Make it Seven Campaign Gains Momentum
RIM Co-Founder Jim Balsillie Working to Bring Coyotes to Canada
What started out as a personal goal to bring a National Hockey League team to Hamilton, Ontario, has now become a full-fledge movement in Canada; being led by Research In Motion co-founder Jim Balsillie. The Make it Seven campaign continues to grow in the weeks since Balsillie made his bid for the bankrupt Phoenix Coyotes and the web site now boasts over 150,000 supporters.
The NHL disputes the bankruptcy filing and lawyers for both sides are arguing the case before Judge Redfield T. Baum in the Arizona bankruptcy court. As the Make it Seven campaign grows, the league has a fight on their hands in the legal realm and now in the court of public opinion. After witnessing the relocation of the Quebec Nordiques and Winnipeg Jets to Colorado and Phoenix in the early nineties, Canadian hockey fans now feel they have a voice in expressing their displeasure and have found a willing leader in Balsillie.
BlackBerry Maker Creates Make it Seven to Rally Support
Shortly after making his bid for the Coyotes, the BlackBerry manufacturer created Make it Seven and within days 100,000 hockey fans had signed up for updates. The site now offers limited edition Make it Seven merchandise, with the net proceeds being donated to minor hockey organizations across Canada as well as the opportunity to upload comments in a Voice Your Opinion section. Fans have also begun to display their concepts and ideas for logo and sweater designs if Balsillie’s attempt proves successful.
Home Hardware and Labatt Blue Show Support for Balsillie
One argument against a move to Hamilton is a lack of corporate support in the area. However, two well-known brand names in Canada, Home Hardware and Labatt Blue were quick to throw their support behind the bid. Labatt has offered a chance to win season’s tickets to the new team’s inaugural season while Home Hardware has supported minor hockey in Canada for many years.
At the Make it Seven site, Home Hardware explains their reason for backing Balsillie, “We are excited by the possibility of creating more opportunities for Canada’s best players to play on their home ice, in front of home-town fans.”
Former Maple Leaf Doug Gilmour Sends Message to Fans
In Toronto this week for a charity event, Dougy, Cuddy and Friends Celebrity Bowl, a fundraiser for the Special Olympics,former Maple Leaf Doug Gilmour sent a message to Make it Seven supporters expressing his desire to see a team in the Hamilton area. Currently the coach of the Ontario Hockey League’s Kingston Frontenacs, Gilmour’s words carry a lot of weight in the Toronto area after being an integral part of the Leafs teams that went to the Conference finals in 1993 and 1994.
After explaining he has played on seven NHL teams, which as he states, “the number has a nice ring to it”, he goes on to write, “Jim Balsillie shares my passion for sport and the Special Olympics and I share his passion for a seventh NHL team in Canada. So I am asking you all to help us.”
June 19th Becomes Make it Seven Day
In conjunction with his corporate partners, Balsillie has declared June 19th as Make it Seven Day in Canada. Fans and supporters will gather to voice their opinions and show their passion for a seventh Canadian team. Companies such as Home Hardware, Labatt, DeWalt Tools and others will be offering special promotions. Regardless of the outcome in the Arizona courtroom, Balsillie has struck a chord with hockey fans in Canada and it will be difficult to dismiss the growing desire for more Canadian NHL teams.
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