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Fans rally in Hamilton to voice their message

Just over a month ago, Phoenix Coyotes fans held a rally at the Native New Yorker restaurant in Glendale, Arizona on just five days notice to voice their desire to keep their team right where it is.

Fast forward to yesterday. The Make It Seven campaign held a rally of its own called "Make It Seven Day" in downtown Hamilton, Ontario. Here, hockey fans gathered at Jackson Square, located behind Copps Coliseum to deliver their own message that they want a National Hockey League team as the seventh in Canada.

Led by BlackBerry billionaire Jim Balsillie's efforts to bring a team to the southwestern Ontario region, Make It Seven put together a rally with more time to prepare than their Save The Coyotes counterparts did.

Prior to the recent Make It Seven launch, another such organization has been doing its part to rally fans together to support the same cause. Some in attendance at yesterday's rally brought printed signs for the Bring the NHL to Hamilton campaign.

"At this point in the campaign, we need those men in the NHL Board (of Governors) to know that we're are not going to be denied that it's time to sit down and talk with Mr. Balsillie because we want an NHL team here and we want to bring it home where it belongs," Bring the NHL to Hamilton rally co-chairperson Michelle Febers told CBC News: Today host Nancy Wilson.

The Bring the NHL to Hamilton campaign launched its web site on October 1, 2008 and has grown into an online destination where you can learn about the history of hockey in Hamilton as well as find news items in relation to the cause. While it is not directly linked to Make It Seven that is backed by Balsillie, they have the same message for league headquarters in New York City.

Outgoing Coyotes owner Jerry Moyes filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on May 5th and in turn agreed to sell the franchise to Balsillie on the condition he is able to move it to Hamilton. The NHL has contested that Moyes was not in the authority to make such a transaction since they have been providing financial assistance to keep the Coyotes in operation. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and Moyes immediately went to United States Bankruptcy Court to find a resolution to the matter. However, after a ruling by District of Arizona judge Redfield T. Baum stated that there was not enough time to resolve all issues in this case before an aggressively imposed Balsillie deadline of June 29th to close the sale, it would not be allowed to go through. Balsillie's offer had resembled the current franchise debt of $212.5 million, obviously what Moyes needs to pay off creditors in full what is owed.

As a result, this bides more time for the league to find a buyer who is committed to keeping the team in Phoenix's neighboring city of Glendale. The Coyotes will for at the very least be playing their 2009-2010 season home games at Jobing.com Arena with or without the NHL's financial backing. At this point, they're aiming to hold an auction in September and Balsillie will still be allowed to place a bid. If no buyer is found, at a later time relocation would be explored.

"Definitely we still want the Coyotes," Febers also said in her interview. "That's not gonna change. The basic line of the story is, we want the NHL to come home."

Whether the Coyotes stay in Arizona or if Hamilton gets a team remains to be seen. Either way, both locations have expressed their desire to have NHL hockey. One wants to keep it while the other wants to get it.

In the meantime, are you looking for some coverage on the rally? The Hamilton Spectator has a video clip while Hamilton radio station CMHL-AM provided interview audio soundbytes of key supporters plus the YouTube video below (courtesy of CMHL-AM).

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febers said

“we want to bring it home where it belongs”??? WTF??? this is the kind of crap we’ve been putting up with since this whole thing started…“where it belongs”? just because a sport starts in one country doesn’t mean that country owns it in perpetuity…just because it’s their national sport doesn’t mean that other people around the world aren’t entitled to have their own teams to support, root for, love and cherish….canadians don’t “own” hockey any more than the US “owns” baseball or basketball…that attitude of ownership and entitlement is what has pissed me off from the gitgo…really, people, lets move tampa bay to moose jaw, the islanders to saskatoon, the thrashers to kitchener, the kings to lake louise, the stars to windsor, the ducks to halifax, the sharks to quebec city, and the predators to PEI….(no, wait, can’t do that, the lady with the recipe for ice died)….come on people, canada doesn’t “own” hockey. it’s enjoyed around the world….

who will rid me of this damn priest?

by goldenbear64 on Jun 20, 2009 10:56 AM MST reply actions   0 recs

I would think

that they would be happy knowing a sport they helped create is in places they never thought it would be. Instead of standing back in awe of “their” creation spreading around the world and sharing in it’s joys they are standing there yelling “bring back home where it belongs.”
Wow…shame on them.

It Puts The Lotion On It's Skin...Or Else It Gets The Hose Again.

by CoyoteQ on Jun 20, 2009 11:18 AM MST reply actions   0 recs

so, you

DID get my point…wonder how many will….

who will rid me of this damn priest?

by goldenbear64 on Jun 20, 2009 11:25 AM MST reply actions   0 recs

Might this be a reference to the fact that this team was originally a Canadian team? Just saying, that’s all.

by Nelson16 on Jun 20, 2009 11:30 AM MST reply actions   0 recs

i really don't think the fans in

“make it seven” particularly in hamilton give a rats patootie about winnepeg…or quebec city…we’ve been gone long enough from the ‘peg so they don’t care…it’s all about hockey in the sunbelt in places where they think folks don’t appreciate it…i call bullsh….

who will rid me of this damn priest?

by goldenbear64 on Jun 20, 2009 11:38 AM MST reply actions   0 recs

hmmm

there is no such thing as being gone long enough from the peg…………………….If Jim was from Winnipeg and wanted to buy the team and move it there…I can guarantee without a doubt you would be hearing from them…..

by kave on Jun 20, 2009 5:14 PM MST up reply actions   0 recs

I totally

get your point. Some….I repeat SOME of them are acting like the bratty little neighbor kid who gives you a toy but sees you having fun with it and pitches a fit and wants it back. True colors are coming out for sure.

It Puts The Lotion On It's Skin...Or Else It Gets The Hose Again.

by CoyoteQ on Jun 20, 2009 11:41 AM MST reply actions   0 recs

Well, not to nit pick, but I think it would be more appropriate to say the toy was taken, then when it’s neglected, they throw the fit wanting it back. But again, different perspectives, I guess.

by Nelson16 on Jun 20, 2009 11:58 AM MST up reply actions   0 recs

the toy was not taken

it was neglected by the original kid (not given an appropriate arena) and the custodial parent (the NHL) gave it to one of the foster kids (Phoenix) to play with instead. The foster kid is taking care of the toy fairly nicely (gave it a new arena, put the face of hockey behind its bench, developing a fan base to root for it). Therefore the custodial parental unit is in favor of giving the foster kid more time with this particular toy.

Its funny though, the original kid (winnipeg) isn’t screaming for the toy back, they would like the toy back but acknowledge that they cannot realistically provide the proper care and environs for the toy so they , for the most part, just enjoy the toy from afar or on vacation and the 1st preseason game of the season. However, the original kid’s bratty cousin has joined some kind of near cult that insists that they deserve the toy in spite of the fact that having the toy in their area may cause some of the neighbor kid’s toys to be harmed (BUF) and despite the custodial parent’s rules.

I’m gonna stop now because this analogy can go to places no hockey discussion was probably ever meant to sink to LOL

Takin over the NHL, 1 blocked shot at a time... Go Z!

by Z4dfense on Jun 20, 2009 1:25 PM MST up reply actions   0 recs

I guess both teams shared in poor ownership as an unsuitable arena can’t be blamed on the fans. However, with the exception of their last season, they did fill the arena to near capacity. Winnepegs corporate sponsorship was very limited too, much like your own I beleive (but I haven’t looked up your corporate numbers to confirm this). It is however, unfortunate that there are so many vacant seats in your building. Which I beleive is more neglectful than a shoddy arena.

by Nelson16 on Jun 20, 2009 4:28 PM MST up reply actions   0 recs

isn't screaming for their toy back

That’s BS… since they had 30 000 people protest them not leaving in the first place…..If a group or 1 rich guy could give them the possibility and hopes for a team…along with corp sponsors and building reno’s and bla bla bla….you would be hearing from them…

by kave on Jun 20, 2009 5:19 PM MST up reply actions   0 recs

ummm

they DID scream for the toy not to leave and I would be sorely disappointed in them if they did not stand up for the toy if wicked step father #1 came in to crush their hearts with huge dreams about getting the toy back in Winnipeg.

I feel Winnipeg has more right to claim the toy than anyone else. If they were screamin right now I would definitely feel more for them than I do for wicked stepfather’s home town. They have blindly followed him in his demands for a toy… any toy, 3 times now and are still toyless.

Some day, my friends in Winnipeg are gonna get another toy, I feel it. Atlanta got a second shot at having toys and so should Winnipeg. Hamilton? I could give a rats patoot if they ever get a toy as long as wicked summabish stepfather is runnin that show.

As long as the toy in question is NOT my toy I have no quarrel with more toys in Canada. We’re stepping up our efforts here in Phoenix to make ssure our toy stays safe and well taken care of right here at home.

this has to rank as an all time low in a hockey discussion doesn’t it? LOL

Takin over the NHL, 1 blocked shot at a time... Go Z!

by Z4dfense on Jun 22, 2009 7:46 AM MST up reply actions   0 recs

I dunno...

There certainly have been some poo flinging battles before that weren’t pretty…

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Five For Howling

by Travis Hair on Jun 22, 2009 8:59 AM MST up reply actions   0 recs

we can haz poo?

well why dint you say so!

if i had known there would be poo flingin allowed I woulda wore my play clothes!

sorry… had to go there

I’ll just meander over there in the corner and enjoy the afterglow of good court showing today

Takin over the NHL, 1 blocked shot at a time... Go Z!

by Z4dfense on Jun 22, 2009 10:41 PM MST up reply actions   0 recs

need a tissue?

"He who controls the Spice, controls the universe! "

by unnamedDBacksfan on Jun 20, 2009 1:53 PM MST up reply actions   0 recs

I think they do care. That’s what this whole thing boils down to is people caring about hockey and wanting it to be succesful while having the opportunity to enjoy it. Canadians aren’t able to get to NHL games as the teams are few and far between. You guys have fallen in love with a team that was abruptly removed from a city that really invested in it emotionally. Hamilton has been trying to get an NHL team since the ’80’s yet it’s been constantly overlooked. Your team is in financial hardship and has been since it’s inaugural season. I think everyone wants a piece of the pie and way up North here, there just isn’t enough pie to go around. Where as in you’re rink, there’s plenty of seats available. It would suck for you guys to lose your team but don’t generalize that all Canadians, or even all Make it Seven advocates, want all the Sunbelt teams to move. I think it’s just the teams that are failing with no signs of turning things around that they want to see moved. I for one love the fact that hockey is bigger than it was, but at what costs? There comes a time when perhaps enough is enough and the Yotes just don’t seem to draw. Just like the Grizzlies didn’t draw in Vancouver.

by Nelson16 on Jun 20, 2009 11:49 AM MST reply actions   0 recs

hmmm

" I think it’s just the teams that are failing with no signs of turning things around that they want to see moved." No its all sunbelt experimental teams that are constantly being targeted… with impunity and Phoenix is just a symptom of a bigger problem.

The NHL is not healthy, it’s monetary health is predicated on a flawed system that essentially causes financial harm to befall 1/2 its members each year. Each team’s financial well being depends on winning (or at least getting to the post season to rake in the xtra cash that constitutes the majority of the profit margin). Well half the league doesn’t make it, every season. Any team that doesn’t make it survives by having their financial output low and by maximizing the ‘other’ assets that come with a team. TV contracts, naming rights to their arenas, revenue draws from concerts/events held in their arenas. Now unfortunately over the last 10 + years the Coyotes ownership has been much more interested in lining the pockets of their other entities with Coyotes revenue and hasn’t a clue about using an 18k seat arena to its advantage.

To say that there are no signs of turning around without giving a fair chance to ownership who won’t use the team as a tax write off, a way to get enough loans to finance their real estate deals, to line their own pockets is just not correct..

Its not all Canadians nor even all makeit whatever people but there are enough haterz out there going out of their way to create havoc that it really seems like the entire nation has US hockey citiies in their crosshairs and have itchy fingers. can you blame Phoenicians for feeling persecuted and being ready to attack at any provocation?

Takin over the NHL, 1 blocked shot at a time... Go Z!

by Z4dfense on Jun 20, 2009 1:36 PM MST up reply actions   0 recs

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