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MacLean Sneaks Peek

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By ERIK ERLENDSSON, The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 20, 2007

TAMPA - Doug MacLean walked along the sidewalk of St. Pete Times Forum Drive, passing the VIP West parking lot, asking how somebody could get such a good parking spot.

Should things continue to progress in the advancement of the sale of the franchise to MacLean's Absolute Hockey Enterprises, he can park as close to the building as he wants.

In Tampa Bay's preseason opening 4-3 overtime victory against the Dallas Stars, MacLean and prospective co-owner Jeff Sherrin witnessed in person for the first time the team they hope to own by the end of December.

Following the NHL Board of Governors meeting Tuesday, Commissioner Gary Bettman announced that the sale process to exchange the franchise from Detroit-based Palace Sports and Entertainment was on track. Bettman also stated that the application process could be complete and ready for league approval by the next Board of Governors meeting, reportedly set for Nov. 26-28 in Pebble Beach, Calif., or sooner. Should the need arise, a fax vote could be conducted by the team governors to gain final approval.

At this point, however, MacLean said the first step in the process - working with the lawyers, accountants and bankers to complete the application - is nearly complete, with the next step being to hand it to the league for review.

'I can't say that the November date excited me for final approval, you always want to get it done quicker, but it's the process, unfortunately,' MacLean said. 'I think if there is one thing that I have learned from this, it's that this takes time. You want it to move, and I'd like to be a month further ahead but it's impossible to get to that stage because you have to go through every phase of it. There are no shortcuts.'

When all of Absolute Hockey hands over the paperwork, MacLean said there will be five general partners - Hollywood producer Oren Koules, his business partner Mark Burg, Sherrin, MacLean and one other yet to be announced partner - that would make up 80 percent of the investors, and 'a couple' of limited partners who don't want to be known at this point.

It is unclear exactly how much of the sale price the group will be putting up front for the sale, but MacLean said league rules prohibit more than 50 percent of the final sale price to be financed.

'I'm not telling you that's what we are doing, but that's the league rule,' MacLean said.

There is a deadline of Dec. 30 to complete the deal or Absolute Enterprises could lose its $5 million deposit, although MacLean said he would be 'shocked' if the process went that long.

In the meantime, MacLean waits with anxious anticipation. As he has been knee-deep in the paperwork process that comes with purchasing a franchise, the former Columbus Blue Jackets general manager has had little time to keep tabs on what has been going on with the team.

Tampa Bay GM Jay Feaster has kept MacLean in the loop with updates from training camp and what has been going on, but getting to see the team in action from the suite level and being inside the building allowed him to get his own view of players he is unfamiliar with.

MacLean plans to attend Monday's preseason game against Detroit and will be in attendance for opening night Oct. 4 against New Jersey - although where he will park is still unclear.

Reporter Erik Erlendsson can be reached at (813) 259-7835 or eerlendsson@tampatrib.com.

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