Real estate company Related Cos., chaired and founded by Dolphins Owner STEPHEN ROSS, is "one of the approximately eight final groups bidding for Anschutz Entertainment Group," according to financial and other sources cited by Daniel Kaplan of SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL. Sources said that several of the bidders "have been previously identified publicly, such as Guggenheim Partners, which initially was eliminated in December and then allowed back into the process," as well as Lakers investor PATRICK SOON-SHIONG. Sources added that the eight groups "were culled from the initial bids due last month, and several of the remaining groups could and are likely to combine." Sources said that AEG, through its "financial adviser Blackstone, is in the midst of management presentations, where the bidders get more in-depth information about the assets than they received previously." A source said that Related is "working with its RSE Ventures unit, which handles Ross’ sports endeavors." An AEG spokesperson declined to comment "other than to say the process is proceeding fine." But the sources said that the process "is going slower than hoped, and an original estimate of a first-quarter sale now would be tough to achieve" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 1/21 issue).
