Here is our Q&A which was responded to by the NHL's corporate office.
Q. Commissioner Bettman. Recently, the Conference Board of Canada, an internationally recognized research facility, conducted a study which concluded amongst other things, that Hamilton Ontario Canada has a compelling business case that supports the viability of a NHL hockey team in Hamilton. The study also recognizes that an essential part of the equation is an investor or a group of investors who can put the necessary resources to such a proposal.
Being respectful of your role as Commissioner of the league, your governance structures and protocols, and assuming any prospective interest from the city of Hamilton and investors will also be respectful of the aforementioned structures, will you be open to a proposal from Hamilton? If so, how could interested parties best approach the league to ensure we are following and respecting the league's protocols?
A. A variety of locations in North America, including Southern Ontario, have expressed interest in hosting a National Hockey League franchise. As we are not contemplating expansion and are not planning to move an existing franchise, we have no inventory to offer. Our focus remains the enduring heath and stability of our 30 franchises in their current locations.
Being respectful of your role as Commissioner of the league, your governance structures and protocols, and assuming any prospective interest from the city of Hamilton and investors will also be respectful of the aforementioned structures, will you be open to a proposal from Hamilton? If so, how could interested parties best approach the league to ensure we are following and respecting the league's protocols?
A. A variety of locations in North America, including Southern Ontario, have expressed interest in hosting a National Hockey League franchise. As we are not contemplating expansion and are not planning to move an existing franchise, we have no inventory to offer. Our focus remains the enduring heath and stability of our 30 franchises in their current locations.
The Hamiltonian would like to thank the National Hockey League for responding to our query.
This was a very classy way of asking the question and I am not surprised that the NHL responded. Great work for The Hamiltonian. You guys are everywhere ! ;-) Good on you!
ReplyDeleteSev
As laid out in a bet with another Stoney Creek blogger, here's how I see the progression of new Ontario franchises going...with no guarantees whatever that any of them would make it, but in descending order of likelihood, regardless:
ReplyDelete1) Toronto (No, this isn't a jab at the Leafs. I mean another Toronto-area franchise.)
2) South-western Ontario.
3) Hamilton.
(In other words, where Hamilton's concerned, 'Never'.)
You gotta love The Hamiltonian for getting striaght to the answer whether or not the NHL would consider coming to Hamilton. Well here it is folks - NOPE!
ReplyDeleteThanks for clearing the smoke for us hockey hoepfuls. Disappointing to hear, but at least now we know.
Rob K.
I agree Rob K. I wish it was a different answer, but I like the straight up question and straight up answer. It will probably save us a lot of money but not having to bear around the bush.
DeleteCarl
The question was asked in a very professional way. It doesn't get much better than that. Too bad it's a no but I appreciate the answer.
ReplyDeleteThe NHL probably has a radial separation rule. But don't sweat it. It's probably just good planning and not discriminatory ;-)
ReplyDeleteSorce
You guys have a knack for getting the attention all kinds of people and organizations. Personally I feel The Hamiltonian should either have it's own daily paper or it should be starting up a lobbying group to lobby for Hamilton. I think you guys have a way and investors and business people in Hamilton should be asking you folks to help them . IMHO.
ReplyDeleteNorth Ender
North Ender
Hamilton is unlikely to get an NHL team in the near term. The RIM experiment proved that money can't buy everything.The city should have used The Hamiltonian's approach years ago instead of going down in flames with Balsillie. Too late now. There is a very bad taste in the NHL's mouth. Good that you confirmed it.
ReplyDeleteSorce
I agree with Sorce; you'll catch more flies with honey.
DeleteBoilerplate answer with an "including [INSERT MARKET HERE]" clause. My guess is that any of the CMAs identified by the CBoC would have received the same response.
ReplyDeleteThe City of Hamilton has a much better chance of having Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy coming to town.
ReplyDeletei wouldn't get too discouraged by the nhl's answer. it's pretty much their standard cookie-cutter response to any inquiries about potential new nhl markets. the real challenge is finding somebody with big money willing to court the league for years on end a la true north.
ReplyDeletewww.facebook.com/makkeitten