Listen up, Bettman!
Woman wants 10,000 to attend Hamilton Coyotes rally
May 26, 2009
Ken Peters
The Hamilton Spectator
http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/572002
There will be no floats, few if any politicians, nary a corporate VP or cheerleaders or banners. But Michelle Febers is hoping there'll be plenty of voices of ordinary Hamiltonians at her planned National Hockey League rally on the weekend.
Febers is hoping some 10,000 Hamiltonians will voice their support for Jim Balsillie's bid to bring an NHL franchise to Steeltown by turning out for her Saturday Rally for the Hamilton Coyotes in front of Copps Coliseum.
The mother of three thinks every Hamiltonian should have a voice about the BlackBerry billionaire's bid to buy and relocate the Phoenix Coyotes to Hamilton for next season. And the 34-year-old receptionist for a roofing company and part-time Burlington sports bar server, who admits to owning "a big mouth," is going to help make sure that voice is heard -- by providing a microphone and a set of speakers at the corner of Bay Street and York Boulevard between 1 and 4 p.m.
"My concept of the rally is to set up a microphone and speakers and even if we have just 200 people there, people will get a chance to speak for 30 seconds. I want a new team. Our city needs this. With the steel plants closing down, we don't have anything. We need to have our city revamped," she said.
A long-time Maple Leafs fan, Febers said: "The reason for this rally is that the average person like myself deserves to be heard. We're not politicians, we're not corporations, we are the people of Hamilton."
But not everyone thinks Febers' idea is a sound one.
Councillor Terry Whitehead, chairman of the city's NHL Steering Committee, wonders whether the timing is right with Balsillie's latest NHL bid in the courts.
"My hope is to talk to Michelle and see if we can find a more suitable date in terms of rallying the troops," he said.
Perhaps part of Whitehead's concern is that a poor turnout could do more harm than help. An earlier Save the Coyotes rally in Arizona a few weeks ago made headlines when it drew fewer than 500 supporters for the club.
Febers acknowledges a poor turnout could reflect badly on the Hamilton bid, but adds she doesn't believe a rally can do any harm given NHL commissioner Gary Bettman's continuing opposition to an NHL team at Copps Coliseum.
"Gary Bettman needs to hear that Canada will not be shut out forever. Enough is enough. There is a point where the average person needs to step up and say 'no more.' No one thinks one voice can be heard. I believe in this city.
"I don't believe in roadblocks. I teach my kids that if you believe in something, go for it.
"There will be five of us for sure," she joked, adding husband Tom and her three children will attend.
But Febers believes there will be more. She notes that Balsillie's Makeitseven online campaign has 130,000 supporters and she has more than 800 signed up for her Facebook posting.
Hamilton businessman Chris Ecklund, who has 9,000 signed up to his Bring the NHL to Hamilton Facebook post, has thrown his support behind the rally.
"I'm 100 per cent in support of anyone setting up a rally. That can just lead to bigger things," he said.
Febers has spoken with Balsillie spokesperson Bill Walker and hopes the prospective Hamilton franchise owner will attend, but understands if he cannot.
Walker told The Spectator yesterday that no one from the Balsillie camp plans to attend.
"Makeitseven.ca has also been asked to participate in and sponsor a number of events and rallies, including some in Hamilton. While we appreciate the enthusiasm, it is impossible for Makeitseven.ca to support every activity. It's difficult to support some and not others."
Febers is less forgiving for Mayor Fred Eisenberger, who she has invited but not heard back from.
"He is the voice of our city. He should be there."
A Phoenix bankruptcy court is expected to rule next month on whether the troubled Coyotes constitute a movable asset that can be relocated to southern Ontario.
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