Tri-City Americans Application Denied

[CHIEFS-COP]

I, for one, am thrilled that the Yams are staying put in the Red Zone. It wouldn't be the same without this rivalry. Although it has not had the intensity recently (coaching trevails in both cities) the future is bright.

I hope that the fans can rally back, with the current ownership group in place. The organization as a whole has a ton of work to do to get the fanbase back and do the right thing.

Maybe the rumor I've been hearing lately should become reality..........a new LOCAL ownership group coming forward to infuse some life and $$$ into the club. This new ownership group is led by Oly the Goalie- ex Am and NHL goalie Olaf Kolzig, a Tri-Cities resident. That would be awesome

Good luck in healing the wounds and bringing back sucessful hockey to the desert...................we in Spoke look forward to it!

[HAF]

The rumor at the game tonight was that Bill McCurly. owner of McCurly Chevrolet was another one involved in the deal. I hope its true!!!

[Jovorock]

The rumor at the game tonight was that Bill McCurly. owner of McCurly Chevrolet was another one involved in the deal. I hope its true!!!

I even heard Kolzig and McCurly were two of the parties all the way here in Kelowna!

[AMS Princess]

Bergstrom Aircraft is definitely in this too. Malin Bergstrom has been the main spokesperson for the group. Here is more information how us fans can support the local businesses to buy the team.

http://www.kndu.com/article.src?ID=3...ews&0424d64b1d

[AMS Princess]

:skeptical Long from over I guess now...

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WHL Notebook

Stephen Snelgrove, with files from Iain MacIntyre
Vancouver Sun


Saturday, April 02, 2005



KELOWNA -- As improbable as it sounds, the proposed move of the Tri-City Americans to Chilliwack may not be dead.

A movement is afoot to try and convince at least three of the nine Western Hockey League governors who voted against the transfer of the financially troubled franchise to alter their stance. The WHL board of governors voted 11-9 in favour of granting the transfer application, but 14 were needed to formally approve the move.

The biggest dilemma now facing WHL is how the Americans' ownership group, which includes Darryl Porter, Brian Burke and Glen Sather, can go back to Tri-City and expect any form of public support following the ordeal.

They must also try and strike a new lease agreement with the owners of the Three Rivers Coliseum, who will be demanding at least a three-year agreement. The Americans' have lost money in each of the three seasons since Porter's group purchased the team for $2.2 million U.S., and they are leery of signing up for three more years of financial hemorrhaging.

The effort to resurrect the move is apparently being led by a pair of B.C. based owners -- Vancouver's Ron Toigo and Kelowna's Bruce Hamilton. The two spent considerable time Friday attempting to sway the rest of the league's governors to re-examine its decision. If those attempts are unsuccessful, Porter's group may be forced to sell the franchise. A consortium of local businessmen has stepped forward and indicated it is willing to pay $3 million U.S. for the team while the Edmonton Oilers have a standing offer of $4 million U.S.

Seattle Thunderbirds owner Russ Farwell said that the matter needs to be addressed sooner than later.

"I wouldn't say the issue is entirely resolved," Farwell told the Seattle Times. "The league would really like to see the team stay in the Tri-Cities, but that market will have to prove that it's viable in a short time. I don't see how the current ownership can stay there, so there needs to be some people serious about buying the team step forward."

That sentiment seems to be growing throughout the league.

"I don't know how they think they can go back there and sell tickets," Blazers' GM Dean Clark told the Kamloops Daily News. "We could be right back at the table. There'll be something happen -- and we might even be back there within a week."

The Spokane Chiefs led the charge against the move with the three other U.S. based franchises (Seattle, Everett and Portland) also voting no. The five Canadian-based teams casting no ballots were Prince George, Saskatoon, Brandon, Medicine Hat and Red Deer. Prince George owner Rick Brodsky was perhaps the biggest surprise among the no votes. Brodsky, who moved the Cougars' franchise to northern B.C. from Victoria in the '90s, may covet the Fraser Valley market for himself as he admits to holding talks to that extent with representatives of the Prospera Centre.

"We did have a discussion with them, but it was for ammunition in our negotiations," Brodsky claimed on Friday.

[LifelongChiefsFan]

I don't think T/C is going anywhere. As it has been stated, the league is happy with the balance that they have going now. Also, if it is true that some of the franchises voted no because they themselves wish to move to Chilliwack (Prince George most notably), then there wouldn't be any reason for them to switch sides. But really, what kind of owner requests to move a team right before the start of the playoffs in the first place? That guy has no business owning a WHL franchise. Hopefully Porter sells the team and gets out of Kennewick soon, this situation has the potential to get really ugly the longer he stays there.