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North York’s NHL team a long shot?

Revenue would go to Herb Carnegie charity

A NEW AND unique proposal for the city’s second National Hockey League team was revealed recently — and has strong connections to the North York community.

The business plan, unveiled by an organization with no previous professional sports experience, proposes a second team for the Toronto region. Named the Toronto Legacy, the plan centres on diverting 25 per cent of the revenue generated by the team to fund seven identified charity organizations.

One of the organizations named is Herbert H. Carnegie’s Future Aces Foundation. Carnegie, a North York resident, hockey legend and Order of Canada recipient founded the charity, which has awarded more than $440,000 in scholarships to students since its establishment in 1987.

“When I met Mr. Carnegie, and I saw the kind of man that he was, and then bought his book and read his story, I was just blown away by his example,” said Andrew Lopez, creator of the Legacy Group.

“From that moment on, he became literally one of my heroes, and I thought, if I ever got to this point, how fitting would it be to honour Mr. Carnegie’s legacy.”

In addition to contributing to Carnegie’s foundation, Lopez said they would also build a stadium at Downsview Park to host the team’s games.

“We think, from a strategic perspective, Downsview Park is the perfect location for an arena,” Lopez said, listing the central GTA location and accessibility both by public transit and major roadways as its appeal. “It’s our first choice.”

The first row of seating in the proposed 30,000-seat stadium would be named Future Aces Row and would be reserved for charities, scholarship recipients and similar groups.

Bernice Carnegie, executive director of the foundation and Herbert’s daughter, said the proposal would allow the organization to do more for the community.

“By being part of this particular initiative, it would mean that we could do so much more to help young people,” she said. “To have a corporation actually look seriously at saying the first thing on their agenda is to do that, that’s unusual.”

The uniqueness of the model has not precluded it from being attractive to investors, Lopez said.

“If a second team in Toronto can actually be a reality, there is no shortage of investors,” he said, adding that eight different groups are currently interested in
the project. “We’re really out to determine the best corporate citizens to become our partners. We technically have a billion and a half on the table. We have more interest than we require, to be honest with you.”

Although unsure of the possibility for success with the proposal, Carnegie said she is optimistic.

“ When I met Mr. Carnegie, and I saw the kind of man that he was, I was just blown away by his example.”

“I really don’t know whether it has a chance, but if you don’t ask, you don’t get,” she said. “You have to have young people out there that want to dream big.”
Lopez said he likes his chances.

“I think we have as good a shot as anyone else,” he said. “In Toronto it can work, and if we get the opportunity, we’ll make it work.”

Article exclusive to STREETS OF TORONTO