Proposed Toronto NHL Team Not Seeking To Compete With Leafs

The Toronto Legacy Group (TLG) Friday laid out a proposal for an NHL expansion franchise named the Toronto Legacy, and TLG Founder Andrew Lopez said that the "proximity of the second franchise to the Toronto Maple Leafs would foster a new and exciting NHL rivalry without pulling fans away from the Air Canada Centre," according to James Bisson of the CP. Lopez: "We're not here to compete with the Toronto Maple Leafs. We're here to be their little brother." The team "would play out of a proposed 30,000-seat arena built at Downsview Park" in north Toronto, and Lopez said that the site would include a "community athletic centre, 50-metre Olympic swimming pool, four outdoor rinks and public park space among other amenities." TLG also has proposed that 25% of the franchise's annual net profits be "divided amongst charitable foundations and non-profit organizations," and if successful in obtaining a team, the group also will "hand over every dollar of seat licence fees to foundations and charities." Lopez said that he "would be happy to speak to the NHL about the proposal -- but only after the league has had a chance to review the group's plans on its own." Lopez: "We're not sure how (the NHL) or the Toronto Maple Leafs will take this. So we said, 'Let's just share with our city, share with our country, and once they've had a chance to look over what we're proposing ... by all means, if they consider us worthy, we would be privileged.' We're not here to force our will on anyone. A simple no from the [NHL] would be okay." Lopez said that his group is "not affiliated with" RIM co-CEO Jim Balsillie, who is seeking to acquire the Coyotes and relocate them to Hamilton. Lopez: "This has always been about expansion not relocation. ... This is strictly about expansion ... nothing to do with the former Winnipeg Jets or the Phoenix Coyotes franchise" (CP, 6/5).

Lopez Feels Addition Of Legacy In Toronto Market Would End Up Helping Maple Leafs

FRIENDLY COMPETITOR: Lopez insisted that there is "no Leaf-baiting afoot here," as he "waxed capitalist poetic about that club's majority owner, Teachers' Pension Plan." Lopez: "There's a lot of people who criticize [Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment] for trying to maximize revenues. But you know what? The teachers own MLSE. I have no problem with ... what I think is one of the most noble professions taking care of its retirees" (TORONTO STAR, 6/6). In Hamilton, Steve Milton noted TLG pledged that "because the arena would be so big, economics would allow the club to dedicate exactly half the seats to $50 tickets." But the group "hasn't even secured a site yet" for the arena. Meanwhile, Maple Leafs President & GM Brian Burke Friday said that he would "like to comment on the latest Toronto bid, and on the Phoenix mess, but the NHL isn't allowing its member clubs to talk on the issues" (HAMILTON SPECTATOR, 6/6).

DREAM ON: In Toronto, Dave Perkins wrote, "All this plan needs is the thumbs-up from the NHL and away we go. And how could the NHL not want to be a part of something this wonderful? It sounds like an April Fool's joke arriving nine weeks late, except they've latched on to [Order of Canada member] Herb Carnegie, whom everyone quite likes, and his foundation, which has done great work for kids over the years." Perkins added, "Silliness aside, yes, obviously a second NHL team in Toronto is worth having. ... But simply dropping a second team into Toronto, with both the NHL and Leafs agreeable? That isn't happening" (TORONTO STAR, 6/6). The NATIONAL POST's Sean Fitz-Gerald wrote, "It seemed more likely that you could ride this copy of your newspaper to the moon than see [Lopez'] vision make it to the ice" (NATIONAL POST, 6/6).