Balsillie wins exclusive rights to Copps Coliseum

Hamilton's Mayor says the outcome is now "out of the city's hands".

Fred Eisenberger adds that City Council has done everything it can to bring NHL hockey to Hamilton by unanimously approving an "option agreement" with Jim Balsillie.

It's an agreement which gives Balsillie exclusive rights to Copps Coliseum for at least the next 20 years, if he manages to purchase and relocate the Phoenix Coyotes.

Balsillie would also commit to pumping five million dollars worth of immediate upgrades into Copps, enough to make it NHL-ready in the short-term.