Mark Hamister (October 18, 1951 – August 20, 2021)[1] was an American businessman and the Chairman and CEO of the Hamister Group, a Buffalo-based company specializing in hotels and assisted living residences with more than 500 employees and $80 million in annual revenues.[2]
Career
editHamister was the founder and owner of three professional indoor football teams: the Buffalo Destroyers of the Arena Football League (1998–2003),[3][4] and the Rochester Brigade (2001–03) and Cincinnati Swarm (2003) of the minor-league arenafootball2.[5]
He had purchased the franchise rights to bring an American Basketball Association team to Buffalo in 2000, but was unable to secure a venue.[6]
Upon the arrest of Buffalo Sabres CEO/Owner John Rigas and his sons for fraud in May 2002, and the subsequent bankruptcy of the Adelphia Corporation, Hamister and fellow investor Todd Berman submitted a bid to the National Hockey League to purchase the Sabres franchise. Although their bid was initially approved by the league in November 2002, Berman subsequently withdrew his financial support and Hamister suspended the asset purchase agreement that would have completed the sale of the team. The Sabres were eventually purchased by Thomas Golisano, founder and CEO of Paychex Inc.[7]
In his later years, Hamister was instrumental in a $300 million private and public development project in the suburban Town of Amherst, New York.
References
edit- ^ Mark Hamister, Buffalo businessman and civic leader, has died
- ^ Christmann, Samantha (August 20, 2021). "Mark E. Hamister, founder, CEO and chairman of the Hamister Group". Buffalo News.
- ^ Buckley, Eileen. "Hamister Described as Passionate Sports Team Owner". WBFO. Retrieved March 3, 2018.
- ^ McKissic, Rodney (August 22, 2003). "SIGNS POINT TO DESTROYERS' DEPARTURE". The Buffalo News. Retrieved March 3, 2018.
- ^ Crossley, Drew (27 December 2020). "2003 Cincinnati Swarm". Fun While it Lasted. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
- ^ "Adirondack Daily Enterprise 27 May 2000". The NYS Historic Newspapers. May 27, 2000. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
- ^ "ESPN.com: NHL - What now? Hamister suspends bid to buy Sabres". www.espn.com. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
- ^ Watson, Stephen (September 12, 2021). "Mark Hamister died, unvaccinated, from Covid-19. His children hope his story changes minds". Buffalo News.
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