Disney Gets Arena Lease : Hockey: Anaheim’s NHL franchise agrees to 30-year deal. But issues concerning the league are unresolved, Eisner says.

Walt Disney Co. can launch its NHL team this October in Anaheim’s new $103-million arena under an agreement approved Friday.

The 3-0 approval by the Anaheim City Council clears the way for play by the Disney team, nicknamed the Mighty Ducks for now.

The agreement among Disney, the city and Anaheim Arena manager Ogden Entertainment was reached after days of lengthy bargaining sessions. The negotiators were scrambling to meet an NHL deadline set for Monday as the last date to notify the league whether the Anaheim team would compete in 1993-94.

“It was like giving birth to a porcupine,” Anaheim City Manager James D. Ruth said of negotiations. “It was very difficult, but everyone is pleased with the way it worked out. It’s a great business deal for everyone involved.”

Disney Chairman Michael Eisner said that there are are still issues to be resolved with the league.

“Everything is resolved with the arena and the city,” but Disney still has to “resolve certain conditions of the league to determine whether we play in 1993 or 1994.”

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Anaheim is one of two expansion teams--Miami is the other--that might be added to the NHL in the fall. The Miami franchise, owned by Blockbuster Entertainment’s Wayne Huizenga, reportedly has agreed to a two-year lease with the Miami Arena to begin play next fall.

With a 30-year arena lease, Disney has met the NHL’s three criteria for entry into the league--the lease, commitments for the sale of 10,000 season tickets and ability to pay $50 million in franchise fees to the NHL, $25 million of which will go to owner Bruce McNall of the Kings, who holds the NHL’s territorial rights to Southern California.

Anaheim Arena General Manager Brad Mayne said the list for those interested in hockey season tickets has grown to 9,000, with most hoping to acquire four seats. The arena will seat 17,250 for hockey.

An NHL spokesman said Disney will have until June to pay the league’s $25-million expansion fee, but Ogden has agreed to pay McNall $12.5 million of Disney’s indemnity fee as part of the lease agreement.

Times staff writer Kathryn Harris contributed to this story.