Rockets Owner Les Alexander "talked with" NHL Oilers
Owner Peter Pocklington Wednesday "about buying the
franchise and moving it to Houston," according to John
Williams of the HOUSTON CHRONICLE. Alexander sees the deal
as "a solution to avoid sharing a new arena with a hockey
team owned by Chuck Watson and Robert McNair." The Rockets
owner has "hired a consultant to help him negotiate a deal"
with Pocklington, who is asking around $85M for his team.
Alexander's move "came two days" after he received a letter
from Houston Mayor Bob Lanier "indicating plans to build a
new arena" with or without the cooperation of the Rockets.
Lanier asked Alexander and Watson-McNair to "agree on
conditions on constructing and operating a new arena,
assuming construction is approved by voters in November."
Lanier wants a letter of intent signed by June 25, when the
NHL is expected to announce its expansion plans. Watson and
McNair signed the letter of intent Wednesday, but Alexander
"did not and called Pocklington." McNair said that if he
and Watson are not awarded an expansion team, they "would
bid for the Oilers" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 6/12). Pocklington,
on Alexander's call: "Money is no object to them. He's made
an offer of a price. It really doesn't matter what it is
because I want to sell it here" (EDMONTON SUN, 6/12).
