Former Canadiens and Liverpool owner George Gillett Jr. dead at 87
George Gillett Jr., a prominent businessman who formerly owned the Montreal Canadiens and Liverpool FC, has died at age 87. He is remembered for his tenure as an NHL owner and his brief, controversial ownership of the English soccer giant.
Why it matters
Marks the passing of a significant figure in international sports ownership and business history.
The Canadiens confirmed Gillett's death in a release Thursday. A cause of death was not given.
Gillett bought the Bell Centre (then Molson Centre) and a majority stake in the Canadiens for $275 million on Jan. 31, 2001, with the help of $140 million in loans from two banks and the Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec, the province's pension fund manager.
He owned the Original Six club until agreeing to sell the team and arena to the Molson family on June 20, 2009.
The sale was approved by the NHL's board of governors in December of that year.
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