Sale Of Tampa Bay Lightning Seems Close

After a carousel of horrors where Tampa Bay Lightning co-owners Len Barrie and Oren Koules went back and forth trying to buy one another out ultimately turned into nothing, it appears the ownership group is getting ready to complete the sale of the team to Boston-based hedgefund manager Jeff Vinik.

From Damian Cristofero of the St. Pete Times:

Meetings that went through Monday and into Tuesday morning at the NHL offices in New York apparently have brought Boston hedgefund manager Jeff Vinik much closer to buying the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Details are sketchy, and it was unclear how much more work has to be done. But Lightning co-owner Oren Koules apparently attended the meetings and at least representatives for co-owner Len Barrie and Vinik.

The deal would include the team, the St. Pete Times Forum lease and 5-1/2 acres around the arena.

Vinik is also a minority owner of the Boston Red Sox.