The Maple Leafs "confirmed that they have been studying
the idea of building the next Maple Leaf Gardens right on
top of Union Station" in Toronto, according to Israelson,
Ormsby & Brazao of the TORONTO STAR. Gardens Project Dir
Tom Anselmi said in a statement that Union Station "would
continue to operate as it does now." Anselmi: "We are
reluctant to excite or mislead our fans about a specific
site until feasibility is proven, a deal is in place and a
final decision is made." The STAR noted that Raptors
President Richard Peddie called the Leafs' proposal a "trial
balloon" and "heaped scorn on the idea." The Raptors are
building the $200M Air Canada Centre "just to the south of
the station." Peddie: "We cannot have our business
disrupted or stopped for the two to three years it would
take them for construction -- 65 percent of our guests are
going to arrive through Union Station" (TORONTO STAR, 4/16).
Raptors Majority Owner Allan Slaight called the proposal
"ludicrous," adding, "We'll fight it tooth and nail."
Peddie: "We're really quite angry at (the Leafs')
intentions. They said they never liked our site, and now
they want to build virtually on top of it" (Daniels &
Hornby, TORONTO SUN, 4/16). The SUN's Wanagas & Daniels
note that a joint arena deal may still be in the works,
adding "sources indicated that if the two teams haven't
already reached a tentative deal on a joint project, one is
very close" (TORONTO SUN, 4/16)
