Globe and Mail reports that NHL may be loaning money to Phoenix Coyotes

I am out West so not real close to the situation but I think the feds have already said no to a any arena money in Quebec City. The Conservative govt here figured out a way to get a majority without a lot of Quebec support so I am not sure there is the political will to float the province money.

Edmonton is pushing for a new arena and if they get federal or provincial money then Calgary will want money for a new arena as well.

I don't know if Basillie still has enough sway to move a team to Southern Ontario or if the league would even deal with him after what he pulled last time.

 

Never say never, but Basillie mucked it up.

Are there any groups like the True North Jets ownership group out there?

 

True North had the luxury of having a servicable arena and the backing of Canada's richest family (Thompsons). I am sure there may be other groups but not sure anyone has an arena ready to go.

 

My in-laws in Edmonton and Calgary have both said new arenas are needed out there.

I've never been, so no idea, but Edmonton sounds like the more urgent case from what they say.

 

I've never thought of Seattle as an NHL town either, which is why the continued talk about it mystifies me.

This also isn't a true barometer, but I was in town a day or two after McSorley bashed Brashear in the head, and it was getting very little run on sports talk radio, and this was happening only a couple hours north. It was the biggest sports story in two countries at that point, too, and everyone was more concerned about Mike Cameron and spring training.

 

Balsillie is gone, gone, gone. He's not even talked about any longer.

Markham, a bedroom community just north of Toronto is going to build an NHL sized arena.

http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2012/08/08/markhams_nhlstyle_arena_project_takes_a_leap_forward.html

In April, Markham council overwhelmingly approved a unique public-private financing plan for it. The city will borrow $325 million to pay for construction, half of which will be reimbursed by a private group headed by Roustan and financially backed by Rudy Bratty, of the Remington Group Inc.

It's pretty clear that the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) will have a second team. If you stretch the GTA to include cities from Toronto to Hamilton and surrounding areas, that's about 8 million people or about 25% of the entire Canadian population.

 

I don't doubt Ontario could support a second team, I've posted that here.

The nuts and bolts, are they finialzed?

When is ground being broken?

That's the key.

 

Does Balsille have the money anymore, with BlackBerry tanking?

 

I have no idea, but I wouldn't be stunned if he's better off than some previous owners of NHL franchises.

 

And I don't imagine the Leafs are too keen on having a second team in the market.

 

Bada bing, bada boom.

 

Saw a piece out there that Bettman will push expansion to 32 (and the ensuing fees) as a way of mollifying some owners for lost lockout revenues, with GTA and Quebec City mentioned. Also the Leafs would get a nice chunk of change for a team coming into its territory. Not sure how reliable it is.