Apollo Global Management’s Josh Harris has bought the New Jersey Devils hockey team and management of the Prudential Center for $320 million, The Post has learned.
Harris — reportedly worth $2.1 billion — yesterday invited his fellow Philadelphia 76ers owners to join him in buying pieces of the Devils, a source close to the process said.
The announcement of the purchase, which is already approved by the NHL’s Board of Governors, comes today, a source said.
The ownership group that bought the NBA’s 76ers in 2011 is arguably the richest in sports of Wall Street’s money men and includes David Blitzer, Art Wrubel, Jason Levien, Martin Geller, David Heller, Travis Hennings, James Lassiter, Marc Leder, Michael Rubin, Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, Handy Soetedjo and Erick Thohir.
Harris’ purchase price pays off the team’s lenders, who are owed $170 million. Only a few months ago, several sizable lenders sold their stakes for roughly 70 cents on the dollar.
Current owner Jeffrey Vanderbeek, who is selling because he can no longer afford to keep the money-losing club, even gets saved. He will collect roughly $80 million covering much of his personal investment, a source said.
He will no longer be involved in the team he has run since 2004.
His investment partner, Brick City LLC, gave up its stake last year to end its commitment to fund the team.
The Post reported exclusively that the Devils in April had missed an interest payment, forcing Vanderbeek to find an investor. The NHL, which funded the team for about $30 million last season, was reluctant to do it again.
Harris has saved the NHL from what was quickly becoming an untenable situation.
Philadelphia lawyer Andrew Barroway this spring loaned the team $30 million while he did due diligence to possibly buy it. He decided against it, and now Harris will repay his loan.
Harris has been on the hunt to buy another professional team, a source close to the situation said: “He goes to many 76ers games and is having a ball.”
In Newark, he will keep Devils CEO Lou Lamoriello despite his high $3 million salary.
Looking forward, the Devils might be on firmer financial ground.
Devils Arena Entertainment is projected — thanks partly to the NHL’s new collective bargaining agreement — to break even this year if the team makes it to the playoffs, sources said.
The Devils declined comment.