ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — The Cape Breton Highlanders will likely have to forget about Irwin Simon saving the club’s upcoming National Basketball League of Canada’ season — at least for now.
Simon, the Glace Bay, N.S., native who is the majority owner of the NBL Canada’s St. John’s Edge, recently told the SaltWire Network there have no discussions about his purchasing the Highlanders.
However, Simon, who is also the majority owner of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s Cape Breton Eagles, believes the market can handle two professional teams.
“I think two sports teams could be supported here,” said Simon, who was in Sydney for the Eagles’ rebranding announcement last week.
And despite not having any immediate plans to be part of the Highlanders ownership, Simon isn’t ruling out the possibility at some point in the future.
“It’s something I would consider,” said Simon. “Right now, we have a great team in St. John’s, so let’s see what happens.”
Last month, the Highlanders suspended operations for the upcoming NBL Canada season because it couldn’t meet the deadlines set out by the league.
The league required team dues of $25,000 by July 8 and any outstanding debts owned by the club also needed to be paid.
In a final attempt to save the 2019-20 season, the Highlanders unveiled a plan that if successful would mean the return of the franchise to the court this season.
The club is looking to sell 1,500 season tickets in one week, a campaign which began Sunday.
Simon confirmed he was approached by the Highlanders organization last year, but didn’t elaborate on what transpired.
“At that time, I was in the middle of the hockey season, but they’re the owners (of the Highlanders) right now and I’m on the sidelines — right now my focus is the Eagles.”
Highlanders president and general manager Tyrone Levingston confirmed he spoke with Simon last season.
“We had a very minimal conversation,” said Levingston. “We were never really trying to sell our club, we were looking at having the possibility of a major investor coming on board and taking over the bulk of the workload.”
“We were never really trying to sell our club, we were looking at having the possibility of a major investor coming on board and taking over the bulk of the workload.” — Tyrone Levingston, Highlanders president and general manager
The Edge ranked first in the league for attendance in 2018-19, averaging 3,794 fans per game in their second season, which saw the St. John’s team go all the way to the league final, where it fell to the Moncton Magic.
As for the Highlanders, the team averaged 1,238 fans per game — the worst in the team’s three-year history.
NBL Canada deputy commissioner Audley Stephenson told SaltWire someone can own shares in more than one league team.
“It’s happened several times throughout the league history,” said Stephenson.
League rules state a person cannot own majority shares in two teams, but a majority shareholder can hold shares in a second team. A person can only hold shares in more than one team if approved by the league’s board of directors, which has approved similar situations in the past.
For example, London Lightning Vito Frijia owns five per cent of the St. John’s franchise.
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