((HT: CTV News))
Bringing an NHL team to southern Ontario would be the culmination of a lifelong dream, Blackberry co-CEO Jim Balsillie told CTV's Lloyd Robertson Friday evening in an exclusive interview.
"There's no question that this is a dream and to live a dream in a way that you can share it with others and share in your home (province), I can't think of anything more that I would ever want," he said.
Ballsillie started a firestorm earlier this week when it was revealed that the majority owner of the bankrupt Phoenix Coyotes had agreed to sell him the franchise for US$212 million on the condition that he could move the team to southern Ontario.
It is the third time the Blackberry billionaire has tried to buy an NHL team and once again the league is fighting the move. In court filings, the NHL says that the sale has no legitimacy and the owner of the Coyotes had no right to file for bankruptcy.
The corporate face-off between Balsillie and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman may be the best rivalry in the league today, but Balsillie doesn't think "personalities" will decide the fate of the Coyotes.
"This is not about personalities . . . this is really about the merits," Balsillie said. "In my experience these things don't get decided on personalities."
After 12 seasons in the desert, the Coyotes have consistently lost money and are among the bottom teams in attendance, despite having some of the lowest prices in the league.
Balsillie argues that hockey-mad southern Ontario is an "underserved" market, although the owners of the Buffalo Sabres and the Toronto Maple Leafs would argue otherwise.
However, New York has three teams that are considered successful and even southern California has three teams.
Balsillie says that moving the team would strengthen the league's finances. He said that he is "clearly" looking at Hamilton as the spot for his NHL team, as there's an option for an arena there.
"If somebody comes forward with an incredibly compelling plan that enhances franchise values, strengthen revenues, strengthens the fan base and constructively works with people and the league . . . why wouldn't people be interested in that," Balsillie asked.
The Coyotes are coached by Wayne Gretzky, who also owns a small stake in the team.
Balsillie would not say whether he had spoken to the hockey legend about the move but did say: "Who wouldn't want Wayne Gretzky . . . back in Canada. I get goose bumps just thinking about it."
Also on Friday evening, Balsillie announced that his online petition for a seventh NHL team has surpassed the 100,000 mark.
"I have been making the case that southern Ontario is the best under-served hockey market in the world," Balsillie said in a statement on MakeItSeven.ca. "The support of these 100,000 fans, in less than a week, goes a long way to helping prove that point. Let's keep it going."
Here's Balsillie's interview with CTV's Lloyd Robertson in black...
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