Lemieux Gets Backing of Beverly Hills Billionaire

Billionaire grocery magnate Ron Burkle of Beverly Hills, a partner with Michael Ovitz, Magic Johnson and others in the group that hopes to bring an NFL team and new stadium to Carson, is the mystery backer behind Mario Lemieux’s bid to buy and run the Pittsburgh Penguins, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Burkle, who also worked on the committee that secured the 2000 Democratic National Convention for Los Angeles, would have a minority interest in the NHL franchise and leave its operations to Lemieux. That apparently would not violate NFL rules against cross-ownership of teams in another city where an NFL team plays.

The Ovitz-Burkle group and its rival, headed by King minority owner Ed Roski and billionaire builder Eli Broad, are working under a Sept. 15 deadline to win the NFL’s approval for a Los Angeles franchise.

The Penguins filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in October. Lemieux, who led the team to Stanley Cup championships in 1991 and 1992, on Thursday presented a reorganization plan in Bankruptcy Court that would put the franchise on secure financial footing. Lemieux, who listed conditions that included a new lease with reduced rent at the Civic Arena and renegotiation of the club’s local TV contract with Fox, said he had investors who are willing to put $50 million into the team. However, he would not identify the investors except to Bankruptcy Court Judge Bernard Markovitz.

Lemieux’s agent, Tom Reich, said this week that a single investor with sports-investment experience would provide a substantial portion of the $50 million but would not confirm the investor’s identity.