Speculation and rumours are circling Daryl Katz. The owner of the Edmonton Oilers may be seeking control over the Hamilton Copps Coliseum lease, a move that would control the arrival of a new or expanded NHL team in the city. The report, released on www.sportsnet.ca, has yet to be substantiated but arrived at a time that could prove provocative.
Rexall Sports is currently in fractious discussion with the City of Edmonton over the development of a downtown arena. The building would sit on sixteen acres near City Hall and would include office towers, retail space, student housing, a hotel and an overhead plaza meant to span 104th Avenue.
June 28, 2010 was the original date set for the zoning application public hearing, but Edmonton’s city council and Rexall Sports agreed over a delay in the hearing. The date isn’t set yet, but could take place after November’s civic election.
It hasn’t been decided yet who would foot the $400 million arena bill of a project estimated to cost $1 billion. Katz promised to pay $100 million for the arena’s development, but added since that the money would go to the surrounding development, causing concern in councilors and public.
Many councillors said they wouldn’t support the zoning application without further details on the arena.
Oilers president Patrick LaForge and Rexall Sports spokesman Stee Hogle did not return phone calls.