Group unveils vision for expansion NHL team CBC Sports Jun 5, 4:02 pm EDT
As much as Andrew Lopez loves the Maple Leafs, he would love to be responsible for helping create a rivalry between the storied NHL franchise and an expansion team in Toronto.
Lopez, a communications specialist who has worked as a motivational speaker for Miss Universe Canada, unveiled his vision for Toronto Legacy along with a sweater and logo at a news conference Friday.
“I would like to point out this is a vision,” said the founder of Toronto Legacy Group. “We’re not here to talk about any concrete plans because, of course, that would require the blessing of the National Hockey League.”
The league has yet to hear from Lopez and doesn’t have any immediate plans for expansion.
It currently has its hands full with BlackBerry boss Jim Balsillie’s bid to buy the
Phoenix Coyotes and move them to Hamilton.
In an affidavit filed as part of the Coyotes’ bankruptcy case, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said the only way another team would end up in southern Ontario is through expansion. He has also said the league isn’t looking to add teams any time soon.
But that hasn’t stopped Toronto Legacy Group from forging ahead with plans to play in the NHL as early as the 2012-13 season in a 30,000-seat arena at Downsview Park,
“Every other major North American city of our size has a rivalry, most of them in multiple sports:
New York Rangers,
New York Islanders, [New York] Yankees, Mets, [Chicago] Cubs, [Chicago] White Sox. That’s why it’s the Subway Series that we’re proposing.
“We’re not here to compete with the
Toronto Maple Leafs. We’re here to be their little brother.”
Lopez suggested $1 billion in financing is already in place for the proposed expansion team.
The planned site for the arena, which would cost between $375,000 and $400,000, is the northeast corner of Downsview Park with a potential connection to the subway system.
Lopez said there are plans for a state-of-the-art athletic/community centre, which would host a 50-metre Olympic-size swimming pool, four outdoor rinks and public park space among other amenities.
Also, there would be no numbered sections in the seating area, as each would be named after a major junior hockey franchise as well as the 30 NHL teams.
“We’re not sure how [the NHL] or the Toronto Maple Leafs will take this,” said Lopez. “So we said, ‘Let’s just share with our city, share with our country, and once they’ve had a chance to look over what we’re proposing … by all means, if they consider us worthy, we would be privileged.’
“We’re not here to force our will on anyone. A simple no from the National Hockey League would be OK. We realize it’s a very special club.”
Lopez’s group proposes that 25 per cent of its annual net profits will be divided among charitable foundations and non-profit organizations.
The Future Aces Foundation, started by former Quebec senior hockey league star Herb Carnegie, would be the first organization to receive funding. It provides 25 annual bursaries to children aged 12 to 14, enabling them to pursue post-secondary education.
Carnegie, who will turn 90 in November, attended Friday’s news conference.
“Here we are with a wonderful dream,” said Carnegie of a proposed second NHL team in Toronto. “It warms my heart to hear the thought of working with young people and building the community stronger and stronger.”
If successful, the group says it will hand over every dollar of seat licence fees to foundations and charities.
Lopez said roughly half the tickets to every game would be available for $50 in an effort to make the sport more affordable for fans — yet another reason for the Maple Leafs to object.
“It’s about maximizing revenues but at the same time,” said Lopez, “it’s about trying to give back to the community.
“I think it’s the perfect business model where you can make a very sound return on your investment for your investors but also make a true impact in our community.”
Toronto Legacy Group is not affiliated with Balsillie or former NHLer Kevin Maguire, who is fronting a group interested in setting up shop in southern Ontario.
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I would personally love to see another Hockey team in Toronto. Maybe The Leafs will start competing again if this were to happen. Toronto Legacy sounds like a cool name as well.
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