Sale of Predators to Balsillie hits roadblock

CTV麻豆影视

Sale of Predators to Balsillie hits roadblock

Canadian Press Published Friday, June 22, 2007 11:03PM EDT

Text:

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Jim Balsillie's attempt to buy the Nashville Predators has hit a snag.

Nashville owner Craig Leipold has sent a letter to the NHL advising it to stop considering Balsillie as a potential candidate for ownership until the sides can reach a final sale agreement.

"We did send the NHL a letter today requesting that it not do any further due diligence on Jim Balsillie's offer for the Nashville Predators until we reach a binding agreement," Leipold said in a statement on Friday. "If Jim is interested in reaching a binding agreement, we are prepared to move forward."

A league source also told CP that Leipold asked the NHL to discontinue Balsillie's application because he was caught off-guard by the Canadian billionaire's intention to relocate the franchise to Hamilton.

Leipold and Balsillie, the co-CEO of BlackBerry maker Research In Motion, agreed to a term sheet for the transfer of ownership of the team on May 24.

Balsillie had promised to pay between US$220 million and $238 million for the Predators and a deadline of June 30 was set to complete the sale. There is an option to extend that deadline.

Balsillie has already started a process to move the Predators to Hamilton should a potential out in the team's lease with the arena in Nashville be exercised after the sale's completion.

He accepted thousands of deposits on season tickets for an NHL team in Hamilton, a move some in the league's head office privately questioned.

At a board of governors meeting in New York earlier this week, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman called talk of moving the Predators "premature."

"Currently there isn't a fully completed application before the board of governors," Bettman said on Wednesday. "As a result, I think people are getting a little bit ahead of themselves on this entire issue.

"It isn't in any shape or form close to being ready for consideration as it relates to approval of an ownership change. I'm not exactly sure why people are focused on the Nashville Predators being anywhere other than in Nashville at this particular point in time."