GM Hockey
Would you like to react to this message? Create an account in a few clicks or log in to continue.
GM Hockey

You are not connected. Please login or register

Thrashers Moving to Hamilton?

4 posters

Go to page : 1, 2  Next

Go down  Message [Page 1 of 2]

1Thrashers Moving to Hamilton? Empty Thrashers Moving to Hamilton? Sat May 09, 2009 12:45 pm

davetherave

davetherave
All-Star
All-Star

From the Toronto Star and Hamilton Spectator today:

Group wants to move Atlanta Thrashers to Hamilton

Mayor to discuss second bid next week

May 09, 2009

HAMILTON SPECTATOR


HAMILTON – A Vancouver-based hockey group is interested in relocating the financially-troubled Atlanta Thrashers to Hamilton, the Spectator has learned.

Hamilton Mayor Fred Eisenberger is expected to meet with the second hockey group on Monday.

Eisenberger wouldn't disclose any details of the second group, believed to be led by Vancouver developer Tom Gaglardi, or when the meeting would take place.

But an inside hockey source told the Spectator that Gaglardi is interested in moving the Thrashers to Hamilton, possibly in time for the 2010 season.

Gaglardi heads River City Hockey Inc., a five-man group including NHL stars Jarome Iginla, Mark Recchi, Shane Doan and Darryl Sydor, which purchased the Kamloops Blazers of the Western Hockey League in 2007.

A source confirmed this week that Gaglardi, president of Northland Properties, the parent company of Sandman Hotels, is the key principal in the second hockey group interested in Hamilton. Gaglardi failed in his bid to buy the Vancouver Canucks five years ago.

Hamilton is suddenly a hot property for people looking at the possibility that some financially troubled NHL teams may be looking to relocate.

Gaglardi's group is Steeltown's second NHL suitor. There are now rumours of as many as five groups looking at Hamilton and Copps Coliseum for an NHL team.

City staff are already working on a proposed lease of Copps Coliseum to Waterloo billionaire Jim Balsillie, who hopes to buy and relocate the Phoenix Coyotes to the city for the 2009 season.

Balsillie, who has made a $212.5 million (U.S.) offer for the bankrupt Coyotes this week, is battling the NHL for control of the franchise. That battle is currently being waged in a Phoenix courtroom.

Gaglardi has business ties to fellow Vancouver developer Nelson Skalbania, the former owner of the Edmonton Oilers, who was the driving force behind the relocation of the former Atlanta Flames to Calgary. It is unclear whether Skalbania is involved in the possible second relocation of an Atlanta hockey club north of the border.

One source said the Atlanta move to Hamilton would be temporary, possibly to give the group time to relocate the franchise to a more permanent site following the 2010 season.

Gaglardi was unavailable for comment yesterday.

Eisenberger told the Spectator yesterday he expects by Tuesday the city should have a "clear picture" of its NHL strategy. That is one day before a May 13 deadline for sealing a deal to lock up Copps Coliseum requested by Balsillie.

"By next Tuesday we will have a clearer picture of where we are. We're in the middle of discussions with Mr. Balsillie and his group and I will be meeting with the second group. We need to understand their intentions. It's fair to say I will be talking to that second group," Eisenberger said.

A well-placed source in the business community, speaking on condition he not be named, said the frenzied climate around NHL hockey, Hamilton, Toronto and Vaughan has made it impossible to separate legitimate bids from possibilities and mere rumours.

He described five different scenarios that continue to crop up in conversations, though he emphasized there is no way to know how solid some of them are.
"I don't know what's real and not real," the source said.



Last edited by davetherave on Sat May 09, 2009 3:09 pm; edited 1 time in total

2Thrashers Moving to Hamilton? Empty Re: Thrashers Moving to Hamilton? Sat May 09, 2009 1:39 pm

shabbs

shabbs
Hall of Famer
Hall of Famer

HA HA! Let's do it! Relocate two teams to Southern Ontario! Love it!

3Thrashers Moving to Hamilton? Empty Re: Thrashers Moving to Hamilton? Sat May 09, 2009 1:50 pm

caissie_1

caissie_1
Veteran
Veteran

Temporary.... That dosnt make to much sense for Hamilton. They want a permanent team.

4Thrashers Moving to Hamilton? Empty Re: Thrashers Moving to Hamilton? Sat May 09, 2009 1:57 pm

shabbs

shabbs
Hall of Famer
Hall of Famer

Yeah, Hamilton have said they are not interested in temporary solutions.

5Thrashers Moving to Hamilton? Empty Re: Thrashers Moving to Hamilton? Sat May 09, 2009 3:12 pm

davetherave

davetherave
All-Star
All-Star

shabbs wrote:Yeah, Hamilton have said they are not interested in temporary solutions.

If Hamilton isn't interested, then why are they meeting with this group?

Hamilton Mayor Fred Eisenberger is expected to meet with the second hockey group on Monday.

Eisenberger wouldn't disclose any details of the second group, believed to be led by Vancouver developer Tom Gaglardi, or when the meeting would take place.

But an inside hockey source told the Spectator that Gaglardi is interested in moving the Thrashers to Hamilton, possibly in time for the 2010 season.

Gaglardi heads River City Hockey Inc., a five-man group including NHL stars Jarome Iginla, Mark Recchi, Shane Doan and Darryl Sydor, which purchased the Kamloops Blazers of the Western Hockey League in 2007.

And no comments on the fact that the group includes these NHL players, particularly Shane Doan of the Phoenix Coyotes?

6Thrashers Moving to Hamilton? Empty Re: Thrashers Moving to Hamilton? Sat May 09, 2009 3:14 pm

shabbs

shabbs
Hall of Famer
Hall of Famer

davetherave wrote:If Hamilton isn't interested, then why are they meeting with this group?
Cuz any good businessman will listen to something that doesn't cost them anything. Who knows, temporary may turn to permanent. Or perhaps it will help to sweeten the pot that Balsillie is offering if he thinks there's competition.

Don't close doors unless you have to.

Business 101.

7Thrashers Moving to Hamilton? Empty Re: Thrashers Moving to Hamilton? Sat May 09, 2009 3:33 pm

davetherave

davetherave
All-Star
All-Star

shabbs wrote:
davetherave wrote:If Hamilton isn't interested, then why are they meeting with this group?
Cuz any good businessman will listen to something that doesn't cost them anything. Who knows, temporary may turn to permanent. Or perhaps it will help to sweeten the pot that Balsillie is offering if he thinks there's competition.

Don't close doors unless you have to.

Business 101.

No comments on the NHL players involved with this group?

8Thrashers Moving to Hamilton? Empty Re: Thrashers Moving to Hamilton? Sat May 09, 2009 3:34 pm

shabbs

shabbs
Hall of Famer
Hall of Famer

Last I checked, Doan was busy in Switzerland...

Wink

This whole Phoenix thing was a surprise to him as well.

9Thrashers Moving to Hamilton? Empty Re: Thrashers Moving to Hamilton? Sat May 09, 2009 3:40 pm

dennycrane

dennycrane
Veteran
Veteran

3 teams in TO!!!!

And they all absolutely suck!

10Thrashers Moving to Hamilton? Empty Re: Thrashers Moving to Hamilton? Sat May 09, 2009 3:41 pm

shabbs

shabbs
Hall of Famer
Hall of Famer

dennycrane wrote:3 teams in TO!!!!

And they all absolutely suck!
Hooray for mediocrity!

11Thrashers Moving to Hamilton? Empty Re: Thrashers Moving to Hamilton? Sat May 09, 2009 3:42 pm

davetherave

davetherave
All-Star
All-Star

shabbs wrote:Last I checked, Doan was busy in Switzerland...

Wink

This whole Phoenix thing was a surprise to him as well.

You talked to Shane? Cool.

12Thrashers Moving to Hamilton? Empty Re: Thrashers Moving to Hamilton? Sat May 09, 2009 3:45 pm

shabbs

shabbs
Hall of Famer
Hall of Famer

davetherave wrote:
shabbs wrote:Last I checked, Doan was busy in Switzerland...

Wink

This whole Phoenix thing was a surprise to him as well.

You talked to Shane? Cool.
No, the press were all over him at the IIHF competition when news broke of Balisille's moves.

13Thrashers Moving to Hamilton? Empty Re: Thrashers Moving to Hamilton? Sat May 09, 2009 3:54 pm

davetherave

davetherave
All-Star
All-Star

shabbs wrote:
davetherave wrote:
shabbs wrote:Last I checked, Doan was busy in Switzerland...

Wink

This whole Phoenix thing was a surprise to him as well.

You talked to Shane? Cool.
No, the press were all over him at the IIHF competition when news broke of Balisille's moves.

Yeah, I imagine he would be surprised to hear about Balsillie and his plans...that would mean Shane and his family would have to leave sunny Phoenix and spend the winters in Canada...maybe.

14Thrashers Moving to Hamilton? Empty Re: Thrashers Moving to Hamilton? Sat May 09, 2009 4:01 pm

shabbs

shabbs
Hall of Famer
Hall of Famer

davetherave wrote:
shabbs wrote:
davetherave wrote:
shabbs wrote:Last I checked, Doan was busy in Switzerland...

Wink

This whole Phoenix thing was a surprise to him as well.

You talked to Shane? Cool.
No, the press were all over him at the IIHF competition when news broke of Balisille's moves.

Yeah, I imagine he would be surprised to hear about Balsillie and his plans...that would mean Shane and his family would have to leave sunny Phoenix and spend the winters in Canada...maybe.
He's gonna love Hamilton.

15Thrashers Moving to Hamilton? Empty Re: Thrashers Moving to Hamilton? Sat May 09, 2009 4:06 pm

davetherave

davetherave
All-Star
All-Star

shabbs wrote:
davetherave wrote: Yeah, I imagine he would be surprised to hear about Balsillie and his plans...that would mean Shane and his family would have to leave sunny Phoenix and spend the winters in Canada...maybe.
He's gonna love Hamilton.

Steeltown North!

Sponsored content



Back to top  Message [Page 1 of 2]

Go to page : 1, 2  Next

Permissions in this forum:
You cannot reply to topics in this forum