Adding EmptyDataTemplate to DataList

Question

I've been trying to extend a DataList to support an EmptyDataTemplate, but I can't figure out how to actually add the contents of the EmptyDataTemplate as a list item. I create the new list item, instantiate it in the empty data template, and add it to the controls collection but I can't figure out how to add the item I created to the list items (Items.Count is still zero). I wind up with a data list with a caption and a border but no content whatsoever inside. Am I even approaching this the right way?

So far, what I have is:

public class MyDataList : System.Web.UI.WebControls.DataList
{

    private ITemplate emptyDataTemplate = null;

    [PersistenceMode(PersistenceMode.InnerProperty)]
    public ITemplate EmptyDataTemplate
    {
        get { return emptyDataTemplate; }
        set { emptyDataTemplate = value; }
    }

    protected override void CreateControlHierarchy(bool useDataSource)
    {

        base.CreateControlHierarchy(useDataSource);

        if (Items.Count == 0)
        {

            if (emptyDataTemplate != null)
            {

                DataListItem emptyDataItem = this.CreateItem(0, ListItemType.Item);

                EmptyDataTemplate.InstantiateIn(emptyDataItem);
                this.Controls.Add(emptyDataItem);

                // OK, now what?  Items.Count is still 0 and there is no Items.Add()
                // emptyDataItem, when inspected on a breakpoint, seems OK (it contains
                // the text/controls in my EmptyDataTemplate), it just doesn't get
                // rendered.

            }
        }
    }
}