'Macaluso said the interested party, who he declined to identify, wanted to know whether city officials would be interested in negotiating a possible deal that would see the Sabres move permanently to Copps. Macaluso said a possible deal would only come about if a proposal by Buffalo businessman Mark Hamister to obtain U.S. state assistance as part of his bid to buy the team and keep it in Buffalo fell apart. Hamister is waiting to learn whether Governor George Pataki will approve the $30-million US in state assistance.'