With Portland, OR, "out of the running" for an NHL expansion
team, St. Paul, MN, "becomes a strong contender for a club,"
according to sources of William Houston of the Toronto GLOBE &
MAIL. The league "likes the location and is agreeable" to a team
playing in the renovated St. Paul Civic Center. Houston notes
sources who say Whalers Owner Peter Karmanos has "attempted to
cut a deal in St. Paul, offering 49% of the club to local
investors" for $50M.
NHL'S NIRVANA? Houston also adds the NHL was "intensely
interested" in Paul Allen becoming a league member and "not
necessarily in Portland." The NHL's "best-case scenario would
have had Allen buying a Seattle team, but he "backed off because
he doesn't own an arena in Seattle." Both Allen and the league
"aren't convinced" Portland can support two major-league teams,
"especially two that play in the same season" (Toronto GLOBE &
MAIL, 11/14).
WOE, CANADA: In L.A., Helene Elliott looks at how Canada's
"national game has fled south and NHL economics indicate it won't
return soon." Toronto Sun columnist Christie Blatchford: "There
is some feeling we've lost control of the game." The league's
Canadian Assistance Program gives teams up to $5M U.S. annually
if they reach specified season-ticket and advertising sales
levels. The Oilers, Senators and Flames are receiving subsidies
this year. Oilers Exec VP Doug Piper: "If they ever take it
away, it's going to be difficult for us." NHL Commissioner Gary
Bettman: "I didn't want to lose any teams from Canada and I don't
want to lose any more" (L.A. TIMES, 11/13).
