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Tuesday, August 25, 2009

How Stupid is the NHL??

Checking some sports headlines I have seen that the NHL is going to try to purchase the Phoenix Coyotes franchise in order to keep it in Glendale, AZ. Do they really think that just because they have some immediate interest there right now they can keep it profitable when they can't make the playoffs. What is going to happen when there is another two or three losing seasons? Are they going to try to find a buyer who will keep it there then? Who would want to keep a losing team in a losing city?

Even when Balsillie was going after the Penguins and Predators, the NHL had the same stance. You cannot move the team they have to stay put. They were however open to putting a team in some other useless city in the South were because of profit sharing they would never be too far out of pocket. So when our Canadian teams bring in millions in revenue for the six teams we have and they have to support the lesser teams, someone has to shake Bettmans head. Is he not a business man, would it not be better for the NHL if they had another team which would sell out game after game and have huge merchandise profits like that of the Habs or Leafs?

If you ask me, Bettman is the wrong guy to be leading the NHL in these troubled times. So, Mr Balsillie has gone the wrong way to get a team, but is $212 million not better than a team which will lose money year after year for the NHL? I guess the NHL as a corporation is doing well, they seem to have lots of dollars sunk in legal fees to keep the sale from going through and to be able to purchase a team (sounds like conflict of interest to me). What would happen if (and that is a strong if) Phoenix was to win the cup would Bettman get his name on it? would Mr Daley? Who do you put as the owner in that situation. Are they going to buy at a high price to entice the judge to allow it and then sell lower to someone who will keep it in Phoenix?

I would like to see what other organizations have to say about this transactions, and how ethical this is.