The Devils agreed yesterday to play at Brendan Byrne Arena
at least through next season, and for 11 more after that if a
renegotiated lease with promises of new revenues from luxury
suites and advertising is approved by September, according to the
N.Y. TIMES. If the deal is not completed by September 15, the
NJSEA would reactivate its request for a temporary restraining
order to keep the team from terminating its current lease
(Richard Sandomir, N.Y. TIMES, 7/14). Devils President & GM Lou
Lamoriello: "The reality is that if the Sports Authority delivers
what has been promised, the Devils have a 12-year lease and
commitment to remain in New Jersey. There are no escapes if the
Authority keeps its word" (N.Y. POST, 7/14). In the N.Y. DAILY
NEWS, Colin Stephenson reports that promised improvements to the
arena will include 14 new luxury boxes, 1,600 club seats,
additional advertising space sold inside the arena and the
construction of restaurants and exclusive "club rooms" for club
seat patrons (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 7/14). Larry Brooks notes that
the Devils have also moved to prevent another professional
franchise from relocating to the Meadowlands. Funding for the
renovation work will be generated, in part, by selling the naming
rights to the arena (N.Y. POST, 7/14). YANKEES LOST IN
YONKERS?: Larry Brooks notes that the Devils "have done their
part to see to it that another New York team -- the Yankees --
cannot now use the Meadowlands to hold this city hostage" (N.Y.
POST, 7/14). Yankees Exec VP & General Counsel David Sussman,
from a prepared statement: "It appears that the New Jersey
Sports and Exposition Authority has decided it would prefer to
have a National Hockey League team over a Major League Baseball
team playing in the Meadowlands" (N.Y. NEWSDAY, 7/14).
