Will Daryl Katz Hold Edmonton Hostage?

from David Shoalts of the Globe and Mail, 


Daryl Katz has owned the Edmonton Oilers for just four years but he is a quick study when it comes to the NHL owners' manual.

Especially with the section on how to extort taxpayers for a free or almost free arena so you can maximize the profits of your hockey team.

So there was Katz on Monday, with several Oiler suits in tow, taking a tour of Seattle's decrepit Key Arena. The local media was tipped off to make sure everyone knew the boys were in town shaking hands with the Seattle politicians and Chris Hansen, the hedge fund manager who is planning a $490-million (U.S.) arena to lure an NBA franchise back to the city to replace the departed SuperSonics and attract an NHL team as well.


continued

added 10:52am, from Elliotte Friedman of CBC,


Apparently, his NFL road trip with pals Kevin Lowe and Wayne Gretzky was pre-planned. But it was awfully convenient for news to leak that they'd stopped to meet with Chris Hansen, who now has city approval to build a new NBA/NHL-ready arena.

Clearly, Katz is frustrated with negotiations in the Alberta capital. And when you're frustrated, it is imperative to have someone around you who can slap you in the face and say: "I know you're mad. But what you're about to do is really dumb and I'm not going to let it happen."

The Oilers are not going to Seattle. If you don't believe me, maybe you should listen to Don Levin, the guy who actually wants to bring the NHL to The Emerald City.


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