As for Hamilton, it is widely believed an Ontario Hockey League team will ultimately land at FirstOntario Centre. Rumours have been swirling in Erie that Andlauer is about to buy the Otters which have been for sale for some time and whose owner, Sherry Bassin, is motivated to sell.
Bassin is presently being sued for $4.5 million by the owners of the Edmonton Oilers who loaned him the money with a plan to eventually buy the team and move it here, court documents filed in Pennsylvania show.
However, Bassin flatly denies there's anything to the rumours that he's about to sell to Andlauer.
"I've had no negotiations with him," he said Saturday.
Andlauer has long said that he will have a hockey team playing out of the downtown arena, whether it's AHL or OHL. And he's insisted that it will be called the Hamilton Bulldogs. He owns the franchise, the brand and the arena lease.