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Upon arriving, they were greeted not by Okubo himself but by his representative. While the absence of their potential investor for such an important deal seemed unusual, the brothers proceeded with the negotiations, ultimately securing the $50 million expansion fee necessary for ownership of the Lightning.
The Illusion of Ownership
Once the deal was sealed, the excitement quickly dissipated. Over the following years, it became evident that the Lightning was poorly managed under this new ownership. The team began to slump, losing millions of dollars and struggling with appointed executives who had little knowledge or visibility of their mysterious owner.