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First Phoenix...now Columbus. Bettman FTW!

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    #1

    First Phoenix...now Columbus. Bettman FTW!

    COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Columbus may have trouble holding on to the NHL's Blue Jackets because the club has been losing $12 million a year in central Ohio, according to a report released Thursday by a business group.

    The report from the Columbus Chamber offers a variety of options for strengthening the hockey team's financial position, such as new taxes or fees to support it.

    Other suggestions include allowing the team to renegotiate its lease for Nationwide Arena or trying to attract a second major tenant, such as a basketball team


    Read all the scandalous details here: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...#ixzz0W2c6m2Ld
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    #2
    Re: First Phoenix...now Columbus. Bettman FTW!

    When I see the phrase "new taxes or fees" it just makes me sick.

    To an overtaxed and tapped out middle class, how much is there left to give, especially in a town that isn't in hockey country?

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      #3
      Re: First Phoenix...now Columbus. Bettman FTW!

      Phoenix I can understand but Columbus is a bit of a head scratcher. Columbus is northern states and it should be hockey country.
      Blindly accept whatever they do and if it doesn't work out, I guess there's always next year.

      Comment

        #4
        Re: First Phoenix...now Columbus. Bettman FTW!

        There are many NHL franchises in trouble, regardless of where they are.

        The problem is simple. A salary cap of around $55 million is far too high. Ironically, most teams are now spending far more money than they were before the strike and that was in much better economic times.

        The "official" unemployment rate in the U.S. passed 10% this morning and the Ohio area has been very hard hit due to the loss of manufacturing jobs. It's a blue collar area and those jobs are migrating to Asia and Latin America. I wish it wasn't so but that's the way it is.

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          #5
          Re: First Phoenix...now Columbus. Bettman FTW!

          Until Bettman and his minions on the NHL BOG come to their senses and realize that hockey in southern states (read: Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay, Atlanta et al) is not working, stories like this will continue to abound.

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            #6
            Re: First Phoenix...now Columbus. Bettman FTW!

            Columbus is northern states
            There's so many things wrong with this phrase that I don't know how to make fun of it...
            These pretzels are making me thirsty.

            Comment

              #7
              Re: First Phoenix...now Columbus. Bettman FTW!

              Originally posted by moontoscott View Post
              When I see the phrase "new taxes or fees" it just makes me sick.

              To an overtaxed and tapped out middle class, how much is there left to give, especially in a town that isn't in hockey country?
              Especially in the rust belt, that's an area that has been hit the hardest and isn't going to be roaring back anytime soon... or ever.

              Cities and states are going bankrupt left and right, subsidizing sports teams shouldn't be a priority, especially unpopular ones.
              Look. We can go round and round about this all the live long day. Let's keep it simple. I embody amazement. Can you dig on that? Good. Then meet me on the corner of rock and roll, and bring a flask of something that burns.

              Comment

                #8
                Re: First Phoenix...now Columbus. Bettman FTW!

                Just move Phoenix to Southern Ontario, Carolina to Quebec City, and fold Miami, Tampa, Long Island, Nashville and Atlanta.

                Comment

                  #9
                  Re: First Phoenix...now Columbus. Bettman FTW!

                  Originally posted by Deathsdoorstep View Post
                  Just move Phoenix to Southern Ontario, Carolina to Quebec City, and fold Miami, Tampa, Long Island, Nashville and Atlanta.
                  It would be best for the league if they cut the existing league to 18 teams with a hard salary cap of $30 million with no guaranteed contracts greater than 3 years in length. I firmly believe that this is coming but it won't happen overnight. I would say five years in the making.

                  As far as Quebec goes, they are looking for $400 million in public funding for an new arena and that won't happen. I like Winnipeg alot better. They have a smaller rink but its relatively new. It still holds 15,000 people and that's twice as much as what many of these U.S. teams are drawing.

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                    #10
                    Re: First Phoenix...now Columbus. Bettman FTW!

                    And in all of this turmoil and uncertainty, the Oilers are looking at a new building? I can see why there are no politicians lining up with tax $$ to help pay for it.

                    If the team continues it's losing ways, there is no guarantee that Rexall Place will continue to be full every night. I sense Canadian interest in professional hockey could be waning as a result of how poorly the NHL is being managed.

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                      #11
                      Re: First Phoenix...now Columbus. Bettman FTW!

                      Don't blame Betteman for Columbus. It was actually a great idea to put a team there because of no other major league sports teams being there. He actually did the right thing there.

                      This is just unfortunate to hear though because I thought they'd be a team that actually did somewhat well in their area.

                      Comment

                        #12
                        Re: First Phoenix...now Columbus. Bettman FTW!

                        The Blue Jackets are an expansion team from 2000 that did not make the playoffs through their first 8 seasons. Tough to build fan support for a product that sucks year in and year out. They've made the playoffs once in 9 seasons. And that was a first round exit via a sweep by the Red Wings.

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                          #13
                          Re: First Phoenix...now Columbus. Bettman FTW!

                          And in all of this turmoil and uncertainty, the Oilers are looking at a new building? I can see why there are no politicians lining up with tax $$ to help pay for it.

                          And there won't be any of them climbing on board the new stadium wagon, I promise. The Flames are looking for a new building too but won't get one unless its all private money and that won't happen either.

                          What's wrong with Rexall and the Saddledome anyway? Nothing if you ask me. It's a lot better than sitting in Clarke Stadium or Commonwealth stadium in -40 degree weather like when I was a kid. And I was so upset over this experience that I kept going back year after year. Mind you, it didn't hurt that we had a great football team who were usually in the Western Final. I usually came home frozen but happy

                          Comment

                            #14
                            Re: First Phoenix...now Columbus. Bettman FTW!

                            Originally posted by Deathsdoorstep View Post
                            Just move Phoenix to Southern Ontario, Carolina to Quebec City, and fold Miami, Tampa, Long Island, Nashville and Atlanta, then move Bettmann to Siberia.
                            Fixed.

                            Originally posted by moontoscott View Post
                            And in all of this turmoil and uncertainty, the Oilers are looking at a new building? I can see why there are no politicians lining up with tax $$ to help pay for it.

                            And there won't be any of them climbing on board the new stadium wagon, I promise. The Flames are looking for a new building too but won't get one unless its all private money and that won't happen either.

                            What's wrong with Rexall and the Saddledome anyway? Nothing if you ask me. It's a lot better than sitting in Clarke Stadium or Commonwealth stadium in -40 degree weather like when I was a kid. And I was so upset over this experience that I kept going back year after year. Mind you, it didn't hurt that we had a great football team who were usually in the Western Final. I usually came home frozen but happy
                            For the average fan, there's nothing wrong with it. But in Rexall's case it's the 2nd oldest rink in the NHL with less luxury suites than most NHL rinks, IIRC. This means lost revenue for our owner (in comparison with some other NHL rinks - not the ones losing money, though ). That, I believe, is why they're discussing a new rink.

                            As for the Saddledome, I have no idea. But there isn't anything in the world that will beautify Calgary....

                            Comment

                              #15
                              Re: First Phoenix...now Columbus. Bettman FTW!

                              Originally posted by Jtuck09 View Post
                              Don't blame Betteman for Columbus. It was actually a great idea to put a team there because of no other major league sports teams being there. He actually did the right thing there.

                              This is just unfortunate to hear though because I thought they'd be a team that actually did somewhat well in their area.
                              Well seemingly it wasn't a great idea due to the results. It might be filed under 'It seemed like a good idea at the time.'

                              Comment

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