May 11, 2010 12:29 AM PDT up reply actions
Send them into outer space with only a bag of elephant feces to eat if you want my opinion.
"San Jose is where I want to be at the end of the day, and there's an opportunity now to make it there. It is where my heart is." - Jamie McGinn, 2/22/10
Fear The Fin: Where Selling Your Soul Is The Likely Solution
That works too.
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
by ZeroIndulgence on May 11, 2010 12:38 AM PDT up reply actions
How about the KHL?
That sounds better to me
It was particularly funny to hear Bailey asking the director, "You want me to say ‘nipple clipper’ as a question?" Susan Slusser via The Drumbeat 03/20/2010
Yessir, sorry for the confusion.
"San Jose is where I want to be at the end of the day, and there's an opportunity now to make it there. It is where my heart is." - Jamie McGinn, 2/22/10
Fear The Fin: Where Selling Your Soul Is The Likely Solution
Agreed. I think Colorado moves to the Pacific rather than Vancouver. The Peg moves into the Northwest, to form a 4 canadian teams +Minnesota conference. Makes sense.
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
by ZeroIndulgence on May 10, 2010 11:34 PM PDT up reply actions
Not with the Leafs all over their case.
Elaborate please. I know it’s been said many times, but I really can’t recall what the situation with the Leafs is.
Ever get the feeling we are on a collision course with reality?
"They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security" -- Benjamin Franklin
I’d assume the Leafs don’t want another franchise so close to their own. Hamilton and Toronto are neighbors. I don’t know specifics, but I’d guess that’s at the root of it.
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
by ZeroIndulgence on May 10, 2010 11:43 PM PDT up reply actions
would people really jump loyalties tho? assuming San Francisco got an NHL team, I wouldn’t switch my loyalty to there even tho it’s much closer than the Sharks … would there really be people switching loyalties, or instead just getting the new fans they are concerned about?
(altho aren’t Canadians born hockey fans?)
Ever get the feeling we are on a collision course with reality?
"They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security" -- Benjamin Franklin
Well, if people aren’t willing to switch loyalties, then moving another franchise so close seems dumb, as they’d have no fans in the area! If people think Hamilton is a viable market, they must think they’d be able to attract enough fans…fans who are probably Leaf fans.
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
by ZeroIndulgence on May 10, 2010 11:48 PM PDT up reply actions
so that’s sorta my question … are Leaf fans so fickle they would jump loyalties … :)
Ever get the feeling we are on a collision course with reality?
"They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security" -- Benjamin Franklin
I don’t think it has anything to do with Leafs fans specifically, just human beings in general.
"San Jose is where I want to be at the end of the day, and there's an opportunity now to make it there. It is where my heart is." - Jamie McGinn, 2/22/10
Fear The Fin: Where Selling Your Soul Is The Likely Solution
Yep
Its a money thing, the leafs are not worried about an Empty ACC they just want to make sure they can keep filling the pension plan by any means necessary so if there is another team in Toronto/Hamilton they want to make sure they are getting paid for the other team to have the privilege of existing in their market. I think this is the most annoying thing about the usual RAWR hockey belongs in Canada Rhetoric is that sure they move the Coyotes here They might be alright locally but I don’t know how many people are going to change allegiances or even just jump on the bandwagon and if they do for how long. Sure it would be awesome to get another team here somewhere but I personally am not going to trade in my Teal for whatever colour they wear and I doubt many Canadians are going to give up their Maple Leaf, Orca etc…
Yeah Canadians are going to freak out to get a new team when it happens but what happens once that hysteria wears off.
Who’s gonna finish this off? I am going Boyle. - FML! No more OT Predictions from me!
Dont' forget:
The league gets paid a fee every time a team gets relocated or an expansion team is awarded that is based on the projected value of a team in a given location. For a team in Hamilton, it was speculated that this fee would be in the vicinity of 300 – 400 million dollars. Bettman isn’t letting a team walk into Toronto’s backyard unless he is certain that he can recoup that kind of bounty first.
THAT’s the most important part of all this. The Leafs and Sabres’ wishes are secondary.
"Defense! Defense! Common! Do you call that blowing!?"
Yeah
There is that too, again it all comes down to people getting paid. I was just approaching it from the leafs angle but the league angle is also very huge and I’m glad you brought it up.
Who’s gonna finish this off? I am going Boyle. - FML! No more OT Predictions from me!
I think that ultimately, the league’s point of view is far more important that either or both of the Leafs and Sabres’. I think that The Leafs were to be owed 50 or 100 million in compensation (I can’t remember how much), but the league was explicit that they do NOT have any kind of veto power.
"Defense! Defense! Common! Do you call that blowing!?"
This article that I linked in the piece explains a little bit about the situation.
When you have a monopoly on the area and are able to charge huge prices for tickets to a terrible product, competition from a neighbor doesn’t help you. Toronto can say what they want, but they have territorial rights for a reason.
You may not switch loyalties, but if someone in San Francisco who makes it down to ten Sharks games and purchases a jersey every year gets a team in their backyard, I highly doubt they wouldn’t consider supporting that new team and investing money into them. It’s kind of a basic idea.
"San Jose is where I want to be at the end of the day, and there's an opportunity now to make it there. It is where my heart is." - Jamie McGinn, 2/22/10
Fear The Fin: Where Selling Your Soul Is The Likely Solution
Especially if that new team has cheaper ticket prices. At least at the start to get fans hooked…the diehards would stay with the old team, but casual fans, or regional fans, would jump ship.
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
by ZeroIndulgence on May 10, 2010 11:55 PM PDT up reply actions
Yeah … guess I could see the casual / bandwagon thing … ah well :)
Ever get the feeling we are on a collision course with reality?
"They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security" -- Benjamin Franklin
From the impression I’ve gotten talking to Canadians fans in and around the greater Toronto area, a lot of them would go to the games for a new team, if only because it would mean they could actually GET TICKETS.
Aside from being expensive, it’s nearly impossible to get tickets to a Leafs game. That’s why so many Leafs fans end up in Buffalo. They have hockey and its affordable.
resident cartoonist @CouchTarts Lightning is seven times as hot as the surface of the sun.
That’s still not as hot as Douglas Murray. -mymclife
"No, That's Not General Malaise, It's NHL Playoff Fever." Real Fake Sports
This...
Although I’m about 10 hours from Toronto I am surrounded by leaf fans, and most of those fans will either make a trip to Ottawa or Buffalo to catch a leafs game because its easier to get tickets and cheeper.
Who’s gonna finish this off? I am going Boyle. - FML! No more OT Predictions from me!
Well we kind of have that possibility here too
would there really be people switching loyalties, or instead just getting the new fans they are concerned about?
with the A’s potentially moving into “Giants’ territory” in the South Bay. I’ve always wondered if fans would actually defect or would they rely on attracting new baseball fans. I’m imagining that most die hard fans stay loyal, but fair weather or new fans can be attracted to a new franchise.
And back to hockey, I’m sure there are plenty of non-Leafs hockey fans in the TO area (Sabres, Habs, box, bag, blah, etc.). If a new team opened up shop in Hamilton, I’m sure that they would have little trouble attracting a new fanbase.
"If you're going to start talking about Joe Thornton then watch the freaking games because the guy has been an absolute dominant player in this series." - Drew Remenda
- Joe Thornton, 2nd Round: 3G, 5A
Being a hockey fan should be fun, not mentally exhausting
CoG is run by idiots. Hell, Arizona is filled with corrupt idiots who have no business running a coffee machine, let alone a government.
I would say I am angry, but I feel jerked around again. And this has happened so often, you cqn’t even get mad anymore. You just submit and feel derpessed.
I like my goals like I like my booze..... Top shelf.
by GhostOfLinkGaetz on May 10, 2010 11:16 PM PDT reply actions
Sounds like Illinois/Chicago/Cook County government
They think we don’t notice or care, but we do and it sucks.
by Chicago Shark on May 11, 2010 5:05 AM PDT up reply actions
How bout
Bettman, Bettman, Bettman and the Jets!
by ninersdd on May 11, 2010 5:05 PM PDT up reply actions 2 recs
This is solid.
"San Jose is where I want to be at the end of the day, and there's an opportunity now to make it there. It is where my heart is." - Jamie McGinn, 2/22/10
Fear The Fin: Where Selling Your Soul Is The Likely Solution
You guys think this Phoenix situation is a mess...
I can’t imagine the nhl trying to move a team to Portland of all places. Im from there and I don’t know how much any of you guys come up here, but the northwest is just terrible for non-trendy sports like hockey. The coffee suckers up here only want to watch a sport that they think makes them look more worldly or patriotic like soccer or baseball. When there are more sounders fans than seahawks/canucks/sharks/mariners combined, that is frustratingly sad for a nw sports fan. Thank god for the sharks
A few things I'd like to add that seem to have been missed:
Things helping Winnipeg’s case right now:
1) The Canadian Dollar is on par with the American Dollar. At the time the Jets moved to Phoenix, the Canadian Dollar was worth somewhere in the vicinity of 67 or 68 cents US. It might dip again, but not likely to 67 or 68 cents.
2) The Salary Cap limits the disparity between small and larger markets.
3) Thomson is one of the richest people in the world, and worth something like 19 billion dollars. He can afford to renovate the MTS centre to expand it, without the help of the city.
4) Someone has already touched on this briefly, but I should clarify: there was never, ever a problem with fan support in Winnipeg. The only reason that the Jets stayed for their final year was that the city had launched a grassroots campaign to raise money out of their own pockets to keep the team. It was a combination of a weak Dollar, no salary cap, and low corporate support. Has the corporate support situation changed dramatically? Well, I don’t know. This Mr. Thomson seems to be a pretty sharp guy, and he seems to think so.
I’d also like to add that it’s nice to see such support for a fellow Southwestern team. Good on you guys. If someone wanted to move the Senators, I’m not even sure that Leaf fans wouldn’t help pay to get them out.
"Defense! Defense! Common! Do you call that blowing!?"
by JP Nikota on May 11, 2010 11:36 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
a fellow Southwestern team
/squirms uncontrollably at the Canadianism. :-D
Fear The Fin = Man goes into cage... Cage goes into salsa... Shark's in the salsa... Our shark.
"The Sharks need to keep playing well and finish off Detroit. If they don't I guarantee a third straight Pitt-Det finals. WE'RE HOCKEY'S LAST HOPE!!!" - ZeroIndulgence, via text
I don't understand?
Don’t mean to offend, sorry.
"Defense! Defense! Common! Do you call that blowing!?"
I'm just busting your balls
By U.S. standards, California (at least most of it) is not the Southwest. Northern California in particular is not part of the Southwest, meaning San Jose is not a Southwestern team. Non-traditional / warm weather market, yes. Southwest, no.
I’m not trying to start an argument – actually, I’m trying to prevent you from taking further flak.
No real offense taken – sorry that I took a small excerpt of your post and fixated on it!
Fear The Fin = Man goes into cage... Cage goes into salsa... Shark's in the salsa... Our shark.
"The Sharks need to keep playing well and finish off Detroit. If they don't I guarantee a third straight Pitt-Det finals. WE'RE HOCKEY'S LAST HOPE!!!" - ZeroIndulgence, via text
Yeah. The Southwest is generally Arizona and New Mexico with a bit of the southeastern part of California (the desert part). The southern part of Nevada as well. In the US, the Southwest generally refers to a desert climate with cacti and cowboys and tumbleweeds and all that jazz. You know, the stereotypical Old West/cowboy towns.
While some parts of California fall under that category, San Jose is considered Northern California, which has redwood forests as its defining natural feature (besides the San Francisco Bay, of course). But since that’s specific Californian geography, I wouldn’t expect many people outside of Californians to know that.
"I think I realized after the second or third punch, I should have taken his helmet off sooner." - Ryane Clowe
Proud member of the "Re-Sign Marleau" Club
Fools and Sages
Yeah...
I guess that makes sense. Obviously I know that Cali exists in its own political climate, and doesn’t really consider itself part of the South, at least, for the most part. I think in my head I imagined SJ a little further south, and a little further inland than it actually is. I don’t know why, but I thought it was more in the desert part of Cali.
"Defense! Defense! Common! Do you call that blowing!?"
Good breakdown. Thank you very much.
"San Jose is where I want to be at the end of the day, and there's an opportunity now to make it there. It is where my heart is." - Jamie McGinn, 2/22/10
Fear The Fin: Where Selling Your Soul Is The Likely Solution
Looks like the Yotes are staying in Phoenix...
Stolen from Five for Howling. They should have some rundown of this before too long. There is a delightfully over the top post from a Winnipeg-ian on there that is sure to draw a few laughs, though. It’s pretty outrageous, actually.
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
by ZeroIndulgence on May 11, 2010 11:48 PM PDT reply actions
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