A meeting organized by Edmonton businessman Bill Comrie was
successful yesterday in drumming up some corporate support for
the Oilers, and Edmonton Mayor Bill Smith has agreed to seriously
consider rewriting the Oilers' rent deal at the Edmonton
Coliseum, according to the TORONTO SUN. However, it is still
"quite possible" that won't do any good toward keeping the Oilers
in Edmonton, according to Al Strachan, who notes the increases in
both player salaries and ticket prices. Since the cost of
operating a team will no go down, Strachan writes it will take
added "corporate responsibility" in Edmonton or the Oilers will
move to another city in North America capable of supporting the
team. Strachan notes that of the five major Canadian banks, none
have Oilers season tickets. The major Canadian oil companies
also don't support the Oilers (CP/TORONTO SUN, 12/21). Oilers
Owner Peter Pocklington has asked for 13,000 season tickets to be
sold by April 30, that 18 unoccupied corporate boxes at the
Coliseum be leased, and that seven remaining advertising slots on
the boards be filled. If all of these requests are met, the NHL
will contribute $7M from its currency-equalization pool supported
by TV money from ESPN (Neil Campbell, Toronto GLOBE & MAIL,
12/21).
