Post by hounddog on Jan 26, 2008 15:28:27 GMT -4
St. John's Telegram
Published Saturday January 26th, 2008
Appeared on page C14
ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - The board chairman of St. John's Sports and Entertainment says no one from the QMJHL contacted them about stepping in to save the Fog Devils, which were sold this week to Montreal businessman Farrel Miller.
Miller bought the hockey team for more than $3 million and plans to move it to Verdun, Que., next season. League owners approved the purchase Friday during a conference call.
St. John's Sports and Entertainment chairman Gerry Smith said he was surprised by the news and didn't see it coming this soon.
"If we were asked we would have looked at the numbers and I wouldn't have said no," said Smith. "If asked, we would have worked through the details and the financial side and the overall impact, but I wasn't asked. It's an interesting question."
In 2004, SJSE lost a fierce competition with the Dobbin family of St. John's to acquire the rights to a QMJHL franchise. The city-affiliated SJSE was optimistic it could successfully run such a team.
SJSE operates the Mile One Centre arena complex, which was a key point in their sales pitch to the league.
The Fog Devils had to pay SJSE $10,000 per game to lease Mile One Centre. The Fog Devils have said the rate was too high and contributed to the team's financial losses.
Smith was negotiating a new rate with the Dobbins when news broke of the sale.
SJSE taking over the Fog Devils was never on the table.
**********
I know this is a cut and past, but it does put a new spin on the plait of the Devils. It almost looks like SJSE was trying to squeeze the Dobbins out and take over. It just looks funny with you have to rent your home rink from your competing bidder.
Published Saturday January 26th, 2008
Appeared on page C14
ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - The board chairman of St. John's Sports and Entertainment says no one from the QMJHL contacted them about stepping in to save the Fog Devils, which were sold this week to Montreal businessman Farrel Miller.
Miller bought the hockey team for more than $3 million and plans to move it to Verdun, Que., next season. League owners approved the purchase Friday during a conference call.
St. John's Sports and Entertainment chairman Gerry Smith said he was surprised by the news and didn't see it coming this soon.
"If we were asked we would have looked at the numbers and I wouldn't have said no," said Smith. "If asked, we would have worked through the details and the financial side and the overall impact, but I wasn't asked. It's an interesting question."
In 2004, SJSE lost a fierce competition with the Dobbin family of St. John's to acquire the rights to a QMJHL franchise. The city-affiliated SJSE was optimistic it could successfully run such a team.
SJSE operates the Mile One Centre arena complex, which was a key point in their sales pitch to the league.
The Fog Devils had to pay SJSE $10,000 per game to lease Mile One Centre. The Fog Devils have said the rate was too high and contributed to the team's financial losses.
Smith was negotiating a new rate with the Dobbins when news broke of the sale.
SJSE taking over the Fog Devils was never on the table.
**********
I know this is a cut and past, but it does put a new spin on the plait of the Devils. It almost looks like SJSE was trying to squeeze the Dobbins out and take over. It just looks funny with you have to rent your home rink from your competing bidder.