Post by Colorado Avalanche for Sale on Jul 30, 2009 13:17:33 GMT -5
Jim Balsillie has put in an offer on the Colorado Avalanche.
The Research in Motion co-CEO made his intentions known in a media release on Tuesday which confirmed that a $179.2 million (US) offer was on the table to purchase the team. One condition of the purchase was that Balsillie would relocate the franchise to an unspecified region in Quebec.
"The current team ownership asked that I table an offer to purchase the Avalanche and significant discussions resulted in an offer that is in the best interests of the franchise, the NHL, and the great hockey fans of Canada and Quebec," Balsillie said in the release.
"I am excited to move closer to bringing an NHL franchise to what I believe is one of the best un-served hockey markets in the world, Quebec. A market with devoted hockey fans, a rich hockey history, a growing and diversified economy and a population of more than 5 million people," he said.
Commissioner of the National Hockey League, Gary Bettman has already went on record stating he approves of this relocation.
The Colorado Avalanche was founded in Quebec and were the Quebec Nordiques until moving to Colorado in 1995. The Avalanche have won eight division titles and went to the playoffs in each of their first 10 seasons in Denver, with the streak ending in 2007. The Avalanche are the only team in NHL history to win the Stanley Cup their first season after a re-location, and only the second team to win a championship their first season after a relocation in any of the four major North American sports leagues, following the Washington Redskins of the NFL.
The Research in Motion co-CEO made his intentions known in a media release on Tuesday which confirmed that a $179.2 million (US) offer was on the table to purchase the team. One condition of the purchase was that Balsillie would relocate the franchise to an unspecified region in Quebec.
"The current team ownership asked that I table an offer to purchase the Avalanche and significant discussions resulted in an offer that is in the best interests of the franchise, the NHL, and the great hockey fans of Canada and Quebec," Balsillie said in the release.
"I am excited to move closer to bringing an NHL franchise to what I believe is one of the best un-served hockey markets in the world, Quebec. A market with devoted hockey fans, a rich hockey history, a growing and diversified economy and a population of more than 5 million people," he said.
Commissioner of the National Hockey League, Gary Bettman has already went on record stating he approves of this relocation.
The Colorado Avalanche was founded in Quebec and were the Quebec Nordiques until moving to Colorado in 1995. The Avalanche have won eight division titles and went to the playoffs in each of their first 10 seasons in Denver, with the streak ending in 2007. The Avalanche are the only team in NHL history to win the Stanley Cup their first season after a re-location, and only the second team to win a championship their first season after a relocation in any of the four major North American sports leagues, following the Washington Redskins of the NFL.
