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Colorado Avalanche owner Stan Kroenke hopes to hand team to someone within family

Rams Kroenke Football

FILE - In this April 24, 2000 file photo, Stan Kroenke discusses his purchase of the Denver Nuggets, the Colorado Avalanche and the Pepsi Center during a news conference in Denver. Missouri billionaire Kroenke has decided to exercise his matching rights and try to purchase the remaining 60 percent share of the St. Louis Rams. Kroenke made the announcement late Monday April 12, 2010, the deadline for him to make this decision. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski, File)

AP

As I discussed last week, the Colorado Avalanche might need a new owner - though that owner might only have a different first name - if current owner Stan Korenke’s bid to own the NFL’s St. Louis Rams goes through. The Denver Post expands on that topic today.

Stan Kroenke intends to keep ownership of the NHL’s Avalanche and the NBA’s Nuggets within his family, as well as own the NFL’s St. Louis Rams, he made clear in a statement Monday. Kroenke also made his first public comments about transferring ownership of the Nuggets to his son, Josh.

“Our son Josh has been involved with many of our organizations for several years and that family continuity remains a priority,” Kroenke said in a statement to The Denver Post. “My family looks forward to owning the Rams, Nuggets and Avalanche for years to come while being compliant with all stipulations set by the NFL. Our family remains committed to fans in St. Louis and Denver.”

Kroenke will transfer some or all of his ownership of the Nuggets to his 30-year-old son, who works in the team’s front office. It is unclear how Kroenke will handle the ownership of the Avs, though it is possible he could pass that ownership to his son or possibly to his wife.

Overall, it’s good news if the Avalanche can stay in (just about) the same hands. It sounds like that will be the case, but you never know for sure until these things are settled.

One “pro” is that the Post states that Kroenke is respected in ownership circles in all three major sports leagues. If this were, say, Mike Cuban or Jim Balsillie, maybe this would seem less like a formality than a bit of “blacklisting.”

Now, it’s no guarantee that this situation is rectified, though. We’ll keep our eyes on news regarding the Avs ownership situation and pass it along to you as it comes our way.