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From the Toronto Star and Hamilton Spectator today:
Group wants to move Atlanta Thrashers to Hamilton
Mayor to discuss second bid next week
May 09, 2009
HAMILTON SPECTATOR
HAMILTON – A Vancouver-based hockey group is interested in relocating the financially-troubled Atlanta Thrashers to Hamilton, the Spectator has learned.
Hamilton Mayor Fred Eisenberger is expected to meet with the second hockey group on Monday.
Eisenberger wouldn't disclose any details of the second group, believed to be led by Vancouver developer Tom Gaglardi, or when the meeting would take place.
But an inside hockey source told the Spectator that Gaglardi is interested in moving the Thrashers to Hamilton, possibly in time for the 2010 season.
Gaglardi heads River City Hockey Inc., a five-man group including NHL stars Jarome Iginla, Mark Recchi, Shane Doan and Darryl Sydor, which purchased the Kamloops Blazers of the Western Hockey League in 2007.
A source confirmed this week that Gaglardi, president of Northland Properties, the parent company of Sandman Hotels, is the key principal in the second hockey group interested in Hamilton. Gaglardi failed in his bid to buy the Vancouver Canucks five years ago.
Hamilton is suddenly a hot property for people looking at the possibility that some financially troubled NHL teams may be looking to relocate.
Gaglardi's group is Steeltown's second NHL suitor. There are now rumours of as many as five groups looking at Hamilton and Copps Coliseum for an NHL team.
City staff are already working on a proposed lease of Copps Coliseum to Waterloo billionaire Jim Balsillie, who hopes to buy and relocate the Phoenix Coyotes to the city for the 2009 season.
Balsillie, who has made a $212.5 million (U.S.) offer for the bankrupt Coyotes this week, is battling the NHL for control of the franchise. That battle is currently being waged in a Phoenix courtroom.
Gaglardi has business ties to fellow Vancouver developer Nelson Skalbania, the former owner of the Edmonton Oilers, who was the driving force behind the relocation of the former Atlanta Flames to Calgary. It is unclear whether Skalbania is involved in the possible second relocation of an Atlanta hockey club north of the border.
One source said the Atlanta move to Hamilton would be temporary, possibly to give the group time to relocate the franchise to a more permanent site following the 2010 season.
Gaglardi was unavailable for comment yesterday.
Eisenberger told the Spectator yesterday he expects by Tuesday the city should have a "clear picture" of its NHL strategy. That is one day before a May 13 deadline for sealing a deal to lock up Copps Coliseum requested by Balsillie.
"By next Tuesday we will have a clearer picture of where we are. We're in the middle of discussions with Mr. Balsillie and his group and I will be meeting with the second group. We need to understand their intentions. It's fair to say I will be talking to that second group," Eisenberger said.
A well-placed source in the business community, speaking on condition he not be named, said the frenzied climate around NHL hockey, Hamilton, Toronto and Vaughan has made it impossible to separate legitimate bids from possibilities and mere rumours.
He described five different scenarios that continue to crop up in conversations, though he emphasized there is no way to know how solid some of them are.
"I don't know what's real and not real," the source said.
Group wants to move Atlanta Thrashers to Hamilton
Mayor to discuss second bid next week
May 09, 2009
HAMILTON SPECTATOR
HAMILTON – A Vancouver-based hockey group is interested in relocating the financially-troubled Atlanta Thrashers to Hamilton, the Spectator has learned.
Hamilton Mayor Fred Eisenberger is expected to meet with the second hockey group on Monday.
Eisenberger wouldn't disclose any details of the second group, believed to be led by Vancouver developer Tom Gaglardi, or when the meeting would take place.
But an inside hockey source told the Spectator that Gaglardi is interested in moving the Thrashers to Hamilton, possibly in time for the 2010 season.
Gaglardi heads River City Hockey Inc., a five-man group including NHL stars Jarome Iginla, Mark Recchi, Shane Doan and Darryl Sydor, which purchased the Kamloops Blazers of the Western Hockey League in 2007.
A source confirmed this week that Gaglardi, president of Northland Properties, the parent company of Sandman Hotels, is the key principal in the second hockey group interested in Hamilton. Gaglardi failed in his bid to buy the Vancouver Canucks five years ago.
Hamilton is suddenly a hot property for people looking at the possibility that some financially troubled NHL teams may be looking to relocate.
Gaglardi's group is Steeltown's second NHL suitor. There are now rumours of as many as five groups looking at Hamilton and Copps Coliseum for an NHL team.
City staff are already working on a proposed lease of Copps Coliseum to Waterloo billionaire Jim Balsillie, who hopes to buy and relocate the Phoenix Coyotes to the city for the 2009 season.
Balsillie, who has made a $212.5 million (U.S.) offer for the bankrupt Coyotes this week, is battling the NHL for control of the franchise. That battle is currently being waged in a Phoenix courtroom.
Gaglardi has business ties to fellow Vancouver developer Nelson Skalbania, the former owner of the Edmonton Oilers, who was the driving force behind the relocation of the former Atlanta Flames to Calgary. It is unclear whether Skalbania is involved in the possible second relocation of an Atlanta hockey club north of the border.
One source said the Atlanta move to Hamilton would be temporary, possibly to give the group time to relocate the franchise to a more permanent site following the 2010 season.
Gaglardi was unavailable for comment yesterday.
Eisenberger told the Spectator yesterday he expects by Tuesday the city should have a "clear picture" of its NHL strategy. That is one day before a May 13 deadline for sealing a deal to lock up Copps Coliseum requested by Balsillie.
"By next Tuesday we will have a clearer picture of where we are. We're in the middle of discussions with Mr. Balsillie and his group and I will be meeting with the second group. We need to understand their intentions. It's fair to say I will be talking to that second group," Eisenberger said.
A well-placed source in the business community, speaking on condition he not be named, said the frenzied climate around NHL hockey, Hamilton, Toronto and Vaughan has made it impossible to separate legitimate bids from possibilities and mere rumours.
He described five different scenarios that continue to crop up in conversations, though he emphasized there is no way to know how solid some of them are.
"I don't know what's real and not real," the source said.
Last edited by davetherave on Sat May 09, 2009 3:09 pm; edited 1 time in total
