Landlord Begins Effort To Stop Devils’ Move Goes To Court, Calls Club Ingrate Since It Won Stanley Cup
The New Jersey Devils got more than $33 million in concessions in negotiating their last two leases, their landlord said in court papers to stop the Stanley Cup champions from a possible move.
The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority filed the documents Wednesday in the Chancery Division of Superior Court in Hackensack to support their request for a restraining order to prevent the Devils from ending their Meadowlands Arena lease next week and possibly relocating to Nashville, Tenn.
Robert Mulcahy, the sports authority’s chief executive officer, said the Devils have become ingrates since winning the NHL title.
“They now want to turn their backs on the sports authority and on the citizens of New Jersey simply because the owners believe they can now make more money at another location,” he said.
The court action was the latest in a series of legal maneuvers between the NHL champions and the sports authority, and it overshadowed a celebration Wednesday night in which more than 25,000 fans - many chanting “Stay! Stay!” - flooded the arena parking lot to honor the team’s first title.
Despite the legal wrangling, the two sides met Tuesday in talks on a new lease and they are scheduled to meet again Thursday,” said Michael Francis, the chairman of the sports authority.
Gov. Christie Whitman, a Devils fans and a close ally of team owner John McMullen, said the state is doing everything it can to keep the team.
Attending a party after the team celebration, McMullen said he wished the Nashville issue would go away for a night and people would concentrate on honoring the team. He added his preference was to stay in New Jersey, but he also noted he had a fiscal responsibility.
“In our opinion we haven’t been treated fairly,” McMullen said. “But it can be straightened out. The time is now.”
The Devils, who renegotiated their lease in 1986 and ‘91, have been seeking further concessions since April when they filed a default notice with the sports authority.
McMullen announced Tuesday the Devils are terminating their lease July 6. He says the contractual disputes cost the club about $11 million.
The sports authority counter sued later in the day and filed additional documents Wednesday.
The request for a temporary restraining order will be heard Monday in Superior Court in Hackensack.
Mulcahy said the sports authority has been a good landlord and worked with the Devils when they had financial problems after McMullen bought the team and moved it to New Jersey from Colorado in 1982.