SkyDome management will put the stadium on the auction
block, thus "spurning" a C$100M offer from Sportsco Corp.,
according to Tony Van Alphen of the TORONTO STAR, who writes
that the move "will almost certainly anger some of SkyDome's
major creditors, who publicly indicated" that SkyDome should
accept the offer. The unsolicited C$100M offer came after
"months of secret talks" between Sportsco and Labatt
Brewing, which owns 48% of SkyDome, ended without a deal.
Labatt "acknowledged for the first time" they had spoken
with Sportsco, after they had "maintained" their stakes in
the stadium, Blue Jays and CFL Argonauts "were not for sale"
(TORONTO STAR, 12/15). SkyDome bidders will be able to
"sign a confidentiality agreement and pick up information
packages" December 22 that will "describe the ins and outs
of placing an offer" for the stadium (GLOBE & MAIL, 12/15).
SkyDome President Patrick McDougall said yesterday that he
has heard of four additional potential buyers for the
facility since the Sportsco offer (TORONTO SUN, 12/15).