The Devils, "only three days after the greatest triumph in
the state's sporting history -- and on the eve of the gala pep
rally to celebrate that achievement ... yesterday dropped this
bomb on the state of New Jersey: As of July 6, they are
terminating their lease with the Meadowlands," writes John
Dellapina in this morning's N.Y. DAILY NEWS. The NJ Sports &
Exposition Authority has responded to the team's latest move by
filing a complaint in the Bergen County Superior Court that seeks
an injunction preventing them from moving (N.Y. DAILY NEWS,
6/28). Tuesday's action follows a letter from the team to the
NJSEA Saturday stating their desire to terminate the lease after
'96-97 (THE DAILY, 6/27). Jeff Legwold reports in this morning's
TENNESSEAN that the two sides held a negotiating session last
night after the injunction had been filed. Legwold also reports
that the NJSEA had cancelled an emergency board meeting scheduled
for today at 5pm (TENNESSEAN, 6/27).
DASTARDLY DEVILS: N.Y. POST headline: "Disgraceful move by
the Devils." Larry Brooks writes, "The Devils front office
yesterday disgraced itself, the sport and the Stanley Cup."
Brooks, noting today's celebration: "The Devils have displayed
the least grace and most gross insensitivity imaginable. ... They
have seen to it that this season ends exactly as it began --
lousy with dispute over money" (N.Y. POST, 6/28). In the N.Y.
TIMES, Richard Sandomir writes, "The Devils' stunning maneuver
was the boldest demonstration of yet their hardball stance" (N.Y.
TIMES, 6/28). ESPN's Bob Ley called the move "one of the most
audaciously timed announcements in sports," and "the clearest and
most pointed" indication that the team will move to Nashville"
("SportsCenter," 6/27). NEWSDAY's Jim Smith quoted a source that
said, "It doesn't mean the team is going to move," adding that
that the team is simply "turning up the flame" (N.Y. NEWSDAY,
6/28). In Nashville, Jeff Legwold writes the Devils "unveiled
their biggest threat to date Tuesday and then went straight to
the bargaining table to avoid following through with it"
(TENNESSEAN, 6/28). In L.A., Helene Elliott writes that today's
celebration "may turn into a farewell party" (L.A. TIMES, 6/28).
NOTABLES REACT: NJ Gov. Christine Todd Whitman said the
timing of the move "is unfair to the fans who have stood behind
the team for the past 13 years and the players who deserve a
moment of public appreciation" (N.Y. TIMES, 6/28). Devils
President Lou Lamoriello last night "downplayed" the move: "The
only thing I can assure you is that we're in no different
position than we were two months ago, three months ago, and this
does not mean anything." NHL VP of Public Relations Arthur
Pincus said the Devils had not filed a transfer application:
"Right now, it's a local matter." Nashville Mayor Phil Bredesen
had no comment (TENNESSEAN, 6/28); nor did Commissioner Gary
Bettman (N.Y. POST, 6/28). Nashville Arena Manager Russ Simons:
"There is nothing bad about any of this. ... Until the (Devils)
actually say something, it's really guesswork. I think we have
5% of the story and there is 95% to go" (TENNESSEAN, 6/28).
INSURANCE POLICY? ESPN's Keith Olbermann reported that
according to a May 8 agreement by the Nashville Metropolitan
Council, any NHL team announcing a move to Nashville would
receive what amounts to $12.5M of "lame duck insurance." The
agreement states: "A move announcement is made more than a year
in advance of the actual move, the same consideration [$12.5M]
would be paid in recognition of decreased revenues at the team's
current facility." Olbermann: "In other words, it doesn't matter
where the Devils play next season. If they announce tomorrow
they are moving to Nashville in '96, Nashville would still pay
them $12.5 million for this season. The total package would then
be worth not the previously reported $35 million for the Devils,
but in fact, something closer to $47 million" ("SportsCenter,"
6/27).
OTHER OBSERVATIONS: The Bergen RECORD's Bill Pennington
calls for the NHL to recognize NJ as a separate market from NYC.
Pennington: "The New Jersey market, separated from New York,
would be the tenth largest market in the nation" (Bergen RECORD,
6/27).
