Here is a bizzaro story...
Paul Hunter, Sports Reporter, Toronto Star
A group of businessmen wishing to buy the Phoenix Coyotes has a creative plan for the team to play five games each season in Canada, likely in either Saskatoon or Halifax, to help keep it financially viable in Arizona.
That kind of thinking, figures Jim Balsillie, only supports his argument that the franchise belongs north of the border on a permanent basis. Balsillie, of course, is trying to bring the Coyotes out of bankruptcy and into Hamilton.
"There is presumably an acknowledgement that you would sell out the so-called `home games' for the Phoenix Coyotes in Saskatoon or Halifax," said Balsillie spokesperson Bill Walker.
"The same assumption would apply that you would sell out all 41 home games in Hamilton, which is what we have suggested and the fan support for our proposal has indicated. That's why Jim Balsillie has proposed to move the team to Canada where it logically has a future and is viable in the long term."
Friday was the deadline in Arizona bankruptcy court for bidders who wish to keep the Coyotes at their Glendale home to submit their formal bids. One bid, from Chicago Bulls and White Sox owner Gerry Reinsdorf, was submitted and worth up to $148 million (all figures U.S.). Another group of Canadian and American businessmen, calling themselves Ice Edge Holdings, submitted a "letter of intent" to buy the team for $150 million.
It has until Aug. 5 to get its bid on the table but is still raising capital. That day an auction will be held for bidders who wish to keep the team in Phoenix. If a bankruptcy judge rules that no bid is satisfactory for creditors, another auction will be held Sept. 10 for bidders, such as Balsillie, who wish to move the team.
"Today we couldn't to it, but that doesn't mean we (can't get the bid completed) a week from now," said Ice Edge Holdings' spokesperson Daryl Jones, an Albertan. "If we didn't think we could, we'd stop working on it. We're working on this day and night. It's an incredibly complicated situation."
Certainly the Jones group deserves marks for imagination. It has been in discussion with arena managers in Saskatoon and Halifax about bringing five regular-season games to one of those cities each season.
No formal deal is in place but Ice Edge favours Saskatoon's Credit Union Centre, which is expanding its seating capacity for hockey to 14,750 from 11,300. The Halifax Metro Centre seats 10,500.
Jones said his group's plan is to keep the Coyotes in Arizona but he said games in Canada would augment revenues for the team and bring NHL regular-season hockey to a part of Canada that would otherwise have no chance to see it.
"To me, it's just logic," said Jones. "Saskatoon would love to have five NHL games. Phoenix probably wouldn't mind that much if there were five less games."
"There's no question the market could support a handful of games," said Scott Ford, marketing director for the arena in Saskatoon.
The Ice Edge group will be in Chicago tomorrow to explain its idea to the NHL executive committee.
"They have raised the concept with us and we have discussed generally the potential pros and cons," said NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly in an email. "Ultimately it will be up to the Board (of Governors) to decide."
The NHL wants the team to remain in its present home.
Balsillie, who previously offered to purchase the team for $212.5 million, will also be in Chicago tomorrow to further clarify what his intentions would be if he is given the opportunity to relocate the team.
