A protest march and rally last fall to protest a planned transfer of emergency services from McMaster Hospital to Hamilton General was a complete flop, with just a few hundred people turning up (many wearing NDP badges or waving union flags).

Other rallies — such as the anti-Israel protest held earlier this year in the downtown core — also turned up the usual suspects in small numbers.

Today (Friday, June 19), Hamilton residents are being challenged to show their support for an NHL franchise by turning out to a rally being held on the Jackson Square promenade roof level beginning at noon.

While we hope this rally breaks the trend of poor attendance from pervious protests, we can’t help but be concerned about the optics if few end up making the trek downtown. It could end up doing more harm than good.

What message would this send to the NHL and others who are following Hamilton’s latest NHL saga with keen interest? What message would this send to Jim Balsillie, the billionaire businessman who has championed our city as a location for an NHL franchise?

Earlier this week, an Arizona bankruptcy judge delivered a ruling many believe is a serious setback to the dream of seeing the Phoenix Coyotes moved to Hamilton.

While proponents of bringing the NHL to Hamilton see the ruling as only a minor bump in the road, the reality is we are as far away from this reality as we are close. Nothing has changed, and it’s tough to avoid being cynical that the NHL, under current commissioner Gary Bettman, will ever allow a team in this market.

The fact that Hamilton would be a strong market for the NHL is not an issue.

However, getting people to come out to a rally has proven a difficult task in the past. Maybe we’re just not the rallying type, or maybe people are just too busy to slice off an hour to represent a cause they believe in.

Hopefully, we are wrong. And hopefully, Hamilton residents will prove their support and dedication to the NHL dream at today’s rally.