The IHL has approved the placement of an expansion
franchise in New Orleans for the '99-00 season, to be owned
by Benz-Sports, Inc. (BSI). The approval represents an
exclusive commitment to BSI, which is run by Saints Owner
Tom Benson, and is contingent upon BSI being awarded a lease
to play in New Orleans' new arena under construction.
Benson also outlined his plan to develop a sports complex in
the city which will include public recreational facilities,
as well as a hotel, sports-themed restaurant, sports museum
and retail outlets. The arena lease will be awarded by the
LA Stadium & Exposition District, which is expected to reach
a decision in the next few weeks (IHL).
IHL ALL-STARS IN ORLANDO: In Houston, Neil Hohlfield
writes that with the NHL shut down for the Nagano Olympics,
the IHL, which plays its All-Star game tonight in Orlando,
"hopes to take center stage" in North America. IHL
Dir/Communications Tim Bryant: "We didn't want to go head-
to-head with the Olympics (hockey), but we figured playing
now would lead to a lot of exposure. Plus, we've got five
or six NHL scouts here, which is five or six more than we
usually have" (Neil Hohlfield, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 2/10).
