Centrum Hockey
Registered User
- Aug 2, 2018
- 2,092
- 728
Just throw in a free steakhouse chain.
When a guy talks about wanting to bring an NHL franchise to his arena and then within nearly the same breath publicly cries how difficult it is to own a team below the Mason/Dixon line. Then later it's discovered he had to get financing from the Rocket's previous owner to buy the team off him. More than just a few red flags jump out there.
Texas sized ego with a Visa gift card in hand.
It probably would not be that difficult to plan a pre season game in Houston with the Stars playing a central division team like STL or Nashville to see if there is a large interest for hockey in Houston.He makes a big deal about how he wants a NHL team. He really draws attention to it and himself. But then, he says he doesn't want to pay the market rate for a team and proclaims the absolute falsehood that hockey doesn't work in the South financially. Like Legend said, red flags are flying everywhere based on his acquisition of the Rockets and the operating rights for the arena. He decided to buy a restaurant chain with the roughly the same amount money that could have been used to buy a NHL team.
He was then privately ripped apart in a meeting with Bettman and Daly, much word didn't leak about what was said but everything that did said Fertitta left with his tail between his legs. So, instead of going the Lamar Hunt Jr. route where he tries to slowly build hockey in the market because of his commitment and love for the sport, he shuts his mouth and has barely said a word since, let alone showed an interest in the sport.
He tried to get a NHL team on the cheap, ran into the inevitable brick wall, and then went into hiding rather than do the tough thing and try to build up interest in the game of hockey in Houston from the bottom up. He preferred to spend his money on a restaurant chain than the game of hockey. He deserves shade for trying to weasel his way into the league without paying his dues and then disappears when his visualized path doesn't open up, and the only one still open is too difficult for him.
Hopefully that helps
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