The new owners of the Jets, "in a gesture of appreciation
for the grassroots campaign" that raised C$13M to help keep the
team in Winnipeg, will likely add two fans to the team's board of
directors. Sources say the team will not have a majority owner,
but instead be run by a 15-16 member board (Samyn & Douglas,
WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, 5/24). ARENA DEAL: The Jets are expected
to sign a 20-year lease for the new, C$111M arena that will be
built with public funding, with arena profits shared equally
between the public and private sector (WINNIPEG FREE PRESS,
5/24).
OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES: In his GLOBE & MAIL column this
morning, William Houston writes that "a European syndicate was
prepared to buy the Jets and keep them in Manitoba," but Jets
owner Barry Shenkarow "refused to do business with [the buyer]
after an initial discussion." Michael Largue, a former Swiss
League player and CEO of M.A.L. Associates, says the fact that
Shenkarow did not want to negotiate with him signals that he
"never really wanted to sell the team" (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL,
5/24).
