Lebreton is a huge opportunity for investors. But why would Melnyk sell and give up the opportunity of being a part of it?
It's simple. Because he can't afford it. If he can't afford it, he loses the bid. The NCC still has the final say in what happens in Lebreton.
Last January they had negotiations to finalize the preliminary agreement.
TEN DAYS after Melnyk and the NCC struck that deal, Melnyk had his infamous meeting with Dorion in Barbados where they decided to sell Karlsson, where Dorion got his 3yr extension. Probably due to the fact that Melnyk made some financial commitments in that agreement.
It's still far from over though, they still need to approve the master plan for Lebreton. They probably won't seal the deal for the master plan until 2019.
My gut feeling is that the $135m loan Melnyk got last June was the potential investor getting their foot in the door, while giving Melnyk just enough rope to hang himself with. It was rumored that if Melnyk sold the team, they wold get first dibs. Which would mean they would have the inside track on Lebreton.
This is all high stakes maneuvering between billionaires in a potential real estate development of a life time. The team is just being used as a peon in all of this.