Savvis Rumors

Former Madison Square Garden CEO Dave Checketts reportedly has his eye on purchasing pro hockey’s St. Louis Blues. Meanwhile, a source told the St. Louis Business Journal that Anschutz Entertainment Group might still be trying to purchase the team’s venue, the Savvis Center, but the company denies the report.

“We’re not in negotiations with any parties having to do with the Savvis Center,” AEG spokesman Michael Roth told Pollstar.

The rumor gave the company two arenas in Missouri: AEG will soon have a presence in Kansas City, operating the $250 million Sprint Center. AEG cannot purchase the Blues because it already owns the Los Angeles Kings.

Checketts ran MSG for seven years before leaving in 2001. He currently operates Sports Capital Partners, which owns College Sports Television, New York-based live entertainment company Running Subway Productions and a Major League Soccer LLC expansion team, the Journal said.

Sources told the paper that Checketts’ company might still work out a deal where AEG buys Savvis Center, and he’ll get a long-term lease agreement for the Blues out of it.