The interesting thing about this is the CBJ org does not get to lease 15 of the 52 suites as Nationwide does that. They get no parking rev or naming rights while having to operate the arena which is driving it to dip into hockey revenues which have been lower due to lower attendance (1st playoff run this year and blistering bad economy in Ohio). With higher salaries with the cap the business model has somewhat soured but no way will the CBJs move. This is just an arena sell by the 2 owners (Nationwide Insurance and The Dispatch media company. The arena was not paid with a special tax like many arenas and I guess they think it is time to do so.

Columbus is a good hockey market especially now they are out of the expansion blues.

Good article in the Columbus Business journal

One way is it is just the finances of an NHL. I think the biggest is Pete Karmanos’s first choice to move the Hartford Whalers was Columbus. If he had, that would be the deal he got and some other person may have moved a team here. Felix Sabates tried before PK did. My guess is someone whith less intestinal fortitude or shall I say Brazz Knuckles would not have had the staying power that PK has had. A lesser man would have given up on Raleigh aroudn 2001 or 2004.

In short, PK/The Whale might have got a better deal and more sucessful in Raleigh.