The Verdict and an NHL team… in Halifax?
For those of you who asked me about my appearance on CTV’s The Verdict, here’s the link: http://www.ctv.ca/theverdict (Click on The Verdict Roundtable, Jan 23)
In the CTV Newsnet broadcast I am commenting on Marijuana legalization and the case of Marc Emery, the so called “Prince of Pot”, who has been recently sentenced for selling pot seeds south of the border. I feel that Emery is a showboat, a professional protestor, a fool and a false martyr. But that’s just me.
I also comment about how Maritimers have reacted to volatility in the stock market recently. Please check it out, as I welcome your comments on this blog.
In other news… It was interesting to have Trade Centre Ltd. CEO Fred MacGillivray in studio. Always a dynamic business leader, Fred would like to see feasibility study commissioned and conducted to see whether or not Halifax could land an NHL franchise.
It all started when NHLPA head Paul Kelly said he would like to see one here. I would love your comments on that one too. Should/could Halifax get an NHL team?
January 24th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
It boggles the mind as to why you and Fred think that an NHL team would be successful in Halifax. Yes, it would be nice and certainly, if it was successful, it would definitely add to the economy of the area with all the spinoff.
That said, the Halifax/Atlantic area does not have the population base to support a franchise and how many people can afford to spend anywhere from $50-$100 for 41 home games. Sure lots of people would love to visit the city on the weekend to attend a game or two during the season but that still leaves 39 games.
I listened to most of the program this morning and the various pros and cons put forth by all and thought I would add my vote.
No, it will not fly and as much as you seem to think that Fred is the ‘boy genius’ of the business leaders in this city, I believe you are both wrong in your desire to push this on the city and Atlantic area.
January 24th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
The key to get that NHL team in Halifax the big draw it needs would be dollar shots at the venue. It would be like Soccer in Europe.
I would like to here from a stock market guy on the show that can explain if this is actually the time to buy or when the market is expected to bottom and what to buy since everyone is so focused on the stocks right now. I don’t know much about it but now seems to be the time to join in before the recovery.
When are you going to bring Sam Graci back? I remember at the Health Expo there were disscusions to have him back on the show again. I say bring him back on a feel good friday again. Richard Z and Sam Graci back to back equals awesome show.
January 24th, 2008 at 7:21 pm
That interview was absolutely great! I’ve had a bit of experience with the whole “lights, camera, action” bit, setting up, make-up, etc. and while I was watching I was wondering: how much make-up did they put on you, was the lighting blinding, and did they give you any pointers about what to do while waiting to speak? But that’s just the techy geek side of me. The Andrew Krystal Fan side of me thought you were insightful, articulate, completely informed, and okay, I’ll say it, ADORABLE! Which is probably the last thing you wanted to hear so… TOUGH. Deal with it.
January 25th, 2008 at 7:07 pm
Hi andrew, listen to, and enjoy your show every day. On the topic of the nhl coming to halifax. The first and biggest problem with this idea is that gary bettman does not like the idea of expansion or relocation to canada. Even if he did ,hamilton, kitchener-waterloo, winnipeg and saskatoon-regina would be ahead of halifax. I think its great that fred is possitive and hopeful for a team but i think he should first look at building an arena, which might be a problem considering we can’t even get the twisted sisters built!!!!! Also would like to hear more of your shows discuss the topic of out-migration of our skilled tradesmen because i am one. having worked for eight years in alberta and moved back to halifax am very dissapointed with low wages and poor labour laws.
everyday listener, jake.
January 27th, 2008 at 10:24 am
I would love to see a franchise here in Halifax but the reality is that the money does not presently exist. The government is not going to spend that kind of money on a facility and to expect someone like Ballsille or Joyce to pay the 200 and some million for a franchise and build a facility is expecting too much. The question is really is there enough big companies out there interested in trying this, as to expect the public to cough up 100’s of millions to build a place and then hope upon hope that a team will come and that there will be enough business outside hockey to at least break even is a tall order. I do agree with Fred in the sense that it does not hurt to put the feelers out or to do a study, who knows maybe we will find something we did not know was there.
January 28th, 2008 at 8:38 am
I just look at the editorial page of the Telegraph-Journal for my opinion.
They always seem to know what New Brunswickers and Canadians are saying and thinking. And they don’t seem to be shy about talking for all of us.
Now I don’t know if they do daily opinion surveys, or if you can stick your finger in the air on Crown Street and become all-knowing; but personally, I don’t think the TJ speaks for NB’rs.
I think the Telegraph-Journal speaks for it’s ownership and for it’s great and good friend, the Liberal Party.
Fot the first time in my life, I have a newspaper where the comment page is a pass by. Boring dreck.
From bigots like Wolfe, to partisan no-minds like Arif, the opinion page of the TJ does a great disservice to New Brunswickers.
The only columnists that don’t have a laminated Liberal membership card are Moore( religious- just what the smear Liberals want) and Keenan, who as a columnist is a good lawyer.
The rest are water bearers for the Liberals and the local rich guy. Journalism, a career for the ethics free.
Who speaks for the citizens of New Brunswick? Sadly, no one.
January 28th, 2008 at 10:13 am
NHL in Halifax?????????? This is a joke right? Halifax can not possibly dream about having an NHL team. Halifax couldn’t fully support the AHL.
Halifax can’t afford to build an arena for this type of venue. It just doesn’t have the population base.
After the Commonwealth games debacle do you honestly think that the city can get it together to support such a project. The team could not survive on 5,000 regular faithful fans and that’s only if the ticket prices are $10.00 each. Can you imagine $75-$125 per game. The city doesn’t have that kind of money nor corporate base to support a franchise. Who actually thinks this will work? I have some swamp land I would like to sell them. It’s got a rose coloured view too. The glassses for viewing are free.
January 29th, 2008 at 8:58 am
I would love to see a team in atlantic canada… but when it comes to putting a team in halifax, I’m not as excited. I live in fredericton and i really don’t see myself travelling to halifax to see a game, atleast not often. I would rather travel to boston, not a bruins fan at all, but i just love the city of boston. I think even though the population isn’t as great as halifax, moncton would be a better option for a NHL franchise. Being a unb fan i hate to say it, but moncton is a great hockey town and really supports their teams, U de M, Wildcats, etc. Not only that, but moncton is alot more central. People from St. John, Fredericton, PEI, and Nova scotia could enjoy the team alot easier. It would be easy for a family to travel to a moncton from these places on a weekend, to see a game or a double header.
My other thought on the topic was, i have to agree that the average family tickets would be two expensive to take a family of 4 or 5. I’ve wondered if this was possible or has ever been done. Instead of a company taking their money and buying 50ish season tickets, why not have companys donate money to make tickets cheapier? then if they wanted they could still buy a few season tickets. I don’t know maybe i’m dreaming, but i think that would work.
Anyway andrew i love your show i listen to it everyday. keep on, keepin on!
January 29th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
IN YOUR DREAMS !!!
The HRM is too small of an area, The PEG. had 680,000 pop in 1997 and lost a team , whom were on the rise!
HFX Ciditals ?
just a dream
January 29th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
Halifax Region can’t even support the professional and amateur teams of any sport that we have now, except perhaps the Mooseheads. Really poor attendance at University football games, attendance is dismal at the Rainmen games. And those people who try to convince the public that we can are self-serving and are taking us to be awfully naiive.
January 29th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
Sorry for the false hope. We don’t have the City to do this. Transportation is one of the worse I have seen and coming in and out of the city is hard enough without the 21000 seats that would leave at 1030pm.
It is a nice wish and, being a Hockey Maniac, I would try to get season’s tickets. The thing is, it would bankrupt our Q team due to the cost of NHL tickets.
Paul Kelly maybe saying that it would be nice to see a team here but truth be known, it may be only to look good to the Nova Scotians…
Personally, it will not happen - Maybe a CFL team but definitely not a NHL Team.
In the meantime Andrew, you can be hopefull for your Leafs as I watch my Habs terrorize the Caps….
January 29th, 2008 at 10:20 pm
Just watched the clip from the verdict, loved it. Excellent job, I think you hit it right on the money. Love your show, listen every chance I get!
January 30th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
Yes, we should get an NHL team! Will we? No!
It has nothing to do with market size; it has to do with desire! It’s all about a community whose passion has been removed with surgical dexterity sending it into state of status quo paralysis.
Fred MacGillivray, our long suffering but still shining beacon in the dark bureaucracy that is HRM, is still attempting to bring us kicking and screaming into the present. How the man continues bringing new opportunities and concepts forward only to have them tank is beyond me, but he. due usually to a response, from Council, colder than the one we would normally reserved for Celine Dion.
This is to be expected, Mayor Peter Kelly has moulded HRM after himself, a milk toast and flannel vision of tedium, a city clothed in cardigan sweaters and support hose, living by the mantra “if we sit perfectly still in the middle of the boat, we won’t cause any waves”. He spends so much time worrying about the spin; his staccato manner of speech, is just a sign of his constant second-guessing of what he is about to say and how it will play.
Well the fact is, if we are all sitting in the middle of the boat, then who the hell is at the tiller? If we were going to drift along with little chance of progress, one would hope that someone was at least pointing us in some direction …any direction.
Finally, to touch on the other topic concerning Peter Kelly’s re-election, I’d say lets draft Fred MacGillivray to run for mayor. He would hopefully bring some life to the job and he may reanimate some of the bureaucratic stiffs haunting City Hall.
January 31st, 2008 at 6:50 am
We (Maritimers) have always wanted an NHL team. The problem is our politicians who want to have their hand in everything. They ruined the Commonwealth Games bid and seem to listen to the small complaints of minority groups instead of the general population.
Aside from our stone-age thinking politicians, there’s those studies. Study to see if the NHL is feesable. Income projections. Someone has to be really interested in getting a franchaise here. They’d have to be a champian of the people and we don’t have one of those (except you Andrew).
I don’t think we’ll get a franchaise untilk there is over a million people in Metro. Numbers talk and right now no one is crunching numbers and no one is pushing the cause forward.
February 4th, 2008 at 11:06 am
I think this idea of an NHL team in Halifax is absolutely absurd! As other posters have pointed out, we threw away the Commonwealth Games bid despite how good it “could have been” for the Halifax economy. What makes us think that we would have any more success with an NHL franchise which costs double if not triple the amount of the Commonwealth Games?
We had an opportunity that could have had a great and positive impact on the community, hosting the Commonwealth games would have brought national media attention to halifax, funding would have gone into fixing up the roads, and hospitals. Building grass roots, and inspiring children to become active, resulting in a future with less obesity. However, despite all these positive things that could have come out of hosting such an international event, Halifax chose to “pull out” of the bid, without even hearing the final costs.
What are we willing to pay for? If we cannot afford the bid to the Commonwealth games, which I believe was around 1.7 million dollars, how much do you really think an NFL franchise costs? 1.7 million? To pay to fund a team would be 10 x more than the bid for the Commonwealth games. I think we are somehow missing the facts, we had a feasible opportunity to change the economy in Halifax but we threw that away. Then we have this idea of hosting an NHL team which is most definitely not in any way feasible, I cannot believe this is even being considered.
It appears to me that maritimers have no interest in sport, or building grass roots. They fail to see the value in hosting an international event, and yet they want an NHL team. It absolutely boggles the mind how people in this province think. They want the fame and the fortune that come with the team, but cannot see past a price tag.
I think Maritimers are uninformed, and make assumptions about things before giving them a try, in regards to the Commonwealth games, individuals were under the assumption that we couldn’t pay 1.7 million dollars for the bid because then the economy would suffer, however, where is that 1.7 million dollars we saved now? - Are the roads being fixed? Are there more beds in the hospitals? Is the economy on the rise?
I think those answers speak for themselves.
February 15th, 2008 at 6:08 am
Well Trackgirl the Commonwealth Games was no opportunity.
16 million was the shortfall for TV rights to Costs alone. The bid was vastly under estimated at 1.7 billion as New Delhi India is spending about 5 billion for the games in two years. Melbourne had a 130 year old sporting goods company go out of business after they were saddled with debts being hooked into Merch.
The Site for Halifax is a Brownfield site and 115 million is a vast under estimate of the cost of a stadium to support the Commonwealth games.
Got some News for you as Well . You actually Need two Stadiums.
No one Watches the Commonwealth games and People in Canada dont know what Netball is or Care to the point of filling a 10000 seat venue required to host that event.
The Talk from the NHLPA’s guy about Halifax is just Talk that is prompted by Fred Mac gillirvay himself. Fred give it up because while you want something to leave the city you dont see how you will never get it .
David Asper is providing 40 million of his own money for a new football stadium in Winnipeg wishing for the same from the feds and the province.
Vic Toews has turned that down and said 30 million would be a stretch.
There was no 400 million on the table for the games from the Tories . They
promised enough on the condition that Halifax won to be the nice guys but left enough room that the province and city would realise that they could not afford the cost of the games. I knew that just looking at the cost and demands of Melbourne 2006 .
March 26th, 2008 at 10:28 am
Paul,
That’s funny that you should say that the CommonWealth games was no opportunity, you should ask all the other countries why they wanted so badly to host the games in their country. Why? So they could further their country in debt? No, it is because the opportunity that the CommonWealth games could bring, the media attention, the money from tourists, the benefits years down the road. On top of everything, and more a slap in the face than anything, a third world country can afford a bid to the CommonWealth games, but Canada one of the wealthiest nations existing today cannot and will not. I shoud correct myself, Halifax, cannot and will not. It was evident that London, and other parts of Canada were very upset that the bid was thrown away. A bid that Halifax had longed for in the past 10 years, only to throw it away in a few weeks.
If no one watched the CommonWealth games this would NOT be an issue at all. If it was an event both unheard of and unwelcomed then there would be no debate. The very fact that there is this discussion board on the topic proves that the CommonWealth games does in fact hold some kind of value to many people. You should talk with the athletes and the thousands of fans and supporters that wanted the CommonWealth games, what do you say to the children that looked forward to having facilities that was more than sub-par? A future of better health, inspiration, role-models things that don’t normally have a price tag, do in fact have a price tag that we are not willing to pay. Oh but for an imaginary hockey team… lets throw it all on the line