Orca Bay Sports & Entertainment Vice Chair Arthur
Griffiths, "the man who built and once owned GM Place and
all the that call it home," confirmed Friday that he is
leaving the company, according to Mark Hume of the VANCOUVER
SUN. Griffiths will move on to "cultivate new business
interests" and "head a bid to bring the 2010 Winter Olympics
to Vancouver and Whistler." He said he agreed to move after
discussions with Orca Bay officials a month ago. Griffiths:
"It was mutually agreed. ... This is a delicate situation --
but it works for me." Orca Bay VP/ Communications Kevin
Gass "denied Griffiths was asked to leave." Gass:
"Basically, Arthur decided, given a number of factors, that
he would relocate." Orca Bay President & CEO Stephen
Bellringer will move into Griffiths' office (VANCOUVER SUN,
11/8). Griffiths: "I didn't think there was any point in
fighting it." In Vancouver, columnist Gary Mason:
"[G]riffiths was not an Orca Bay guy. Ever. He was a
holdover from the mom and pop operation he ran. When
Vancouver was a little more innocent. Griffiths always
looked out of place among the suave, young Seattle yuppies
that came in to run the show" (VANCOUVER SUN, 11/8).
