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New York businessman Vincent Viola will purchase the National Hockey League’s (NHL) Florida Panthers and operating rights to their home arena, Forbes magazine and the Sun-Sentinel newspaper reported. |
The Panthers have called a news conference Friday at the arena where they are expected to announce that Viola, a former part-owner of the NBA’s Nets before they moved from New Jersey to Brooklyn last year, was taking over the club, which has struggled to attract fans and win games in recent seasons.
The newspaper reported a sale price of $250 million while Forbes said the deal to purchase the club from Florida businessman Cliff Viner would be valued at $240 million.
The team’s arena would remain owned by Broward County with the new team owners overseeing operations.
“I am very grateful for him bringing me in here and I think Cliff leaves the franchise much better than he found it, on solid ground and heading in the right direction,” Panthers coach Kevin Dineen told the Sun-Sentinel.
Forbes valued the Panthers last year at $170 million, the same price for which the NHL Phoenix Coyotes were recently sold. The deal would not include the 90 acres of land around the arena, at which the Panthers have a lease through 2028, Forbes reported, saying the club had looked into eventually building a casino near the arena.
Ovechkin to begin Sochi torch relay Alex Ovechkin, a three-time National Hockey League Most Valuable Player with the Washington Capitals, was named Thursday to be the first Russian torchbearer for the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.
The Capitals announced that right wing Ovechkin, the team captain, will leave the squad after Friday’s pre-season home game against Philadelphia for the Olympic Torch igniting ceremony today at Olympia, Greece. “I’m extremely humbled and honored to be the first Russian to carry the Olympic Torch,” Ovechkin said of the Sochi relay launch. “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and something I will never forget.”
The torch will travel through all 83 regions of Russia, visiting 2,900 towns and settlements on its journey to Sochi for the Winter Olympics next February, when Ovechkin will try to lead a squad of Russian stars to their first gold medal since NHL players began competing at the Olympics in 1998.
Ovechkin, named the NHL’s top player last season as well as in 2008 and 2009, will return to the Capitals today ahead of Tuesday’s season opener at Chicago against the defending Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks.
“This is a huge honour and we are so proud and excited for Alex and his family,” Capitals owner Ted Leonsis said. “This is a very special event and we are thrilled that he was recognised for his past achievements and his dedication to his craft and his country.”
Ovechkin, who is engaged to tennis player compatriot Maria Kirilenko, is one of the most recognisable faces in Russian sport.