The Blue Jackets "appear to be in substantive talks toward an agreement that would help offset staggering losses due in part to the club’s lease agreement with Nationwide Arena," according to Aaron Portzline of the COLUMBUS DISPATCH. Sources said that a "portion of the revenues generated by the Hollywood Casino Columbus on the West Side will be used to help the Blue Jackets." Sources said that the Blue Jackets "lost nearly $25 million in the 2010-11 season ... and have lost roughly $53 million combined during the past three seasons." The Blue Jackets said that of that total, between $10-12M per year "is directly the result of their lease agreement." Blue Jackets Owner John McConnell: “This process has been frustrating, though I don’t blame (public officials) for it. I think right now we feel very good that they understand things are getting to a more urgent place to get this resolved.” McConnell added that he is "not willing to wait much longer for a resolution." McConnell: "I am not looking to sell (the Blue Jackets). If this doesn’t work ... you know, I really don’t have any options other than staying the owner as the team is moved. I’m hopeful that’s not going to occur. We’re going forward as if it’s not. From the (Blue Jackets) front office down to everybody else (in the organization), they know that if this does not get solved, the team is likely to move. More and more doubt creeps in the longer this goes on." Portzline noted the casino is "expected to generate roughly $24 million per year for the city and about $16 million per year for Franklin County, money that could be allocated for the Blue Jackets without a public vote." A source said that "'less than half' of the revenue generated by taxes on the casino would be used to ease the financial burden caused by the arena lease." McConnell said, "The only support we're asking for is fixing the lease. We're not asking for money to run the team." NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said, "This is not a situation that arises from or results in subsidizing the team. The arena burden -- which is what I’ll call it -- is too much for the Blue Jackets or any team to sustain in the long term" (COLUMBUS DISPATCH, 8/7).
COFFEE BREAK: In Columbus, Maria Matzer Rose reported Tim Hortons "will open one of its new-concept cafe stores in the 2,000-square-foot Nationwide Arena space before the mid-September start" of the Blue Jackets’ preseason training camp at the arena. Tim Hortons "has been a sponsor of the Blue Jackets since the team’s founding 11 years ago." The team, which manages the arena, "struck the deal with Tim Hortons." The company said that the arena location "will be the first Tim Hortons in the U.S. to have a private room for meetings and small events" (COLUMBUS DISPATCH, 8/6).
