Montreal's LA PRESSE, Quebec City's LE SOLIEL, LE JOURNAL DE
QUEBEC, the DENVER POST, and Denver's CBS Affiliate all report
that the Nordiques have been sold to Comsat Video Enterprises,
owner of the Nuggets. According to the POST and LE PRESSE, Nords
President Marcel Aubut flew to Comsat's Bethesda, MD, HQs
yesterday, "where he completed the deal." The POST reports Aubut
told a close friend: "I had to sell it, that's it." Denver's
KMGH-CBS reported yesterday that the deal was "imminent," and an
announcement coming as soon as today, according to the POST
(CANADIAN PRESS, 5/25). LE PRESSE reports that the deal is worth
$75M, and "the only details left to be worked out have no
potential to torpedo the agreement" (TORONTO SUN, 5/25).
JUST FOR SHOW? Aubut is to meet today with Quebec Premier
Jacques Parizeau in what is being called "a last-ditch effort" to
keep the team in Quebec. LE SOLIEL says the meeting will be "for
show only" (TORONTO SUN, 5/25).
FIRST CLASS OR COACH? Yesterday's ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS
reported that Comsat's President Charlie Lyons and Media
Relations Dir Paul Jacobson were booked on a flight this
afternoon from the Washington area to Denver. The NEWS also
reported that there was "plausible speculation" that a news
conference to announce the sale could be held as soon as tomorrow
(ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS, 5/24).
HO-HUM: Nordiques spokesperson Jean Martineau, "frustrated"
at the lack of progress in negotiations with Quebec, said
yesterday that Provincial Negotiator Andre Joli-Coeur "wouldn't
have a heart attack if the Nordiques moved" (CP/OTTAWA CITIZEN,
5/25).
REALIGNMENT: The DENVER POST reports the team would be
moved to the Western Conference's Central Division, with Toronto
moved to the Eastern Conference (DENVER POST, 5/25).
