By Howard Riedel
Buffalo, NY – A lack of progress in putting together a package of government assistance for HSBC Arena has Mark Hamister asking for an extension of Friday's NHL-imposed deadline to submit a final purchase plan for the Buffalo Sabres.
The Buffalo News reports Hamister will ask the league for a two-week extension.
He plans to meet with city, county and state lawmakers Friday to discuss his bid for the Sabres. Several elected officials have complained that Hamister didn't tell them earlier that his bid for the Sabres depended on public money.
Also Wednesday, a spokeswoman for Governor Pataki denied an earlier report that the Empire State Development Corp. had submitted an incentive plan to the governor for his consideration.