New owner's first move?

[Marvin]

  On 3/2/2022 at 3:10 AM, JohnC said:

When Golisano sold the franchise to Pegula he made the claim that he was offered more money from someone who was likely to move the franchise. The rumor was that it was someone who wanted to move the team to Hamilton. 

I don't know if the rumors that are starting to swirl have any merit to them. I hope not. I don't have much regard for how the Pegulas have run the franchise. However, I really don't want them to sell. As @GASabresIUFANnoted it's way past time to stick with a plan and ride it out.  

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The person in question was Jim Balsillie.  He offered $250M for the Sabres only.

[PromoTheRobot]

  On 3/2/2022 at 4:11 AM, Marvin, Sabres Fan said:

The person in question was Jim Balsillie.  He offered $250M for the Sabres only.

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And it might have been easy to say no when the Leafs and the league said "hell naw" to a team in Hamilton.

[irregularly irregular]

If I were the new owner, my first move would be to hire PA as Hockey Czar. That way he could explain to me every day why the team he is in charge of and totally responsible for in every aspect, isn't meeting my expectations as an owner. 

[JohnC]

  On 3/2/2022 at 4:11 AM, Marvin, Sabres Fan said:

The person in question was Jim Balsillie.  He offered $250M for the Sabres only.

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I have researched the price that Pegula paid. There are different accounts. The figure that is repeated is $175 M plus the debt of $14 M for a total of $189 M. That is less than what Balsillie offered. Golisano should be thanked for being the person most responsible for keeping the franchise in Buffalo. And it should be noted that the often vilified commissioner was insistent that the franchise stayed in Buffalo.  

[PromoTheRobot]

  On 3/2/2022 at 12:34 PM, JohnC said:

I have researched the price that Pegula paid. There are different accounts. The figure that is repeated is $175 M plus the debt of $14 M for a total of $189 M. That is less than what Balsillie offered. Golisano should be thanked for being the person most responsible for keeping the franchise in Buffalo. And it should be noted that the often vilified commissioner was insistent that the franchise stayed in Buffalo.  

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But take note that the idea of Hamilton team was dead in the water even before this came about.

[Sabres Fan in NS]

I promise you all that I will move to Buffalo.

[JohnC]

  On 3/2/2022 at 12:41 PM, PromoTheRobot said:

But take note that the idea of Hamilton team was dead in the water even before this came about.

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I don't know what is true or not about an outside buyer. What I do know for sure is that Golisano at the press conference to announce the sale said he was offered more money for the Sabres but declined it because he wanted assurances the team would stay in Buffalo. I distinctly remember that Hamilton was most frequently where the team would have been relocated if Golisano accepted the highest offer. As I said in a prior post the commissioner was against the move. And there were reports that Toronto was against a relocation to Hamilton because they considered it an encroachment on its territory. Whatever the real story is the person who should be thanked is Golisano. He made money on the sale but he could have made more. He made a good profit but he wasn't rapacious in his dealings. 

[That Aud Smell]

  On 3/2/2022 at 12:34 PM, JohnC said:

I have researched the price that Pegula paid. There are different accounts. The figure that is repeated is $175 M plus the debt of $14 M for a total of $189 M. 

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The tool who had this custom jersey definitely had the price pegged as $189M.

[That Aud Smell]

  On 3/2/2022 at 12:34 PM, JohnC said:

Golisano should be thanked for being the person most responsible for keeping the franchise in Buffalo. And it should be noted that the often vilified commissioner was insistent that the franchise stayed in Buffalo.  

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"Old Sugar Packets" has often been a punching bag around here. But damn it all - the team was consistently good - sometimes really, really good - when he was the owner.

Then again, there's his crusade to force municipal government to deal with his Canada Geese problem in Canandaigua.

YMMV, as @Taro T might say.

[PromoTheRobot]

  On 3/2/2022 at 2:36 PM, That Aud Smell said:

The tool who had this custom jersey definitely had the price pegged as $189M.

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I believe $189MM was the price.

[That Aud Smell]

  On 3/2/2022 at 2:48 PM, PromoTheRobot said:

I believe $189MM was the price.

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That's the number I recall. Cash and assumed debt.

[PromoTheRobot]

  On 3/2/2022 at 2:38 PM, That Aud Smell said:

"Old Sugar Packets" has often been a punching bag around here. But damn it all - the team was consistently good - sometimes really, really good - when he was the owner.

Then again, there's his crusade to force municipal government to deal with his Canada Geese problem in Canandaigua.

YMMV, as @Taro T might say.

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Here's a good article on the Golisano era.

https://buffalonews.com/sports/bills/tom-saved-hockey-in-buffalo-how-the-golisano-years-rescued-the-sabres/article_6ae709fc-fac8-5e61-bb8d-ea60ff8e35cb.html

As for the team being good, Tom benefited more from timing. He bought right before the Lockout. The Sabres surprised everyone when play resumed. The real architect was Darcy Regier. 

[Mustache of God]

First move should be a speech to inspire a down-trodden fan base, "From this day forward the sole existence of the buffalo sabres will be to win the stanley cup."

Edited March 2, 2022 by Mustache of God
typo

[Stoner]

  On 3/2/2022 at 2:53 PM, PromoTheRobot said:

Here's a good article on the Golisano era.

https://buffalonews.com/sports/bills/tom-saved-hockey-in-buffalo-how-the-golisano-years-rescued-the-sabres/article_6ae709fc-fac8-5e61-bb8d-ea60ff8e35cb.html

As for the team being good, Tom benefited more from timing. He bought right before the Lockout. The Sabres surprised everyone when play resumed. The real architect was Darcy Regier. 

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You said it all.

[WildCard]

Is it legitimately happening or no?

[woods-racer]

  On 3/2/2022 at 5:04 PM, WildCard said:

Is it legitimately happening or no?

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Do you believe twitter?

If you do it's happening.

[Sabres Fan in NS]

  On 3/2/2022 at 5:04 PM, WildCard said:

Is it legitimately happening or no?

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Until made official I will say no.

[Flashsabre]

  On 3/2/2022 at 5:04 PM, WildCard said:

Is it legitimately happening or no?

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I think there will be clarity once the football stadium deal is announced. The Pegulas will talk then and we shall see what is said. There have been rumours that some of the money in the stadium deal will be earmarked to help fix the arena but who knows.

[That Aud Smell]

Hire someone to spellcheck and otherwise vet written words.

 

[thewookie1]

  On 3/2/2022 at 7:05 PM, That Aud Smell said:

Hire someone to spellcheck and otherwise vet written words.

 

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They need to embrace this and start sending us memes; akin to how the Predators embraced their typo of "Go Perds!"

[nucci]

  On 3/2/2022 at 7:05 PM, That Aud Smell said:

Hire someone to spellcheck and otherwise vet written words.

 

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if only there was something on the interwebs that could help with this

[Marvin]

  On 3/2/2022 at 7:55 PM, nucci said:

if only there was something on  the interwebs that could help with this

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Eye hope yore idea caches on.  Aye think it wood bee eh grate help too me.

[GASabresIUFAN]

The first move should be to renovate the damn building.

 

[JohnC]

  On 3/2/2022 at 8:04 PM, GASabresIUFAN said:

The first move should be to renovate the damn building.

 

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Once the football stadium financing issues are decided the arena issues should then be addressed. According to the Buff News there should be announcement on the football stadium very soon. 

[nucci]

  On 3/2/2022 at 8:04 PM, GASabresIUFAN said:

The first move should be to renovate the damn building.

 

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or build a modern version of the Aud