HellOnICE Posted March 15, 2003 Share Posted March 15, 2003 March 15, 2003 -- EXCLUSIVE Puck Holdings, Ltd., the YankeeNets affiliate that owns the Devils, wants to pass the puck, The Post has learned. According to a source with strong connections to the NHL, Puck Holdings and Devils Chairman Raymond Chambers are in "serious ongoing discussions with a business person with local interests" about selling the Devils just under three years after having purchased the club from John McMullen for a staggering $195 million. The source did not reveal the interested party's identity, but said the individual was a new player in the professional sports market and, as far as the source knows, is interested in buying the team for the purpose of keeping it in New Jersey. The Devils' lease with the New Jersey Sports Authority runs through the 2006-2007 season. Additionally, the source said Chambers has privately admitted that buying the team was "a terrible mistake," and as such is willing to sell it for perhaps as little as $100 milion. YankeeNets is exploring the Devils sale as it negotiates a deal to get the Yankees carried on Cablevision on terms that will bring in a lot less money than the sports network originally hoped for. Puck Holdings Ltd. owes McMullen a final $35M payment next year to complete its obligation to the Devils' original owner. Team CEO, president and general manager Lou Lamoriello offered no response when contacted last night by The Post. "I appreciate the opportunity," Lamoriello said, "but I'm not going to comment." McMullen was able to reap such a windfall in turning over the franchise Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rock Posted March 15, 2003 Share Posted March 15, 2003 So if true, this answers a few questions about the goings on recently. Until I see another source, and not some paper quoting The Post article, there will be some doubts on my part. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westcoastdevfan Posted March 15, 2003 Share Posted March 15, 2003 I can't believe this. If it's true I am glad the parties interested want to keep the team in Jersey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJayDevil Posted March 15, 2003 Share Posted March 15, 2003 If the party that keeps the Devs in jersey, I welcome them with open arms. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triumph Posted March 15, 2003 Share Posted March 15, 2003 It is believable.. but if they sell the Nets and the Nets decide to move to Long Island, the Devils could be forced to move. There's really nowhere to move the Devils. All of the good markets are filled, and IMO anywhere they move would give them a slight boost.. but not enough to make it seriously worthwhile to move. Everyone should be careful what they wish for, though.. this current ownership has let Lou spend whatever he wants, or so it appears, and I imagine if new ownership came in, Brodeur would be gone, and Stevens would not be re-signed after next year. The Devils should be around 15th in the league in spending, not 7th. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DevilMinder Posted March 15, 2003 Share Posted March 15, 2003 They could be moved temporarily so that CAA can be upgraded a bit if Newark falls apart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJayDevil Posted March 15, 2003 Share Posted March 15, 2003 Think they would do what the Yanks did back when Yankee Stadium was remodeled, they went to Shea and played? Like the Devs would go to either the Island or MSG to play their games while the CAA is being made a better place (and taking down those Clown banners)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'7' Posted March 15, 2003 Share Posted March 15, 2003 The source did not reveal the interested party's identity, but said the individual was a new player in the professional sports market and, as far as the source knows, is interested in buying the team for the purpose of keeping it in New Jersey that's all I need to hear..............could it be Donald Trump? or did he already own a franchise? They could be moved temporarily so that CAA can be upgraded a bit if Newark falls apart. yea but where? hartford? long island? MSG? hey, the philly spectrum is still standing"I appreciate the opportunity," Lamoriello said, "but I'm not going to comment." thanks for the info Lou <_< Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'7' Posted March 15, 2003 Share Posted March 15, 2003 they need to lower the ceiling at CAA, it would make that place a little less cavernous and a lot louder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triumph Posted March 15, 2003 Share Posted March 15, 2003 very true ^7^, I think that's part of why Devils games tend to be so quiet.. the acoustics contribute to fan apathy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westcoastdevfan Posted March 15, 2003 Share Posted March 15, 2003 I agree but I think it would be louder if some fans showed up. How many playoff games will it take before the first sellout? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DevilMinder Posted March 15, 2003 Share Posted March 15, 2003 Yea, they do stink. In some arenas you can here the fans talking. It maintains a certain noise level. As opposed to CAA where you have to scream to be heard. And why in the heck do they have all those circus type banners ugh! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DevilMinder Posted March 15, 2003 Share Posted March 15, 2003 Time to get over the sellouts people. The economy is worse and the interest is going down not up. I doubt they will see any sellouts this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJayDevil Posted March 15, 2003 Share Posted March 15, 2003 If this team makes it to the ECF and SCF, then we will finally see sellouts. Think today will be a sellout? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triumph Posted March 15, 2003 Share Posted March 15, 2003 I don't think the sellouts matter, WCDF, an arena of 13,000 should be able to make some noise. Part of the problem is that the sound gets lost in the ceiling.. so the building has no energy as a result.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJayDevil Posted March 15, 2003 Share Posted March 15, 2003 And those clown, elephant, basketball player with the purple arm banners don't help either. Absorb energy and noise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'7' Posted March 15, 2003 Share Posted March 15, 2003 2 of loudest arena's in NHL history, Miami Arena and Boston Garden, both seated about 14,500. But everything was packed so tight and close to the ice, the noise level was deafening. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zamode Posted March 15, 2003 Share Posted March 15, 2003 I'm with Rock but it has some degree of slight believability, so we'll see. The main thing is keeping the team in NJ. Shudder at any other thought. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pepperkorn Posted March 15, 2003 Share Posted March 15, 2003 Hmm...looks like it's time to start playing the lottery! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpeakoftheDevil(s) Posted March 15, 2003 Share Posted March 15, 2003 just thinking....., but what would become of Lou should this deal go through? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westcoastdevfan Posted March 15, 2003 Share Posted March 15, 2003 The Pond in Anaheim usually has about 13,000 fans and it seems loud, but then again it not a cavernous tin can like CAA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'7' Posted March 15, 2003 Share Posted March 15, 2003 what can you say, the CAA was a mistake, what we needed was a small, cramped 16,000 seat arena that was built UP instead of built OUT. Instead we got the grand canyon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sammyk Posted March 15, 2003 Share Posted March 15, 2003 The Pond in Anaheim usually has about 13,000 fans and it seems loud, but then again it not a cavernous tin can like CAA. I like the Pond, nice cozy arena. As far as renovating CAA, a useful renovation would probably cost just as much as a new arena. They should just build one adjacent to the CAA, kinda like they did with the FU Center, except they can demolish the CAA when the new one is done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aylbert Posted March 15, 2003 Share Posted March 15, 2003 I doubt very much youd see Brodeur gone... For the same reason theyd want to keep hockey in NJ, theyd prolly want Brodeur to stay a Dev... Resigning stevens... they might just tell him to enjoy retirement by the time the deal is finalized. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GetReal Posted March 15, 2003 Share Posted March 15, 2003 If this is true, it doesn't surprise me. We have had discussion about this on this board as way back as 2 years ago. Even if they got the arena in Newark some of us believed they would sell the Devils but to an out of towner for an out of town move. As for Lou, his years are numbered with the Devils anyway. Devils can't draw.............................Period Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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