THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, April 30, 1996 TAG: 9604300456
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 74 lines
Hampton Roads Admirals owner Blake Cullen has notified the East Coast Hockey League of his intention to sell the team to local investors Mark Garcea and Page Johnson.
An ECHL management source, who asked not to be identified, said the notification was received Friday, the deadline for the sale to considered at the ECHL's spring meeting May 28-30 in Biloxi, Miss.
The source said Garcea and Johnson ``will have no problem whatsoever'' being approved by league owners.
While Garcea and Johnson had an oral agreement with Cullen to purchase the team more than a week ago, it isn't known whether they have signed a contract. The source said a contract was not part of the package mailed to the ECHL's Charlotte office.
Cullen, Garcea and Johnson have largely maintained a no-comment policy on negotiations that began in mid April.
Cullen acknowledged last week having received a written offer to buy the team on Monday from attorneys for Garcea and Johnson. However, the contract was longer and more complicated than the Admirals anticipated and negotiations bogged down at midweek, sources say.
Progress was made later in the week, but whether it was enough for all sides to sign a contract couldn't be determined.
Once a contract is signed, there is still room for the deal to fall apart.
Garcea and Johnson would have a 30-day period in which they could opt out of the agreement. Cullen would retain control of the team while they spent the 30 days going over all aspects of the operation.
Cullen, meanwhile, would be committed to sell at the asking price.
Such ``due diligence'' periods are generally standard in professional sports franchise sales.
Sources close to Garcea and Johnson say it is unlikely they would back out if a deal is consummated. Regardless, the franchise's first ownership change won't be certain until the Biloxi meetings.
Garcea and Johnson are co-owners of the Hampton Roads Mariners soccer team. Garcea is a minority stockholder in the Norfolk Tides baseball team.
Cullen purchased the Admirals in 1989 as an expansion franchise for $25,000. It isn't known at what price he agreed to sell, but his asking price was $2.8 million.
The 30-day due diligence period leaves Admirals employees in limbo. They might not know until late May or early June where they stand for next season.
Assistant coach Al MacIsaac said he wants to return, but has been contacted by several teams. Trainer Rick Burrill says he would like to return, too, but has received an offer from the Los Angeles Ice Dogs of the International Hockey League.
Rod Taylor, the team's most valuable player, has said he might retire if the team is sold. ``I'm not sure they (new owners) will want me,'' he said.
However, Garcea and Johnson told friends last month that they planned few changes. They said they would ask all front-office employees to remain and likely wouldn't raise ticket prices from the current $8 per seat.
They also would remain in the ECHL. Some prospective purchasers had contemplated jumping to the American Hockey League.
The status of head coach John Brophy remains uncertain. Brophy was given a public vote of confidence two weeks ago by Cullen, but he has no written contract.
Garcea and Johnson reportedly are concerned about Brophy's well-chronicled brushes with ECHL officials, many of which have led to suspensions. Yet sources close to Garcea said that if he buys the team, he wants to meet with Brophy and is inclined to keep the only coach the Admirals have had.
Brophy, who came to Norfolk after being fired as coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs, is 286-176-47 in seven seasons and led the Admirals to ECHL titles in 1990-91 and 1991-92. He is 14 victories short of his 800th career coaching win. by CNB