BBC SPORT | Other Sports | US Sport | More trouble for Sabres

The NHL's Buffalo Sabres may be forced to declare bankruptcy to settle their $157m debt to cable company Adelphia Communications.

The team, based in Erie County, New York State, could then be sold, with several potential buyers already expressing interest.

Erie County executive Joel Giambra said: "(Bankruptcy) might be inevitable - that's how screwed up the books are."

The NHL took over operational control of the Sabres in June after criminal charges were lodged against owner John Rigas.

But Giambra holds considerable influence in helping determine the Sabres' next owner, in part because Erie County has a large stake in the team.

Accused

The Sabres signed a 25-year lease to move into Buffalo's HSBC Arena in 1996.

Bankruptcy could delay the sale of the team and potentially jeopardise that lease agreement, freeing up the possibility of the Sabres moving.

In bankruptcy proceedings, a judge has the power to negate any binding agreements if they are ruled to hamper the interests of the creditor.

Buffalo lost 4-2 to Dallas in the 1999 Stanley Cup finals series.
Buffalo lost the 1999 Stanley Cup finals
"I'm not advocating (bankruptcy)," Giambra said.

"But what I'm being informed of is that this may be necessary in order to make an ownership group able to afford to buy this team."

The Sabres' debt - of which $40m is secured - stems from money that former Adelphia boss John Rigas used to help purchase and operate the team.

Rigas, who remains the Sabres owner in title only, resigned as Adelphia chairman last May and is accused of stealing hundreds of millions of dollars from the company he founded.

Adelphia, the USA's sixth-largest cable TV company, filed for bankruptcy in June.

What is unclear is how much of the Sabres' $157m debt it is seeking to recoup and whether it will affect the sale price of the franchise - initially projected to be between $85m and $100m.


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