Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 6, 1992 TAG: 9203060025
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Brabham said he expects a final contract to be submitted by Bock's group "any day now."
"We've got a handshake deal right now, but I don't foresee any problems," Brabham said. "They'll send me the contract, my lawyer will look it over, I'll sign it, and it'll be done."
Brabham said the management group would take over the team April 1.
The group also includes Miles Wolff, part owner of the IceCaps along with Bock and Peter Shipman. Woolf is the former owner of the Carolina League's Durham (N.C.) Bulls, one of minor-league baseball's most successful franchises. Neither Bock nor Woolf was available for comment Thursday.
Brabham said the prospective deal includes a provision that the group can buy the Rebels from him at the end of the '92-93 season.
Brabham, who said he is losing money because of the club's low attendance, tried to sell the franchise last month, but two offers that would have resulted in the team being moved to Birmingham, Ala., were voted down by the league.
"The main thing about all this," said Brabham, "is that hockey will be back here next season."
Although Brabham said there are no provisions in the ECHL bylaws covering the leasing of a club, ECHL Commissioner Pat Kelly said Thursday that "any sale, lease or moving" of a club requires approval by a vote of league owners.
The prospective deal could be questioned by some league owners, who want the 4-year-old league to steer away from dual ownership situations.
by CNB