So how goes the hockey team? - Page 9

raisethehammer · #**161** Posted **Oct 30, 2008, 2:22 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteelTown

Hamilton City Council has just approved a vote to submit a package to the NHL Board of Governors to showcase the city.

Also council approved a request to be invited to the next NHL Board of Governors meeting to showcase the city and prove Hamilton is not a minor league city.

hmm, good idea.
Like Paul Wilson's piece in the Spec today, many think we're a crap-town due to the skyway view.
I like that idea by council.
Maybe someone can slap Bettman when they're there.

SteelTown · #**162** Posted **Oct 30, 2008, 2:24 AM**

It's Bratina's motion.

flar · #**163** Posted **Oct 30, 2008, 2:32 AM**

It's a good idea, but I hope they don't send something amateurish that just further embarrasses the city.

BCTed · #**164** Posted **Oct 30, 2008, 2:34 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by raisethehammer

Maybe someone can slap Bettman when they're there.

Terrible suggestion.

BCTed · #**165** Posted **Oct 30, 2008, 2:35 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by flar

It's a good idea, but I hope they don't send something amateurish that just further embarrasses the city.

Agreed. That is also my fear.

raisethehammer · #**166** Posted **Oct 30, 2008, 2:36 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by flar

It's a good idea, but I hope they don't send something amateurish that just further embarrasses the city.

definitely. basically they need to keep tourism hamilton and all of their photo models out of the picture.
Heck, USE FLAR TO PROMOTE THIS CITY. sheesh.

Boomtown_Hamilton · #**167** Posted **Oct 30, 2008, 4:40 AM**

double post

Boomtown_Hamilton · #**168** Posted **Oct 30, 2008, 4:48 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteelTown

Hamilton City Council has just approved a vote to submit a package to the NHL Board of Governors to showcase the city.

Also council approved a request to be invited to the next NHL Board of Governors meeting to showcase the city and prove Hamilton is not a minor league city.

Sounds like a great idea SteelTown.

My only concern with all of this, and we've seen it done before, is they will do a sub-par job of it....this is an area where they could use public engagement and ideas. I am curious to know which person(s) specifically will be making the trip down there and making the presentation to the NHL Board of Governors because with me I'm all about images and how you portray yourself. Maybe that's because I am a very visual person with my background in graphic-arts and film work. For starters, I don't like the way the Mayor presents himself in public and with that job, the job of Hamilton Mayor, should automatically include an image consultant payed for by the city because when you are the Mayor and leader of a city you are the city's #1 salesperson and because of it that person needs to start dressing like it. Dress for success and dress like your the leader. The last thing I want to see is Fred Eisenberger make the trip down there and number one, not smile enough, and number two show up wearing brown jackets and yellow ties...........

.......I will have plenty more to add to this and expand on it further on another thread come Halloween night.

c@taract_soulj@h · #**169** Posted **Oct 30, 2008, 7:15 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boomtown_Hamilton

It's pathetic yes you are right. I can't speak for everybody else here in Hamilton as to why they don't come out and support the AHL brand of hockey. All I can tell you is I go to their games and I'm trying my best to do my part. The other thing that you have to consider is that Bulldogs attendance numbers are close to to the League average and for whatever reason in a lot of the other rinks around the AHL they don't draw capacity crowds either.

All I can say is that whenever we have hosted a major hockey tournament here in town like World Junior Championships, 1990 Memorial Cup and the two Canada Cups in 1987 and 1991 we set attendance records at the time of hosting each one of these tournaments. In addition to that twice now we have had NHL season ticket drives here in town and both times we've had 14,000+ fans making down payments for season's tickets and the second time around we also had 70 corporate boxes sold along with those season's tickets. I guess if its percived to be BIG LEAGUE or WORLD CLASS hockey event the fans do come out by the thousands here in Hamilton.

I like the blue seats...maybe they should do a different colour on the upper bowl though. Ironically, I was once told when I was younger, the seats were muiticoloured to make it look like there were people IN the seats lol. Nonetheless and on the subject, yeah small attendance is dismal and this may just be me but...It's AHL hockey !!!!!!! There should be more people showing up because the Bulldogs since they've been here the past 10+ years have definitely showed up, thats a no brainer. My point is though, selling out AHL games will not bring NHL hockey here. As mentioned by Boomtown.

It's pissed me off from day one when I first heard that it's no wonder we dont have a team because of crappy AHL attendance. I'm no Bulldogs season ticket holder myself but am proud of them when they do well. However, this city is thirsting for an NHL team right fellow Steeltowners? The proximity issue IS an issue and so is Bettmans head up his ass. If we avg 2-3000 for a Bulldogs game, it's a thing to start supporting a great team. But you can't blame that on the fact of why we don't have an NHL franchise.

We weren't born yesterday and decided out of the blue we want a team for the hell of it. "Potential season ticket holder" stats have shown in the past (Oilers/Pocklington, and Preds/Basillie) that a good 12-14 thousand want to watch every NHL home-game at Copps for the season. I think Hamilton would do incredibly well at Copps and much better than any of the teams in the Southeast Division to start.

So don't tell me that attendance is the issue

Boomtown_Hamilton · #**170** Posted **Oct 30, 2008, 8:36 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by c@taract_soulj@h

I like the blue seats...maybe they should do a different colour on the upper bowl though. Ironically, I was once told when I was younger, the seats were muiticoloured to make it look like there were people IN the seats lol. Nonetheless and on the subject, yeah small attendance is dismal and this may just be me but...It's AHL hockey !!!!!!! There should be more people showing up because the Bulldogs since they've been here the past 10+ years have definitely showed up, thats a no brainer. My point is though, selling out AHL games will not bring NHL hockey here. As mentioned by Boomtown.

It's pissed me off from day one when I first heard that it's no wonder we dont have a team because of crappy AHL attendance. I'm no Bulldogs season ticket holder myself but am proud of them when they do well. However, this city is thirsting for an NHL team right fellow Steeltowners? The proximity issue IS an issue and so is Bettmans head up his ass. If we avg 2-3000 for a Bulldogs game, it's a thing to start supporting a great team. But you can't blame that on the fact of why we don't have an NHL franchise.

We weren't born yesterday and decided out of the blue we want a team for the hell of it. "Potential season ticket holder" stats have shown in the past (Oilers/Pocklington, and Preds/Basillie) that a good 12-14 thousand want to watch every NHL home-game at Copps for the season. I think Hamilton would do incredibly well at Copps and much better than any of the teams in the Southeast Division to start.

So don't tell me that attendance is the issue

AHL attendance figures at Copps Coliseum should never be used as an excuse to not award Hamilton with an NHL hockey team. My understanding is we actually draw better numbers for AHL games than they do down the road in Toronto for the Marlies and if that's the case then how come we never hear people use that as an excuse to move the Maple Leafs out of Toronto?...because it would be stupid to do so that's why. it's like comparing apples to oranges, AHL and NHL hockey.

Hamilton is not an AHL town...Hamilton is an NHL town PERIOD!!!

flar · #**171** Posted **Oct 30, 2008, 10:58 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boomtown_Hamilton

Sounds like a great idea SteelTown.

My only concern with all of this, and we've seen it done before, is they will do a sub-par job of it....this is an area where they could use public engagement and ideas. I am curious to know which person(s) specifically will be making the trip down there and making the presentation to the NHL Board of Governors because with me I'm all about images and how you portray yourself. Maybe that's because I am a very visual person with my background in graphic-arts and film work. For starters, I don't like the way the Mayor presents himself in public and with that job, the job of Hamilton Mayor, should automatically include an image consultant payed for by the city because when you are the Mayor and leader of a city you are the city's #1 salesperson and because of it that person needs to start dressing like it. Dress for success and dress like your the leader. The last thing I want to see is Fred Eisenberger make the trip down there and number one, not smile enough, and number two show up wearing brown jackets and yellow ties...........

.......I will have plenty more to add to this and expand on it further on another thread come Halloween night.

For one thing this package shouldn't be prepared by city staff and secondly they should not send anyone from the city or council. Do what New York or Toronto would do, hire a good PR firm to do this.

raisethehammer · #**172** Posted **Oct 30, 2008, 11:02 AM**

a GOOD pr firm. I agree.
Not the lamebrains who came up with reach dream rise shine....

LikeHamilton · #**173** Posted **Oct 30, 2008, 12:50 PM**

You cannot use the numbers at the Bulldogs, as an example of what kind of draw there will be for an NHL team. I was talking to Glen Stanford, the president of the Bulldogs and I asked him if Hamilton could support an NHL team and he said easily. This is someone who has been in hockey a long time and was with the Leaf’s organization before coming to Hamilton.

If you use an AHL team to judge what kind of hockey town a city is then Toronto is a bush league city. The Marlies attendance is less that the Bulldogs. At the last game the Bulldogs played in Toronto against the Marlies on October 22 the attendance was only 1700. In there first year, the Marlies only averaged 2000 people and half of them where giveaway tickets.

SteelTown · #**174** Posted **Oct 30, 2008, 1:04 PM**

I remember Bratina saying the HECFI guy go to the Board meeting, his name escapes me at the moment.

raisethehammer · #**175** Posted **Oct 30, 2008, 1:30 PM**

Macaluso?? Lol.
Heck, they'd probably award him a team once they hear of his gambling problems and lifestyle. He'd fit right in with 'Boots' and all the other crooks they have in the league.

SteelTown · #**176** Posted **Oct 30, 2008, 3:38 PM**

No, the current HECFI person. Gilles something.

raisethehammer · #**177** Posted **Oct 30, 2008, 4:54 PM**

I know...I WAS JOKING.

Hammer Native · #**178** Posted **Oct 30, 2008, 5:08 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteelTown

No, the current HECFI person. Gilles something.

Duncan Gillespie, if I spelled it right.

Hammer Native · #**179** Posted **Oct 30, 2008, 5:13 PM**

I wonder what the chances are of bringing in high profile people to help promote our city and market. Such as Don Cherry and Wayne Gretzky, who I believe feel we deserve a team?

Berklon · #**180** Posted **Oct 30, 2008, 5:41 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hammer Native

I wonder what the chances are of bringing in high profile people to help promote our city and market. Such as Don Cherry and Wayne Gretzky, who I believe feel we deserve a team?

Gretzky is well respected, but I think it may rub some people the wrong way since he's co-owner of another team... especially since the team is in the Southern US. As for Don Cherry... I don't know if anyone will take him seriously. He doesn't exactly come off as knowledgable - even when he's talking about something he knows a lot about.