At least two of three groups "hoping to bring an NHL team to the Seattle area have decided not to bid for expansion franchises" by today's application deadline set by the league, according to Geoff Baker of the SEATTLE TIMES. That leaves RLB Holdings Founder & Managing Partner Ray Bartoszek, who plans to build an arena in Tukwila, Wash., as the Seattle area's "lone local bidder still expected to file his application" -- $2M of which is "non-refundable" -- by today's deadline. Whether the NHL is "open to extending its deadline beyond Monday remains a key question." Hudson Pacific Properties President, CEO & Chair Victor Coleman, who has been "looking to buy an expansion team to play in a Sodo District arena built by entrepreneur Chris Hansen, has told those working on the deal he won’t file" his $10M application as previously planned. A source on Friday said that Coleman and Hansen still have yet to "reach an 'NHL first' financing deal, and Coleman told the league they might apply later if one can get done." In addition, talks on a separate arena deal in Bellevue, Wash., and "bringing an expansion team there fell apart late last week." Arizona-based IntraVest Development and former New Orleans Hornets Chair Jac Sperling, "representing a potential team ownership group, abandoned their plans and left town" earlier this month after anticipated financing for the venue "failed to materialize." Sperling was "believed to represent a third-party group." But Bellevue Acting Chief Communications Officer Sonja Hanson said that city officials "were never told the names of the people for whom Sperling was working" (SEATTLE TIMES, 7/18).
CURRENCY COUNTS: THE HOCKEY NEWS' Ken Campbell noted the Canadian dollar "was trading Friday at 76.9 cents in U.S. funds," and the "weakness of the Canadian dollar, and subsequent rise of the U.S. dollar, will absolutely embolden the chances of Las Vegas and Seattle getting franchises in this round of expansion for a couple of reasons." American owners "have to be getting nervous about where the Canadian dollar is heading," and the "bloom is off the rose when it comes to Canadian teams with such a weak dollar." Meanwhile, a weak Canadian dollar "isn’t good" for either Quebec City or the Greater Toronto Area, but Quebec City "at least built its arena when the Canadian dollar was at or near par." That gives it "a big advantage over Toronto." Even if the dollar "were to stay at 77 cents and not go down," a $400M expansion fee in U.S. funds becomes $517.6M in Canadian dollars. And "every time the Canadian dollar loses its value, that total goes up" (THEHOCKEYNEWS.com, 7/17).
