Outgoing Devils Owner John McMullen "didn't deny he has
interest in buying the [NHL] Panthers, but he said now isn't
the right time to discuss his future in hockey," according
to Sarah Talalay of the Ft. Lauderdale SUN-SENTINEL.
McMullen: "I'm not in any detailed discussion on it. ... I'm
not trying to avoid this. I just want to devote myself
entirely to winning the Cup." McMullen owns a home in
Orlando and is a friend of Panthers Owner Wayne Huizenga and
President Bill Torrey. Torrey: "He does love our [arena].
... [But] as of this moment, he has not expressed any
interest in ... the Panthers" (SUN-SENTINEL, 5/10).
MONEY MATTERS: In NJ, Matthew Futterman reports that by
making the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time
since '95, the Devils have hit "playoff pay dirt to the
tune" of $1M per game in profits. Each game generates $1.4M
in revenues for the team, the NJ Sports & Exposition
Authority (NJSEA), and vendor Aramark. The NJSEA can
"expect" $150,000 in revenues for each game, while Aramark
will bring in more than $175,000 per game. The Devils will
bring in $1.1M in ticket sales, "nearly" $14,000 in parking,
$62,000 in concessions and "tens of thousands more in
advertising fees" (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 5/10).
