Phoenix Coyotes staying in Arizona

by Brandon Worley on Jun 15, 2009 8:09 PM CDT in News Comment 8 comments

After weeks of debate, after weeks of an intense marketing campaign and plenty of talk about how much Canada "deserved" another hockey team, an Arizona judge has dismissed Jim Balsillie's bid to purchase the Phoenix Coyotes. The billionaire's proposal was to purchase the Coyotes franchise and move it to Hamilton, Ontario, a town near Toronto. The supporters of this move claimed that Phoenix, a "non-traditional hockey market" that was struggling to support the team financially, didn't deserve a hockey team as much as the Canadians do.

I haven't posted my thoughts on this topic during this whole process, although I was interviewed by several website and news agencies. They were interested in my opinion on why the Dallas Stars, supposedly situated in the middle of a "non-traditional" hockey market, have succeeded so well (the Stars are in the top five in the NHL in generating revenue), while others have not.

Simply, it comes down to winning. If the franchise is successful on the ice, then the fans will come. That's even more important in the southern towns where hockey hasn't existed for a 40 years. San Jose, Anaheim, Dallas....all have very successful franchises on the ice and are doing well financially. The Coyotes started off on the right foot, had an extremely dedicated fanbase but haven't enjoyed much success lately. That hurts.

However, it's good to know that they are staying in Phoenix. As someone who grew up in Texas and came to love and play hockey there, I think it's important to support the game in as many places we can. Hopefully the Coyotes can rebound from this, get some things straightened out inside their organization and become successful once more.

For more on this story, be sure to visit SB Nation's Coyotes blog, Five For Howling.

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Good ruling

Moving the Yotes to Hamilton could be a good move, and would be a great way to “fix” the teams problems, however i don’t believe it would have been the right move. The judge made a good call imho, for 2 key reasons.

1. Jim Balsillie has proven to be a self-centered individual. He tends to show a lack of regard towards the league in general, and I don’t think the NHL needs or wants an owner with that kind of attitude.

2. As you mentioned, succeeding in a non traditional market comes with having a winning record. The Yotes have some great talent, but they need depth, and a MUCH greater coach. If they draft well, replace the coach and get a few more wins they will do much better.

However… their arena situation also needs to change. An arena in Phoenix (as compared to Glendale) would be a great thing. Who knows, if they can pull it off, they might actually make a thing of that team.

by Stars Fan Down Under on Jun 15, 2009 9:36 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I am disappointed.

I really wanted to see what Jim was going to bring to the table. A lot of people do think that he is a very self serving individual. Honestly though, who are kidding by not saying that EVERY owner in the NHL isn’t? Just look at the Avalanche for example. Their owner, the wonderful E. Stanley Kroneke is willing to slash jobs within the organization because of “financial cutbacks” but is willing to dump another $60 Million into his English soccer venture Arsenal. Why? It’s a better investment then a 28th place hockey team.

Is Tom Hicks not being selfish buy trying to dump a majority of his shares of the lowly Texas Rangers?

Check that. I don’t think that sports franchise owners are selfish, I think that they are spectacular businessmen who buy when it’s hot and sell when it’s low.

Jim Ballsile clearly sees a tremendous business opportunity sitting before him. If he can somehow convince that “Commissioner” the NHL has into letting him move another franchise to Canada, he is going to make his $215 Million, or whatever his offer was, back in no less than 3 years but probably 2.

Call him selfish, say he has an attitude, but the reality is, he is living almost every hockey fans dream of owning an NHL franchise.

I say give him a chance! What’s the worst he is gonna do? Fill for bankruptcy in Canada because the team didn’t succeed? I doubt it!

Unfortunately due to the SELFISHNESS of Gary Bettman, we are never going to get the chance to find out. I honestly think that he is doing the NHL a great disservice by not giving this idea a chance. Shame on you Gary, shame on you.

"I can't hear Jeremy because I have my 2 Stanley Cup rings plugging my ears!" -Patrick Roy

by Derek B on Jun 16, 2009 1:02 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

There’s something to be said for proper rules and procedures though. And this is at least the second time ol’ Balsillie has messed up the works by trying to swoop in, grab a franchise, and quickly move them out after starting to sell season tickets before his acquisition of the Predators was complete a few years ago. I’m sure Bettman and the BoG didn’t look too kindly on Mr. Blackberry after that turn of events.

At this point with this economy, it’s not a question of if, but a question of when Balsillie becomes an owner. But he would probably would have been one already if not for his lack of patience.

Defending Big D | TheStarsFans | But a Hawks fan since 1989

by Brandon Bibb on Jun 16, 2009 7:18 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed.

I definitely think he has been a little over zealous in his pursuit of an NHL franchise. I truly am looking forward to him owning an NHL team. Heck, I wouldn’t even mind if bought the Avs! :-)

"I can't hear Jeremy because I have my 2 Stanley Cup rings plugging my ears!" -Patrick Roy

by Derek B on Jun 16, 2009 10:25 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

One of the reasons the Stars succeeded in Dallas was because they were not an expansion team. Couple an in house Star in Mike Modano and a playoff berth in their first year and it was much easier to grow a fan base here than in other instances. The Avalanche won the Stanley Cup the first year they were in Colorado and that helped their success. First year winning gives a franchise a leg up and it’s especially true in non-traditional hockey markets.

Signature! I don't need no stinking signature!!

by DerekSTheRed on Jun 16, 2009 8:06 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Phoenix wasn't an expansion team either.

And while I don’t think they had the in house star that the Stars and Avs did when they first started, they definitely had Jeremy Roenick and Keith Tkatchuk in the prime of there careers.

Winning the Cup in their first year absolutely helped the Avs gain the faithful fan base they have now. However, with the institution of the salary cap and a few other mistakes by the Avalanche brass, they are set to draft 3rd in the upcoming draft, but at least they are still selling tickets. Although that is starting to taper off as they lost their sellout streak and are struggling to fill the house with 14,000 fans (18,007 is sellout).

"I can't hear Jeremy because I have my 2 Stanley Cup rings plugging my ears!" -Patrick Roy

by Derek B on Jun 16, 2009 10:41 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think that everyone has a valid point, but sorry Derek, if Tom Hicks was smart, he wouldn’t have bought the Rangers in the first place, even though they are in first place in their division right now.

That said, Bastille doesn’t make the rules, the NHL does. Bastille went behind the NHL’s back not once but twice in trying to get a team to move north to Canada, and the NHL just isn’t going to stand for that, especially when there are potential owners out there that would keep the Coyotes in Phenoix.

Another factor in the decision that the judge sent down is the fact that the arena that they are playing in has a good 30 years left on their lease. That would have been millions lost if Bastille got his way.

In a way, I’m glad that the team is staying in Arizona. That would mean that there are chances to prove the NHL right in saying that Hockey is a North American sport instead of a Canadian one.

by sanji_himura on Jun 16, 2009 3:39 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I can’t argue that he hasn’t tried going behind the NHL’s back and there has to be action taken for that kind of behavior. However, it’s like being teenager and your parents won’t let go out to prom because you took the car without asking. Yes there are rules and everyone has to follow them. But when “daddy” Bettman is using his power as commish to block someone from buying a franchise and doing a lot of good for the game, I think it is getting pretty childish and old.

To me, having the “Yotes” in Phoenix is like watching a slow and painful death. While I do think that there are some truly passionate, amazing fans in the greater Phoenix area, the luster of having an NHL team there has worn off. The majority of the people there probably don’t even know that the team moved to Glendale.

Speaking of Glendale, one of the few reasons I am glad they did stay is because I think it would be a terrible thing for that city to get stuck with the bill for the Jobing.com Arena.

That would mean that there are chances to prove the NHL right in saying that Hockey is a North American sport instead of a Canadian one.

Here is a link to the Hockey Canada website showing the number of registered hockey players, 558,117!!

Here is the link to USA Hockey’s website showing 465,975 registered players.

Seems like it is close, less than a 100,000 player difference, but wait, the 558,117 is almost 2% of the entire population of Canada that is registered hockey players. While the 465,975 registered players in the U.S. make up less than .0015% of the American population. Let’s not kid ourselves here, it will always be a Canadian game.

"I can't hear Jeremy because I have my 2 Stanley Cup rings plugging my ears!" -Patrick Roy

by Derek B on Jun 16, 2009 9:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs