Buss’ Bid to NHL: Anaheim or San Diego

Los Angeles Laker owner Jerry Buss has submitted an application and a $100,000 filing fee to the NHL office to acquire an expansion franchise that would be located in either Anaheim or San Diego.

Harry Cooper, co-owner of the San Diego Sports Arena and the San Diego Gulls of the International Hockey League, also has submitted an application and filing fee for San Diego.

Cooper said Thursday he would not be surprised if Buss steered clear of San Diego and directed his efforts toward bringing a team to Anaheim.

“Jerry’s driven by money,” Cooper said. “And there’s more support in Anaheim right now, and they are further along on a new arena than I am.”

Cooper said he would be willing to help Buss acquire an NHL team for San Diego.

“I would do everything I could to help him,” Cooper said. “Whether he joins with me or has his own group, I’ll support him.”

Cooper said he would not help Buss if Buss’ intentions were to obtain a franchise in San Diego, then move it to Anaheim.

“If he wants to play in San Diego, I’ll make it as easy as I can for him. I’d sell him my land. Lease him my building (the Sports Arena). I don’t have to have a big part in it. I can only afford 20% to 30% of the arena and then only about 5% of the team. I need Jerry.”

Buss, former owner of the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings, was not commenting Thursday on his application. However, his spokesman, Bob Steiner, said Buss has applied for a franchise for San Diego or Orange County to play in an arena built either by Buss or someone else.

“My guess is he does not have a preference at this point,” Steiner said.

Anaheim City Manager James Ruth said the group trying to line up a team for his city’s arena is seeking an existing team, rather than an expansion franchise.

“It’s looking very optimistic,” Ruth said.

However, when advised of Buss’ application, Ruth said: “We’d love to have Jerry Buss or any other bona fide owner, but at this stage we’re looking for any option, for somebody to move a franchise or for us to acquire a franchise.

“We would absolutely be delighted” if Buss located an expansion team in Anaheim, Ruth said. “He’s a quality person.”

In an April interview with The Times, Buss said he would try to acquire a franchise first and then worry about a place to play.

He said: “I see this project probably different than other people see it. To them, it’s go out and get land, get an architect, talk to the city, etc. In my estimation, that’s putting the cart before the horse.”

The NHL office said its expansion committee will begin reviewing applicants shortly after Labor Day. Then in December, it will name two cities to begin play in 1992.

In addition to San Diego and Anaheim, seven other U.S. cities have submitted bids for an NHL franchise: Milwaukee, Seattle, Phoenix, Houston, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Fla., and Miami. Two Canadian cities--Hamilton and Ottawa--also have applied. The NHL is expected to announce four more expansion teams by the year 2000.

Cooper said it is possible the committee could choose his group and not Buss’.

“Although Jerry has proven himself to be a viable owner with the Kings, not everyone in the NHL is enamored with him,” Cooper said.

Times staff writer Mark Landsbaum contributed to this story.