Sunday, October 14, 2001
Cyclones CEO foresees NHL team here
By John Erardi
The Cincinnati Enquirer
David LeFevre, the Cincinnati Cyclones' chief executive officer, said he wants to bring an existing NHL team to Firstar Center someday — maybe as soon as four or five years.
LeFevre, who was governor of the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning from 1992-97, loves the name Cyclones and the alliterative ring it has when combined with “Cincinnati.” He said he was overwhelmed by the sight lines and intimacy of Firstar Center when he first saw the facility and believes the seating (16,000) is just right for a metropolitan area the size of Greater Cincinnati.
He believes an NHL team would have Firstar buzzing on game night. He also likes the fact that this is such a rich college basketball town with no realistic reason for wanting an NBA franchise.
He contends Cincinnati has the demographics to be home to an NHL franchise, and he is enthralled with the proximity of such cities as Louisville, Lexington, Dayton and Indianapolis.
But thus far, such talk is getting the cold shoulder in the NHL's front office. The NHL already has an expansion franchise 100 miles up I-71: the Columbus Blue Jackets.
“We've just completed a very ambitious program of expansion which involves four (new) teams over the three seasons prior to this one, which increased our complement of teams to 30,” said Frank Brown, NHL vice president of media relations.
“At this moment, there is no consideration being given to adding more expansion teams, nor is there any immediate indication that any of our incumbent teams has any intention of doing anything except staying precisely where they are.”
Asked about the smallish size of Firstar Center compared to other NHL arenas, Brown said he stood by the statement above.
“Any specific references regarding Cincinnati (getting an NFL franchise) would be hypothetical and speculative,” he said.
Asked about whether having an NHL team in Cincinnati would violate Columbus' territorial rights, Brown asked the mileage between the two cities. When told it was about 100 miles, he said:
“I don't know necessarily that the territorial element would come into play.” he said.
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Cyclones CEO foresees NHL team here
