Balsillie announces 'Make It Seven' Day

by James Mirtle on Jun 10, 2009 12:13 PM CDT Comment 26 comments

Jim Balsillie's latest email out to his troops had three interesting tidbits in it today, beginning with his thoughts on the news of a relocation fee that came out of a Phoenix courtroom yesterday:

Yesterday Judge Redfield Baum asked all sides in a Phoenix bankruptcy court to provide him with information around a possible relocation fee the NHL may charge for the Coyotes franchise to be moved to Hamilton as I have proposed to do. However it works out, the issue of a relocation fee, while a new development, does move us one step closer to bringing the Coyotes to Hamilton.

In other words, he doesn't sound particularly averse to a potential fee, if this thing gets that far. We'll see, I suppose.

Also, Balsillie notes that his campaign has added more sponsors to the mix:

Today, three new corporate partners are throwing their support behind the campaign. Prime Restaurants, DeWalt Tools, and FirstOntario Credit Union have joined anchor partners Labatt and Home Hardware on the Make It Seven campaign.

These new partners and the people signing up daily on the website are adding some tremendous new bench strength to the Make It Seven team. It's incredible to think that over 155,000 fans have joined the campaign by signing up to the website at www.makeitseven.ca.

And, finally, he reveals that next Friday will, in fact, be Make It Seven Day:

We want to keep the momentum going and give Canadians an opportunity to demonstrate their desire for a seventh team, so I am excited to announce that we have chosen June 19th as Make It Seven Day in Canada. This will be a day for Canadians to show their support in a variety of ways. Our corporate partners will be celebrating Make It Seven Day with us and you will be hearing more about that in the days to come.

More on the relocation fee business later today.

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The Coyotes saga: creepy corporate people battling slightly creepier corporate people for an expensive plaything.

"Sweet Zarley Zalapski, Batman!"

by ZarleyZalapski on Jun 10, 2009 12:47 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs

Not very humble, is he? I’m guessing we won’t see McDonald’s, Ford, et al jumping on the sponsorship bandwagon.

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by Donny Rivette on Jun 10, 2009 12:54 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

June 19th is Juneteenth in the US

I seriously doubt that Balsillie realizes (or cares) that day is already taken and is celebrated as “Juneteenth” which is a day set aside to commemorate Emancipation day and the end of slavery in the United States. For the history of the day go to http://www.juneteenth.com/

Buddy Oakes

by PredsOnTheGlass on Jun 10, 2009 1:37 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I’m afraid I’ve never heard of it. Balsillie’s not expecting this to be a big occasion in the U.S. anyway!

Blogging on hockey at fromtherink.com

by James Mirtle on Jun 10, 2009 1:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It’s not going to be a big day in Canada either though. SO there’s that…

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Five For Howling

by Travis Hair on Jun 10, 2009 2:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I guess we’ll see … I’m surprised how interested everyone still is in this. It could have some success around here.

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by James Mirtle on Jun 10, 2009 2:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

More saying that Balsillie isn’t looking all that great here. Benjamin has his view of what went down yesterday, but I think it looks even worse, not better.

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by Travis Hair on Jun 10, 2009 3:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

How so? Why even debate a relocation fee if it’s a non-issue? And if it’s an issue, the team could potentially be moved.

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by James Mirtle on Jun 10, 2009 3:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

From eveything I saw that Relocation fee isn’t going to just be 100 Million Dollars. And that’s if we even get there. The relocation fee was brought up because the attorneys brought it up. It’s a number that the judge wants because if it’s big enough to get Balsillie to walk away then his job is over.

The bigger problems is that the claims that PSE and Balsillie have brought up may never make it all that far because they never let the NHL process play out and just assumed that the league would reject everything. The judge didn’t see it that way at all. Compound the timeline that Balsillie placed on himself (and his attorneys now complain about and they haven’t been wronged so they can’t claim any anti-trust issues yet. Part 2 comes in if the NHL gets the offers on paper (They damn well better) If the Judge doesn’t cap Glendale’s damages (which he shouldn’t and said as much) Then the creditors get a lot more money from one of those local offers.

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by Travis Hair on Jun 10, 2009 3:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

All right, but I’m not holding my breath on the local offers. As you said, the NHL needs those ASAP or they’re dead in the water here.

As to your first point, I’m sure the Balsillie camp will argue that they’ve been through the process in the past and assumed similar results in this case. The judge may not be happy with how that played out, but he’s also not going to base his decision on that mistake.

The ruling on the lease is another major issue, but it’s difficult to predict its outcome. If the judge sees the lease as a major hindrance in terms of repaying creditors and there is no suitable local bid, what then?

Blogging on hockey at fromtherink.com

by James Mirtle on Jun 10, 2009 3:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Balsillie camp did try and say just that yesterday and the judge waived it off. Precident says there has to be an actual wrong. PSE attorney (The lady no one could stand) Tried to go back several times but he wasn’t buying it. That’s why I said Balsillie’s rushing everything could be so important.

As to the lease that’s why they need to get those offers to the court super fast. THere are real offers, but as the NHL attorney said it’s hard to submit when they didn’t know what they were bidding on. Hopefully after the judge told them to just get the offers in they do it anyways. NHL addressed the then what as well. If they can’t find a suitable bidder to keep the team there then they would hold a second auction with the ability to move the team.

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by Travis Hair on Jun 10, 2009 3:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Keep in mind that this team’s been up for sale for about a year now with only one solid bid coming in. The judge knows this.

In his mind, what’s the legitimate reason no one has stepped up to offer any sort of offer?

If Glendale’s offering concessions, those are going to have to become a part of the court record here quickly to entire buyers.

Blogging on hockey at fromtherink.com

by James Mirtle on Jun 10, 2009 3:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That should read “entice” buyers.

We really need comment editing around here.

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by James Mirtle on Jun 10, 2009 3:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

You have it. I use it. "Preview"! I'm using it now.

Frightening to admit I pretty much knew what you meant there anyway. Good to see you re-read your posts too.

by Gary Bettman's Evil Twin on Jun 10, 2009 3:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Howling

Is just howling, James. It’s what he does. Can’t blame him, losing his team and all. He’s like a lot of people I see commenting on your blog: he sees what he wants to see and disregards the rest. Reminds me of a cartoon I saw once where a long line of soldiers are marching 6 abreast through a town going off to war, and all the family members are waving and crying from the sidewalk and one woman turns to another standing beside her and says, “Well, will you look at that — everyone’s out of step except my Johnny!”.

by Gary Bettman's Evil Twin on Jun 10, 2009 3:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Which you do as well. Everyone is skewed to see things through their own biases. Including you. Just because i’m not signing the same tune doesn’t make me wrong, it’s just a different opinion.

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by Travis Hair on Jun 10, 2009 3:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Do I really? Where?

by Gary Bettman's Evil Twin on Jun 10, 2009 3:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

YOur username perhaps? If Bettman actually did something right it would likely be colored by the fact that you don’t like the guy. Get over it.

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Five For Howling

by Travis Hair on Jun 10, 2009 3:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well, he is the evil one.

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by James Mirtle on Jun 10, 2009 3:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It’s true. Good Bettman is trying to save my team. Evil Bettman is ruining hockey for Canada ;)

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Five For Howling

by Travis Hair on Jun 10, 2009 3:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The username really is just a joke, but

if you want to read things in, go ahead. I could change it to Gary Bellman, which is my name (ah, you see the joke now? My 11 year old gave me the nickname because HE doesn’t like GB!), but that would ruin Howling’s only “evidence”, so maybe don’t tell him, James.

by Gary Bettman's Evil Twin on Jun 10, 2009 3:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ah, reading things in again. What if your conclusion was wrong and my username was just a joke?

That’s all you got? Like I said: Do I really? Where?

by Gary Bettman's Evil Twin on Jun 10, 2009 3:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Everyone does it. I’m not saying you’re an evil bastard for it. Just that everyone is colored by their opinions and experiences that’s all. Sheesh.

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Five For Howling

by Travis Hair on Jun 10, 2009 3:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Though you are an evil twin ;-)

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by Travis Hair on Jun 10, 2009 3:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’m going to be honest, I’ve never heard of it and I live in one of the states it’s celebrated. For what it’s worth, June 19th is emancipation day in Texas… that 30 other states have decided to celebrate it is just sort of weird.

by Brodie on Jun 10, 2009 2:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs