Nashville Predators moving to Canada? NOPE! Sorry, Canucks (and KC!)...

Re: Nashville Predators moving to Canada? Sure seems like it...

Sue, here's the other thing. It's a psychological thing. Basillie is a winner, a highly successful businessman who has created one of the strongest brands in the high-tech world.

Corporations want to be aligned with winners because it makes them feel that they've got something in commom with RIM.

A lot of corporate sponsorship and advertising is done at the gut level.

 

Re: Nashville Predators moving to Canada? Sure seems like it...

So, if the NHL is so viable in a city/area with the size and financial viability of Hamilton, why did teams leave Quebec City and Winnipeg? Why did Ottawa nearly go tits up not too long ago.

If, in fact, teams are so viable in Canada, why hasn't any other business man (Canadian or American - remember USA's Gillette partially owns the Habs) made a bid to bring one back or start one up? Why didn't any businessmen step up and save the teams in the past Canadian cities, rather than move them to America?

Don't say payroll, exhchange etc. because the cap came into play lately, but is now rising again (nearly $50 million) and the dollar's been good for a while. Yet, no one is jumping at the chance to buy and bring a franchise to Canada, other than Balsillie.

 

Re: Nashville Predators moving to Canada? Sure seems like it...

He also nearly found himself in legal trouble a few months back.

 

Re: Nashville Predators moving to Canada? Sure seems like it...

The point is: Balsillie did jump and he's exactly the kind of guy the NHL needs.

And it's not a Hamilton team. It's a SW Ontario/GTA team.

There's fuck all within hundreds of miles of either Winnipeg & QC--you can't make the comparison.

A team in Hamilton makes more sense than a team in Ottawa where the major employer is the federal government.

 

Re: Nashville Predators moving to Canada? Sure seems like it...

Because they couldn't get new rinks built and the dollar was trading at 60 cents to the US dollar.

 

Re: Nashville Predators moving to Canada? Sure seems like it...

You are also ignoring the fact that all six Canadian teams are paying into the NHL's revenue sharing system now. The Canadian teams are the richest teams in the bloody league.

Corporate sponsorship is important, no doubt, but make no mistake, so it gate revenue.

If you move this team to KC you will likely see the same thing unfold there as has in Nashville. There would be an initial blip of interest followed by........*crickets*

 

Re: Nashville Predators moving to Canada? Sure seems like it...

And also the Ottawa franchise was a financial house of cards until Melnyk stepped in.

Every Canadian should be grateful that we don't have to see another one of Rod Bryden's weekly press conferences.

 

Re: Nashville Predators moving to Canada? Sure seems like it...

Wow ... um ... Shell, Petro-Can, Irving, Ultramar (does that still exist? I have 't bought gas back east in a while), Husky ... damn, I know I'm missing a few.

And that's just scratching the surface.

 

Re: Nashville Predators moving to Canada? Sure seems like it...

Um, well, I was just kidding.

Ultramar does indeed still exist.

Oh, and Pioneer Gas--a regional gas retailer out of Hamilton.

 

Re: Nashville Predators moving to Canada? Sure seems like it...

Hey, I like a challenge ... which ones are attached to the Wendy's/Tim's along the 401?

 

Re: Nashville Predators moving to Canada? Sure seems like it...

Flash, I have no idea. All of them?

 

Re: Nashville Predators moving to Canada? Sure seems like it...

Dammmit, JR ... you made me type Irving ... now all I can think of is apple pie at a Big Stop ... with ice cream ... oooooooooooooooooooh.