Pistons Owner William Davidson "will decide within a
week if he intends to proceed with a bid to buy the
Lightning and its lease to the Ice Palace," according to
Buckley & Jones of the ST. PETERSBURG TIMES. Davidson reps
"recently completed due-diligence work" in Tampa on the
team. Pistons President Tom Wilson: "We have a real serious
interest, and we've had conversations with [Lightning Owner
Art Williams], as have several other groups." Buckley &
Jones write that Williams said that he has "up to seven
suitors, none of whom has submitted an offer sheet," though
three of whom "potentially would like to buy (the team) for
themselves." Williams: "I'm not going to sell -- that is,
if I choose to sell -- the Lightning unless it was someone
Tampa Bay would be thrilled to have come in here. ... I
believe the Davidson group would be that kind of owner."
Wilson said Davidson would not move the Lightning to Detroit
if a deal is completed: "Absolutely not. That's not even a
consideration. This deal only makes sense when packaged
with (the Ice Palace)" (ST. PETERSBURG TIMES, 2/18).
STEINBRENNER OUT: In Tampa, Roy Cummings reports that
only Davidson "has taken the time to look at the team's
financial records." Lightning co-Founder David LeFevre is
"not currently involved in a group" seeking ownership of the
team, nor are Lightning co-Founder Phil Esposito and former
AFL Storm Owner Bob Gries, though the three are "working on
a deal" to bring an ECHL team to Lakeland, FL. Yankees
Owner George Steinbrenner also "is no longer interested" in
purchasing the Lightning (TAMPA TRIBUNE, 2/18).
