Florida Panthers on the move?

[Why Not Us]

The previous post doesn't always apply.

My friend moved to Buffalo when we were young and he eventually became a Sabres season ticket holder just to go hockey games. Wore his Pens gear to practically every game.

[no name]

http://www.torontosun.com/2014/08/12/fl ... ustainable

The owner doesn't say anything positive about the future of the franchise in Florida. Mayor is looking at a way to break their lease which runs through 2028. Article says Seattle or Quebec seem like the most likely destinations.

I think they will relocate to Quebec, as Victor Coleman (Potential NHL owner) is pushing for a expansion team to come to Seattle, he is in talks with the guy who wants to bring a NBA franchise there about teaming up on the cost of the arena.

[pcm]

I bet all this changes when the Panthers make the playoffs this year.

[FLPensFan]

Now that I have had more time to search and see the main points of the request, the overall requests of the Panthers is a bit ridiculous. Their lease is actually one of the better leases, as they get some profits from non-hockey events (concerts, etc). Their debt payments is part of what is killing them right now, but they are asking for payments to be dropped altogether, profits that they share with the county to be reduced, profits from club seating to be excluded from sharing, land next to the arena to build a hotel/casino. I see no way, as the deal/request is structured now, that it would ever pass. I think something in the middle will be worked out, and maybe the Panthers get $40M in breaks, payments, etc.

The Panthers have a signed lease until 2028, so I'm not sure how they would get around that to be able to move the team. On the Panthers side, one big item I mentioned before is that the loss of the only major tenant would be a huge blow to the county, in the end costing them more money. I have seen a few articles with statements from LiveNation (concert promoters)preseident, which basically say if BB&T (Panthers arena) loses their major tenant, don't expect them to continue bringing top acts to the arena any longer.

As I also stated before, I don't think the current ownership are the bad guys here. They aren't the ones that signed these deals. Viola and Cifu are the first owners to really put money into the team and make them close to a cap team. Make the playoffs this year, and continue to be successful (aka, don't make the playoffs and pull a yearly Marlins firesale), and they have more of a chance to stay. But I expect the back and forth negotiating to go on for awhile.

This doesn't get into all the specifics, but here is a link to the Mayor's summary (she's pro-Panthers side) of the proposal: http://www.broward.org/Commission/Distr ... posal.aspx

[FLPensFan]

Panthers owners release a statement saying they have no plans to leave South Florida.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/flor ... 1580.story

[columbia]

Someone that rich wouldn't bother to buy the Panthers, simply to move them to Quebec City.