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Friday, December 3, 1999
Sens set their terms
On Parliament Hill yesterday, they heard Rod Bryden revving his moving van.
But the federal government insists it won't be pressured into helping the Ottawa Senators stay put. The stakes were raised considerably on both sides yesterday when Bryden confirmed an Ottawa Sun story that the team is for sale.
Blaming Ottawa's reluctance to give tax breaks to Canadian NHL teams, Bryden's move has turned up the heat on the feds while giving himself and the league time to arrange a buyer and transfer. The NHL needs to set its 2000-01 schedule by June.
The Sens owner said the odds of leaving are "not that high," considering the ground work in getting provincial and municipal governments on board. But colleagues such as Maple Leafs alternate governor Brian Bellmore said Bryden "is very serious" about making Ottawa the third Canadian team to move south in five years -- if the federal government doesn't act soon.
"I won't be a hostage to a tax situation because I didn't move quickly," Bryden told a new conference at the Corel Centre, where he repeated a claim he is losing $10 million a year. "I like hockey, but not that much."
Industry Minister John Manley, however, said there's not enough cabinet support for the Chretien government to act alone in aiding the Senators.
"Rod took a risk," Manley said yesterday. "He took on this hockey team, he has problems and I'm sorry for him, but that's not my problem. I hope he can find his way out of it, and that he doesn't lose too much money. But he took a risk, he's a big boy.
"I will need a broader mandate than I currently have in order to (help)."
Manley is adamant he needs more partners at all levels of government in Canadian cities to level an uneven tax field. The NHL already helps small-market Canadian teams with a currency-equalization plan to help offset a 68¢ dollar.
Bryden said he has not received any offers for the Senators, although groups from Houston, Portland, Las Vegas and Cleveland are awaiting their chance to bid. NHL chief legal officer William Daly denied talk the league is soliciting bids.
"Our current focus continues to be on a solution that will keep the Senators in Ottawa," Daly said in a statement.
Bryden has asked for between $10 million and $12 million in tax relief from three levels of government, including $3.7 million to $5 million from Ottawa.
Bryden says Ottawa's attempts to find a solution palatable to all six Canadian teams and their respective provincial and municipal governments might come too late for him.
"We won't get very far if we waited for every Canadian to come aboard," Bryden said, reminding Manley that different health care and pension plans accommodate citizens in various parts of the country.
However, Bryden said he would "not object" if Manley turns down his requests.
"If their judgment is that there is no public interest to be served in retaining this team here, then they shouldn't do it," Bryden said. "And if there is, they should. Is it better off driving away a team that pays $37 million a year in taxes because (the Senators want to pay just $25 million)?
Forbes magazine recently pegged the Sens' worth at $79 million US, near the bottom of the NHL. But Bryden said that figure is calculated on the team being in Ottawa. He said the Nordiques also were undervalued while in Quebec, but are now worth $160 million US as a former Stanley Cup winner playing in a new arena in Denver.
-- with files from Sean Durkan/CP
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