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Vinik Gets Show Of Local Support

posted on 3/12/2010 11:09:00 PM

In late 2007, Tom Scarritt and fellow Tampa attorney Steve Burton tried, but failed, to for man investment group to buy the Lightning from Palace Sports & Entertainment. Though Scarritt said he has concerns about the lack of local ownership after OK Hockey this month sold the team to Boston hedge fund manager Jeff Vinik, he believes the bay are a business community is behind Vinik. "After two years of financial irresponsibility, management dysfunction and poor choices, I believe the business ...

Categories: Sports | Tags: The Lightning, Sports, Lawsuit | View Count: (2546)

Interest In Lightning Strong For Observers

posted on 8/11/2009 9:37:00 PM

To Phil Esposito, the Lightning is like his baby. Forget the Hall of Fame career, he said, forget the goals and his two Stanley Cup championships. "Nothing I ever did was as good in my mind or as satisfying, and nothing was as important, as getting this franchise." That is why the Lightning founder said if the dispute between owners Oren Koules and Len Barrie ends with the financially troubled team up for sale, "Yes, I would try to put a group together" to buy it. That time is not imminent.

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Koules' Group Has Inside Track

posted on 12/20/2007 12:47:00 AM

Oren Koules not only owns the inside path to an agreement to purchase the Lightning, he's also about to lap any other potential suitors. Koules, the Hollywood movie producer behind the "Saw" movie franchise, met in Detroit with officials from Palace Sports & Entertainment on Wednesday and is one set closer to becoming the fourth owner in franchise history when the two sides agreed to an exclusive negotiation period. "After very productive discussions today, we are pleased to announce that Pala...

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Separate Groups Discussing Plans To Buy Lightning

posted on 12/19/2007 1:05:00 AM

Two groups that splintered off Absolute Hockey Enterprises will take important steps today toward determining a potential new owner for the Tampa Bay Lightning, the St. Pete Times Forum and 5 1/2 acres of adjoining land. Oren Koules, the movie and TV producer who was to have provided the bulk of the upfront money for Absolute Hockey's original $200 million bid, is scheduled to meet today in the Detroit area with representatives from current owner Palace Sports & Entertainment. It is believed K...

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Separate Bidders To Discuss Lightning

posted on 12/18/2007 12:06:00 PM

One group will talk to the current owner. One will talk to potential investors. Two competing ownership groups will have separate meetings Wednesday, which could be one of the most significant days in Lightning history. At least it should be one of the most interesting. Oren Koules, head of OK Hockey, is to meet in Auburn Hills, Mich., with executives from Palace Sports & Entertainment and, perhaps, make an offer. Meanwhile, a group including Tampa attorneys Steve Burton and Tom Scarritt and...

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Suit Aggravated Investor's Woes

posted on 12/17/2007 12:15:00 PM

Doug Maclean said his disappointment after the failed attempt by Absolute Hockey Enterprises to buy the Lightning was bad enough. But to be involved in a lawsuit against one of his former partners, well, that is something he does not wish to be part of again. "It wasn't a very comfortable thing," said Maclean, who along with Jeff Sherrin sued Hollywood producer Oren Koules for allegedly defaulting on his part of a scheduled payment to the Lightning and trying to arrange his own deal with tea...

Categories: Sports, Past Law Cases | Tags: The Lightning, Sports, Lawsuit | View Count: (2273)

Lightning Has More Suitors

posted on 12/16/2007 12:23:00 PM

Hollywood producer Oren Koules might have competition for ownership of the Lightning, and it might come from his former partners. Doug Maclean and Jeff Sherrin, who sued Koules after their group, Absolute Hockey Enterprises, failed to buy the team, apparently are interested in joining some Tampa Bay businesspeople exploring if it is feasible to make a bid. Tampa attorney Steve Burton, who was introduced as part of Absolute Hockey but said he never signed with it, said he and Sherrin have commi...

Categories: Sports | Tags: The Lightning, Sports, Lawsuit | View Count: (3591)

Big Step Toward Sale

posted on 12/12/2007 5:35:00 PM

A lawsuit is settled, positioning Oren Koules to pursue his plans to buy the Lightning. Oren Koules wants to be the next owner of the lightning. The path was cleared early Tuesday morning, when a financial settlement was reached in the lawsuit brought against Koules by two former partners in a failed attempt to buy the team. Koules, the producer of the Saw horror films, was not available for comment. But in a statement, the head of OK Hockey, which also includes Koules' business partner Mark ...

Categories: Sports, Past Law Cases | Tags: The Lightning, Sports, Lawsuit | View Count: (2616)

Settlement Reached In Lightning Lawsuit

posted on 12/11/2007 1:29:00 AM

A potential road block to the selling of the Tampa Bay Lightning has been cleared and the path toward a new ownership group has opened back up. After agreeing to buy-out his potential partners from a lawsuit for an undisclosed amount of money likely in the seven-digit category, Hollywood movie producer Oren Koules is now free to pursue a new deal to buy the team from Palace Sports and Entertainment. There is no time-table, but negotiations are expected to begin soon between Koules and Palace S...

Categories: Past Law Cases, Sports | Tags: The Lightning, Sports, Lawsuit | View Count: (2680)

Progress Made In Lawsuit Meeting

posted on 12/10/2007 7:05:00 PM

Some headway apparently is being made to resolve a lawsuit involving potential buyers of the Lightning. A meeting was held in New York on Monday with league officials, including NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, representatives from Palace Sports and Entertainment - including CEO Tom Wilson - along with the two sides involved in the lawsuit, Absolute Hockey Enterprises and Oren Koules and their respective attorneys. Enough headway apparently was made during discussions that the parties have agree...

Categories: Past Law Cases, Sports | Tags: The Lightning, Sports, Lawsuit | View Count: (2196)