Press Release: Wild to be Sold

Wild to be sold

Jan 10, 2008

MINNESOTA WILD TO BE SOLD TO CRAIG LEIPOLD

FORMER OWNER OF NASHVILLE PREDATORS WHO LOVES HOCKEY,
MINNESOTA STYLE

http://wild.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=349473

SAINT PAUL/MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- Minnesota Sports & Entertainment
(MSE), the parent company of the Minnesota Wild, announced today that
an agreement has been signed to sell the Minnesota Wild and its
related entities to Craig Leipold. Financial terms were not disclosed,
and the final sale requires approval by the National Hockey League and
other regulatory approvals.

Bob Naegele has been the majority owner of the Minnesota Wild since
the NHL granted an expansion franchise to the team in 1997. Mr.
Leipold, a resident of Racine, Wisconsin, recently completed the sale
of the Nashville Predators, a team he owned since the expansion
franchise was awarded to Nashville in 1997.

"Our goals were to return the NHL to the State of Hockey, to establish
a winning tradition dedicated to the hockey fans of Minnesota, and to
ensure the long-term success of the Wild," said Naegele. "It is now
time to pass the torch on to a new owner who will insure that
long-term success. Craig is as committed to winning the Stanley Cup as
I have been, and he represents proven, committed leadership, hockey
passion and Midwestern values that have been the bedrock of our
organization’s success to this point, and will serve as the foundation
for the success of the future."

Said Leipold: "I love the sport of hockey and am very excited to
continue the tradition of Wild hockey here in Minnesota, the State of
Hockey. I have admired Bob Naegele and the entire Wild organization
since the first puck dropped in 2000. It is a true privilege to become
part of the organization and the hockey community in Minnesota. I want
to thank Bob for this unique opportunity, and I am pleased that he
will consider continuing as my partner in the organization."

Doug Risebrough, General Manager of the Minnesota Wild and President
of MSE, stated: "The Minnesota Wild owes a substantial debt to Bob
Naegele, whose vision and courage resulted in an NHL franchise
returning to Minnesota. He’s been a leader and has demonstrated that
success can only come through true partnership with others. We thank
Bob for our history, and we turn with excitement to Craig for our
future. We appreciate his commitment to continuing to build a team
with a winning tradition and the shared goal of bringing the Stanley
Cup to Minnesota."



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