Bandit
03-04-2004, 12:10 PM
City could lose Ontario Hockey League team
By Paul Svoboda
Thursday, March 04, 2004 - 10:00
Local News - Don’t blame city council if the Belleville Bulls leave town, says mayor Mary-Anne Sills.
The team’s majority owner Dr. Robert (Doc) Vaughan ended months of speculation at a press conference Wednesday when he formally announced he was selling the Ontario Hockey League franchise he has operated in Belleville since 1981.
For several years Vaughan has insisted that a proposed seating expansion at Yardmen Arena was necessary for the team to compete with newer, larger or recently renovated buildings in the OHL.
On Wednesday, Vaughan said council’s inability to provide extra seats and its refusal to review the current contract with the team, were major reasons for his decision to sell the team.
Vaughan said he has one written offer on the table and has scheduled meetings with at least six more potential buyers — none from Belleville.
Vaughan said rumours suggesting Belleville native and NHL Vancouver Canucks coach Marc Crawford has made an offer to buy the club are false. Crawford’s father, Floyd, confirmed that statement.
“After (recently) meeting with council I was 100 per cent convinced I wanted to go ahead and sell the team,” said Vaughan. “I find it disheartening council wouldn’t look into seating expansion or reviewing our current lease especially since they’ve been privy to our books for the past four years.”
Vaughan also took a shot at Sills.
“I believe council members are not aware of the remuneration the city receives from us,” said Vaughan. “I think they were led to believe we didn’t pay much. But Mary-Anne should certainly know and so should (recreation director) Doug Moses. They have copies of other contracts from around the league.”
Sills said it is unfair to say the city is unco-operative with the Bulls. And she insisted new council members are up to speed on the team’s pact with the city, signed three years ago.
“I resent that,” said Sills. “Members of council were supplied with copies of the contract. There was not any holding back of information on my part or the board.”
Sills said the city is not in a position to expand seating at Yardmen Arena at this time.
“Unfortunately with the priorities and items council has to deal with, we didn’t see it happening in this term of council,” said Sills. “Council knows what is facing them this year and they’re not going to add something more that’s going to be a $5-6 million project.”
Sills added that Vaughan’s request to have the current contract reviewed was turned down after consideration of all councillors.
“We have to weigh the majority,” said Sills. “A lot of people already believe we’ve given the Belleville Bulls too much. The Bulls were obviously happy with the contract when they signed it with the last council.”
Sills said she hopes Vaughan finds a local buyer or ownership that would keep the team in the city.
“But,” she said, “I’m not about to suggest measures council might take to keep the team here.”
Meanwhile, Vaughan has pledged to give top priority to an individual or group who would keep the team in town. Inquiries so far have come from the United States, Toronto and western Ontario.
One potential American owner, said Vaughan, “would move the team to New York or Michigan as soon as the league approved.”
Vaughan wants a deal in place by March 31.
The team is believed to be worth about $3.5
By Paul Svoboda
Thursday, March 04, 2004 - 10:00
Local News - Don’t blame city council if the Belleville Bulls leave town, says mayor Mary-Anne Sills.
The team’s majority owner Dr. Robert (Doc) Vaughan ended months of speculation at a press conference Wednesday when he formally announced he was selling the Ontario Hockey League franchise he has operated in Belleville since 1981.
For several years Vaughan has insisted that a proposed seating expansion at Yardmen Arena was necessary for the team to compete with newer, larger or recently renovated buildings in the OHL.
On Wednesday, Vaughan said council’s inability to provide extra seats and its refusal to review the current contract with the team, were major reasons for his decision to sell the team.
Vaughan said he has one written offer on the table and has scheduled meetings with at least six more potential buyers — none from Belleville.
Vaughan said rumours suggesting Belleville native and NHL Vancouver Canucks coach Marc Crawford has made an offer to buy the club are false. Crawford’s father, Floyd, confirmed that statement.
“After (recently) meeting with council I was 100 per cent convinced I wanted to go ahead and sell the team,” said Vaughan. “I find it disheartening council wouldn’t look into seating expansion or reviewing our current lease especially since they’ve been privy to our books for the past four years.”
Vaughan also took a shot at Sills.
“I believe council members are not aware of the remuneration the city receives from us,” said Vaughan. “I think they were led to believe we didn’t pay much. But Mary-Anne should certainly know and so should (recreation director) Doug Moses. They have copies of other contracts from around the league.”
Sills said it is unfair to say the city is unco-operative with the Bulls. And she insisted new council members are up to speed on the team’s pact with the city, signed three years ago.
“I resent that,” said Sills. “Members of council were supplied with copies of the contract. There was not any holding back of information on my part or the board.”
Sills said the city is not in a position to expand seating at Yardmen Arena at this time.
“Unfortunately with the priorities and items council has to deal with, we didn’t see it happening in this term of council,” said Sills. “Council knows what is facing them this year and they’re not going to add something more that’s going to be a $5-6 million project.”
Sills added that Vaughan’s request to have the current contract reviewed was turned down after consideration of all councillors.
“We have to weigh the majority,” said Sills. “A lot of people already believe we’ve given the Belleville Bulls too much. The Bulls were obviously happy with the contract when they signed it with the last council.”
Sills said she hopes Vaughan finds a local buyer or ownership that would keep the team in the city.
“But,” she said, “I’m not about to suggest measures council might take to keep the team here.”
Meanwhile, Vaughan has pledged to give top priority to an individual or group who would keep the team in town. Inquiries so far have come from the United States, Toronto and western Ontario.
One potential American owner, said Vaughan, “would move the team to New York or Michigan as soon as the league approved.”
Vaughan wants a deal in place by March 31.
The team is believed to be worth about $3.5