Former Ice Edge Holdings CEO Anthony LeBlanc and PEAK6 Investments co-Founder & CEO Matthew Hulsizer “have joined efforts to explore whether to make another attempt to purchase the orphaned franchise,” according to Paul Giblin of the ARIZONA REPUBLIC. LeBlanc yesterday said he and Hulsizer, who came up short in efforts to buy the Coyotes, are “exploring options” regarding terms and conditions to acquire the team. LeBlanc said that he “would serve as the front man for the investment group, which eventually could include five or six investors.” Their intent would be “to keep the team in Glendale.” LeBlanc confirmed that his investment group is “one of the potential buyers, but he stressed that his group’s efforts are still in the preliminary stages.” He added that he has been in “regular contact” with Glendale Mayor Jerry Weiers and NHL execs. LeBlanc said that it is “possible to reach a new agreement, but any deal would have to have some provisions of an arena-management arrangement.” He added that his group is “willing to discuss forgoing some revenue streams, such as ticket surcharges on non-hockey events” at Jobing.com Arena. LeBlanc's Ice Edge Holdings group in '11 withdrew from a bid to buy the team from the NHL, but said that this time the purchase price “won’t be an issue if a deal with the city can be structured appropriately.” Former Sharks CEO Greg Jamison last month “pledged to continue his efforts to buy the team” (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 2/12).
CRYING WOLF? An ARIZONA REPUBLIC editorial states “we believed Glendale’s hockey drama finally was resolved” following the City Council’s November vote to approve the arena-management deal with Jamison. It is “hard to admit when you’re wrong, but we have to fess up: We were wrong.” Jamison last week issued a statement saying his “journey to purchase the Coyotes will continue.” The editorial: “Can we trust him? Can Glendale trust him?” (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 2/12).
