Three more investors have joined the effort to keep the
NHL Oilers in Edmonton, meaning local investors have added
"at least" C$15M to their fund since Les Alexander's $82.5M
bid last week, according to Bernard Pilon of the EDMONTON
SUN. Investor Cal Nichols identified the most "significant"
new investor as businessman Barry Weaver. He would not say
how much Weaver was contributing or name the two other
"fairly significant" investors (EDMONTON SUN, 2/14). In
Edmonton, Ashley Geddes reported that Weaver has offered to
invest "in excess" of C$1M (EDMONTON JOURNAL, 2/14).
OTHER NEWS: The SUN's Pilon reports that the creator of
the comic book "Spawn" may invest as well. Terry
Fitzgerald, President of Todd McFarlance Productions: "We're
looking at anywhere from [C$1-10M], depending on the right
assortment of ownership" (EDMONTON SUN, 2/17)....In Houston,
Neil Hohlfeld wrote that the Oilers "could end up in
Nashville," and Predators Owner Craig Leipold may not have
the "final word in the matter." If the Predators do not
sell 12,000 season tickets by April 1, the NHL can revoke
the franchise. The NHL "might tell Leipold his expansion
franchise was going to be revoked, but he would be allowed
to buy the Oilers from Alexander in exchange for the rights
to the expansion team." A Houston team wouldn't join the
league until a new arena is built (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 2/14).
