Bootblack
Veteran
The poster formerly known as wings116
Posts: 1,119
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Post by Bootblack on Jun 28, 2007 7:24:34 GMT -5
TORONTO (CP) -- The National Post is reporting that Canadian billionaire Jim Balsillie's dream of owning an NHL team has been put on ice.
The Research-in-Motion co-founder had reached a US$238-million deal to buy the Nashville Predators and possibly relocate the team to Hamilton, Ont.
But sources tell the Post that Predators owner Craig Leipold broke the bad news to Balsillie late Monday -- just a few days before the deal was to close on Saturday.
Instead the newspaper says Leipold will sell the team to California businessman William (Boots) DelBiaggio in a less lucrative US$190-million deal. DelBiaggio reportedly wants to relocate the Predators to Kansas City www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/article.jsp?content=20070628_075003_4696This DelBiaggio sounds like a scumbag wanting to relocate this team to KC and away from all those loyal Nashville fans. 
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Post by jaak99 on Jun 28, 2007 7:42:33 GMT -5
And the lawsuits will begin on Monday
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Post by attica on Jun 28, 2007 7:50:45 GMT -5
you kind of have to wonder why leipold would take 30 mil less. I highly doubt he really gies a crap whether the team gets moved to KC or hamilton. This has bettman written all over it.
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Post by igor on Jun 28, 2007 7:59:29 GMT -5
Well, Bettman's right. He knows what's best for the NHL, 'cause the guy just oozes hockey.
So, if King Gary says, "Canada already has 6 teams. I think we need a 2nd team in...uhhhh...Missouri!" we should all bow down and sing our praise:
"Thank you for blessing us with your divine game, King Gary."
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Post by toledowingsfan on Jun 28, 2007 8:56:16 GMT -5
you kind of have to wonder why leipold would take 30 mil less. I highly doubt he really gies a crap whether the team gets moved to KC or hamilton. This has bettman written all over it. Um, actually it's 48 million less. Not exactly chump change. My guess is that Leopold figures the NHL will block Balsillie so he's taking the KC deal and running. Next? |
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Post by kingdjango on Jun 28, 2007 9:01:08 GMT -5
you kind of have to wonder why leipold would take 30 mil less. I highly doubt he really gies a crap whether the team gets moved to KC or hamilton. This has bettman written all over it. Um, actually it's 48 million less. Not exactly chump change. My guess is that Leopold figures the NHL will block Balsillie so he's taking the KC deal and running. Next? I've got a feeling we'll be seeing a hockey team in Hamilton yet. Once the ever important hockey market of Kansas City is filled, Hamilton and Las Vegas will be ripe for expansion teams. |
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Bootblack
Veteran
The poster formerly known as wings116
Posts: 1,119
|
Post by Bootblack on Jun 28, 2007 9:48:47 GMT -5
Um, actually it's 48 million less. Not exactly chump change. My guess is that Leopold figures the NHL will block Balsillie so he's taking the KC deal and running. Next? I've got a feeling we'll be seeing a hockey team in Hamilton yet. Once the ever important hockey market of Kansas City is filled, Hamilton and Las Vegas will be ripe for expansion teams. Bettman will look at re-expanding back into Nashville before he will look at Hamilton. Unless it is Hamilton, New York you are speaking about. |
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Post by kingdjango on Jun 28, 2007 10:17:23 GMT -5
I've got a feeling we'll be seeing a hockey team in Hamilton yet. Once the ever important hockey market of Kansas City is filled, Hamilton and Las Vegas will be ripe for expansion teams. Bettman will look at re-expanding back into Nashville before he will look at Hamilton. Unless it is Hamilton, New York you are speaking about. I don't know. Its no secret that Bettman wants to continue expansion. If Ballsie is willing to toss such much money for a team in Canada I can't imagine too many owners would be opposed to taking his money as an expansion fee. He's already demonstrated that there is plenty of interest in the area. He outsold the Predators in season tickets after the second day for an invisible team. |
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Post by heyfolks on Jun 28, 2007 11:22:13 GMT -5
they were deposits, not sales and the price per ticket, as I recall, was very low. Wasn't it $5000 deposit for a luxury box? that isn't the cost to sit there for a game.
At any rate, this sudden stop in the sale will mean lawsuits and does smell of interference by Bettman.
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Post by wizardofoz on Jun 28, 2007 14:08:26 GMT -5
If you go over to Kuklaskorner.com web site it has 1-2 more articles.
Basically says the new guy would wait till there lease is up in
Nashville, then move to Kansas. Thing is nothing said when the lease
is up. For us it would not matter, it would mean nothing. Kansas
would still be in our division.
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