LeFevre resigns as Lightning's governor By ROY CUMMINGS of The Tampa Tribune 8/30/97 -- 11:15 PM TAMPA - Lightning Governor David LeFevre, the architect of the team's founding ownership group and the deal that led to construction of the Ice Palace, has resigned his post, effective Monday.
LeFevre, who left the team briefly last spring but returned after serving only one day as executive director of the Tampa Sports Authority, is leaving the team to pursue opportunities outside the organization, according to Lightning CEO Steve Oto.
``As all of you know, David has spent eight years out of his professional career with our franchise,'' Oto said in a memo to his staff. ``His contributions to this franchise and the Ice Palace are very clear and obvious in everyone's minds.''
Oto said he will take over the duties as the team's governor. LeFevre could not be reached for comment.
LeFevre first emerged as the legal representative for the Japanese members of the team's original ownership group. He later engineered the transfer of power in which Kokusai Green Ltd. moved up from limited partner to majority owner of the franchise.
LeFevre then took over planning of the Ice Palace, selecting the site and structuring the complex public-private financing package that allowed for its construction. Later, LeFevre worked hands-on with the building's architects in an effort to give the Ice Palace a unique ambiance.
Once the Ice Palace opened, LeFevre's duties dwindled. He began to pursue other opportunities - he briefly considered forming an ownership group and considered buying the team himself - but contractual obligations prohibited him from completing some of those pursuits.
``There is a certain point in David's contract when he can leave the organization and pursue other opportunities at will, and I think it's just a case of him being at that stage right now and wanting to do some other things,'' Lightning spokesman Gerry Helper said. ``I think that's all there is to it. David is a deal maker and there really isn't a need here anymore for a lot of the kinds of deals he makes.''
LeFevre first appeared to leave the team in mid-May, after being named executive director of the TSA. LeFevre never signed his contract, however, and after one day on the job he resigned, citing complications with his Lightning contract, a five-year deal that he signed last year.
Taking the TSA job apparently would have cost LeFevre a large sum of money as he was due certain bonuses this summer, including one that would have come from the sale of the team. ``The bottom line is, David made a monetary decision,'' Oto told the Tribune in May. ``He did not like to lose the compensation from us.''
At the time, Oto said he was particularly angry that LeFevre helped negotiate designs for Tampa's new football stadium while still under contract with the Lightning. Oto said LeFevre was wrong to take on a TSA task before resigning from the team, and LeFevre has played a silent role with the team since.
It is not known what endeavors LeFevre is pursuing. He has been mentioned as a possible front-man to work the deal for the new Yankee Stadium in New York, but LeFevre said earlier this year nothing has been finalized regarding his involvement with that project.
Tribune staff writer Ira Kaufman contributed to this report.