Katz Group Aims to Operate and Develop Sports & Entertainment Assets in Hamilton

Katz Entertainment Holdings Corp. (KEHC), a member of the Katz Group of companies, is working to develop and operate sports and entertainment facilities in Hamilton.

KEHC, with the support of AEG, is currently working with the City of Hamilton to secure a license to manage various facilities owned by the City but currently being operated by Hamilton Entertainment Convention Facilities Inc. (HECFI) including the Victor K. Copps Coliseum.
Hamilton City Council unanimously approved a motion earlier today directing City Administration to work with KEHC to prepare a recommended "non binding MOU with KEHC for operating and managing various City facilities" and bring it back to Council before September 1st for a vote.

Bob Black, Executive Vice President, Sports and Entertainment, Katz Group, said, "We are very pleased to work with the City of Hamilton to build on what is already a rich sports market and a key stop for major cultural attractions and live performances. For the Katz Group, this venture continues the growth of our sports and entertainment business, builds on our relationship with AEG, and opens the door to exploring additional real estate investments in Hamilton."

Mr. Black added, "We understand that this agreement may raise some eyebrows in Edmonton, where we are working to build a new downtown arena for the Oilers. We want to make clear that we remain committed to working with the City of Edmonton to move this project forward. We are confident we can find a way to do this that best meets the needs of all concerned and that secures the long-term sustainability of the Oilers in Edmonton."

"Working with the Katz Group, we are on our way to creating a world class arena and sports and entertainment district in Edmonton and are looking forward to developing equally dynamic work in Hamilton," said Ted Tanner, Executive Vice President, AEG Real Estate Development.

In November 2009, the Katz Group engaged AEG Development and AEG Facilities, both divisions of AEG, to advise the company on all aspects of a new entertainment and sports district in downtown Edmonton, including the development of a new arena for the Oilers.

"Our work with the Katz Group in Hamilton is a natural expansion of our relationship," said Bob Newman, AEG Facilities Chief Operating Officer. "We strongly believe the greater Hamilton marketplace has the potential of becoming one of the region's most active sports and entertainment markets. We look forward to working with the City and stakeholders in creating this new state of the art venue."

About AEG
AEG is one of the leading sports and entertainment presenters in the world. AEG, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Anschutz Company, owns or is affiliated with a collection of companies including over 100 facilities such as STAPLES Center, NOKIA Theatre Times Square, The Home Depot Center (Carson, CA), The Rose Garden (Portland, OR), American Airlines Arena (Miami, FL), Target Center (Minneapolis, MN), Mercedes Benz Arena (Shanghai, China), Wukesong Arena (Beijing, China), Acer Arena (Sydney, Australia), Ahoy Arena (Rotterdam, Netherlands), The Globe arena (Stockholm, Sweden), O2 World arena (Berlin, Germany), O2 World Arena (Hamburg, Germany) and The O2 arena and entertainment district (London, England); sports franchises including the Los Angeles Kings (NHL) and two MLS franchises in addition to overseeing privately held management shares of the Los Angeles Lakers (NBA). AEG has created L.A. LIVE, a 4 million square foot / $2.5 billion downtown Los Angeles sports, residential & entertainment district featuring Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE and Club Nokia, a 54-story, 1001-room convention "headquarters" destination (featuring The Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott hotels and 224 luxury condominiums - The Residences at The Ritz Carlton - all in a single tower), the Regal Cinemas L.A. LIVE Stadium 14, "broadcast" facilities for ESPN, along with entertainment, restaurant and office space and developed The Home Depot Center in Carson, California designated as an "Official U.S. Olympic Training Site" by the United States Olympic Committee that includes major facilities for soccer, tennis, track & field, cycling and other sports. AEG Sports owns and operates a variety of events and tours and AEG Live is the world's second largest concert promotion and touring companies. The company is also developing 12 arenas in China and arenas in Stockholm and Las Vegas.

About Katz Group
Founded by Daryl Katz in 1990 and headquartered in Edmonton, The Katz Group is one of Canada's largest privately-owned companies with operations in the pharmacy, sports & entertainment, and real estate development sectors. In addition to the company's North American pharmacy operations, which operate primarily under the Rexall, PharmaPlus, Guardian, IDA and Medicine Shoppe, banners, Katz Group owns the Edmonton Oilers (NHL), Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL), Oklahoma City Barons (AHL) and the Edmonton Capitals of the Golden Baseball League, as well as Aquila Productions, one of Canada's leading entertainment and event companies. Through its wholly-owned C&H group of companies, the Katz Group is involved in land assembly, site and building development, and the operation of multiple development projects in Canada and the US.

Media Contacts

For Katz Group:
Steve Hogle
(780) 932-2615
shogle@katzgroup.ca

For AEG:
Michael Roth
(213) 742-7155
mroth@aegworldwide.com