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Let's go right back to Penguin and Predator days.
Balsillie has driven troubled team values from less than $80 million (the cost in the last two expansion rounds) to now $212.5 million for a team losing $40+ million a season. Of course I admit the new CBA did drive up team values too, but not as much as Balsillie.
Until he removes himself from the scene or the NHL makes it clear for him to get lost, Winnipeg will always be bidding against this guy.
NHL fans would be Offside to think of Balsillie as an ally.
The relocation wheels back to Canada were turning before Balsillie. The teams in the US were falling apart before Balsillie arrived. True North, the Winnipeg's ownership group, has been working with Bettman and the NHL for years before Balsillie ever locked on to the NHL. We were and we still are the NHL's choice for relocation. Everything was going great, post lockout to get a failed team for around $80 to $120 million tops. Now Balsillie's offers set benchmarks for Edmonton, Minnesota and of course Nashville.
Say what you will for him trying to bring another team to Canada (read this as Southern Ontario is all the Canada Balsillie cares about!).
But Balsillie is nothing if not a roadblock to ROTJ aspirations to the cost of about $100 million extra, I fear. I hope not in the end, but team selling prices went up dramatically right after the Co-God of the Blackberry arrived at the NHL's doorstep. Good for the NHL owners, not so great for Winnipeg trying to get back in.
Let me be very clear here so as to avoid any confusion about this message: We support more NHL teams in Canada. This is not Manitoba versus Ontario, Winnipeg versus Hamilton. Both areas should have NHL Canada as its' own. Even the financial projections make that case! Just as we have said in the past regarding Quebec City.
If you have a differing point of view, share it with us on the forum and chat:
www.mbmbforum.com www.mbmbchat.com
Chris
Chair, Manitoba Mythbusters
~ The Reality May Surprise You! Excite You! ~
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