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Minor-league hockey team for sale on eBay (Current bid as of 2P ET Mon: $1.6M)
AP Wire/Miami.com ^ | 6.28.02 | Rachel D'Oro

Posted on 07/01/2002 11:39:55 AM PDT by mhking

Minor league hockey team on eBay


Associated Press

ANCHORAGE, AlaskaFor the second time in a week, the financially strangled Anchorage Aces hockey team was listed on sale with eBay on Friday, a day after a $2.3 million bid turned out to be invalid.

Within hours of its second listing, the minor league team had received four offers on the Internet auction site, including a $2 million offer.

The West Coast Hockey League franchise filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last month. The team is more than $2 million in debt and owes more than 100 creditors. Last season, the Aces finished with a league-worst 19-44 record.

A sale would be welcome news for the WCHL, which has given Aces owner Mike Cusack Jr. until Wednesday to find a legitimate buyer, said Barry Kemp, chairman of the WCHL's board of governors.

Cusack could not be reached for comment Friday.

Because of the bankruptcy, the league can take over rights to the Aces. But that's an action it would prefer to avoid, according to Kemp. He said the eBay posting was an unlikely solution.

"Odds are it would be a difficult way to market and sell a team," Kemp said. "That caveat being said, if a legitimate buyer emerges in this procedure, we could be seeing more professional teams take this method."

If the franchise finds a new owner through eBay, it would be the first time a sports team has been sold on the site, according to eBay spokesman Kevin Pursglove.

The identity of Thursday's high bidder - an eBay member named kooptroop12 - turned out to be a college-age prankster, according to KTUU TV in Anchorage. The bogus $2.3 million offer topped four others and allowed the bidder to use eBay's Buy It Now feature. That essentially skipped the timed formalities and instantly ended the auction.

"If the seller decides to re-list it, the bidding starts anew," Pursglove said.

Friday's top bid was made by chicagoblizt2001, who did not respond to an e-mail request for comment.

The offer, if valid, could help pull the Aces out of debt. Another Cusack property, the Northern Lights Hotel, also filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last month.

The Aces face another day in court. A hearing is set for Monday for a motion filed by the U.S. Trustee's Office to convert the bankruptcy case to Chapter 7 or to order the appointment of a Chapter 11 trustee. Under Chapter 7, the Aces essentially could be out of business and the Bankruptcy Court could sell the team's assets. A Chapter 11 trustee basically would run the business.

Cusack first listed the team on eBay last Saturday with a minimum bid of $1.5 million. Friday's minimum was set at $1.6 million.

Meanwhile, a local group of businessmen wants to buy the team. The group has offered between $1 million and $1.5 million, said Dan Coffey, an Anchorage attorney and among seven members of the group, which has pursued a deal since February.

The group's offer was rejected by KeyBank of Alaska - the only creditor with a lien against the team's stock - because it wouldn't pay off all the team's debt.

Coffey said his group is still hoping to make a deal with Cusack, who has said he wants $2.2 million to $2.3 million for the team.

Any sale would require approval from the WCHL and the bankruptcy court.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Front Page News; News/Current Events; US: Alaska
KEYWORDS:
eBay Auction #1745220456 - Anybody wanna buy a hockey team?
1 posted on 07/01/2002 11:39:55 AM PDT by mhking
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To: mhking
Cool logo.

Little late for Fathers' Day tho.

2 posted on 07/01/2002 11:48:51 AM PDT by NativeNewYorker
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To: mhking
Yes, I'm going to make a secret bid. For a lot of money. And I'm going to get but not let anybody know that I own it. And one day my goalie is going to come up to my GM and say "Joe, who own the team." My GM will properly answer: "That's owns. Who owwwnsss the team."

I'll move it to Johnstown Pa. but call it the Charlestown Chiefs.

3 posted on 07/01/2002 11:49:49 AM PDT by Tribune7
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To: Tribune7; mhking

Bid war for the (future) Chiefs?

4 posted on 07/01/2002 11:56:22 AM PDT by SpottedBeaver
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To: hockey d gal
Do you want this hockey team?
5 posted on 07/01/2002 11:58:15 AM PDT by SpottedBeaver
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To: SpottedBeaver
Yes! Exactly. We will play old-time hockey. Toe Blake. Eddie Shore.
6 posted on 07/01/2002 12:03:53 PM PDT by Tribune7
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To: Tribune7
GORDIE!
7 posted on 07/01/2002 12:11:52 PM PDT by Phantom Lord
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To: SpottedBeaver
One of 'em, I think its the one in the middle, actually coaches the Chiefs now. They must have fun "puttin' on the foil" before each game.
8 posted on 07/01/2002 12:13:43 PM PDT by Wolfie
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To: Wolfie
link

One's an electrician. One runs a sports complex. One runs a summer hockey school.

9 posted on 07/01/2002 12:20:29 PM PDT by Tribune7
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To: Tribune7
I dont care what anyone says. Slapshot 2 was funny and a very entertaining movie. Obviously, nothing will compare to the original.
10 posted on 07/01/2002 12:21:50 PM PDT by Phantom Lord
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To: Phantom Lord
Nothing says "straight to video" like Stephen Baldwin.
11 posted on 07/01/2002 12:25:05 PM PDT by AmishDude
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To: mhking
Thanks for the story and e-bay link, mh.

A compelling saga, actually, but I think e-bay has to institute some sort of pre-qualifying process to avoid a farce.

The listing says financing is available...maybe FReepers should buy it on a monthly plan...

I can't think of a great name, but many humorous thoughts come to mind....

When a player gets dinged, the trainer can shout,"Better put a little ice on that!" ;^)
12 posted on 07/01/2002 12:25:46 PM PDT by headsonpikes
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To: Wolfie; Tribune7
From Hanson Brothers Answer Fan's Questions

Do you see yourself as role models? Louie - Pensacola, FL
We do our best to put a smile on every face we meet, but if they don't smile, we nail 'em with the foil!

13 posted on 07/01/2002 12:37:57 PM PDT by Phantom Lord
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To: mhking
At least the creditors get their money back.
14 posted on 07/01/2002 1:13:05 PM PDT by orrick
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To: Darth Reagan
Old Time Hockey Bump
15 posted on 07/01/2002 1:45:19 PM PDT by Phantom Lord
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To: headsonpikes
eBay absolutely loves the publicity. They've gone from absolute near-nothingness to household word in a mere five years. When I signed up for them in 1997, they had an almost amateurish web site, now they are a good punch line on nearly any comedy TV show.
16 posted on 07/01/2002 1:46:25 PM PDT by hunter112
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To: SpottedBeaver
So, who own the Chiefs?
OWNS! OWNS!
17 posted on 07/01/2002 1:47:38 PM PDT by drew
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To: hunter112
And their entire PR campaign, that it was started as a way to find Pez Dispensers was an absolute LIE. And everyone fell for it.
18 posted on 07/01/2002 1:52:41 PM PDT by Phantom Lord
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To: SpottedBeaver
Only if the would help out my team!!!!! :-)
19 posted on 07/01/2002 9:23:46 PM PDT by hockey d gal
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