Comments on: The Verdict and an NHL team… in Halifax? http://blog.rogersradiointernet.com/andrewkrystal/2008/01/24/the-verdict-and-an-nhl-team-in-halifax/ Just another Rogers Radio Blog weblog Fri, 09 Jan 2009 01:03:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=wordpress-mu-1.2.3-2.2.1 By: Trackgirl http://blog.rogersradiointernet.com/andrewkrystal/2008/01/24/the-verdict-and-an-nhl-team-in-halifax/#comment-908 Trackgirl Wed, 26 Mar 2008 16:28:42 +0000 http://blog.rogersradiointernet.com/andrewkrystal/2008/01/24/the-verdict-and-an-nhl-team-in-halifax/#comment-908 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 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

]]> By: paul http://blog.rogersradiointernet.com/andrewkrystal/2008/01/24/the-verdict-and-an-nhl-team-in-halifax/#comment-768 paul Fri, 15 Feb 2008 12:08:39 +0000 http://blog.rogersradiointernet.com/andrewkrystal/2008/01/24/the-verdict-and-an-nhl-team-in-halifax/#comment-768 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 . 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 .

]]> By: Trackgirl http://blog.rogersradiointernet.com/andrewkrystal/2008/01/24/the-verdict-and-an-nhl-team-in-halifax/#comment-707 Trackgirl Mon, 04 Feb 2008 17:06:07 +0000 http://blog.rogersradiointernet.com/andrewkrystal/2008/01/24/the-verdict-and-an-nhl-team-in-halifax/#comment-707 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. 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.

]]> By: Bob http://blog.rogersradiointernet.com/andrewkrystal/2008/01/24/the-verdict-and-an-nhl-team-in-halifax/#comment-679 Bob Thu, 31 Jan 2008 12:50:59 +0000 http://blog.rogersradiointernet.com/andrewkrystal/2008/01/24/the-verdict-and-an-nhl-team-in-halifax/#comment-679 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. 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.

]]> By: Gord Billington http://blog.rogersradiointernet.com/andrewkrystal/2008/01/24/the-verdict-and-an-nhl-team-in-halifax/#comment-675 Gord Billington Wed, 30 Jan 2008 22:52:54 +0000 http://blog.rogersradiointernet.com/andrewkrystal/2008/01/24/the-verdict-and-an-nhl-team-in-halifax/#comment-675 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. 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.

]]> By: Mike http://blog.rogersradiointernet.com/andrewkrystal/2008/01/24/the-verdict-and-an-nhl-team-in-halifax/#comment-669 Mike Wed, 30 Jan 2008 04:20:45 +0000 http://blog.rogersradiointernet.com/andrewkrystal/2008/01/24/the-verdict-and-an-nhl-team-in-halifax/#comment-669 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! 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!

]]> By: Mario http://blog.rogersradiointernet.com/andrewkrystal/2008/01/24/the-verdict-and-an-nhl-team-in-halifax/#comment-668 Mario Wed, 30 Jan 2008 02:05:47 +0000 http://blog.rogersradiointernet.com/andrewkrystal/2008/01/24/the-verdict-and-an-nhl-team-in-halifax/#comment-668 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.... 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….

]]> By: Gwen Hochheimer http://blog.rogersradiointernet.com/andrewkrystal/2008/01/24/the-verdict-and-an-nhl-team-in-halifax/#comment-667 Gwen Hochheimer Tue, 29 Jan 2008 21:41:37 +0000 http://blog.rogersradiointernet.com/andrewkrystal/2008/01/24/the-verdict-and-an-nhl-team-in-halifax/#comment-667 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. 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.

]]> By: Theo http://blog.rogersradiointernet.com/andrewkrystal/2008/01/24/the-verdict-and-an-nhl-team-in-halifax/#comment-666 Theo Tue, 29 Jan 2008 19:27:08 +0000 http://blog.rogersradiointernet.com/andrewkrystal/2008/01/24/the-verdict-and-an-nhl-team-in-halifax/#comment-666 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 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

]]> By: Jeremy http://blog.rogersradiointernet.com/andrewkrystal/2008/01/24/the-verdict-and-an-nhl-team-in-halifax/#comment-665 Jeremy Tue, 29 Jan 2008 14:58:06 +0000 http://blog.rogersradiointernet.com/andrewkrystal/2008/01/24/the-verdict-and-an-nhl-team-in-halifax/#comment-665 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! 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!

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