Do You Really Want An NHL Team, Ice Edge?

An article in the Vancouver Sun, on April 14, stated that the defeated, would-be purchasers of the Phoenix Coyotes, Ice Edge Holdings, still wants to own an NHL team.

Despite being used by the NHL to buy time to keep Jim Balsillie off the Board of Governors until Jerry Reinsdorf could re-enter the Phoenix picture, the Ice Edge boys still believe in the generous-hearted NHL to want another kick at the can.

In spite of the bitter experience of Jim Balsillie, Ice Edge still believes that Gary Bettman and the NHL treated them fairly and gave them every chance to own the Phoenix Coyotes.

The BBC would like one of your group to try out for the role of Tom Pinch, the generous-hearted employee who refused to believe anything bad about his employer, Seth Pecksniff, in a remake of Charles Dickens' "Martin Chuzzlewit."

Ice Edge must think there will be some new opportunities coming soon in Atlanta, Florida, Nashville, or Columbus.

They want another opportunity to negotiate fruitlessly with city representatives who don't have any intention of ever giving in to them.

These fine patriots who tried so hard to bring NHL hockey to Saskatoon for five games, have also been quoted after their Phoenix defeat as saying, "We also strongly believe there is opportunity for more franchises in Canada."

Of course there is Ice Edge.

While you were busy being hoodwinked by Glendale, Commissioner Bettman, to have a contingency plan in case the worst happened, made a tour of the three cities whose franchises he stripped in the 1990's, Quebec, Winnipeg, and Hartford, and told them they could get their teams back if they fulfilled certain conditions.

The two most sticky terms are an NHL size arena of 18,000+ and competent investors.

So far, only Quebec has made any effort to comply.

They managed to get a first class investor, Quebecor to front a bid, and they agree that a new NHL size arena is mandatory.

The arena has been projected to cost $400 million.  The civic authorities have pledge $50 million for it.

So that leaves a shortfall of $350 million.  The mayor and Quebecor are hoping that the Federal and Provincial Governments will split the cost down the middle.

But that is very unpopular with taxpayers.  Unless sports facilities involve international events, no taxpayer wants his/her money spent on such projects, especially for a league that many taxpayers see as anti-Canadian.

The mayor and Quebecor are trying to pitch the project as being necessary for a future Winter Olympics bid.  Not many people are buying it. 

Quebec needs more private investors.  Most of the Canadian NHL arenas were financed by private investment.

So Ice Edge, if you really want to get an NHL team quickly, why don't you approach Quebecor? They need some partners to front its bid and build an arena.

Quebec is a far more sure thing than Phoenix is.  Ice Edge, you won't have to play any games in Saskatoon or anywhere else.  Nor will you have to waste your time negotiating fruitlessly with civic officials.

The NHL wanted $160 million for the Coyotes.  Since you obviously have that sum or you wouldn't have made your bid, when you add your money to that of the city's, that would be $210 million, or over half the cost of the arena.

Quebecor, which was prepared to pay nearly $500 million for the Montreal Canadians, should be able to make up the rest.

If Quebecor and Ice Edge were to reach such a deal, the only problem left would be to find the land, so that construction could begin.

Then we would get a truer test of Gary Bettman and the NHL's integrity.

While Mr. Bettman urged Ice Edge to waste its time and money with Glendale, he also urged Quebec to spend $400 million on a new ice palace.

So if Gary is as true as you say he is, Ice Edge, the good commissioner will promptly reward Quebec with either an expansion franchise or a relocated team.

But of course that depends on you and Quebecor getting together.  I'm sure both you who want the same dream, will be good partners.