George Gillett, a U.S.-based multimillionaire, revealed in an interview Sunday that if Markham council stepped back and took a broader approach to integrating the downtown with a major arena and the city wanted his participation, he would “certainly” return later.

“At a later date as time goes by and they decide to approach it a different way or a broader-based way, and they wanted me to come back, I would certainly come back,” he told the Star after a two-hour meeting with councillors.

“Right now, I’m not here under any circumstances,” Gillett said. “I’m not here on an agenda.”

The controversial project has dominated Markham politics for more than a year and attracted widespread fan and sports industry interest because it increases the possibility of attracting a second NHL franchise to the GTA, the world’s biggest hockey market.

Council overwhelmingly favoured the idea of using taxpayer money to help fund the proposed 20,000-seat arena last year but public support has eroded because of fears that it would expose them to losses without an NHL tenant and its accompanying revenues.

Gillett’s surprise visit from his home base in Vail, Colorado also immediately sparked speculation that he had more than a passing interest in advising a group of councillors here. He stopped for the meeting on his way to Europe.

One source familiar with the arena situation confirmed late Sunday that Gillett also met for more than two hours with prominent local developer Rudy Bratty, whose Remington Group is contributing most of the private-sector financing, for the current arena proposal.

But the source underlined that Gillett didn’t make any overtures about pursuing the current project with him during the “very positive, friendly meeting” on Saturday. “They really seemed to enjoy each other,” said the source.

Councillors also noted the 74-year-old Gillett didn’t make any personal offer for an arena or his abilities in securing an NHL team during their breakfast meeting. Furthermore they said he didn’t try to steer them to support or oppose the current proposal.

“He was not making any sort of pitch for himself or any company,” said councillor Don Hamilton. “He acted more like a consultant or a friend. He didn’t try to influence or tell us what was right or wrong.

In addition to controlling the iconic Canadiens from 2001-2009, Gillett has held ownership stakes in the NFL’s Miami Dolphins, Liverpool FC of the English Premier League, a NASCAR racing team and the Harlem Globetrotters. He had a messy departure from Liverpool a few years ago after unhappy fans pressed for a sale.

In his talk with 8 of 13 council members, Gillett indicated their work on the broader “Markham Live” concept for the city’s downtown in the Kennedy and Birchmount Roads area north of Hwy. 407 is extremely attractive because it integrates numerous venues and makes them all work better together.

In the interview after the meeting, Gillett said that concept “excited” him and could turn the community into “a serious entertainment force in Canada.”

The ambitious Markham Live plan contemplates the creation of a world-class destination including high-end retail and office space, top-notch hotels, condominiums, a convention centre and sports venues such as the arena and an international athletic training facility. Some councillors have also envisaged a casino.

“I think the arena is part of that vision but not the sole thing,” Gillett said.

Gillett said he also told councillors that building an NHL-size arena is no assurance a franchise will follow. Any bidder would also have to deal with the Maple Leafs because the Markham location is within its historical “territorial” rights, he noted.

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Veteran councillor Jim Jones, who has led opposition to the current project’s funding, said the entrepreneur advised the city to keep its options open and not lock itself into deals with future arena operators in any public-private partnership, which could limit its share of revenues and any profits.

Some councillors expect a close vote Tuesday night on the key motion to rescind the “financial framework” for cost sharing, which could kill the project. The formula proposes that the city borrow $325 million while Bratty’s Remington Group would pay back half over 20 years. The city would raise its half through development fees on builders and ticket surcharges.

In a worst-case scenario of no local growth, homeowners would face small gradual increases in their tax bills annually to a peak of an average of $160 in the fifth year, according to city estimates. The city, which would own the arena, also needs to negotiate a critical lease with the operators before the project could proceed.

“It will be tight,” said Jones about the vote’s outcome. “This will have significant implications for the future direction of our city.”

Remington and Bratty have not indicated whether they will seek other investors or shelve the project if council rejects the funding formula.

Meanwhile, council will also consider a Jones’ motion to defer site plan approval for the arena until Markham completes a secondary plan for the downtown area just east of the project which could entail significant elements of the Markham Live vision.

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