Balsillie to Make Play for Share of Predators

According to tsn.ca, who used files from The Globe and Mail, Research in Motion CEO Jim Balsillie is going to make an attempt to buy William (Boots) Del Biaggio's share in the Nashville Predators. Balsillie is likely to have competition for the share, which is valued at $23.5 million. In June, Del Biaggio attempted to sell his share in the Predators to Balsillie, but was denied by the league after it was learned he had been accused of loan fraud. Del Biaggio, who has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, was attempting to liquidize his assets by selling his share to Balsillie. In 2007, Balsillie attempted to purchase the Predators for $220 million with the intention of moving them to Hamilton, Ontario, but the deal fell through. He even went as far to start a season ticket campaign in Hamilton for the "Hamilton Predators" in the event that he was able to purchase and relocate the team. In 2006, Balsillie put in a bid to purchase the Pittsburgh Penguins, but withdrew his bid when the NHL told him they were going to restrict his control over the team. By attempting to acquire a minority share in the Predators, Balsillie is likely hoping that he could one day move up to a majority owner and attempt to relocate the team. Balsillie is very intent on purchasing an NHL team and moving them to Canada, as his actions suggest with failed attempts to purchase the Penguins and Predators. The problem here is NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. Over the last 15 years, Bettman has expanded the NHL and moved existing teams into non-hockey markets. Two of the relocations involved Canadian teams moving into the United States. When Balsillie announced he wanted to move the Predators to Canada, Bettman balked at the fact, preferring to see the team get moved to Kansas City or Las Vegas. Despite the rising demand from hockey fans in Canadian cities such as Winnipeg, Hamilton, and Quebec City for an NHL team and the rise in the Canadian dollar over the past year, Bettman would rather push the NHL into markets that do not have a strong interest in hockey. With the NHL struggling to find fans in markets such as Phoenix, Atlanta, Miami, Nashville, and North Carolina that do not have an avid interest in hockey, what makes Bettman think franchises in Kansas City or Las Vegas would fare better? It is time for Bettman to wake up and realize that some Canadian cities could have better markets than those in the Southern and Midwestern United States. In a time where the NHL is trying to win back fans, Balsillie is only looking to help the NHL achieve its goal.