Quebec Premier Jacques Parizeau will give details of his
final offer to keep the Nordiques in Quebec today. But it is
"quite possible Nordiques shareholders will by then have turned
it down," and could accept the standing $75M offer for the team
from Comsat Video Enterprises in Denver. In Denver, one unnamed
Comsat spokesperson told the ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS: "If they
flinch, it's ours" (Bill Beacon, CP/OTTAWA CITIZEN, 5/11). Radio
Canada reported yesterday that the Quebec government has made an
offer of $17M in cash and a promise to absorb $14M of the team's
losses over the next two years (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 5/11).
DARK HORSE TO LAND JETS OR NORDIQUES? The operators of
Phoenix's America West Arena have signed an "exclusive agreement"
with an "outside investment group" that is interested in bringing
the NHL to Phoenix, according Bob McManaman in this morning's
ARIZONA REPUBLIC. Brian Colangelo, president of Phoenix Area
Sports, the operators of America West, said yesterday that arena
officials "secured the deal a few months ago" with the NHL group.
Colangelo would not identify the group, but he did tell the
REPUBLIC that the group "has entertained discussions" with both
the Jets and Nordiques and that they are "financially strong" and
would represent "solid ownership." Colangelo: "They have the
wherewithal to make it run. I know the NHL is very pleased with
this group as it relates to them buying a potential franchise."
Colangelo said neither Phoenix Area Sports, nor his father, Suns
President and Diamondbacks' CEO Jerry Colangelo, want to invest
in a hockey team. Colangelo: "We'd prefer to remain on a tenant-
landlord relationship" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 5/11).
