Looks like Anaheim avoids contraction. There's no way the league approves this if they were about to contract the team:
Disney Sells the Ducks to Philanthropist
Friday, February 25, 2005
Disney created team in 1992
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Associated Press
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The Walt Disney Co. agreed to sell the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim to billionaire Henry Samueli and his wife Susan.
The deal, announced Friday by Samueli, is subject to approval by the NHL. Samueli's company operates the Arrowhead Pond, where the Mighty Ducks play.
The 2004-5 season was canceled by a management lockout.
"The Mighty Ducks have become a wonderful asset to this community, with a terrific following, a history of winning and a strong nucleus of outstanding young prospects and talented veterans,'' Samueli said. "Our acquisition of the team assures that the Mighty Ducks will remain in the hands of local ownership committed to keeping the team in Orange County and putting a consistent winner on the ice.''
Disney paid $50 million for the Ducks to join the NHL as an expansion franchise in 1992. Samueli's initial offer reportedly was in the $50 million to $60 million range.
Although the Ducks were Western Conference champions and went to the Stanley Cup finals during the 2002-2003 season, Disney has had them on the market for years.
"We are confident that Henry and Susan Samueli will bring continued success to the Ducks and we will remain among the biggest fans of the team going forward,'' Disney chief executive Michael Eisner said.
Samueli is co-founder, chairman of the board and chief technical officer of Broadcom Corp.
Disney sold the Anaheim Angels to Arte Moreno in 2003.