Brendan goes off on the Frankes

I have my feelings on this. I could go on all day, the fact of the matter is, I'm not happy with the product I am paying for, so next year I will invest my money on different entertainment. The Frankes don't care about any of our opinions as long as they make money.
Here's a little tidbit of info on how the Frankes work for those of you that don't know. Fort Wayne Youth hockey carries the Komets name and the teams all wear Komets jerseys. All them kids advertise the Frankes' company every time they step on the ice, but what do the Frankes give back? I'll tell you. They "allow" us to have a raffle at the Komets games. 8 raffles for 13 teams to share all the money. The raffle money comes from the Komets fans, not the Frankes. This year, each team recieved $800. Thats chump change considering the teams work with about a $30,000 budget for each team. Then there is them Jerseys advertising the Frankes' company. Fort Wayne Youth hockey has to buy those! The Frankes give absolutely nothing to youth hockey. That's how they operate. They could care less about anything but their pockets.

Well I, as a customer, have let my money do my talking for me... I DID NOT renew my season tickets 2 years ago when I first started to hear the rumblings and also wanted to see what this IHL experiment was going to turn into. I have said on numerous time to my friends that I would be the first in line to get season tickets should the K's move to the AHL and I stand by that statement... There are leagues out there where a fan like myself can talk to other fans and not have them discount my teams success due to my teams owners running and propping up other teams in the league...

It used to darn near cause me physical pain to miss a Komets game, now I just shrug it off and go about my business....and its sad that it has come to this....

JR, I'm with ya. I have 2 season tickets and I have 30 unused this year. You do the math how many games I've missed. I used to not miss for anything. I have missed more games this season at home than I did the previous 10 years. Hell, back in the inaugural UHL season, I attended over 60 Komets games. If I could drive there in time, I went to everyone possible. This year the only road game i've been to, was Kzoo to watch Toledo. the IHL is dead to me.

You are in soooooo much trouble now hockey61.....LOL

Yeah Blake, I think that needed to be said. Too many here think they know it all and want to TELL you that ticket prices would not go up. My question is HOW DO YOU KNOW? I think Blakes opinion is a bit more informed that the bloggers on this site. Sorry but that's the truth. Some Komet fans are just very hard headed and it's their way or the highway. Blake is telling you it's not your way. The Frankes are running a business and if you don't like it you don't have to go to the games. But as he said the average Joe in the stands doesn't really care or really does he want to know that Flint is or is not getting money from the Frankes. It's none of your business btw, so mind your business go to the games have a good time and continue b****ing about things you can't and don't know about and you want to change. It's your choice.

For what? Calling out the Frankes. I hope they read this, but I know they won't.

JR- I too used to hate missing games. this year I have a huge stack of unused tickets. I will no longer get them.

hockey61--how wrong you are about Fort Wayne Youth Hockey...if you even knew...

If I'm wrong Mark, please enlighten me.

I can't on here.....

I have children that play, family members that manage teams, and friends on the board. I'm only going on facts that I know from personal experience. Remember, Canlan and FWYH are 2 seperate groups. The dealings that the Frankes are doing with Canlan has nothing to do with FWYH.

Again with the "you're wrongs" but "I can't tell on here" stuff. Are there gag orders out there? So many people say how ignorant we all are, but then can't back up any of their own information.

LG: No one said they WOULD NOT go up, people are saying they do not NEED to go up. We all understand ticket prices rise or fall depending on what the Frankes want to do, that's what we're talking about. If the Frankes decide we're going to buy some more teams, our ticket prices go up. You're right, we have no call in that (which is what 99.99999999% of the people on here have said), but people do have a way to influence, or vote, on the situation and that is by buying or not buying tickets. It's simple free market enterprise economics.

JR, maybe not you but many other fans who are quick to line up for season tickets will also be the first to throw a fit when a week before the playoffs your first place team is without it's top two or three players due to call ups. You've paid, invested time and emotion into a team all season only to have the rug pulled out during the most important time of the year. It isn't pretty.

LGKomets - I believe some things become our business when we have invested our money. Trust me, I don't need or do I want to know the everyday happenings inside the office of any hockey team. If I did, I would have picked a different career. If questioning something, asking for clarification; wanting to know what direction things are headed is considered stepping over the bounds of an average fan, then I am guilty. However, when an investment is made, I feel I deserve to know the direction of things, especially when they always seem to be in question. Again, I don't need every little detail, but I appreciate any and all information that is given. Blake cannot make the Frankes tell him anything; he is right on that point. But as a fan, I can sure ask what is going on. The article that was at the beginning of this thread was not a very kind article regarding the Frankes, and I agree with what you stated in an earlier post about not throwing the Frankes under a bus, and also there was a lot of opinion instead of facts. So, with that in mind, the article is what it is. Until the Frankes come out and tell us everything that is going on behind the scenes, we have to form our opinions on what we hear, see for our own eyes, and read in the paper. I don't feel anyone is trying to tell anyone else what they should think/believe, they are simple stating their opinion. If you don't agree with that great; it makes the blog more fun. If it bothers you, then skip the posts.

I'm with you on missing games. I did not get season tickets this year and will not again. As long as the Frankies keep filling up nothing will change, why would it? I have not been to a game for two weeks and could care less about tomorrows game. It also used to just about KILL me to miss a game.

Dear Frankes,
You have our most sincere thanks for everything you have done to elevate the Fort Wayne Komets to one of the most
sucessfull minor league franchises in the United States.

Its time to give up the IHL before theres nothing left.

Kalamazoo, Muskegon... these were part of the foundation
the IHL was built on.
There gone.

Your bankrolling these other teams so the Komets have someone to play against, is quite frankly , embarrasing.

Let the Komets compete to be a CHAMPION of teams in cities throughout this country.

We've got a reputation of being a first class franchise.

Lets show the country we deserve it.

I guess I'm one of those people who really don't care where the money comes from. I don't think the Flint players are going to "let us win" when we play them, regardless.

Now, Hockey61 I have permission to post why you are wrong.

The Fort Wayne Komets and Komet Kuarters donated $8,000 dollars worth of jerseys over the last 2 seasons. The Fort Wayne Komets allow FWYH to hold the raffles at games, then allow them to play a scrimmage at one of the intermissions of that game. Lastly, Komet Kuarters supplies each kid a discount card for 25% off a one-time purchase and 15% percent on ALL purchases the rest of the season. Do you wanna take a guess on how many of those I have stamped this season alone? I can count them on one hand. So, for you to say the Fort Wayne Komets do nothing for FWYH is off-base.

The parents are probably buying their supplies online because, even with the discounts, items are still cheaper. Not an attack on KK, that's just how it is with almost anything these days. Again, not meant to dispute anything, just talking from the parents who I know that sit around me at games.

Thats fine, we understand that. Its hard to compete with the Internet. But for him to say the Komets or KK does nothing for FWYH was way off base...

Yes Mark, Frozen Water is right about the gear.The intermission scrimmage is nice, but it's not allowed on weekends. Neither of my kids got to participate in it this season. And finally the jerseys. One of my kids teams got new jerseys this year. We were only donated one set. FWYH had to buy the other at a cost of $175 per jersey. The amount paid for those more than covered the cost of both. Sure, KK doesn't have to donate anything, but FWYH doesn't need to use the Frankes company name either. All I'm saying, is don't give them to much credit. All of these "donations" really hasn't cost the Komets anything.
We could buy jerseys somewhere else, use a different name, and get the jerseys half price. Komets jerseys are way overpriced.

by the way, $8,000 worth of jerseys at $175 each is only 45 jerseys. One team uses 30 to 40 jerseys each. They have home and away. How much of that $175 is really lost money, considering we had to pay for 45 to get 45 free. I'm gonna go out on a limb and guess that no money was lost.

Another case of ever after a handout, more is demanded or the person giving is not doing enough.

Wow, folks, how is a minor hockey league jersey costing $175.00 US? Is there a royalty paid to the Komets for the logo rights? We are used to paying quite a bit more for everything with exchange rates and taxes here in Canada. But that price is a whatever number or team you want game worn NHL jersey at most silent auctions here in Canada (it would be more signed). If they are subsidizing ice time etc. then that's ok. Let the kids play. That's what it is all about. Sorry to butt in here, but I get a little excited when it comes to the kids. I have watched more than a few games at MacMillan (sp) when I have been in the Fort and it is the same everywhere. Kids have to come first. Best of luck Sunday U.S. I hope the game grows from whatever happens. Tough times for a great hockey town in Fort Wayne. As fans you have been true supporters and entitled to every emotion and opinion I have read on this blog. I enjoy every minute I am in your company at the Coliseum. Hope to get down there again soon. The game is better because of your passion. Thanks. Mikey/

Mike I didn't think they were that much but maybe?
What I do know about minor league merchandise is it is not ordered in nearly the quantity of NHL stuff. So the price per item to the teams is greater. And for the year to year stuff like tee shirts, anything that doesn't sell ends up getting blown out at or below cost.
Here is a list of retail prices . These jerseys I think are without straps? Maybe someone else can confirm that
http://www.kometkuarters.com/KometGear.htm

WOW...No those jerseys don't cost $175. Our replica jerseys we sell at KK don't cost 175. Thats absurb. I don't know where you came up with $175. I work at KK..all the new jerseys this year and last came through our store. Hell, myself and Bill went through each set. Again, between Komet Kuarters and the Fort Wayne Komets they donated $8000 dollars worth of jerseys to FWYH in the last 2 years.

What is it that you want from the Frankes, to bankroll FWYH also. Cut them some slack, they breath the Fort Wayne Komets. Why do I know, I see it first hand EVERYDAY.

I can confirm it Mr. Snufflupugus, since I put those pictures up on the website. Komet jerseys are not overpriced. These things aren't free. I won't go into cost, but I do know the markup isn't what you might think it is.

I'll sell you a "game worn" jersey.

Thanks, mightbite, but I have enough "game worn". My wife makes me keep em in the garage. LOL.

Just to clarify, minor hockey is youth hockey in Canada. I meant the cost of the kids Jerseys. The Komet player jersey should have some premium. Hope I didn't confuse.