TORONTO - The Nashville Predators may be turning to California
businessman William (Boots) DelBiaggio from Canadian billionaire
Jim Balsillie.
A source told The Canadian Press on Thursday that DelBiaggio is
back in talks with Predators owner Craig Leipold.
DelBiaggio is after a franchise for Kansas City. Balsillie was
looking to bring the team to Hamilton.
The Canadian Research-in-Motion co-founder had reached a
US(Canadian) $238-million deal to buy the Predators, but a binding
agreement has yet to be finalized. DelBiaggio's original offer
reportedly was a less lucrative US(Canadian) $190 million.
But Balsillie may have rubbed some of the NHL's movers and shakers by making no secret of his plan to move the Preds, even though there is a lease in place in Nashville - and the Nashville sale was not final.
DelBiaggo had said last week he was no longer involved in the chase for the Predators. But that has changed according to the source.
(CP) (from Broadcast News Ltd.)
