Koules' silence amplifies trepidation

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Published March 9, 2008

Oren Koules was asked by NHL brass to stay mum, but that does nothing for nervous fans.
	[Ken Helle | Times]

Hey, Oren, are you there?

I've called. I've e-mailed. I've sent interview requests through Bill Wickett, the Lightning's executive vice president for communications.

The response? The timing isn't right; perhaps in the near future.

Oren, of course, is Oren Koules, the Hollywood producer who heads OK Hockey, which is trying to buy the Lightning, the St. Pete Times Forum lease and 5 1/2 nearby acres in Tampa from Palace Sports & Entertainment for $200-million.

Nice guy, from what I could tell from the few moments I have spent with him since he was introduced in August as part of Absolute Hockey Enterprises, the doomed-from-the-start enterprise that tried to buy the team last year.

I also like his Saw movies; gruesome but compelling, nonetheless.

What I can't get my head around, though, is why Koules, 47, hasn't spoken publicly about buying the team, not just to me or any reporter for that matter but to the players and fans.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has asked Koules to lay low until the sale is final. And Lightning president Ron Campbell predicted Koules will be tons of fun when finally turned loose.

Seems to me, though, if someone wants your trust to run the team, and is asking for ticket and concession money to support it, he should explain a few things up front.

Seems to me, if someone already is kind of in charge (Koules was an important voice in decisions to trade Brad Richards and re-sign Dan Boyle), he should be part of the conversation.

Here are a few things I'd like to know. Perhaps you would, too:

- If Koules buys the team, will he keep it in Tampa for the foreseeable future? We know Las Vegas wants a franchise, and that town is much nearer Koules' home base of Los Angeles. Why wouldn't we wonder about his intentions?

- Will he try to sign star Vinny Lecavalier to a long-term contract? We've heard through general manager Jay Feaster he will. It would be more convincing coming from the guy who will spend the money.

- Is Len Barrie part of OK Hockey? The former NHL player made a fortune developing a resort community on British Columbia's Vancouver Island. The Globe and Mail newspaper speculated he could own up to 47 percent of the team. The Times-Colonist in Victoria, British Columbia, quoted Barrie as saying, "I would be looking for equal control."

At the very least, the Times-Colonist reported, Barrie could invest $20-million, $15-million of which could go to purchase the 5 1/2 acres.

Barrie, too, hasn't returned phone messages left with the Victoria Grizzlies, the junior team he owns, or with Bear Mountain Resort.

- How has the worldwide credit crunch hampered Koules' effort to get financing? We know he lost a loan worth up to $110-million when France's second-largest bank, Societe Generale, closed its U.S. sports-lending business.

- Is Koules confident he will get replacement financing and close the deal by a late May deadline? Does he intend to increase payroll from this season's $44-million?

- Does he want to win?

This isn't forcing Koules to make commitments he can't keep. After months of due diligence, he knows the lay of the land.

I understand Koules is following Bettman's orders. That keeps him on the commissioner's good side. But it does nothing to connect with the people who cheer and cry for this franchise and are, through ticket sales, the team's primary source of income.

A few words from either would go a long way to calm jitters and speculation about the team's future. So far, we've heard nothing.

What does that say?

Damian Cristodero can be reached at cristodero@sptimes.com

[Last modified March 9, 2008, 10:23:15]