Sports Centre at MCC to be sold

Posted at: 10/05/2012 2:40 PM | Updated at: 10/05/2012 4:38 PM
By: Berkeley Brean | WHEC.com

I-Team10 has learned that there is an agreement in principle to sell the Sports Centre at MCC to a new company. A lawyer for the buyers says the deal should be done before Christmas.

The buyer

The buyer is a company called End2End sports, run by a Pittsburgh man named Scott Branovan. End2End Sports' website says it's mission is "to improve the way North America finances, builds, manages and enjoys participatory sports facilities."

When contacted by I-Team10, Branovan directed us to his Rochester attorney Heather Rogers. In a phone conversation, Rogers said "we have a lot of things in place but there are a lot of loose ends to tie up."

"We are very excited and can't wait to get started," Rogers said.

Rogers says she expects the deal to close before Christmas, saying they are "pretty close."

The deal

Leon Lekai, one of the bond holders for the rink, told I-Team10 that End2End contacted Empire Ice LLC -- the company that controls the majority of the rink's bonds -- wanting to buy its assets. Lekai said there is an agreement in principle. But with the number of government entities and the issue of the bonds, Lekai said it's a complex deal.

"When it gets done," Lekai said, "it's going to be a great new start for the facility and the business."

Lekai said he could not comment on how much money End2End Sports offered Empire Ice for the bonds, but when asked if it was cents on the dollar, Lekai said "you're right to say cents."

One of the loose ends

What is not clear is who will manage the Sports Centre at MCC under a new owner.

Current Sports Centre at MCC General Manager Rory Fitzpatrick says he will not be retained as the rink's GM.

History of financial problems

In January of 2011, the Democrat and Chronicle reported that the bonds for the Sports Centre at MCC were in default. The bonds totalled more than $12 million. When the bonds are paid off, ownership of the Sports Centre reverts back to Monroe Community College.

Also in early 2011, News10NBC reported that both MCC and the Town of Brighton sued the Sports Centre for "hundreds of thousands of dollars" in back rent.

In 2007, I-Team10 uncovered a series of problems with the facilities maintenance that led to health inspections by the Monroe County Health Department.

In 2005, an audit of the Sports Centre showed it was more than $7.2 million in debt.

More on the potential new owners

Again, on its website, End2End Sports says it is dedicated to:

- Reducing direct taxpayer participation in financing participatory sports facilities through integrated mixed-use commercial development.
- Implementing critical strategies to the complex economics of participatory sports facilities.
- Delivering a professional sports marketing model for participatory sports facilities.
- Enhancing the quality of life for children and their families by producing healthy lifestyle choices.
 

Have a story you want our news team to investigate? Call us at 585-232-1010, click here to send us an e-mail or leave us a Facebook post or tweet.

Print Story