Acquillini Acquires 100% of Canucks and GM Place

[joely_the_goalie]

The Team 1040 is reporting that Francisco Aquilini has acquired 100% of the Canucks and GM Place.

So how will McCaw be remembered?

And is this finally the end of the "Birthing Orca" jersey?

Finally we can go back to the original jerseys from the expansion years, and hopefully Johnny Canuck as a third jersey, or as Don Taylor has suggested, the Flying V with the original colours.

 

[TheRob]

You're talking like you think this is a good thing.

This guy is as shady as they come. It's time to worry a little bit in my opinion.

 

[Dude]

How do you figure? From what you read in the papers about the deal w/ the Beadie Group?

If you think McCaw of Griffiths never had to step on any toes to close a deal, you're living in a socialist fantacy land.

 

[TheRob]

I like the way you spell fantasy. Catchy.

It has nothing to do with the Beedie Group stuff, and everything to do with the illegal immigrants housed in barns that mysteriously burn down in Pitt Polder.

This guy scares me when it comes to my beloved Canucks. Sort of like when Murray Pezim(sp?) bought the Lions way back when.

Dodgy.

 

[Dude]

OK, so expand on it. What the hell are you on about? Post up a link, articles, something.

As far as business acumen, the Aquilini family is on much more solid financial footing than Pezim.

 

[TheRob]

Managed to find this:

http://www.justicia4migrantworkers.org/bc/pdf/press_pack_may19_06.pdf

 

[Argyle]

I have to agree with TR here on this. If you have ever worked for these guys...you know that they are quite cheep. As well as slum lords! They should be forced to live in some of the buildings that they own and maintain.

 

[italian_stallion21]

But according to the paper they're huge Canuck's fans, committed to winning (just like Michael Heisley). New owners never lie

 

[joely_the_goalie]

You're talking like you think this is a good thing.

This guy is as shady as they come. It's time to worry a little bit in my opinion.

I haven't decided, as of yet, if I think this is a good move or not.

With the pending lawsuit, and the issues that Argyle brought up, there is no doubt that he seems to be sleezy character.

But, I think with the new President, Steve Tambellini and Dave Nonis as the main people running the team, we still have a good structure to work with.

As well, from what they have said on the Team 1040, he wants this team to win, and is willing to spend as much as is needed to get the cup here. Obviously with the cap, he is limited, but as long as he is willing to spend the cap limit, and keep the quality on the ice, I see no reason to shoot down this move yet.

 

[Reccos]

Managed to find this:

http://www.justicia4migrantworkers.org/bc/pdf/press_pack_may19_06.pdf

I think the Aquilini deal is a good thing and if the Canucks don't perform on the ice the way he wants them to, they'll all be living in that barn with Marco the Mexican farm worker!!!

Part of me thinks this might be a solution to the lawsuit from the Beedie and Gaglardi group - that is, Aquilini now brings in these other guys who were suing him. I don't so much mean this is a solution to a legal battle but Aquilini may need someone else's money to close this deal - that I don't know.

What might have occurred that we don't know about - as does occur in many legal battles is that Aquilini's lawyer goes to the Beedie/Gaglardi legal guys and asks what their clients views would be if they could buy the balance of Orca Bay and gain 49% of the play. The lawyer saws that McCaw is prepared to sell it now and he will bring these guys in as partners subject to the money and the NHL approval. This is quite a standard move in litigation. The lawyers still make money as it will take a lot of legal work to put a deal of this size together and away they go on crafting this new deal.

That is a stretch of course, as these guys launching the suit might be so pissed they might not want to work with Aquilini simply as they now don't feel they can trust them or not be able to work out a satisfactory deal for their money.

I can't see the NHL going for a 50/50 partner of two separate groups so it seems to me it would have to be 51/49 to get them to accept the deal.

 

[Argyle]

I agree with you a little bit joely, the fact that they do have a strong management group is a bonus. I still have a few friends that run some companies for them...and the only reason that they are semi sucessful is because they (the employees) fight back at some of the things that they are told to do.

Anyways...enough about that crap...we can only hope for the future...and in 10 years I will finally have enough to buy them...and move them!