San Diego Not on First GHL Franchise List

San Diego, which has been under consideration, was not among six cities awarded the first franchises in the new Global Hockey League, it was announced Saturday. But league officials said the city might still end up with one.

Franchises have been awarded to Los Angeles, Sacramento, Providence, R.I., Albany, N.Y. and two Canadian cities, Hamilton and Saskatoon. The Los Angeles franchise would play at either the Long Beach Arena or Los Angeles Sports Arena, said Dennis Murphy, GHL executive vice president, at a press conference in El Segundo.

“Los Angeles is very important from an international basis,” said Charlie Hodgins, a GHL vice president who will own the Saskatoon franchise. “Los Angeles and Hollywood are very recognizable in Europe, so to have a franchise like that is very good.”

The league plans on awarding four additional North American franchises within 10 days. Michael Gobuty, GHL chairman of the board, said an unnamed San Diego group said to be pursuing a franchise had not yet been granted one because league officials had not met with the prospective owners. Murphy said San Diego would remain “absolutely under consideration” for a franchise.

Harry Cooper, who owns the lease on the San Diego Sports Arena, has expressed reservations about having a GHL team as a tenant because of his commitment to lure an NHL franchise. The Sports Arena is considered the only suitable place in the area for a pro hockey franchise.

Gobuty said the GHL will begin play Nov. 15, with the franchises in North American and 10 in Europe playing an interlocking schedule. He declined to reveal the amount of the franchise fee or of a performance bond each owner will be required to post.