Canadian Sports

[Taller, Better]

The old thread was very bulky, so here is a brand new Sports thread!

[Steeltown]

Mayor expects arena deal this week

May 10, 2009
By Nicole MacIntyre
THE HAMILTON SPECTATOR
http://www.thespec.com/News/BreakingNews/article/563579

The mayor expects Hamilton to lock up an arena deal with Jim Balsillie this week, saying the Blackberry billionaire is the only one with a concrete proposal before the city.

Fred Eisenberger said he is communicating with an anonymous second suitor, but he doesn’t expect those talks will deter the city from reaching an agreement with Balsillie.

“Our main focus is and continues to be Mr. Balsillie. We intend to follow through and create an agreement with him that services his interest and the city of Hamilton. Any other discussions are, at this point, content,” said Eisenberger.

“As far as I’m concerned there is nothing as real as Mr. Balsillie's proposal and that’s the basis we’re moving forward on.”

The Spectator reported on Saturday that a Vancouver-based hockey group is also interested in relocating the financially strapped Atlanta Thrashers to Hamilton. An inside hockey source stated the group is lead by Vancouver developer Tom Gaglardi.

Trashers’ general manager Don Waddell denied the NHL franchise is moving in an interview with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution this weekend.

“There is no truth to it,” he said. “We are not a movable franchise. I have talked to our owners and no one has had contact with any group.”

Waddell said there are too many obstacles to move the team, including an ongoing lawsuit over its ownership and commitments to the city’s arena and the NHL.

Gaglardi has not commented publically since his name was raised in media reports last week. He has not returned calls for comment.

Eisenberger refused to identify the second suitor, saying only that he has talked with another interested party. He added no meeting is planned this week.

“I will be communicating with them” he said, adding he couldn’t say when.

Eisenberger described the talks as “information gathering” and stated he didn’t expect the dialogue would change the city’s plan to sign a deal with Balsillie.

“He is the only bona fide proposal that’s on the table right now and that’s the one we’re going to work with and put to bed by the middle of the week.”

Balsillie hopes to buy and relocate the Phoenix Coyotes to Hamilton for the 2009 season. He is battling the NHL in court to control the bankrupt franchise.

[habsfan]

Anyone else looking forward to the Impact-Toronto FC game tonight!!!???

[Taller, Better]

Absolutely! It's a big one!

[Steeltown]

Balsillie seeks 20-year lease at Copps for Hamilton team

May 13, 2009
http://www.thespec.com/News/BreakingNews/article/565385

Hamilton council will be asked to approve a 20-year lease at Copps Coliseum as part of Jim Balsillie's effort to land an NHL franchise in Hamilton.

"It would mark the beginning of a strong and lasting partnership with the City to bring the NHL to Hamilton," Balsillie said in a statement to council late Wednesday afternoon.

"Hamilton has always been and remains now my first choice for locating a potential seventh NHL franchise in Canada.

"I am not considering any other site locations at this time," he said.

He called Hamilton "the best un-served hockey market in the world."

He cited the benefits for the local economy and the NHL as reasons for choosing Hamilton.

"This would be great for the Hamilton community, for a wide range of businesses, organizations and important causes that would be supported and stimulated by an NHL franchise in Hamilton. That has always been my view."

"We look forward to Hamilton City Council passing a motion tonight at its Council meeting to approve an option for a 20-year lease at Copps Coliseum."

[habsfan]

Originally Posted by Taller, Better

Absolutely! It's a big one!

FVCK, FVCK, FVCK!!! What a lousy game by my boys! 3 shots on net all game...pathetic!

[Taller, Better]

On the contrary it was a most excellent game!!! !!

[isaidso]

I'm interested in what people consider the top 3 sports in the city or town they live in. I imagine that hockey is #1 in most of Canada, but it's not universally the case. I'll start off with Halifax.

Halifax, Nova Scotia

1. College Football (Saint Mary's, but also considerable support for St. FX, and Acadia)
2. College Basketball (Saint Mary's, Dalhousie, but also considerable support for St. FX, and Acadia)
3. Hockey (Halifax Mooseheads, not sure what league they play in; not much support for other local teams)

Originally Posted by Taller, Better

The old thread was very bulky, so here is a brand new Sports thread!

How do I access the old thread to retrieve information? Is it archived?

[isaidso]

I'll do one for Toronto also. Others might disagree, but I'd rank it this way:

Toronto, Ontario

1. Hockey (Leafs, not much support for other local teams)
2. Baseball (Jays, not much support for other local teams)
3. Soccer (Toronto FC, not much support for other local teams)

[Taller, Better]

Originally Posted by isaidso

How do I access the old thread to retrieve information? Is it archived?

Rather than archive it, I decided to merge it in with the CFL thread... so it is still there if we want to access anything.

[isaidso]

OK, thanks!

[habsfan]

Halifax, Nova Scotia

1. College Football (Saint Mary's, but also considerable support for St. FX, and Acadia)
2. College Basketball (Saint Mary's, Dalhousie, but also considerable support for St. FX, and Acadia)
3. Hockey (Halifax Mooseheads, not sure what league they play in; not much support for other local teams)

They play in the QMJHL, as well as the other 6 or 7 teams that are located in the maritimes.

For Montreal...

1. Hockey
2. Football
3. Soccer

although i get the impression that soccer will overtake football soon enough!

I would put Auto racing(F1, Nascar, Cart etc...) as number 2, but those aren't "real" sports!

[Yellow Fever]

The Bruins got knocked out of the playoff by the Canes, I just love it!

[habsfan]

Originally Posted by Yellow Fever

The Bruins got knocked out of the playoff by the Canes, I just love it!

Here here!!!

[Yellow Fever]

The top three sports in Vancouver...


Hockey-- We are all Canuck fans.

Golf----- Seems like everybody play golf here.

Soccer-- All young people play soccer here too.




Top three sports in Hong Kong....


Soccer--- Beckham is still the idol of all soccer fans there.

Basketball-Yao Ming is the prince.

Horse racing- Who doesn't gamble there?

[Taller, Better]

I would have thought hockey would be on the top of every village, town or city list in Canada! It is what everyone discusses around the water cooler....

[isaidso]

Originally Posted by Taller, Better

I would have thought hockey would be on the top of every village, town or city list in Canada! It is what everyone discusses around the water cooler....

Not in Halifax. People talk about SMU Football or about one of the province's college basketball teams.

I imagine hockey is #1 almost everywhere in Canada, but didn't realize this was the case till I left Halifax, where hockey isn't even #2. Every kid in my neighbourhood dreamt of playing football or basketball for their high school and eventually one of the provincial universities. I don't think my high school even had a hockey team. That's how far off the radar hockey was while I was growing up there. It's success on the basketball court or gridiron that people care about down there. It made me wonder if Halifax was an exception, perhaps, there were others.

Regina? Victoria? St. John's? Halifax can't be the only exception, or is it?

[Yellow Fever]

When I was in Regina, hockey and chasing girls were the only sports in town.

[Taller, Better]

Yoikes! I had best avoid Regina, then.......

[isaidso]

I'll avoid Regina too, but would have thought that football was #1 there.