Harry Ornest

Harry Ornest
Born (1923-06-30)June 30, 1923
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Died July 21, 1998(1998-07-21) (aged 75)
Los Angeles, California, USA
Cause of death Complications of a stroke
Resting place Hillside Memorial Park
Culver City, California
Occupation Sports entrepreneur
Organization National Hockey League
Canadian Football League
Pacific Coast League

Harry Ornest (June 30, 1923 July 21, 1998) was a sports entrepreneur who once owned the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League (NHL) and the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He also played minor league baseball, was a linesman in the NHL, and a referee in the American Hockey League.[1]

Ornest made his fortune in vending machines. In 1978 he founded the minor league baseball franchise, the Vancouver Canadians, which played in the Pacific Coast League. He purchased a majority of the assets of Sick's Stadium in Seattle for $60,000 to use in the new team's ballpark, Nat Bailey Stadium.[2]

Ornest was the owner of the St. Louis Blues from 1983 to 1986. When he owned the Blues, Ornest changed their arena's name from the Checkerdome back to the St. Louis Arena. He owned the Toronto Argonauts from 1988 to 1991.[1]

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