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December 02, 2010
Oilers execs meet with Quebec officials, swear they're just friends
Apparently it's actually "Allude to Move Threats, Then Deny Them" week: The Toronto Sun reported yesterday that Edmonton Oilers execs were meeting with officials in Quebec City about their new arena plans, quoting Oilers president Kevin Lowe as saying: "Just the fact that we're meeting Mayor Labeaume to discuss possibilities, the sky is the limit. Exchanging ideas is the main goal of the meeting."
Both Oilers president Patrick LaForge and team VP Bob Black immediately denied that the team was exploring a move to Quebec. Black said it was just "a fact finding mission" to "learn from the Quebec City experience and bring back insights that will help move the process forward here in Edmonton. Added LaForge: "We're both building facilities and we're both trying to get them off the ground and we have a hockey team and perhaps they don't here, but there is no reason for that to be drawn together....and we are not planning to move the Oilers at this time."
That mostly put an end to the move speculation, though as Edmonton Journal sportswriter (and Edmonton arena project supporter) David Staples noted of LaForge's statement, "Carefully worded, but I can't say I appreciate the 'at this time' part of the quote." Though, of course, that could be careful wording as well. A savvy negotiator creates leverage.
I feel as though I suddenly "get it." The Maloofs recently visited with various powers-that-be in Seattle to find out how Sacramento might successfully move forward with its own arena process.
Because, you know, Seattle did a great job building the Sonics a new arena, and the Maloofs wanted to take some of those ideas back to Sacramento. Right?
It's really weird that I get from a posting about a Hockey team in a different country that the Kings are about done in Sacramento, but it's suddenly difficult for me to draw some other conclusion.
Sorry for the aside.
Posted by MikeM on December 2, 2010 02:13 PM
Katz' 'spoiled 6 year old' act is wearing really thin. He is driving away even arena supporters with his shameful roadtrips.
Quite frankly, I've heard a number of people who previously supported the arena (more or less unconditionally) muttering about 'volunteering to help him pack' of late.
I think Laforge is telling the truth: They have no plan to move to QC. The franchise that his boss overpaid badly for 2yrs ago would be far less valuable in QC, even with a new arena, and he knows it.
The problem, I think, for Katz is that his PR machine is badly broken. Every time he tries to exert pressure on the city, it backfires because he runs a gang that can't shoot straight - even in the stadium extortion game. The city has been more than willing to sit down and work with him on a collaborative effort. Yet the Katz group won't do it.
Watching this for 2 years, I have come to the view that this gang couldn't organize a p*ss up in a brewery... it's really embarrassing for an organization that was once championship calibre.
The Oilers were once the pride of Edmonton and held the town in the palm of their hand. Those days may return, who knows, but right know, the organization feels like a parasite that has grown too big for it's host...
Why is this posted under Detroit Red Wings?
Posted by Ryan on December 2, 2010 04:18 PM
I was about to say "Because 'Detroit Red Wings' and 'Quebec arena' are right next to each other on the category pulldown menu," but turns out they're not. Huh. Eddies in the space-time continuum?
Posted by Neil deMause on December 2, 2010 06:47 PM
Is he?
Posted by John Bladen on December 3, 2010 03:07 PM