Hamilton officials and billionaire Jim Basillie remain upbeat that the recent Arizona court decision didn’t entirely eliminate the city’s chance to host an NHL team at Copps Coliseum.

Politicians are saying more than ever residents need to join the “Bring the NHL to Hamilton” rally at Jackson Square Friday to show the NHL board of governors the city deserves a franchise.

“Before (the court’s decision) the rally was a feel-good exercise,” said Ward 8 (west Mountain) councillor Terry Whitehead, chair of the city’s NHL subcommittee. “But now it is more important than ever to show community support for an NHL team. We are now in the third period.”

The rally is scheduled to start at noon on the roof of Jackson Square. Steve Smith, better known as Red Green, will be the master of ceremonies, and the rally will include music by Hamilton’s John Ellison. Officials are asking residents to bring a non-perishable item of food for the food bank.

NDP leader and Hamilton Centre MPP Andrea Horwath joined Hamilton East-Stoney Creek NDP MPP Paul Miller in saying the dream of an NHL franchise in Hamilton is still alive.

“It will take a lot more to break the spirits of the millions of hockey fans,” stated Ms. Horwath.

In a statement Monday soon after Arizona bankruptcy judge Redfield Baum rejected Mr. Balsillie’s attempts to relocate the Phoenix Coyotes to Hamilton, the co-CEO of Research In Motion stated the court “did not approve either our approach or the NHL’s” in purchasing the NHL team. Mr. Basillie stated the court still controls the sale of the money-losing Coyotes.

“We are still here,” he stated.

He said the court confirmed that he has been approved by the NHL as an owner in 2006 and remains one today.

“We look forward to hearing from the NHL soon on its view of our relocation application and an appropriate relocation fee,” stated Mr. Balsillie.

In a statement deputy NHL commissioner Bill Daly said, “We’re pleased the court recognized the validity of the League rules and our ability to apply them in a reasonable fashion.

Mr. Daly stated that the NHL is searching for a local buyer to keep the Coyotes in the Glendale, Ariz., area.

The City of Glendale stated in a release that the court’s decision shows that “professional hockey is viable in the Valley. The city spent about $183 million on a new arena for the Coyotes and could have to provide an additional $20 million more in concessions to keep the team.

“The court based its decision on law and facts and not countless rumours and innuendo regarding this matter.”

Mr. Balsillie had given the court until June 30 to make a decision, or he would withdraw his offer to purchase the team. Judge Baum cited the 14-day time frame to determine a relocation fee — which could be about $100 million — plus the issues surrounding anti-trust legislation, as too limiting to fully explore the complex arguments. Judge Baum, in his 21-page ruling released late Monday, dismissed Mr. Balsillie’s arguments that the NHL did not violate any anti-trust legislation nor did his purchase address the issue of compensating the NHL. The judge did rule that the NHL could not block Mr. Balsillie from buying the team. Judge Baum’s ruling nullifies a proposed June 22 auction of the team.

Coun. Whitehead said Mr. Balsillie’s $212.5 million offer to purchase the Coyotes remains the only viable proposal. But the NHL is stating that Jerry Reinsdorf, owner of the Chicago White Sox and the Chicago Bulls, is expected it make a firm offer to buy the Coyotes and keep the team in Glendale. Jerry Moyes, the majority owner of the Coyotes, who filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy May 5, stated in one of his filings the club has lost about $300 million since it was moved from Winnipeg in 1996.

Mr. Whitehead said Hamilton officials remain tied to Mr. Balsillie’s attempts to bring a team to Hamilton until his exclusive lease arrangement with the city ends Oct. 31.

Mayor Fred Eisenberger has said previously there have been other offers of bringing a team to Hamilton made to his office. He said the publicity of Mr. Balsillie’s attempts to relocate an NHL franchise to Hamilton has revealed that the Hamilton and southern Ontario market as an untapped location for the NHL.