With the uncertainty still swirling around the future of the Phoenix Coyotes and Jim Balsillie’s plan to bring the team to Hamilton, the Toronto Legacy has surfaced as a new group interested in bringing a team to the Greater Toronto Area. And with already having a web site and a logo, the group has lofty plans for the team and its facilities.

Notes on their web site spell out plans for a 30,000 seat arena including private boxes, athletic center, 50 metre Olympic swimming pool, four outdoor rinks, two office towers, four residential condominiums, a hotel, a running trail, and public park space and pond. Their target location is a 40-acre land parcel located here. The total estimated cost of this lofty development plan tops $1 billion.

The group also claims that they will be philanthropic, stating they’ll donate 25% of their net annual profits, as well as creating something called “Future Aces Row” which consists of the front row of seats, which will offer free seats to organizations such as Big Brothers/Big Sisters and minor hockey teams.

This is apparently the visionary work of an Andrew Lopez, who claims to have gained ’support’ of CEOs, investors, architects and designers. Support is one thing. Getting these investors and most likely the Ontario government to cough up $1 billion (yes, that’s with a b).

Considering thier prime site is a mere 14km from the Air Canada Centre, I can’t imagine the Toronto Maple Leafs allowing a new team that close, given that there’s questions about them even allowing a team in Hamilton. And it seems contingent on the NHL awarding them an expansion franchise…another issue that may never come to fruition. The NHL is already six teams too full, in my opinion. Expansion over thirty would be detrimental to the competitiveness as well as the financial health of the league.

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