The Bell of the "Bal"

Jim Balsillie. The bald-headed, blue eyed, Blackberry wielding picture arises in your head immediately. Now, perhaps it’s time to put his face to an NHL team, specifically, a Canadian NHL team.

As if the writing wasn’t on the wall already for the Nashville Predator faithful, but a “test plan” that will take the temperature of hockey interest in the Hamilton, Ontario area.

Balsillie plans on testing the marketability of the southern Ontario town. He will be gauging the interest in season tickets by soliciting deposits for the local Copps Coliseum. He’s asking people to actually put their money where their mouth is. This experiment, which will be much more accurate than any survey, is expected to begin as soon as today.

Deposits may range in price from the $500 for upper bowl seats, $1,000 for lower bowl seats to $5,000 for suites, according to a source.

The deposits are fully refundable and there is no obligation to purchase tickets when and if an NHL franchise makes its home in Hamilton.