NHL Rumours... The NHL is returning to Winnipeg

I'll bet the Meese attract about 50% greater attendance.

Winnipeg hockey fans might be ringing in 2011 in style, with renewed hopes of an NHL team returning to the city. The league, according to the Globe and Mail, has issued an ultimatum to the city of Glendale, Ariz., where the Phoenix Coyotes call home: find a buyer for the team by Dec. 31 or we will sell it to someone waiting to purchase and move the club.

Citing sources, Canadian cable sports network TSN also reported Saturday that prospective buyer Ice Edge Holdings a group of North American businessmen fronted by Daryl Jones and Anthony LeBlanc talked with Glendale city officials on Friday.

However, a source said Ice Edge isn't interested in further discussions without exclusivity that would make the group the only contender to keep the team in Arizona.

The city of Glendale on Friday reached an agreement with the NHL to cover operating costs up to $25 million US to keep the Coyotes in Jobing.com Arena for the 2010-11 season.

It's believed there is a clause in the agreement allowing the league to seek outside interest after Dec. 31.

The agreement, obtained by the Globe and Mail, also states Glendale can only keep the Coyotes after Dec. 31 if it finds a local buyer and the NHL has "not yet entered into an agreement to sell the team in a non-Glendale sale and the city identifies a prospective bona fide purchaser."

The NHL purchased the team out of bankruptcy last September with the intention of finding a buyer who would keep the franchise in Arizona.

The league has said repeatedly that if no local buyer can be found, it would look to find a buyer elsewhere.

Chicago sports mogul Jerry Reinsdorf, who owns the NBA Bulls and Major League Baseball's White Sox, backed away from discussions to purchase the Coyotes from the NHL last month because the city would not meet his demand for more than $45 million a year in subsidies.

A group fronted by Toronto billionaire David Thomson and Mark Chipman the CEO of True North Sports and Entertainment, who own and operate the MTS Centre in Winnipeg is the only other buyer the NHL has spoken to about the Coyotes.

A source told the Globe and Mail the offer referred to in the Glendale-NHL agreement is from Thomson and Chipman.

To cover its $25-million commitment, the city of Glendale plans to create a taxing district, called a community-facilities district, to charge landowners near Jobing.com Arena and Westgate City Center, the mall adjacent to the arena.

Problem is, telling taxpayers to cover the Coyotes' losses might not stand up legally or politically as it's illegal in Arizona for municipal governments to subsidize private businesses.

If the necessary funds are not raised, the city is on the hook to make up the difference, according to the agreement.

Keeping a close eye on any developments is the Goldwater Institute, a taxpayers' watchdog organization in Phoenix that plans to sue the city over the deal once it is placed in writing.

The agreement recognizes the Goldwater Institute, stating if any part of the deal is deemed illegal, it can be severed with the remainder of the deal staying intact. The NHL and the city of Glendale also could negotiate a modification to the deal.

On May 11, city manager Ed Beasley and NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told Glendale council that the sale of the Coyotes is expected to close by the end of June.
The Winnipeg Jets were moved to Arizona in 1996, leaving behind a dedicated fan base that has long lamented the loss of their beloved NHL team.
Renamed the Coyotes, the franchise has failed to turn a profit in the desert. The Phoenix Business Journal says the Coyotes have lost as much as $50 million a year since moving to Arizona.
Winnipeg hockey fans were hopeful the team would return and, according to media reports, the NHL had already created a tentative alternative schedule that includes a team based in Winnipeg.
In a recent interview with Hockey Night in Canada, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman rejected claims that an official offer had been made.
"What I will confirm is that over the years we've had an interest from Winnipeg, and I think that's great," said Bettman.
"But we're not going to address that interest by taking away a franchise from another club. If we can fix it in Phoenix, great which is what we've been trying to do for the last year.
"If we can't fix it, then we'll look at our options," he said. "And obviously, Winnipeg is one of them."

We should implement a tax in Winnipeg to cover the costs for something like this. Maybe say on all forms of entertainment, maybe call it the Jets tax or say.. oh I know the entertainment tax... yeah stuff like that would go over great

How about a spamming, or phishing tax?
Every time an idiot shows up at your doorstep, have him/her pay you 50 bucks tax and then get yourself a game ticket.
(In about two weeks, you'd have enough money for season tickets...).

NHL Salary cap next year expected almost to be $59,000,000.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/breakingnews/nhl-players-association-votes-to-extend-collective-agreement-until-2012-96913409.html

Deank wrote:We should implement a tax in Winnipeg to cover the costs for something like this. Maybe say on all forms of entertainment, maybe call it the Jets tax or say.. oh I know the entertainment tax... yeah stuff like that would go over great

The problem with this is the money will probably be used to cover raises for our MLAs

LivingDead wrote:

Deank wrote:We should implement a tax in Winnipeg to cover the costs for something like this. Maybe say on all forms of entertainment, maybe call it the Jets tax or say.. oh I know the entertainment tax... yeah stuff like that would go over great

The problem with this is the money will probably be used to cover raises for our MLAs

Maybe we could call it a Stupidity Tax or an EGO Tax.
(We want to prove we can keep up with "The Jones" by subsidizing millionaires too!.)

Maybe we can get Detroit's team.

They are downsizing this year...demolishing almost 10% of their city, and their population has dropped to be comparable with the size of Winnipeg.

Chipmans eye downtown redevelopment deal
By: Bartley Kives

Winnipeg Free Press

June 25, 2010

Downtown development agency CentreVenture is working with Longboat Properties -- a real-estate company owned by Winnipeg's Chipman family -- to redevelop land across from MTS Centre as part of a broader plan to create a new sports, hospitality and entertainment district that would encompass several blocks of downtown Winnipeg.

The redevelopment of the Mitchell Copp and A&B Sound buildings on the north side of Portage Avenue into a new commercial and hotel development would be a piece of a plan to revitalize the most development-resistant stretch of Portage Avenue, CentreVenture CEO Ross McGowan said.

The development could also help True North Sports & Entertainment -- owned by the Chipman and Thomson family -- develop a stronger financial base to fund an NHL team in Winnipeg, a move considered plausible, if not inevitable in the coming years.

True North spokesman Scott Brown, however, insisted the purpose of the development has nothing to do with the NHL's potential return.

CentreVenture has already begun to lobby the city and province to create a tax-increment-financing zone, or TIF zone, in this section of downtown Winnipeg to pave the way for mixed-use development. TIF zones allow new property tax revenue on properties in blighted areas to flow back to the developers or fund other improvements in the area.

If all goes well, a sports, hospitality and entertainment district, or SHED would encompass areas both north and south of the MTS Centre, McGowan said.

The guts of this plan was made public in April, when CentreVenture revealed an "action plan" to breathe new life into Portage Avenue. Highlights included dividing the downtown around Portage into four distinct districts, seeking to have the area designated as the city's first TIF zone, extending the pedestrian skywalk system westward to the University of Winnipeg -- and redeveloping the former Mitchell Copp/A & B Sound buildings as part of the multi-million-dollar mixed-use project..

CentreVenture acquired the former Wild Planet building across the back lane from the other two buildings for possible conversion into a hotel, residential units and retail space, McGowan said in April.

CentreVenture was also trying to acquire several other properties in the same block between Portage and Ellice avenues and Donald and Hargrave streets. Some of the land assembly is already complete.

Both the city and province must agree to create a TIF zone. All levels of government are reluctant to be seen to do anything to support professional sports, but the creation of a TIF zone is seen as a less-contentious means of financing because it involves a flow of tax dollars that don't exist now. [size=16]

Big Portage revitalization plan
Firm eyes pieces of empty stretch for sports, entertainment centre

By Bartley Kives
Winnipeg Free Press

June 26, 2010

A company owned by the Chipman family is eyeing land north of the MTS Centre as part of an ambitious plan to revitalize a barren stretch of Portage Avenue and convert 11 blocks of downtown Winnipeg into a sports and entertainment district.

Winnipeg's Longboat Development Corporation is working with downtown development agency CentreVenture to convert the former A&B Sound, the Mitchell-Copp Building, the former Wild Planet building and other parcels of land on a block bounded by Portage, Donald, Ellice and Hargrave into a mixed-use centre with a boutique hotel, parkade and possibly office and retail components.

The proposed development is part of a broader CentreVenture effort to have an area encompassing the MTS Centre, the Winnipeg Convention Centre, the Burton Cummings Theatre and the Metropolitan Theatre declared a "SHED," or sports, hospitality and entertainment district -- as well as a tax-increment financing zone, or TIF zone.

Aside from creating confusing acronyms, such a move would see any new tax dollars generated within this zone go toward funding more development in the immediate area for five to 10 years, which would accelerate the pace of redevelopment in what's now the most blighted portion of downtown.

"We're getting to the point where we can be proud of Portage Avenue again," said Mayor Sam Katz, whose executive policy committee plans to consider CentreVenture's proposal on June 30.

The downtown development agency has spent months assembling land for the proposed Longboat development north of Portage Avenue while trying to keep the concept under wraps for fear of inflating property values in the area.

Katz said a boutique hotel is part of the concept, but Longboat president Scott Stephanson said his company has only started contacting potential tenants and has no contracts in place.

"Everything is conceptual and everything is speculative, but we see the potential," Stephanson said. "We're trying to participate in the revitalization of downtown."

Longboat is pursuing the development regardless of whether the city and province declare the sports and entertainment district a TIF zone, which in this case would be structured to allow the tax dollars to flow back to the city to reinvest in the same neighbourhood -- not back to the developers themselves, said Jim Ludlow, chairman of CentreVenture's board.

"This makes a ton of sense. We have the opportunity to create some density," said Ludlow, who's also president and CEO of True North Sports & Entertainment, which owns the MTS Centre. "I happen to be in the heart of the zone, but this is an open opportunity to any developer in the district."

The creation of a TIF zone could ensure no more tax dollars are directed from existing city, provincial or federal budgets into revitalizing this corner of downtown, said Ross McGowan, CentreVenture's president and CEO.

"We're hoping the TIF zone changes the economic game and encourages more investment without having to ask for direct financial support," he said. "Give us the opportunities and we'll make it happen."

TIF zones enjoy broad support on city council, as any property-tax dollars reinvested in a proposed district are new in the sense they would not exist without the incentive zone in the first place.

The province, however, must consult with school boards before agreeing to create a TIF zone that would also see new education-tax revenue reinvested in a specific area, a spokesman for the Selinger government said.

The province did not comment about the possibility of also using TIF zones to bolster the financial position of the MTS Centre to ensure the long-term viability of an NHL team in Winnipeg.

Even though Longboat and True North are owned by the same family, there is no connection between what's planned for downtown Winnipeg and the NHL's potential return to the city, Stephanson and Ludlow said.

Creating more density in Winnipeg's massive downtown is the main goal of both CentreVenture's land-assembly effort and the creation of a sports and entertainment district, said McGowan, who has turned his attention to Portage Avenue after overseeing a flurry of developments on the Main Street strip.

"We have to create the critical mass," said a senior city official who cited the Longboat development as the cornerstone of the entire plan. "This would be the first crane in downtown Winnipeg with solely private support in more than a decade."

So now they are spending mucho dinaro expanding the press-box at MTS Centre. We all know this is because of the hordes of media following the Meese...

I keep telling you people. We wont be getting an NHL team until after the U-17 challenge is played here in the new mooseplex.

When the upper deck either gets expanded or a 3rd deck is added, then maybe I'll have a little more confidence in a team returning.

Until then...forgetaboudit!

I concur. I will believe it when it happens.

JT Estoban wrote:When the upper deck either gets expanded or a 3rd deck is added, then maybe I'll have a little more confidence in a team returning.

Until then...forgetaboudit!

There is no need for seat expantion of the MTS Centre. Both the NHL and TSNE have stated several times that because of the fact that TSNE owns the arena outwright (no fees to another money-sucking source)and the fact that they are creating an entertainment district in association with the MTS Centre, not to mention all the additional revenues created by other venues played in the MTS Centre to, a 15,000 is adequete for a market the size of Winnipeg and will help offset any potential losses during rough years. These are very smart businessmen who are carefully crafting the PERFECT NHL scenario for Winnipeg, and I couldn't be happier or more confident that this will work!

EdWin wrote:

JT Estoban wrote:When the upper deck either gets expanded or a 3rd deck is added, then maybe I'll have a little more confidence in a team returning.

Until then...forgetaboudit!

There is no need for seat expantion of the MTS Centre. Both the NHL and TSNE have stated several times that because of the fact that TSNE owns the arena outwright (no fees to another money-sucking source)and the fact that they are creating an entertainment district in association with the MTS Centre, not to mention all the additional revenues created by other venues played in the MTS Centre to, a 15,000 is adequete for a market the size of Winnipeg and will help offset any potential losses during rough years. These are very smart businessmen who are carefully crafting the PERFECT NHL scenario for Winnipeg, and I couldn't be happier or more confident that this will work!

You have your opinion, I have mine.

JT Estoban wrote:When the upper deck either gets expanded or a 3rd deck is added, then maybe I'll have a little more confidence in a team returning.

Until then...forgetaboudit!

Mark Chipman has publicly stated that the MTS Center will not be expanded. He also said that if we were to get an NHL team that the arena would lose seats due to more camera positions through out the arena.


Gary Betman has also publicly stated that our arena is suitable the way it stands right now.

JT Estoban wrote:

EdWin wrote:

JT Estoban wrote:When the upper deck either gets expanded or a 3rd deck is added, then maybe I'll have a little more confidence in a team returning.

Until then...forgetaboudit!

There is no need for seat expantion of the MTS Centre. Both the NHL and TSNE have stated several times that because of the fact that TSNE owns the arena outwright (no fees to another money-sucking source)and the fact that they are creating an entertainment district in association with the MTS Centre, not to mention all the additional revenues created by other venues played in the MTS Centre to, a 15,000 is adequete for a market the size of Winnipeg and will help offset any potential losses during rough years. These are very smart businessmen who are carefully crafting the PERFECT NHL scenario for Winnipeg, and I couldn't be happier or more confident that this will work!

You have your opinion, I have mine.

Neither of which matter in the big picture; the only ones that matter are those who are personally involved in the process, and those opinions are very favorable for Winnipeg getting a team back by the 2011/2012 season.

My main concern is AFTER the honeymoon period.

Should a team return, the honeymoon period where Winnipeggers will flock to the arena to take in a game, at any price, is only a temporary phenomenon that will eventually wear out and come to an end. Will that be after the first ticket price increase? Or the second?

History has a bad habit of repeating itself, eventually the tried, tested and true nature of many-to-most winnipggers will shine thru. Ticket sales will decline, and we all know what that leads to.

But hey, what do I know, you're all experts, guess we'll cross that bridge when we get to it.

JT Estoban wrote:

But hey, what do I know, you're all experts, guess we'll cross that bridge when we get to it.

Wrong. You and I are not experts. TNSE and the NHL BOG are, and they agree that Winnipeg is a good choice for an NHL team relocation. That is enough for me.

JT Estoban wrote:My main concern is AFTER the honeymoon period.

Why is that a concern of yours?

grumpy old man wrote:Why is that a concern of yours?

I don't want my team taken away again perhaps?

...and all the negatives that go along with that.

JT Estoban wrote:

grumpy old man wrote:Why is that a concern of yours?

I don't want my team taken away again perhaps?

...and all the negatives that go along with that.

They why bother doing anything and just living under a rock, right? What if the Bombers are taken away? The Goldeyes? Would you never want another team back again as well?

Do you think Ottawa should be given a third shot at a CFL team? What about QC getting another NHL team as well?

Do you think Ottawa should be given a third shot at a CFL team?

NO!!!

them jumping in and out of it keeps f'ing over which division da peg is in. Fing annoying.

mind you NOT playing hamilton four times in 2 months would be nice.

Deank wrote:Do you think Ottawa should be given a third shot at a CFL team?

NO!!!

them jumping in and out of it keeps f'ing over which division da peg is in. Fing annoying.

mind you NOT playing hamilton four times in 2 months would be nice.

Winnipeg gets handed a fistful of cash every time this happens.

What's silly is there are two divisions in an 8 (sometimes nine) team league.

yeah,.. eliminate the divisions right?