70 replies to this topic

[ZeroGravityFat]

Here's the new 4th Period article on the situation, if JVB has sorted out the lenders as rumored, we may have a new owner by the time the season opens, and a filthy rich one at that:

http://www.thefourth.../njd120816.html

[mrthemike]

Cool, he appears to be rich.

[Prucenterrules]

Can someone explain to me if this is good or not? He would not be interested in eventually moving the team correct?

[DevilMinder]

Its better for us, and the Devils are never going to move, The arena has them chained to NJ for a long time to come.

[Devil Dan 56]

Can someone explain to me if this is good or not? He would not be interested in eventually moving the team correct?

Not until about 2030 when the lease is up.

[Zubie#8]

If anyone wanted to move this team now they would have to buyout the City lease, the Arena lease, and the TV Deal correct? Which is hundreds of millions of dollars, thats after buying the team and the debt.

[crashline]

If anyone wanted to move this team now they would have to buyout the City lease, the Arena lease, and the TV Deal correct? Which is hundreds of millions of dollars, thats after buying the team and the debt.

This is exactly what I'm wondering. Everyone is always saying "Don't worry, don't worry.. there's no way the Devils are moving." It does make sense that the buyer would have to pay a large amount of money to move the team, but what EXACTLY would have to be bought out? Because when I hear an oil tycoon is buying the team I'm not so sure if my reaction should be "Oh, great!" or "Oh,Sh*t."

[thelastonealive]

Allow me to post a short list of my thoughts while reading the article and the comments here:

1. When did the guy from KoRn become a Los Angeles-based hockey writer?
2. Is the potential new owner gonna smash watermelons with an oversized mallet during intermissions? Or maybe as a throwing-the-jelly type diatribe?
3. This strikes me as a guy who wants it known he'll buy if Vanderbeek sells (meaning can't pay off the debt). A vulture, but a rich vulture.
4. Obviously the Devils are going nowhere, because of the arena/TV deal/etc. Plus, where would they go that makes sense with this potential owner?
5. When I read "rich oil tycoon," I think:

If he is anything like this...hell, I'd be for the sale, because it would be amusing as hell.

[ZeroGravityFat]

the only thing i am hesitant about is the filthy rich owner saying buy everything in sight like the rags. i hope he is smart enough to let Lou do his thing.

[ghdi]

the only thing i am hesitant about is the filthy rich owner saying buy everything in sight like the rags. i hope he is smart enough to let Lou do his thing.

If we get a new owner, nothing is certain with Lou. That's the one thing the sale to JVB gave us. A new owner may clean house and change things up completely. Lou may not even want to start over with a new guy.

[crashline]

Allow me to post a short list of my thoughts while reading the article and the comments here:

1. When did the guy from KoRn become a Los Angeles-based hockey writer?
2. Is the potential new owner gonna smash watermelons with an oversized mallet during intermissions? Or maybe as a throwing-the-jelly type diatribe?
3. This strikes me as a guy who wants it known he'll buy if Vanderbeek sells (meaning can't pay off the debt). A vulture, but a rich vulture.
4. Obviously the Devils are going nowhere, because of the arena/TV deal/etc. Plus, where would they go that makes sense with this potential owner?
5. When I read "rich oil tycoon," I think:

If he is anything like this...hell, I'd be for the sale, because it would be amusing as hell.

I mean seeing how the guy is from Canada, there is one city that automatically pops to mind.

[Marv4Life]

This is exactly what I'm wondering. Everyone is always saying "Don't worry, don't worry.. there's no way the Devils are moving." It does make sense that the buyer would have to pay a large amount of money to move the team, but what EXACTLY would have to be bought out? Because when I hear an oil tycoon is buying the team I'm not so sure if my reaction should be "Oh, great!" or "Oh,Sh*t."

The Stars' deep-pocketed new owner from Canada didn't move the team or has plans to. Just because he's rich doesn't mean he's gonna move a team or wants to. Furthermore no one on here and elsewhere has provided a good enough reason as to why the Devils should move.

[Daniel]

If we get a new owner, nothing is certain with Lou. That's the one thing the sale to JVB gave us. A new owner may clean house and change things up completely. Lou may not even want to start over with a new guy.

Lou is arguably the most important asset the team has. If you're a hockey fan with a lot of money that's buying the Devils, you're buying Lou. Even someone with an outsized ego like Mark Cuban would realize that.

[ghdi]

Lou is arguably the most important asset the team has. If you're a hockey fan with a lot of money that's buying the Devils, you're buying Lou. Even someone with an outsized ego like Mark Cuban would realize that.

I dont disagree with you, but its not a given whatsoever that a new owner keeps Lou as GM nor does it mean Lou even decides to stay and no one can guarantee that at all.

If an outsider comes and buys this team, he could easily shake it up from top to bottom, including severing ties with Lou as GM.

[CarpathianForest]

The Stars' deep-pocketed new owner from Canada didn't move the team or has plans to. Just because he's rich doesn't mean he's gonna move a team or wants to. Furthermore no one on here and elsewhere has provided a good enough reason as to why the Devils should move.

I would never say never on that. Our attendance is lousy and you can't run a business on a deficit forever.
We don't exactly know what kind of clauses are in the arena, television and other contracts. Smart lawyers and negotiating could possibly free the owner to move the team without taking a total bath in penalties. The guaranteed attendance, merchandising and tv contract of a team based in Hamilton or Quebec would pay off in the long term.

[TheMazz]

How great of a source is 4th period? Where else was this brought up and confirmed Gallacher might very well be a legit player in this mess...but I just don't think it'll get that far to him because JVB is fighting like hell to keep the team.

Edited by TheMazz, 16 August 2012 - 08:17 PM.

[maxpower]

I would never say never on that. Our attendance is lousy and you can't run a business on a deficit forever.
We don't exactly know what kind of clauses are in the arena, television and other contracts. Smart lawyers and negotiating could possibly free the owner to move the team without taking a total bath in penalties. The guaranteed attendance, merchandising and tv contract of a team based in Hamilton or Quebec would pay off in the long term.

The business doesn't run a deficit. The debt has nothing to do with operations. As for Quebec, Winnipeg made a big show at the end of the season that they wouldn't need revenue sharing. So this is the expectation level for that level of market, that they'd be in the bottom 15 and anything else is gravy.

[Zubie#8]

The business doesn't run a deficit. The debt has nothing to do with operations. As for Quebec, Winnipeg made a big show at the end of the season that they wouldn't need revenue sharing. So this is the expectation level for that level of market, that they'd be in the bottom 15 and anything else is gravy.

Exactly, many people do not understand that the Devils make money every year but not enough to pay off the loans in time.

[LucifersDog]

Hope it happens getting rid of Jeff is good.

Hope it happens getting rid of Jeff is good.

[thelastonealive]

I mean seeing how the guy is from Canada, there is one city that automatically pops to mind.

I'm not sure I buy it. Saying a guy from Calgary is gonna buy the Devils and move them to Quebec because he's Canadian is like saying a guy from Boston is gonna buy the Devils and move them to Albuquerque because he's American. Maybe he has ties there, maybe he wouldn't care where he put the team, but if he's not buying a team to move it back to his hometown (which he obviously isn't), why move it at all?

(Again, all of this is hypothetical anyway, the Devils aren't moving anywhere for the numerous reasons stated throughout this thread.)