Marie Monet

The president of the Winnipeg Jets said he has no plans to sell his NHL team to an investors' group from Anaheim, in the wake of news reports Tuesday from Canada that an offer was made. "We have not accepted any offers," Jet President said in a telephone interview. "We're not moving and we're not selling the team. Let's drop it." Shenkarow conceded he has been approached by people who "said they want to buy the team."

The president of the Winnipeg Jets said he has no plans to sell his NHL team to an investors' group from Anaheim, in the wake of news reports Tuesday from Canada that an offer was made. "We have not accepted any offers," Jet President said in a telephone interview. "We're not moving and we're not selling the team. Let's drop it." Shenkarow conceded he has been approached by people who "said they want to buy the team."

The president of the Winnipeg Jets National Hockey League team said this morning he has no plans to sell his team to an investors group from Anaheim, despite reports out of Canada that an offer was made. "People have come to Winnipeg and sat down in my office and said they want to buy the team," Jets President Barry Shenkarow said today. "There have been people from Anaheim here, yes." But Shenkarow said: "We have not accepted any offers. We're not moving and we're not selling the team."

The president of the Winnipeg Jets said he has no plans to sell the NHL team to an investors' group from Anaheim, in the wake of Canadian news reports Tuesday that a purchase offer was made. "We have not accepted any offers," Jets President Barry Shenkarow said in a telephone interview. "We're not moving and we're not selling the team. Let's drop it." Shenkarow conceded that he has been approached by people who "said they want to buy the team."

The new city manager, James D. Ruth, can be found at odd hours of the morning and night working in his office on the top floor of City Hall. A veteran administrator, he was the maneuvering force responsible for bringing a 20,000-seat sports arena to Anaheim--and keeping the Los Angeles Rams, California Angels, Anaheim Stadium Associates and a nearby mobile home park owner happy in the process.

Ogden Corporation intends to make money after negotiating to build a $94-million arena, whether the facility is built or not. If plans for the indoor arena in Anaheim fall through, Ogden still hopes to win a lucrative five-year concessions contract at Anaheim Stadium, as sort of a consolation prize, according to a tentative agreement between the city and the firm obtained by The Times.

Those who would bring professional basketball and hockey teams to Orange County paint a rosy picture of prosperity, projecting a great boost to the local economy generated by the teams and a new indoor sports arena. But many economists say sports franchises and indoor arenas do not necessarily result in an economic boon. "That seems to be a matter of debate that hasn't been resolved yet," said Pepperdine University economist Dean Baim.

Orange County's two biggest cities, engaged in a battle of municipal egos in a race to build indoor sports arenas, are taking significant risks by proceeding without commitments from pro sports teams, observers say. And although both cities are pledging to protect taxpayers from major costs, critics say a "frenzy" among cities to get pro franchises can undermine their bargaining power when dealing with team owners who can pit one arena offer against another.