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9/24/2012
Mayor Stephen Mandel isn't as optimistic this afternoon as he was last week when new demands from Daryl Katz on an arena deal became public.
Mandel says it's been left to the city administration to continue to negotiate with the Katz Group and they have met since then, with no progress.
"I would say the 17th is the drop dead date," Mandel confirmed to 630 CHED News. "We need to have some presentation from somebody as to what this is going to be. Timing is vitally important. We need to move ahead."
"I think everybody in the city including the Katz Group I'm sure as well as all councillors are frustrated that we need to make some decisions. 'What do you want? What is it? You should know by now.'"
"We've been dealing for four years it's not a complicated what you want, we just don't know what it is."
Asked if he's 'hopeful' Mandel says that wouldn't be the adjective he'd use.
"We're a long way apart."
Meanwhile the Oilers confirm that Katz along with Oilers presidents Patrick Laforge and Kevin Lowe are in Seattle, not only to take in the Seahawks Monday night NFL game, but to also tour Key Arena in the downtown. There is also a report that Wayne Gretzky is with them. There's also word of a meeting with Chris Hansen, one of the investors behind a new hockey and basketball facility in Seattle.
In a written statment, Bob Black of the Katz Group says, "...as the City of Edmonton is aware, the Katz Group has been listening to proposals from a number of potential NHL markets for some time. After more than four years of trying to secure an arena deal and with less than 24 months remaining on the Oilers' lease at Rexall Place, this is only prudent and should come as no surprise."
(sj/scb/jrw)
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