FanNation - The Republic of Sport

Yeh, okay......whatever you say mayor. How many votes will it cost you to let the team go if t will save the tax payers in the long run?!

Move the Preds to Hamilton, territorial rights wont be an issue with Toronto and Buffalo like most people think. I used to live in Toronto in the 80's and when the Leafs were not making the playoffs or finished in last place in 1985 they were still selling out every game. Buffalo has it's own fan base. Detroit is more than a three hour drive from Hamilton. Southern Ontario is in the top 5 Sports Markets in North America along with it's population. Gary Bettman needs to allow Canada to have a 7TH team. It would make it more convienent for Hamilton residents to see a live NHL game. They would sell out every night and have their own new fan base. The commissioner needs to go. Does he realize the Canadian dollar is worth as much as the American dollar. Also having a team in Hamilton would save fans driving out of the country to see a game, it's almost impossible to get a ticket in Toronto. Let's not forget with the current high fuel costs less fans from Hamilton will travel so far to see a live hockey game, plus there is an Arena for them, they just need Nashville to move there and Mr. Bettman does not need to get in the way.

Agreed Boston. Ignoring die-hard hockey nuts who have a billion or two is always good business, eh? Bettman learned his trade from old Uncle Dave Stern. You run the league with the tightest leash possible, have all of your owners fall into line, and rule by dictatorship. Balsillie's biggest mistake was letting Bettman and Co. know he was going to pick up and move before he bought the team. You knew right then Bettman wasn't going to have anyone tell him what to do. It's too bad, Balsillie would have been great for the game.

I thought Chris Hansen was in charge of the "predators" ???

Considering that 'Boots' obviously wanted to move any team he had any even minute amount of pull in to Kansas City where he had a sweetheart deal from a city whose gov't was more than willing to do anything in its power to get a team to avoid making it look like they built a downtown arena (The Sprint Center) for the express purpose of housing an indoor football team .... and considering "Boots'" allegedly legal issues- it is probably a good thing (for Kansas City) -that this "Boots" fella failed.

Although with the nickname "Boots" he would have more than fit in with a certain segment of Kansas City "culture" --- I find it hard to believe that a guy like this -if he'd have been successful would have cleaned up -and after milking the situation for all it was worth -would have disappeared like so much flatulence on a windy day.

-----

BosGM - I think too it was more than Bettman- as it was also a combination of Kansas City selling themselves like 2 for 1 night in any red light district. I think Balsillie's biggest mistake was letting it be known that he planned on moving to Hamilton (no offense to Hamilton- I just think that Bettman saw dollar signs in KC) -- Hamilton would have made a lot more sense from a hockey perspective- but I am pretty sure that Bettman could care less about ice hockey.

Tax-payers should not have to suffer. Just move the franchise to Hartford or a Canadian city.

Move the Preds to Hamilton, territorial rights wont be an issue with Toronto and Buffalo like most people think.
Hyper Brad | 07/13/08, 11:48 AM

It's not a question of territory rights any more. Hamilton has just fallen down the list of potential new sites. Re-instating a team in Winnipeg or even putting one out East (Halifax) are now much higher on the possibilities list than putting a team in Hamilton.

no, don`t want to start the repeating of failed team in cities that lost teams. If thats the case it would be a nightmare if they put on back in Winnipeg. Just a new location that been wanting one. Instead of recreating a possible nightmare part 2.
Grossedout9 | 07/14/08, 05:38 AM

It wasn't a nightmare to put a team back in the Twin Cities. Winnipeg failed because the collective bargaining agreement was even worse on small market teams back them, the ownership group had problems, and the Canadian dollar was in the toilet. Canadian teams have huge fan-bases and the Canadian dollar is strong again. The proper ownership group could make it work in Winnipeg.
There is almost nowhere in the U.S. or Canada that makes more sense than Winnipeg.
There are few cities that make more sense than Winnipeg

I heard he wanted to move them to Mexico City. They know more about hockey than the 44 fans in Nashville.

"Del Biaggio wanted to move Preds" but, let me guess, Buttman didn't let him!

"Del Biaggio wanted to move Preds" but, let me guess, Buttman didn't let him!

But Nashville is such a major hockey market? Chock a block full of rabid fans? Youth players in abundance? Attending hockey camps in Minnesota?

Or so I've heard.......

If Winnepeg were to get another team, as mentioned earlier, the new arena holds only 15,000 capacity, isn't the NHL rule 17 or 18 thousand. I can't understand why Winnepeg would make a new hockey building with a smaller capacity, did the town officials only allow for an arena that big. Unless the new arena can be expanded I can't see Winnepeg getting an NHL team. Now if there was a team put there, I don't believe it would be another nightmare, the place would sell out every game. I think Mr. Bettman does not want another team in Canada. Hamilton has been trying to get a franchise ever since the league expanded to 24 teams, now I think the City deserves a chance. It would create a few great rivalries with teams like Toronto, Buffalo, and Ottawa, Now if some how Detroit was moved into the eastern conference then there would be another great rivalry. It would be great to see the Wings in the east. Nashville is not much of a hockey town compared to Winnepeg or Hamilton or Quebec. If Mr, Bettman allowed them to move to an American City only, I think it Portland deserves a franchise since they have never had one. K.C. had one in the 70's and that could work, but a city that has not experienced live NHL hockey should get the chance first. Gary Bettman is an idiot and should go back to the NBA. The NHL needs a commisioner that knows more about hockey and cares.
Brad-Anaheim

Well look at the Minn team now? Well its head is above water. But the city just let the stars go. knowing the NHL would be stupid enough to put a another team there. For that purpose they souldnt have put another team there for that very reason. hence why if a city loses a team they should be a the bottom ( if at all ) on a new list for expanion).........

There are many growning cities that never had a team and are wanting one badly. Why repeat or be blackmailed by a city. then turn around and as for another team?
Grossedout9 | 07/14/08, 09:49 PM

Who is on this supposed evergrowing list of cities that you are talking about? Cities lose teams for various reasons. (lousy owners, lousy stadium deals, other financial reasons, etc). That doesn't and shouldn't ever put the city at the bottom of the list for getting another team. Teams should be placed where it makes sense --- ownership group, stadium, fanbase, etc. What cities make more sense than Winnipeg? Who is on this list of yours? And BTW, you can't get blackmailed by a 'city'.

Well look at the Minn team now? Well its head is above water. But the city just let the stars go. knowing the NHL would be stupid enough to put a another team there.......

Actaully the city never just let the team leave...The offer from the target Center/City of Minneapolis was a better deal than what was offered in Dallas... norm green WANTED to move the team... Minnesota deserves a team and the NHL should have blocked that move in the first place. It had NOTHING to do with city..It had to do with an ower who wanted to leave....

In the long run the solution was not the best but it was offered and was a better deal..

A: Move Florida Panthers (Las Vegas would be good).
B: Move Nashville Predator (Hamilton)

I know some small market towns just can't support an NHL team (Portland, OR & Seattle come to mind), but there will always be a small amount of supporters out there.