Oilers management look to Seattle for possible relocation

With plans for a new arena in doubt, the Edmonton Oilers are shopping for a different city to call come, the Canadian Press reports. Yesterday, Oilers owner Daryl Katz, and team president Patrick LaForge were in Seattle to discuss a possible relocation.

While the Oilers management have said they would prefer to reach a deal with Edmonton on a new arena, talks with the city have stalled and the managers have begun to look elsewhere.

This week, the Seattle City Council approved a plan for a US$490-million arena that both sides hope will be home to an NBA and NHL team.

While the Oilers and the City of Edmonton had previously agreed on plans for a new $475-million cost-shared arena, those plans went array when the Oilers told city councillors they needed millions more dollars from the city budget. Mayor Stephen Mandel invited Katz to explain the new demands before council, but the Oilers owner declined.