Firm offers 3.5 billion for NHL

[EVIL~! alkeiper]

Of course, there's the minor detail that arena attendance increased with the moves South.

[The Czech Republic]

Good thing Bettman didn't sabotage the Sens and Sabres when they were collectively owned for a while in 2003.

Neither team was owned by the league at any point.

I thought the league was operating them when Rigas and the other guy went bankrupt.

[The Czech Republic]

Of course, there's the minor detail that arena attendance increased with the moves South.

Not always.

[nl5xsk1]

Of course, there's the minor detail that arena attendance increased with the moves South.

Speaking as someone who's been a hockey fan since the early 1980s ... I couldn't give a shit. The league was better before they expanded. Period.

 

The Southern teams have a boon where there's the "oh, look, there's a new team to follow" but it who knows if it'll last?!? On top of that, watching a lot of the games at the Southern arenas, it seems that a lot of the fans either go dressed as empty seats or take long, constant pee-breaks. Lastly, none of the teams that I referenced deserve to be 86ed in favor of a Southern team.

 

Let them have their own league, independent of the re-born NHL, if the fan support is so great. Personally, I don't the fans will last long enough to support a lot of these Southern teams (Carolina, Atlanta, Florida, Dallas, Nashville) and Western teams (Phoenix, Anaheim) if their team goes through a long, horrible stretch. Give better ownership to Chicago & Boston, and those arenas will be packed again.

[The Czech Republic]

I don't know about Jeremy Jacobs and the B's, but the Wirtzes will never, ever, ever, ever let go of the Blackhawks. Count on that.

[MrRant]

*coughSeattlecough*

[Lightning Flik]

And just when you thought it was over:

 

Link

 

Report: United States firms to increase offer for NHL

 

March 4, 2005

TORONTO (Ticker) - It appears that $3.5 billion may have just been a starting point for two U.S. firms that made a joint proposal to buy the entire National Hockey League.

 

According to a report in Friday's Toronto Star, a Wall Street financial services corporation and a sports advisory firm are prepared to substantially increase their initial offer of $3.5 billion to purchase the 30 NHL teams.

 

Bain Capital Partners and Game Plan International - both based in Boston - made the initial offer to the league Tuesday in New York.

 

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In a 30-minute presentation to NHL owners and commissioner Gary Bettman, the companies outlined a plan for the league to operate under single ownership.

 

The two companies reportedly had a formula to compensate each team owner based on revenue, assets and market size. Under the $3.5 billion umbrella, each franchise would be worth an average of $117 million.

 

Last week, the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim were sold for a reported $75 million, a deal that included a $15 million practice facility.

 

The league is reeling after a lockout caused the sport to become the first in North American history to cancel an entire season. With an estimated $500 million in losses over the previous two seasons and no end to the labor dispute in sight, the proposal could be given significant consideration.

 

But Rogers Sportsnet of Canada reported league owners turned down the offer after the presentation was made by the companies, which also planned to have a large Canadian-based financier join its ownership team.

 

Under the offer, the average franchise value would be $117 million. The plan does include a formula to weigh compensation based upon revenue and assets of each team.

[Red Baron]

Of course, there's the minor detail that arena attendance increased with the moves South.

That doesn't mean anything.

 

Its the number of tickets being sold, and usually season ticket-holders would not go a game if they choose too, but it'll still be considered a sell out.

[nl5xsk1]

I don't know about Jeremy Jacobs and the B's, but the Wirtzes will never, ever, ever, ever let go of the Blackhawks. Count on that.

Nope, the cheap bastard here in Boston is as unlikely to sell as the cheaper bastard in Chicago.

[CanadianGuitarist]

Its the number of tickets being sold, and usually season ticket-holders would not go a game if they choose too, but it'll still be considered a sell out.

 

Yep. Thats why Tampa Bay was getting 18,5 a game in January and February. Scott Taylor, despite having an incredibly irritating voice, always has something good to say during his weekly Soapbox on the Score Network. He attested that it was often Masquerade night in Tampa, and most fans went dressed as blue seats.

 

Taylor is, IMO, hockey's second best write after Brophy.