Stillman declined to disclose what percentage of the total franchise value the minority interest held.

“Our all-local ownership group acquired the Blues in 2012 with two overriding goals: Win a Stanley Cup for St. Louis, and secure the long-term health of the franchise," Stillman said. "Today the group made another major commitment. . . ."

Fourteen months ago, in April 2018, plans were announced by Sports Capital Holding to sell off the minority interest, with the Blues aiding in the process. So it was possible the minority interest would be purchased by outside investors, but that turned out not to be the case.

Stillman said there was a good deal of outside interest in buying the minority stake.

"Over time it came together this way," he said. Sometimes it just takes more time to come to a deal and that was the case here."

A little more than two months ago, near the end of the regular season, the agreement was struck for the Blues' ownership group to buy the minority share. Then came legal agreements, the process of getting money from partners, etc., leading to Wednesday's vote of approval.