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Friday, December 3, 1999
Lift-off in Houston or viva Las Vegas?
Wealthy suitors mum on purchase plans
The decision to put the Ottawa Senators up for sale set tongues wagging across North America yesterday as the search for a new owner begins.
"One of the things Americans and American cities like to have is their very own sports team," said Sens owner Rod Bryden.
Sources have told the Sun that five bids have been placed from groups in Cleveland, Portland, Oklahoma City and two from Houston. But while there may be interest in NHL hockey in those cities, no one is admitting to making a bid.
Chuck Watson, owner of the Houston Aeros IHL team admitted to his love of hockey, but not to making a bid for the Sens.
"I've always had some part of my body that's had an interest in (buying an NHL team), I don't know if it's my brain or my heart," he said.
Another Houston hotshot is Les Alexander, owner of the NBA's Houston Rockets, who was involved in a previous bid to buy an NHL team.
"Les would love to own a hockey team," said Rockets spokesman Tim Frank, adding, however, that no deal has been drawn up for the Senators.
The NHL wants the team to stay in Ottawa, according to Bill Daly, the NHL's executive vice-president and chief legal officer.
Officials with the NHL have also denied receiving any bids.
For Bryden, the process to sell the team is simple. He needs to find a buyer and then get approval for the sale from the NHL Board of Governors.
There's also interest in Sin City. Yesterday, Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman told reporters he had been in contact with two groups over the past few weeks inquiring about bringing NHL hockey to town.
Another name circulating is Paul Allen, who owns the NBA's Portland Trailblazers and the WHL's Winterhawks. But J.E. Isaac, senior vice-president for business affairs with the Trailblazers, said there is no deal being planned.
"We haven't even thought about buying the Senators."
But he did say the organization is interested in the NHL.
"We've looked at opportunities in the past and probably will look at opportunities in the future," he said.
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