nccanes
08-26-2003, 10:20 PM
This would get the STH attention dontcha think?
Melnyk guarantees stable future
Canadian Press
8/26/2003
OTTAWA (CP) - Passion mixed with solid business sense will make the Ottawa Senators a winner on and off the ice, says Eugene Melnyk.
The Toronto billionaire's first official move as the new owner of the talent-rich NHL club was the announcement Tuesday of a free concert featuring The Eagles, one of the world's top rock band's with numerous hits including Take It To The Limit.
``We wanted to do something special,'' said Melnyk, who will invite Senators season-ticket subscribers, longtime fans and team staff to the free bash at the Corel Centre the day before the season opener Oct. 9 against the Montreal Canadiens.
``We want people to be enticed to be here and not threatened,'' said Melnyk, whose purchase of the team officially closed Tuesday after months of court proceedings and negotiations with creditors. ``That kind of mindset is going to change.''
Season-ticket sales are down despite the team's on-ice success, and overall attendance has been dropping.
``I think a lot of it has to do with people just not being emotionally tied because of the threat that the team may leave,'' said Melnyk.
Melnyk, 43, who became rich distributing pharmaceutical drugs such as Ativan that reduce anxiety levels, said people in Ottawa, including Senators players, can stop worrying about the team leaving town.
``I'm guaranteeing you the team is going to be staying in Ottawa now,'' he said at a Corel Centre news conference.
Melnyk reportedly paid $130 million for the Senators in a deal that included the Corel Centre.
The team, which made it to the playoff semifinals last spring before losing to the eventual Stanley Cup champions, the New Jersey Devils, had been in bankruptcy protection since last January. Creditors were owed more than $300 million.
Melnyk said he wants to show hockey fans the team can have fun and win at the same time.
``It's got to be run like a business but the bottom line is it's got to be fun,'' he said.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said he knew deep in his heart the Senators would survive. Bettman attended a ceremony at the Corel Centre to introduce Melnyk.
``This is the first time in a number of years that I have been here without a sense of angst or concern,'' he said.
Senators forward Mike Fisher said the players now can concentrate fully on winning games.
``As players, now we can have some comfort with the fact that the team's going to be here for a long time,'' he said. ``It was kind of up in the air the last few years.
``We're ecstatic about staying here.''
Canadian-born Melnyk, who lives in Barbados, said he expects to attend about 15 regular-season games this coming season. He also plans to be in Ottawa for a lengthy playoff run, he said.
Melnyk also owns the St. Michael's Majors of the Ontario Hockey League and numerous racehorses.
Melnyk guarantees stable future
Canadian Press
8/26/2003
OTTAWA (CP) - Passion mixed with solid business sense will make the Ottawa Senators a winner on and off the ice, says Eugene Melnyk.
The Toronto billionaire's first official move as the new owner of the talent-rich NHL club was the announcement Tuesday of a free concert featuring The Eagles, one of the world's top rock band's with numerous hits including Take It To The Limit.
``We wanted to do something special,'' said Melnyk, who will invite Senators season-ticket subscribers, longtime fans and team staff to the free bash at the Corel Centre the day before the season opener Oct. 9 against the Montreal Canadiens.
``We want people to be enticed to be here and not threatened,'' said Melnyk, whose purchase of the team officially closed Tuesday after months of court proceedings and negotiations with creditors. ``That kind of mindset is going to change.''
Season-ticket sales are down despite the team's on-ice success, and overall attendance has been dropping.
``I think a lot of it has to do with people just not being emotionally tied because of the threat that the team may leave,'' said Melnyk.
Melnyk, 43, who became rich distributing pharmaceutical drugs such as Ativan that reduce anxiety levels, said people in Ottawa, including Senators players, can stop worrying about the team leaving town.
``I'm guaranteeing you the team is going to be staying in Ottawa now,'' he said at a Corel Centre news conference.
Melnyk reportedly paid $130 million for the Senators in a deal that included the Corel Centre.
The team, which made it to the playoff semifinals last spring before losing to the eventual Stanley Cup champions, the New Jersey Devils, had been in bankruptcy protection since last January. Creditors were owed more than $300 million.
Melnyk said he wants to show hockey fans the team can have fun and win at the same time.
``It's got to be run like a business but the bottom line is it's got to be fun,'' he said.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said he knew deep in his heart the Senators would survive. Bettman attended a ceremony at the Corel Centre to introduce Melnyk.
``This is the first time in a number of years that I have been here without a sense of angst or concern,'' he said.
Senators forward Mike Fisher said the players now can concentrate fully on winning games.
``As players, now we can have some comfort with the fact that the team's going to be here for a long time,'' he said. ``It was kind of up in the air the last few years.
``We're ecstatic about staying here.''
Canadian-born Melnyk, who lives in Barbados, said he expects to attend about 15 regular-season games this coming season. He also plans to be in Ottawa for a lengthy playoff run, he said.
Melnyk also owns the St. Michael's Majors of the Ontario Hockey League and numerous racehorses.