And then I'm back to vacation.
Anybody paying attention to the indoor football team?
Gee, just a few years ago they were drawing 7,500 fans per game and everybody thought it would go on forever. Is that five or six ownership groups who have been suckered in now? THAT'S why the Komets can't afford to take a chance on going to AAA hockey... because you can never expect that selling tickets will always remain the same in Fort Wayne!!!!! Same thing with CBA/NBDL/Division I/whatever. You can say they are different ownerships and different leagues, but that is exactly the point. Ownershps and leagues always change, but this is still the fickle Fort Wayne sports fans base.
Anybody notice the crowds for the Midwest League All-Star festivities? My boss said last week they'd draw 15,000 and everybody on Facebook was saying they'd sellout for the game, no problem. They had a combined 10,000 and 6,000 for the game because .... they didn't include it in the season-ticket package, they added $1 to the ticket prices and it was a Tuesday night.
And it's Fort Wayne -- where no one seems to know their sports history!
Also, not sure when everyone started to think Season Ticket Holders came to mean the same thing as Stock Holders. Hmmm. Another thing you are forgetting is that the commissioner works strictly for the owners not the other way around. Bowie Kuhn retired from the sports landscape a long time ago. Again, this is not a game, it is a business first, second and third. It's never going back, either.
Back to arguing amongst yourselves...
Just finished Nelson DeMille's The Lion (very good), started The Camal Club (not far enough in yet) and picked up Death Gate No. 1 today.
Bye bye.
Comments
June 25th in the books and still no news......
October isnt actually that far away and especially for a new team like Evansville they need to hammer out the details and start building...
Hang in there Alan.... Your not the only one who feels the way you do....
Again thank you Silly Season, very interesting.
Welcome DAL, nice first post and guess you can also join the "Author's Club"). :-)
Dayton is holding a press conference Wednesday to announce their new coach.
I too was hoping for some info to be passed out Friday. Monday after everyone gets back to their cities/offices? Who knows......?
Welcome, DAL....very nice post. :) A couple voices of reason have posted a few nice opinion pieces on here lately, really they have. Patience is running low, but it is still really your only option. July 31 is still a while away. There's still a lot of time. And just think....someone mentioned on another thread all those other entertainment options that you will have all that money saved up for if you decide against spending that hard-earned money on season tickets, right? Oops....just that darn Positive Patty in me showing....my bad....LOL...
I saw BLB in a "Hossa" jersey at Glenbrook Mall :)
Evansville doesn't need much time to put together a "product".
They only need about 1000 fans to convince. They did that in the AAHL. How is this different?
Folks, I have read, re-read, and thought hard about what any or all of this off-season means. I have heard opinions, Kool-AId Drinkers, Negative Nellies, and even from people that are just wanting the best product for their money. Everyone is entitled to their opinion whether you or I like it or not (the opinion that is).
What things seem to me is that this is a business decision being made. Nothing more, nothing less. Where do we as fans stand in what we have been provided as a product over the past 10 years? We are here to make a choice whether you want to watch something that looks like hockey or not. I too have chosen to watch and buy into the product. I enjoy the Komets. I admit it. I think most everyone here agrees with that notion or you wouldn't be here reading, posting, or buying the product fully or partially. We all like our local hockey team.
But this thing is just business. Right?
It is more about the product we are being sold. And at what cost? Does it matter to "business" if other cities outside of Fort Wayne and if their hockey survives or not? Not as long as the Komets and their fans have a product. The 7,500 fans that have been built on average obviously speak louder than the 1,000-2,000 in places like Flint, Port Huron, Evansville, and Dayton. Does it matter if those places have a "product" or a chance to build that product? Not if there is a Komet product to support. Why should we care, why should the business of Komet hockey care? As long as there is a product in Fort Wayne that sells....right? As long as there are places for the Komets to play against. And this is just a bump in the road, as far as leagues go....as far as teams go.
So when you dream of the AHL or ECHL, keep this in mind. It is about business. The IHL offers the business of hockey in this town a chance to control their interests to the best of its abilities. It gives the fans championships. It gives the product the best chance to survive in Fort Wayne. It is all about business. It is about the 7500+. It is the bottomline that matters.
The ECHL has been rumored to have invited Fort Wayne to make a presentation to be a part of their "product". The product here is much more important than being apart of the product they have there. It is about our product. And for business to work here, and for decisions to be made here without anyone meddling in the product here....the ECHL would not work. Business people don't want others making decisions involving their own product. It is their right.
It is no secret that NHL affiliations are very un-popular to the business side of how the product in this market is run.
The CHL/IHL agreement is the best idea on the table for business as our owners see it. It allows them to nurture the IHL along until it is able to go back out on its own, maybe they are trying to weather the economic storm until they are able to go on their own for another run at the IHL as a midwest league in which there are no attempts to control the Fort Wayne product. This is just a hiccup in the IHL. This is a building phase of the IHL. A 2 year process that will hopefully reform the league that supports the product in this town.
This is not about the ECHL. This is not about the CHL. This is not about the AHL. This is about the Komets and the product that is sold to the consumers in this market.
It is business. Nothing more, nothing less.
And for everyone here to come on and express your opinions and show your love for the orange and black, well, honestly, the product is strong, and the product has been sold well. We have been given what we thought we wanted. We have been sold the product that they think we want. We have a product in place that is successful. Like it or not.
Why mess with a good thing, right? This is about one thing.
Business.
I admit, I love the Komets. And will next season too. I might be part of the problem. You could argue that. I guess all I can do is hope that things work out for the best for us fans in the process of business. They know all's we really want as a fan is to have a team to support that is at least professional level hockey, with players we recognize. That is what we will get. How can I or anyone else argue.
I want legitimate teams to play against, teams that have a fair chance to win, no smoke and mirrors, teams that we can love to hate and can travel to see on the road.
Do I care about NHL affiliations....at the AA level. No.
I will take hockey product and quality teams over watching so-called NHL AA prospects. I think a mix of young and old is the best for my taste of product at this level.
Best wishes. Sorry for the rambling novel.
Hit....I have to admit, I agree with your last 3 paragraphs....the ones right before the "best wishes" line. Wow....you and I may not always agree on everything (which is fine), but you just hit the nail on the head right there with those 3 paragraphs for me. Perfect. Thanks for saving me the typing.
And mightbite....LOL....me in a Hossa jersey? And at the mall, even? Um, no....that must have been another redhead. Not me. :)
Hit, I too, agree with everything after the word "business".
My confusion with your post comes, in part, with not what you posted today, but with your previous posts.
Specifically with two posts you contibuted to Cohn. The first is under "Komets disappointed, angry". The second is under "Evansville joins the flock".
Don't get me wrong, I read and respect every one of your posts. I think the post above was written from the heart and I respect your thoughts. I just want to know how to "marry" all of them together as they seem to contradict each other in some ways.
Different subject: I can't believe how some have continually misunderstood my thoughts on this July 31st deadline. Blake, in the title above, tried to equate STH and Stock Holders. DAL, in his above post, used the word "entitled" as a description for those who want "inside information".
I am not sure how I can make this more clear. Using the words "stock holders" was a lousy comparison to my point. The word "entitled" insinuates that I, or any other STH, is more important than others. NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH. BLB pointed out when she posted June 26th, that there is still a lot of time. Yep, we are coming down to four weeks. How many times did we here that 7-10 day time period for announcements last year? My confidence is at a low when it comes to league timing on announcements so sitting back and saying "it's still a while away" doesn't make me feel all that good.
I don't feel "entitled" to any info. As Hit pointed out above this is all about a "product". Right now I have no idea what the "product" is they want me to purchase. If I was buying tickets game to game, then none of this would matter to me for I would be making decisions on a night to night basis.
The solution is simple. Just delay the deadline to thirty days after the league announcements are made.
OK, I sure hope that I made things more clear. Rest assured that I understand the difference of being a STH and stock holder. Please understand that I do not feel entitled.
Concern shouldn't be confused with criticism. Apathy shouldn't be rewarded by accident.
Special thanks to Mr Snufflupugus, JR, Dschebig, and Tim Hoke for their kind comments these last few days.
OK RunningKomet. That was a "book'. However, it was a short story when compared to Hit's. LOL.
In the Evansville joins flock post.....I took Hextall's written material to task, I don't see how he or the IHL think that some how buying a franchise license from Muskegon equates gaining 50 years of Muskegon tradition where it is packaged neatly into a box and moved for the Evansville folks to somehow celebrate and be involved in at any level. The tradition stays in Musky, and Evansville has to start their own.
The other, much of the same, just tired of the spin they throw on things. I guess that is where my statement of smoke and mirrors in my novel early this morning came in. I am tired of the throwing teams together for the sake of needing someone to play against. I have a great idea, lets find places to play against that either have hockey, or want it. Not places just for the Komets to play against. I understand it is business for the owners here. But I think at some point, the places to play will dry up, and their track record is going to bite them in the arse to the point, the will get black-balled.
Sorry.
Hit, don't be sorry. Thanks for responding and helping me understand. You have some valid points and I love the fact that you are thinking "outside the box" and further ahead than most.
It's easy to get become cynical about the future as we have all experienced the "spin" so often the last couple of years.
The three "AA" minor leagues have positioned themselves so as they are intermingled in terms of geography. That fact, while it may strenghten each league in the short term, may doom them in the long term. In reality all three leagues would be on the verge of doom if any of them would lose, say two franchises at the same time.
I think before any "common sense" takes over, the AA minor leagues are going to have experience the very worst. Maybe then they would be motivated to create three, four, or five leagues based on the common good and significantly increase the chances of success for each individual franchise.
hit you are dead on with your comments. i decided a few years ago to buy into the frankes dream of a midwest league with good entertainment and easy travel. so far it had been to plan. this year there is a bump in the road with the closer weak teams dropping out and alll the ihl could do was go under the chl umbrella for a year or two until other things fall into place, like new team in flint, new expansion teams in close cities and the defection of some echl teams. it might take a couple more years for the blueprint to come together and someday hopefully we will have a true minor league system like baseball. its worth the gamble cause at least we are gonna have hockey. i remember when welker took the komets to albany. it left a hole in my winter planning as well as a hole in my heart. thankfully hockey was saved and i will support the goal of a new system and see how it turns out!
BLB, http://nbcsportsmedia3.msnbc.com/j/ap/90681ee2-a89e-4444-aa36-9b32140b431b.widec.jpg
WOW! Great posts by all. Well made points in all the posts. The best part is no name calling. I really enjoy reading all of these. I can handle the negative comments but the positive stuff is so much easier to digest. We all want Komet Hockey to be here for years to come. We all want it to be the best it can be. Some might have a difference of opinion as to just what that form should be. IHL/CHL ECHL or AHL. Those of us who have drank the Kool-Aid support the Franke Family and their choices.
I can sure understand why anyone would want as much information as they can gather before investing any sum of money in the unknown.
I might be one of those who just feel very safe in whatever the Komets look like this upcoming season. I say that because with a very rare off year the product on the ice has always been top notch. Yes, we are way over due for that off year. On the positive side Al Sims is still our coach. He has proven his ability to put quality guys together for pretty good teams.
I'll be going back to drinking the Kool-Aid & Orange Freezer Pops.
I sincerely appreciate all the "Short" stories!
I think it may be easier to have faith in whatever may be put on the ice when you aren't buying season tickets, or am I wrong to assume that you don't pay to work on the ice, Dschebig? I'm not saying tou should have to pay to work the games, but if I wasn't paying, I'd never have any questions or concerns about what was going on either. I'd be an eternal optimist too.
I dont agree with the notion that Evansville doesnt need that much time to put a good product on the ice... They may only need to convince 1000 fans for this next season; but these are fans used to winning in the AAHL and to say they will just continue to follow a hastily thrown together and quite possbily a losing one (like we saw in Dayton last season) is presumtuous...
They also need to convince the City to give them the lease for season two in the new arena. A hastily thrown together team that is uncompetitive could spell disaster for the CIHL in Evansville. Rumors have the ECHL and USHL both pushing hard to get the lease for the new arena. The CIHL need to do this right.
Unless, of course, there is some reading between the lines that needs to be done.......
You could read between the lines JR. I just laid out the case of it being business as usual....I didn't necessarily agree or disagree.
My faith is in the ownership, haven't let me down yet, I've signed up no problem or questions asked
JR, I'm betting that base is already covered. At least I sure hope so. I can't imagine Ron Geary putting up the money he is and not have some assurances of a lease in the new arena, but who knows? Stranger things have happened.
Since the ECHL, USHL, IHL, and CHL don't actually own the teams and as far as I know don't go around looking for available leases to grab up there must be names behind the pushing, right?
We know who owns the IHL team in Evansville, who's the money/potential owners behind the ECHL and USHL push? Any clues, hints, sniffs, or is it purely rumor with no factual substance at this point?
Steve, I cant say this for certain; but it seems like the USHL has 'startup owners' that go into viable markets chosen by USA hockey and the USHL to get the team off the ground and then find local ownership to take over. I heard rumors to this pertaining to the USHL team in Muskegon. The current owner (Mervis, I think) has started franchises in other city/cities and it sounds like this is what he's doing in Musky... Again, no proof, just what I have picked up...
Also Global (CHL) have in the past gotten the contracts to oversee arena construction is a few markets, placed a team in that arena and then sold to local ownership. If I can find the article I read this in, I'll post it.
The ECHL probably just finds some local rich guy...lol
If Geary is successful this year, I believe it will give him a leg up in negotiations with the new arena since he will have been operating a hockey franchise in the area for the past 3 years. I really do believe that he has to be successful this season and this is why they had him buy the rights to the Muskegon players. He may not be able to get guys like Robinson or Bouchard to move there; but there were other good players that will go, IMO... Base for a good team...
Hit, I believe I know exactly what you are saying... I could be wrong though...
Hit I agree with parts of your post and disagree with other parts but I will agree with those who have told you that your post was extremely well thought out and I also have alot of respect for your passion.........................................................................even if you are wrong most of the time HAHA! (just kidding lol)
I could see Dipace and Centomo go.....and Terry Ficirelli....
mightbite, was not me then either....LOL...
And PLEASE....let Ficorelli go.....for the love of all that is hockey in this world.....
Listening to him during B2 games, I missed half the action laughing my arse off as he mumbled what was going on,,on the ice. Hillarious stuff. You could say he is passionate at least.
He is odd, but fun.
im sure geary has some kind of agreement with the new arena. its been said all along he would be an ihl expansion as soon as the arena was ready so im sure something was already in place.
BLB. I'm trying & you have not sent me any money for the "animal funds' = kind of like workmans comp. LOL
I would have to agree with Alan. A "business" wanting a "consumer" to purchase their item before the "consumer" knew what it was is total asinine (not that you said that Alan). No illusions here, just insanity there. That scenario sounds like a fly-by-night deal to me. "Commit before you know what we're selling you." Um...no, don't think so. How about you get your act together then come see me. Nothing personal, just "business", right?
Steve - the rosters between the MLB and NHL are very similar if not in some cases exact. Same with the number of teams. So, I'm not sure where you were going with that one. Yeah, the NHL already has a farm system, but it needs a major overhaul. I guess my point is that why should the NHL be so slow at creating similar farm systems if the rosters and number of teams are similar? Just because the NHL is slower at growing a fan base than the MLB was, doesn't mean that things should happen at the same pace. Not quite sure about the salary comment either, but I think things got cleared up for you with Silly Season.
As far as salary cap goes, just going by salary caps only, the MLB is the kingpin in that category, followed by the NBA, next is the NHL with the NFL actually rounding out the top four Majors. So, if any of the other three leagues started to grow exponentially in popularity leading to more cap room, like the NHL, they might want to consider how the MLB's systems are set up. The NBA is starting their venture with the NBAD. I think it's going to take some time before the MadAnts capture the hearts of our so called "fickle fan base," however.
Phillips coming back... good signing! Bertram and Shafranov retiring. Best of luck to Bertram and Shaf in life outside hockey!
"I think it may be easier to have faith in whatever may be put on the ice when you aren