Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Portland City Council Unanimously Approves Expo Lease for Maine D-League Franchise

This report from the Tuesday, April 8, 2008 Portland Press Herald:

PORTLAND — The Portland City Council unanimously agreed Monday to lease the Portland Exposition Building to a group of investors that wants to bring an NBA Development League team to Maine's largest city.

The agreement covers five seasons, 2009-10 through 2013-14, with an option to renew for five more seasons.

The team will pay $250,000 for building improvements and be responsible for all team-related operating costs at the Expo.

The investors have said they hope to become an affiliate of the Boston Celtics. The investors include Bill Ryan, owner of Oxford Plains Speedway; his father, Bill Ryan, board chairman of TD Banknorth; Jon Jennings, a former assistant coach with the Celtics; and state Sen. Barry Hobbins, D-Saco.

Under the proposed contract, the team will pay $2,100 per event for seasons 1-3, $2,200 per event for seasons 4-5, $2,300 per event for seasons 6-8 and $2,400 per event for seasons 9-10.

If the team surpassed minimum attendance of 2,900 per game, or 69,600 in a 24-game season, the city would get 50 cents on each additional ticket.

The Expo's capacity is 3,209 spectators. The most the city could make on the surcharge is $3,708 per season.

Under the proposed contract, the team will have priority scheduling after existing commitments, including elections. The schedules could include a maximum of five doubleheaders with Portland High School's basketball teams.

The city will move ahead with plans to borrow $650,000 to renovate the Expo's basement locker rooms, improving and expanding them to meet federal requirements to have separate facilities for girls. Improvements to meet NBA regulations would be funded by the team, city officials said.

The team will invest $250,000 in equipment and improvements to the Expo, including a regulation-size portable court and additional bleacher seating. If the team left the Expo for any reason, the improvements would stay, according to the contract.

The city will pay for maintenance and utilities. The team will pay a surcharge for additional lighting. The city will operate concessions, parking lots and garages, though the team will get any profits.

The team will pay for and retain control of ticketing, media rights, advertising and sponsorship. The team also will pay for at least one off-duty police officer to staff each event.

The team may terminate the contract after two seasons; the NBA may assume the rest of the lease. The city may terminate for breach of contract at any time.

The team will play at least 20 of its 24 home games per season at the Expo. The investors are exploring playing some home games in other Maine cities, such as Augusta and Bangor, according to Jennings, who would be the team's co-owner, president and general manager.

The team's colors will be green and white, like the Celtics'. The team will invite the community to participate in a naming contest, Jennings said.

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