katz apology letter to edmonton
TRANSCRIPT
September 29, 2012
To the People of Edmonton, Northern Alberta and Oilers Fans Everywhere,
I owe you an explana7on.
I was upset when certain confiden7al informa7on was leaked and by comments that I thought were unfair and called my integrity into ques7on. I reacted by trying to send a message to City leaders that they should not take my support for a new arena for granted.
In doing so, I took for granted your support and your love of the Oilers.
That was wrong, and I apologize.
The best I can say is that I did it because I’m figh7ng for a deal that will enable the team to stay in Edmonton – and not because I want them to be anywhere else.
That’s why I bought the Oilers in the first place. Because I want the NHL to be sustainable in Edmonton for the long-‐term, and because I saw the city’s need for a new arena as an opportunity to transform our city for the bePer.
In hindsight, I have underes7mated the degree to which it would be up to us to make the case for public funding. As I think you all know by now, public communica7ons is not in my nature. Chalk that up as a personal shortcoming.
The simple fact is that the Oilers need Edmonton, and Edmonton needs the Oilers. Each is an integral part of the fabric and iden7ty of the other.
We are con7nuing to work with City Administra7on to forge a win-‐win partnership that will benefit our city and that we can all be proud of.
I hope we can count on your support.
Sincerely,
Daryl Katz
Daryl A. KatzChairman
1702 Bell Tower, 10104 -‐ 103 Avenue, Edmonton, AB Canada T5J 0H8 Tel: (780) 990-‐0505 Fax: (780) 425-‐6160