Lee County officials are considering a potential purchase of Hertz Arena, home to hockey’s Florida Everblades (ECHL) and numerous other events.
Hertz Arena–known as Germain Arena until a recent naming-rights deal with Hertz–is currently under the private ownership of KTB Florida Sports. It has sought a buyer at various points over the years and could now have an interested party in Lee County, as county commissioners have directed staff to continue exploring a potential purchase.
Should the county purchase the Estero-based venue, it would lease the facility to the Everblades, with the team’s ownership continuing its role in managing the arena. Plenty of work will need to be done before it is determined whether Lee County does proceed with buying the arena, but the county says it has been approached about acquiring the facility. More from the Naples Daily News:
At the commission meeting Tuesday, County Manager Roger Desjarlais confirmed the county had been approached and presented with an offer to buy the arena, the home of the Florida Everblades hockey team.
“The owners want to sell the facility to us, with the Everblades staying in place and the owner of the Everblades continuing to manage the property,” he said.
Craig Brush, president and general manager of the Florida Everblades and owner of the arena, said he couldn’t comment.
The issue is expected to receive further discussion at a work session down the road, but a date for that meeting has not been set.
