A new $175M arena to be built in downtown Houston has
"positioned the city for its shot at landing" an NHL
franchise, according to Eric Berger of the HOUSTON
CHRONICLE, who writes that Rockets Owner Leslie Alexander's
control of the facility, "coupled with the city's deep
corporate pockets," has Alexander "optimistic about an NHL
team after the labor situation is resolved," possibly in
2004. Rockets COO George Postolos: "I think our chances
would be very good at that time. I'd like to think that
we'd be a leading candidate, if not the leading candidate."
NHL Exec VP & CLO Bill Daly said, "Obviously the new venue
makes the city more attractive." Berger notes that the
Rockets have performed several market studies on the
"feasibility of Houston as a hockey town," and Postolos said
he "absolutely" believes hockey "could work" in the city.
Under terms of the new arena deal, another owner could bring
a franchise to Houston, but "would be at a competitive
disadvantage of as much as" $8-10M per year because
Alexander will control the arena. Berger: "If anyone brings
a new team to Houston in 2005 or beyond, it would almost
certainly be [Alexander]" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 11/17).
