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Deja vu? McMullen interested in purchasing Avalanche
Posted: Friday March 17, 2000 10:54 AM
DENVER (AP) -- John McMullen, who bought and moved Colorado's NHL team to New Jersey 18 years ago, is considering buying the Colorado Avalanche, the Denver Post reported Friday. McMullen also might buy the Denver Nuggets and the Pepsi Center, where both teams play, the newspaper said, citing unidentified sources. Asked Thursday about his interest in the Denver sports properties, McMullen said, "I don't want to talk about that right now." McMullen sold the Devils Thursday for $175 million to an affiliate of the company that owns the New York Yankees and New Jersey Nets. Ascent Entertainment Group Inc. is in the middle of selling all three properties and the rest of its assets to Liberty Media Corp. Liberty has said it plans to sell the hockey and basketball teams if its $755 million purchase of Ascent goes through. NHL sources said buying the Avalanche and Nuggets would allow the 82-year-old McMullen to fulfill a longtime goal of owning NHL and NBA teams as well as the arena they play in. McMullen made a rare public appearance when he attended the Avalanche's game against the Devils on March 2 at the Pepsi Center. His main residence is in New Jersey but he also owns a house in Vail. In 1982, McMullen bought the Rockies, Denver's first NHL team, and moved them to East Rutherford, N.J., where they became the Devils. In recent years, McMullen has expressed interest in buying the Nets and moving the basketball team and the Devils to a new arena in Hoboken, N.J. Also reportedly interested in buying the Avalanche and Nuggets is Wal-Mart heir Stan Kroenke. The part owner of the St. Louis Rams met with Ascent officials this week.
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