The Record
Friday, June 01, 2007 | Updated at 7:17 AM EDT
Balsillie's pal high on region
Moving Predators to Hamilton 'a million-to-one long shot'; Hamilton's Ron Foxcroft says RIM boss will review all options
JEFF HICKS
(Jun 1, 2007)
A prominent Hamilton entrepreneur -- and golfing buddy of Waterloo billionaire and Nashville Predators owner-in-waiting Jim Balsillie -- figures Waterloo Region is a terrific spot for Balsillie to move his NHL team.
"If it doesn't come to Hamilton, it would be great up in Waterloo, wouldn't it?" Ron Foxcroft said yesterday.
"Cambridge, Waterloo, Kitchener, London, Guelph. Your catchment area would be fabulous . . . My own feeling -- and I'm in the business of sport -- is you'd sell out every night."
Foxcroft, 61, has some expertise.
The former co-owner of the Hamilton Bulldogs American Hockey League pro team is much more than the president of Hamilton's Fluke Transportation Group, which operates 400 trucks.
The Burlington resident and former Olympic basketball referee also works for the NBA evaluating referees.
He invented the Fox 40 pea-less whistle, which is used by sports refs in 140 countries. His company also supplies metal pea whistles for the NHL, which Balsillie is poised to enter as an owner June 30.
Balsillie, co-chief executive of BlackBerry maker Research In Motion, appears to have plans to move the Predators out of Nashville, after agreeing to pay $220 million for the money-losing NHL club.
If Predators' paid attendance in Nashville sags below 14,000 again next season, Balsillie could be within his rights to move the franchise.
Waterloo Region is an option.
Of course, Hamilton is too.
On Wednesday, Hamilton re-activated an agreement with Balsillie. The deal, which was cancelled last October during his ill-fated bid to purchase the Pittsburgh Penguins for $175 million, gives Balsillie exclusive rights to bring an NHL team to Copps Coliseum. The 22-year-old Hamilton rink, which seats 17,500, is home to the Bulldogs.
But Foxcroft doesn't believe that makes Hamilton Balsillie's preferred Ontario destination for the Preds.
"Jim is just being a good businessman," said Foxcroft, who sometimes attends Toronto Raptors NBA games with Balsillie.
"He's reviewing all his options. He's putting all his options in a row. How far up the row Hamilton is, only he knows."
Balsillie has kept silent.
Foxcroft said Balsillie isn't giving anyone in Hamilton false hope.
Hamilton hockey fans, who've long dreamed of an NHL team playing in their city even though a Hamilton entry would be trespassing on the territorial rights of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Buffalo Sabres, are cautious.
"Nobody in Hamilton has any false expectations," Foxcroft said.
"No one is going out right now putting deposits on season tickets."
Speculation is that Balsillie could be using Hamilton as a pawn for leverage in other negotiations. Hamilton could also be a temporary stopover for a relocated Predators team while a new arena is built elsewhere in Ontario.
It's no slam-dunk for Steeltown.
"Hamilton people also have their feet on the ground," said Foxcroft, who considers Balsillie a down-to-earth person who puts his family first.
"They know it's a million-to-one long shot. But Hamilton people know (of) Jim. They like Jim. They respect his success. They don't know him personally but Hamilton is really starved for a good news story. Hamilton has problems, economic problems. The commercial industrial base is waning."
Meanwhile, Foxcroft believes Waterloo Region is booming in comparison.
He figures a Balsillie-owned NHL club will be a winner. Winning teams sell out in true hockey markets.
"He's not only well-capitalized, he knows what the heck he's doing," said Foxcroft, who met Balsillie four years ago.
"Knowing him the way I know him, the way he's driven and the passion he's got, he would hire the best and brightest hockey minds that were available in the world to make sure that he had a winner. One thing about Jim you probably know, he hates to lose."
Foxcroft, who plans to call Balsillie next week to set up a golf game at their favourite course in Buffalo, knows that well.
Foxcroft once won $20 from Balsillie by beating him in a round of golf.
Balsillie shook as he handed over the money at the end of the round.
"I turned to him and said, 'Jim, it's only 20 bucks'," Foxcroft recalled.
"He said, 'No, it isn't. It's the pride. It's the pride.' "
Foxcroft said he hasn't given Balsillie any advice on where an NHL team should go. Nor has he tried to convince Balsillie to set up a team in Hamilton.
"I would never do that unless he asked," Foxcroft said.
"If he asked, being a lifer Hamiltonian, I'd tell him all the advantages and disadvantages I was aware of. But he hasn't asked. We don't have that kind of relationship. We have a personal relationship. We like each other's company. We like doing 'jock' things together like golf and basketball and watching hockey."
Occasionally, Foxcroft and Balsillie also meet up when their teenage sons play rep basketball against each other.
Balsillie enjoys coaching his son's team.
Foxcroft is sure of one thing regarding Balsillie, whose deal to by the Preds must be approved by the league.
Balsillie won't let another chance to own an NHL team slip away.
"No way," Foxcroft said.
jhicks@therecord.com
