Yes...glad to c another person that was not happy gone.....buy Cody,
Alan
Thu, 01/02/2014 - 11:32am
I don't know what it is...I must be sick!! LOL But I seem to be in agreement with many opinions/posts lately.
For example. I totally agree with Who/SuZ regarding Cody Reichard. If you don't want to be here, then good-bye. Being generous to Reichard, I suppose his numbers could be explained by the defense in front of him. Could be, but I don't think so. I am of the mind to question his ability. I hope he does well, but for the komets, it's time to move on.
The earlier conversation among Blake and some posters regarding the ECHL and CHL and minor league hockey, in general, got me to thinking. One of Blake's thoughts stated that the ECHL is set up to serve the AHL, that local fans should be the focus of the league (but are not). I am in agreement and here's why.
To me, a strong league should be made up of strong franchises. Any way the league can help the success of its members should be a top priority. I would suggest that this is not always the case. For instance, wouldn't you think that having rivalries, close minimum travel games (where teams could save on travel costs and fans could make road trips ), would be good for the league and its members? I mean, really, isn't that the reason there are divisions? I would suggest to you that presently this is not the case. Take the Komets. The North division plays a very unbalanced schedule. I mean here it is January 2nd and Kalamazoo hasn't been here yet, Cincinnati has been here only once. The ECHL has ,at least in this division, a unique opportunity to take advantage of older rivalries birthed in different leagues. Even a four game away, four game at home schedule between each team would not only encourage fan travel but have a much more fair effect on the division champion. (Look, I used four as an example. Plug in any figure you want. The point is I don't think the schedule, the league, and the teams are benefiting much).
I am on record as stating how much I liked the style of play in the CHL. Every league has its drawbacks and for the CHL it is the travel distance between cities. The hockey was good, reasonable veteran rules, nice rivalries. I fear for its demise.
chuckitt
Thu, 01/02/2014 - 1:00pm
must be a new year cause im agreeing with alan! i was one in the minority on here that said the chl was just fine and to say things like" we deserrved to be in the echl or ahl" was pretty stupid and im afraid people are getting exactl what they wished for but were too dim to understand what they were actually getting themselves into. remember the original plan by the frankees was for all of aa hockey to come toghether and reform and make everything geographicly close by. that was the idea of ihl 2, but unfortunatly our partners couldnt withstand the bad economy and couldnt stay the course. the ideal thing is for all to merge and there are enuff teams to create four seperate leagues set up by location; then the champs of each league would then go into a finals playoff with one another, for the championship of all aa minor league hockey. things should be set up then like minor league baseball with eaach aa team having a working relationship with an ahl team. know there would be lots of things to tweak but it sure would cut travel costs and make rivalries important again.
chuckitt
Thu, 01/02/2014 - 1:08pm
big question super fan...lots of people keep talking about bringing up ahmed mahfouz and giving him a shot. i know hes a bruiser and can score goals, so whats the reason nobody will call him up? nutjob! uncoachable? just what is the reason we dont shake things up even if its for a couple of weekend games??????????
RG2
Thu, 01/02/2014 - 1:50pm
First of all I always agree with Alan. Alan brings us back to earth and on topic. Wise man
Secondly, re Mahfouz The guy has great stats( Albeit every player in that league has great stats) and NO ONE has called him up. The guy must have some kind of bad locker room rap or he is one of the second cousins to the Hansen brothers.... which might not be all that bad...hhhmmm?
He played on a well known jr team in Canada and there are some recognizable names that played with him. Someone has got find out. The Cyclones or Wheeling would have pulled him up if there was something in his favor. He played with both Hoban and Metz. Im sure the Komets have inquired.
Anonymous
Thu, 01/02/2014 - 5:49pm
I spent a lot of time researching Mahfouz and watching lets of video on him and I saw nothing that changed my opinion on wanting to see him in a komet jersey. The most noticeable thing is the level of intensity he plays at. How could that do anything but help us right now? He seems to be a more controlled version of LKS meaning that he hustles but has enough control to slow down and make good plays. Secondly his scoring touch is very nice, multiple goals I watched online he received a pas in front of the net but instead of blasting it in the net right away he caught it and pulled it backhand and made the goalie look silly, while this isn't difficult my point is he knows how to score. His high penalty minutes can be a bit unattractive but most of the fights he got in he was standing up for another teammate (lot of cheap shots in the FHL). He is very good at getting under opponents skin and never hesitates to get the crowd going, even on the road. There was an occasion where he got nose to nose with some fan last season but the fan was making racial remarks and all Mahfouz said to the guy was "say it again" and the guy didn't haha. As far as leadership goes he is a good enough leader to wear the A in Dayton and watching a few interviews he seemed very nice and I saw no signs of a cocky attitude. I guess what I'm trying to say is I would really like to see him here. Why not give it a shot? If it doesn't work send him back down what will it hurt? But if it does work he could be the missing piece that puts us in the playoffs. I feel like him and Embach on a line together would work nicely and would no doubt be full of hitting. If I can't ever see him in a Komet jersey I would really like to know why. Then I can buy a Mahfouz Demonz jersey lol
Who/SuZ
Thu, 01/02/2014 - 5:52pm
Hmmmmm.....why not move up to the AHL....not many commented on my post of yesterday on this...especially based on the costs I listed......hmmm....must be a dead issue....most likely because we are committed to the ECHL for such a long period of time.....no idea if we can break that contract????
As to Mr. Mafhouz....Blake pretty much told me a while ago, he could not play in our league.....please elaborate if you can or will Blake, what it is that makes this guy untenable for teams in the ECHL....seems more folks would like to see him for a while???
Also, no other suggestions from anyone on a seasoned goal tender....not a prospect to move up???
Do these issues not interest folks here???
RG2
Thu, 01/02/2014 - 7:00pm
WHO SUZ great topics my thoughts only below
1. seasoned Goaltender... you know any? I would think if there was one available that would fit in, he would be here. Might be in the works now. I have said before that most of the ripe fruit has been picked.... for all positions, unless there is a trade.
2. AHL- never a dead topic. Im sure it has been bandied about by the organnization. Its something that has to be looked at over the years. It all comes down to specific league operating costs verses revenue. ( this would make for a great Masters degree research paper on the business of minor league hockey. Create a city -fit formula) As long as it had a circular saw blade( rough cut) with a K on it, im in no matter what league.
3. Mahfouz - im as curious as everyone else on this guy. I wonder if he knows this blog has all this conversation about him?
Ron Heathman
Thu, 01/02/2014 - 7:13pm
After watching Mahfouz on you tube I can say he is the most self promoting guy since Jon Mirasty. Mairasty has made some pretty good videos and Mahfouz has followed suit promoting himself in the weight room and his birthday video. It looks like he thinks of himself as the ultimate ladies man. The guy is totally in love with himself. Unique character it apperars
joe
Thu, 01/02/2014 - 7:16pm
Ok on the ahl topic I think a ahl team has to drop out in order to get a franchise, to make numbers for the NHL I also would like to see this mufose play a game or two in a komets jersey. And yes a more experienced goal tender would be nice . Also maybe a few better defensemen and a few power forwards but this might be asking alot
chuckitt
Thu, 01/02/2014 - 8:04pm
who/suz...nobody commented on your post cause we all know the goalie answer,,,,,wwhere is a seasoned goalie that is just sitting around doing nothing??? as to the ahl its been talked about on here many times. answer in a short version is 1. way too expensive and 2. why would the frankes want to give up a majority of control of their team?
Jerseygirl
Thu, 01/02/2014 - 8:06pm
http://youtu.be/z-OOW5CP7NQ
Who/SuZ
Thu, 01/02/2014 - 8:28pm
Chukitt...maybe the Frankes would give up their control to help satisfy their fans...theres a big surprise....it is a fact that all of us are not happy with the way it is now.....AHL would hopefully give us more control than we have now.
As shown before in my prior post...AHL might not be as expensive as we think....some AHL teams are more but many are in our current price range....bears some further research
Blake, by the way...saw you on Tommy's show...so even though u said we need a number one goalie and you and Tommy stated that we have to prepare to lose players and more players.....what difference does it make who would be a number one goalie....we will lose them anyway...so why look at all
You also mentioned that if we had Muse we would be in first place...but that is unrealistic as well...he was to good to play with us....so we should have expected to lose him....guess in the end we have to put up with a multitude of new players, none of whom will stay very long.....I DO NOT LIKE THIS!
Eamon Rice
Thu, 01/02/2014 - 8:38pm
I guess I am confused. I'm all for watching AHL hockey for a few reason. The main reason is the quality of the product. It is the 2nd best to watch besides the NHL. I am confused though how you think we would have more control over the rosters. The AHL is set up to feed the NHL teams. If you think player movement would be less then ECHL that is wishful thinking. below is a link to the daily AHL transactions.
http://theahl.com/stats/transactions.php
Who/SuZ
Thu, 01/02/2014 - 8:43pm
You know there is one other thing that is bothering me and it has not really been talked about here....how can we (the K's) fail to put in a contract that if a player that is sent to us does not come, breaks his leg, retires or whatever, that we should get another player in place of him.....how can you leave that out of the contract.....so basically we lose Lang and get nothing, except the future consideration.....wow another future consideration
If we wait long enough, next years team can be one of all future considerations....unreal!
Alan
Thu, 01/02/2014 - 8:56pm
Thanks for all the kind words, everybody.
As for the "seasoned goaltender", he's in the CHL or Europe. Remember that there is no reciprocal agreement there. We should take advantage of that fact.
As for Mahfouz, what in the world would stop this team from looking for someone who might add the physical prescence, yet scoring touch, that this guy has demonstrated? Yes, I know he's in the FHL and no one has brought him up. Still, what would it hurt to try? Will it ruin the season? Geez, if he's no good, then send him back down. There are plenty of forwards on this team that have underachieved. One more won't hurt.
The Komets have the biggest bankroll available. Only two of the four veterans allowed (remember goalies do not count). Many underachieving players ( refer to the third line). How can I be the only one to see this?
Even though this league advertises itself as the 'premiere AA hockey league", don't get caught up in the fact that there aren't good players elsewhere. The hard job is to hunt them down and bring them in.
I made a terrible mistake, earlier, on Vaskivuo. I thought he'd be the same player who played both ends of the ice. Instead he assumed he could do whatever he wanted since he had such a terrific history with Fort Wayne a couple of years ago. Gary Graham made him "toe the line", Colin Chaulk wasn't here to make sure he'd toe the line, and the result was ( in my opinion), that he polluted the mind of Mickey Lang, his room mate. Notice how he hasn't been traded or signed with anyone else? Ask Evansville. Ask Rapid City. I hate waste, and his talent is being wasted. He should be here, hustle, listen, and play both ends of the ice. Not Graham's fault. Totally on Vaskivuo ( and it cost us the leading scorer of the league).
Also, and whatever you perceive these problems to be, be kind to the Graham family. They bear no fault in this. Be critical all you need to be, but remember it can't be easy on them, so no one needs to be hard on them.
Old Quotes
Thu, 01/02/2014 - 10:28pm
Takes at a minimum $1,000,000 to just put a team (not coaches, support staff etc) on the ice.
For the love of mike, if you try to determine revenue, do not use $20 X 250,000 (different ticket price levels and everyone else has their hands in it, ticket master, coliseum etc)
If you know a few simple things you can come close to calculating the expenses at the lower end using the number of allowed active players at one time.
In Season (players traded, released) moving expenses for 25 players ?
Roster Players Moving Expenses
Housing Expenses
Off Ice insurance expense $37,800
Off Ice Dental $4,200
Sticks $30,000
Jerseys $10,000
Skates $5,250
Helmets
Shoulder pads
Elbow Pads
Gloves
Cups
Pants
Socks
Shin Guards
Stick/Sock Tape
Don't forget shower soap, shampoo, shave cream, razors, towels, laundry soap, (hey Reg how about some downy in these sweaters), Ice, Water, gatorade, therapy wraps tape and the like. workoout facility..... expenses go on and on.
Keep adding on the expenses, there are quite a few more.
i'm thankful we have an ownership group that is not only business minded, they are hockey minded and they love the Komets.
Old Quotes
Thu, 01/02/2014 - 10:41pm
You think, maybe, just maybe if there was someone worth a hoot out there, that was available, it would be on their radar? I think it would be. Europe isn't a last resort, right now the exchange rate favors the Euro if you bring them back and change them in for USD you make a little coin.
We finally got the ECHL, we were affiliated last year, this year we aren't, revolving door both years, this is what people were screaming for when we were in the other leagues. Enjoy it!
AHL, you're looking at it, just at a tad bit lower level and a little less expensive.
If we were winning, none of this second guessing would be going on, we would be out on other boards cyber slapping people telling them how great the K's are.
it's going to take time to navigate and figure out this new league.
The dead horse has to have been beaten in to a fine leather by now, maybe even priceless.
Blake Sebring
Thu, 01/02/2014 - 10:42pm
I think you are forgetting another big one in league fees which could be anywhere from $200,000 to $500,000.
chuckitt
Thu, 01/02/2014 - 11:16pm
great comments for showing the costs in running a team and for who/suz, if you put out your money to buy a buiness and built it to a profitable level, would you wnat to give up your say in what it is your buisiness does to someone else that then turns around and charges you money for that priviledge? and besides that they then tell you who your gm and coach will be and you have no say?? and you think the frankes would love to give up that control? i think not. and blake, whats your thoughts about mahfouz???
Anonymous
Thu, 01/02/2014 - 11:42pm
Ron just to clear things up on Mahfouz, the Ahmed Mahfouz who is into working out and posting shirtless pictures is not that same Ahmed Mahfouz that is on the Demonz.
Old Quotes
Thu, 01/02/2014 - 11:47pm
FICA, FUTA, SUTA another easy $30,000
Pucks, puck bag, equipment bag, equipment travel cases wear and tear, travel sweat suites, road pops, parking passes (its the coliseum, stuff ain't free), ice rental (practice ain't free) coliseum and canlan, preseason ice time, press box food for media, office space, property taxes, non player salary expenses, benefits, phones, utilities, water, sewage, trash. Season ticket books printing/mfg expenses, postage.
andy sherman
Fri, 01/03/2014 - 12:30am
You're probably looking at more like $250,000 for equipment and those expenses. Outfitting a goalie in equipment is $5000 easy in itself x 2! And you still have 18 other players. Skates are $500+ nowadays.
Alan
Fri, 01/03/2014 - 2:08am
I have to congratulate Old Quotes on his post. Either he has experience in the business end of a hockey team or he did quite a bit of thinking.
While I would never dispute his figures, I tend to look at things from a different perspective. That perspective isn't the income realized, BUT from the income not taken in. In other words I look at the empty seats not providing any income. At 4000 empty seats per game, using a modest $5 per seat, the organization loses approx. $20,000 each game in potential dollars. Carry that over 30+ games and it figures out to be $600,000.
Acknowledging that this market would never be able to sell out each game, (also realizing that $5 per game is a little conservative), one could argue that a half million dollars is out there to be gained. Heck, just an increase of 500 people pre game is $2500. Over thirty games that figure rises to $75,000.
As an old salesperson, I always tried to increase my customer base while maintaining and servicing my existing customers. It takes a lot of work to create new customers. If you think that is difficult, try to regain a "lost" customer. Many things can go wrong which has absolutely nothing to do with you, personally. Lots of times that doesn't matter to the customer, he or she just knows some form of problem ocurred. And there is lots of competition out there ready and willing to take over.
In the context we're involved with, here, winning will heal a lot of wounds. Solves a lot of problems, too. A lot of problems.
Caprad
Fri, 01/03/2014 - 2:19am
As for the players who've chosen to leave...
I quote Curly Bill from the movie Tombstone...
"Well... bye."
Old Quotes
Fri, 01/03/2014 - 3:12am
This year ticket out avg per game is 7,377 or about 70% of capacity, leaves roughly 3,000 seats per game.
Based on old numbers walk up crowd is still out numbering the sth crowd
Even though the crowds don't appear to be that large someone is paying for all those tickets out.
I tend to agree with the per ticket revenue amount used.
Past history is the best indicator of future activity. Using that logic we are short about 250 tickets out per game. I would use that to determine potential additional revenue.
100% capacity in the minor league for this size stadium just isn't a realistic figure to be used. Even in ft wayne in a perfect world with the best Komets team ever.
Blake Sebring
Fri, 01/03/2014 - 9:23am
I think if Mahfouz was half as good as everyone seems to think, he'd have been here or somehwere else already. Just like there's a reason why great AA or AAA players from the past were lifers at that level, this is an age-old story.
And, no, I'm not going to ask the GM or coach about him because they will not comment about him. That would be incredibly irresponsible on their part, and they aren't that stupid.
Blake Sebring
Fri, 01/03/2014 - 9:27am
Did you have player housing costs? How about insurance for the rest of the employees which is a huge cost?
Old Quotes
Fri, 01/03/2014 - 11:05am
Mentioned them, housing could be an easy $8, 000 per month or $48, 000 per year.
Comments
Traded for future considerations?
Yes...glad to c another person that was not happy gone.....buy Cody,
I don't know what it is...I must be sick!! LOL But I seem to be in agreement with many opinions/posts lately.
For example. I totally agree with Who/SuZ regarding Cody Reichard. If you don't want to be here, then good-bye. Being generous to Reichard, I suppose his numbers could be explained by the defense in front of him. Could be, but I don't think so. I am of the mind to question his ability. I hope he does well, but for the komets, it's time to move on.
The earlier conversation among Blake and some posters regarding the ECHL and CHL and minor league hockey, in general, got me to thinking. One of Blake's thoughts stated that the ECHL is set up to serve the AHL, that local fans should be the focus of the league (but are not). I am in agreement and here's why.
To me, a strong league should be made up of strong franchises. Any way the league can help the success of its members should be a top priority. I would suggest that this is not always the case. For instance, wouldn't you think that having rivalries, close minimum travel games (where teams could save on travel costs and fans could make road trips ), would be good for the league and its members? I mean, really, isn't that the reason there are divisions? I would suggest to you that presently this is not the case. Take the Komets. The North division plays a very unbalanced schedule. I mean here it is January 2nd and Kalamazoo hasn't been here yet, Cincinnati has been here only once. The ECHL has ,at least in this division, a unique opportunity to take advantage of older rivalries birthed in different leagues. Even a four game away, four game at home schedule between each team would not only encourage fan travel but have a much more fair effect on the division champion. (Look, I used four as an example. Plug in any figure you want. The point is I don't think the schedule, the league, and the teams are benefiting much).
I am on record as stating how much I liked the style of play in the CHL. Every league has its drawbacks and for the CHL it is the travel distance between cities. The hockey was good, reasonable veteran rules, nice rivalries. I fear for its demise.
must be a new year cause im agreeing with alan! i was one in the minority on here that said the chl was just fine and to say things like" we deserrved to be in the echl or ahl" was pretty stupid and im afraid people are getting exactl what they wished for but were too dim to understand what they were actually getting themselves into. remember the original plan by the frankees was for all of aa hockey to come toghether and reform and make everything geographicly close by. that was the idea of ihl 2, but unfortunatly our partners couldnt withstand the bad economy and couldnt stay the course. the ideal thing is for all to merge and there are enuff teams to create four seperate leagues set up by location; then the champs of each league would then go into a finals playoff with one another, for the championship of all aa minor league hockey. things should be set up then like minor league baseball with eaach aa team having a working relationship with an ahl team. know there would be lots of things to tweak but it sure would cut travel costs and make rivalries important again.
big question super fan...lots of people keep talking about bringing up ahmed mahfouz and giving him a shot. i know hes a bruiser and can score goals, so whats the reason nobody will call him up? nutjob! uncoachable? just what is the reason we dont shake things up even if its for a couple of weekend games??????????
First of all I always agree with Alan. Alan brings us back to earth and on topic. Wise man
Secondly, re Mahfouz The guy has great stats( Albeit every player in that league has great stats) and NO ONE has called him up. The guy must have some kind of bad locker room rap or he is one of the second cousins to the Hansen brothers.... which might not be all that bad...hhhmmm?
He played on a well known jr team in Canada and there are some recognizable names that played with him. Someone has got find out. The Cyclones or Wheeling would have pulled him up if there was something in his favor. He played with both Hoban and Metz. Im sure the Komets have inquired.
I spent a lot of time researching Mahfouz and watching lets of video on him and I saw nothing that changed my opinion on wanting to see him in a komet jersey. The most noticeable thing is the level of intensity he plays at. How could that do anything but help us right now? He seems to be a more controlled version of LKS meaning that he hustles but has enough control to slow down and make good plays. Secondly his scoring touch is very nice, multiple goals I watched online he received a pas in front of the net but instead of blasting it in the net right away he caught it and pulled it backhand and made the goalie look silly, while this isn't difficult my point is he knows how to score. His high penalty minutes can be a bit unattractive but most of the fights he got in he was standing up for another teammate (lot of cheap shots in the FHL). He is very good at getting under opponents skin and never hesitates to get the crowd going, even on the road. There was an occasion where he got nose to nose with some fan last season but the fan was making racial remarks and all Mahfouz said to the guy was "say it again" and the guy didn't haha. As far as leadership goes he is a good enough leader to wear the A in Dayton and watching a few interviews he seemed very nice and I saw no signs of a cocky attitude. I guess what I'm trying to say is I would really like to see him here. Why not give it a shot? If it doesn't work send him back down what will it hurt? But if it does work he could be the missing piece that puts us in the playoffs. I feel like him and Embach on a line together would work nicely and would no doubt be full of hitting. If I can't ever see him in a Komet jersey I would really like to know why. Then I can buy a Mahfouz Demonz jersey lol
Hmmmmm.....why not move up to the AHL....not many commented on my post of yesterday on this...especially based on the costs I listed......hmmm....must be a dead issue....most likely because we are committed to the ECHL for such a long period of time.....no idea if we can break that contract????
As to Mr. Mafhouz....Blake pretty much told me a while ago, he could not play in our league.....please elaborate if you can or will Blake, what it is that makes this guy untenable for teams in the ECHL....seems more folks would like to see him for a while???
Also, no other suggestions from anyone on a seasoned goal tender....not a prospect to move up???
Do these issues not interest folks here???
WHO SUZ great topics my thoughts only below
1. seasoned Goaltender... you know any? I would think if there was one available that would fit in, he would be here. Might be in the works now. I have said before that most of the ripe fruit has been picked.... for all positions, unless there is a trade.
2. AHL- never a dead topic. Im sure it has been bandied about by the organnization. Its something that has to be looked at over the years. It all comes down to specific league operating costs verses revenue. ( this would make for a great Masters degree research paper on the business of minor league hockey. Create a city -fit formula) As long as it had a circular saw blade( rough cut) with a K on it, im in no matter what league.
3. Mahfouz - im as curious as everyone else on this guy. I wonder if he knows this blog has all this conversation about him?
After watching Mahfouz on you tube I can say he is the most self promoting guy since Jon Mirasty. Mairasty has made some pretty good videos and Mahfouz has followed suit promoting himself in the weight room and his birthday video. It looks like he thinks of himself as the ultimate ladies man. The guy is totally in love with himself. Unique character it apperars
Ok on the ahl topic I think a ahl team has to drop out in order to get a franchise, to make numbers for the NHL I also would like to see this mufose play a game or two in a komets jersey. And yes a more experienced goal tender would be nice . Also maybe a few better defensemen and a few power forwards but this might be asking alot
who/suz...nobody commented on your post cause we all know the goalie answer,,,,,wwhere is a seasoned goalie that is just sitting around doing nothing??? as to the ahl its been talked about on here many times. answer in a short version is 1. way too expensive and 2. why would the frankes want to give up a majority of control of their team?
http://youtu.be/z-OOW5CP7NQ
Chukitt...maybe the Frankes would give up their control to help satisfy their fans...theres a big surprise....it is a fact that all of us are not happy with the way it is now.....AHL would hopefully give us more control than we have now.
As shown before in my prior post...AHL might not be as expensive as we think....some AHL teams are more but many are in our current price range....bears some further research
Blake, by the way...saw you on Tommy's show...so even though u said we need a number one goalie and you and Tommy stated that we have to prepare to lose players and more players.....what difference does it make who would be a number one goalie....we will lose them anyway...so why look at all
You also mentioned that if we had Muse we would be in first place...but that is unrealistic as well...he was to good to play with us....so we should have expected to lose him....guess in the end we have to put up with a multitude of new players, none of whom will stay very long.....I DO NOT LIKE THIS!
I guess I am confused. I'm all for watching AHL hockey for a few reason. The main reason is the quality of the product. It is the 2nd best to watch besides the NHL. I am confused though how you think we would have more control over the rosters. The AHL is set up to feed the NHL teams. If you think player movement would be less then ECHL that is wishful thinking. below is a link to the daily AHL transactions.
http://theahl.com/stats/transactions.php
You know there is one other thing that is bothering me and it has not really been talked about here....how can we (the K's) fail to put in a contract that if a player that is sent to us does not come, breaks his leg, retires or whatever, that we should get another player in place of him.....how can you leave that out of the contract.....so basically we lose Lang and get nothing, except the future consideration.....wow another future consideration
If we wait long enough, next years team can be one of all future considerations....unreal!
Thanks for all the kind words, everybody.
As for the "seasoned goaltender", he's in the CHL or Europe. Remember that there is no reciprocal agreement there. We should take advantage of that fact.
As for Mahfouz, what in the world would stop this team from looking for someone who might add the physical prescence, yet scoring touch, that this guy has demonstrated? Yes, I know he's in the FHL and no one has brought him up. Still, what would it hurt to try? Will it ruin the season? Geez, if he's no good, then send him back down. There are plenty of forwards on this team that have underachieved. One more won't hurt.
The Komets have the biggest bankroll available. Only two of the four veterans allowed (remember goalies do not count). Many underachieving players ( refer to the third line). How can I be the only one to see this?
Even though this league advertises itself as the 'premiere AA hockey league", don't get caught up in the fact that there aren't good players elsewhere. The hard job is to hunt them down and bring them in.
I made a terrible mistake, earlier, on Vaskivuo. I thought he'd be the same player who played both ends of the ice. Instead he assumed he could do whatever he wanted since he had such a terrific history with Fort Wayne a couple of years ago. Gary Graham made him "toe the line", Colin Chaulk wasn't here to make sure he'd toe the line, and the result was ( in my opinion), that he polluted the mind of Mickey Lang, his room mate. Notice how he hasn't been traded or signed with anyone else? Ask Evansville. Ask Rapid City. I hate waste, and his talent is being wasted. He should be here, hustle, listen, and play both ends of the ice. Not Graham's fault. Totally on Vaskivuo ( and it cost us the leading scorer of the league).
Also, and whatever you perceive these problems to be, be kind to the Graham family. They bear no fault in this. Be critical all you need to be, but remember it can't be easy on them, so no one needs to be hard on them.
Takes at a minimum $1,000,000 to just put a team (not coaches, support staff etc) on the ice.
For the love of mike, if you try to determine revenue, do not use $20 X 250,000 (different ticket price levels and everyone else has their hands in it, ticket master, coliseum etc)
If you know a few simple things you can come close to calculating the expenses at the lower end using the number of allowed active players at one time.
ECHL mileage chart
http://palmettopucks.tripod.com/echl_mileage_chart.htm
Komets away schedule
http://www.komets.com/data/uploads/Schedule/13-14%20komet%20schedule.jpg
CBA
http://www.phpa.com/index.php/site/agreements
Regular season round trip mileage 13,190
Bus Fare $57,760
Air Fare $30,000
Hotel $27,000
Per Diem $36,708
Immigration Lawyer fees
Immigration visa fees
26 weeks salary cap $313,600
26 weeks workmans comp $313,600
Training camp per diem $13,300
Training Camp Lodging $21,000
Training camp travel expenses
In Season (players traded, released) moving expenses for 25 players ?
Roster Players Moving Expenses
Housing Expenses
Off Ice insurance expense $37,800
Off Ice Dental $4,200
Sticks $30,000
Jerseys $10,000
Skates $5,250
Helmets
Shoulder pads
Elbow Pads
Gloves
Cups
Pants
Socks
Shin Guards
Stick/Sock Tape
Don't forget shower soap, shampoo, shave cream, razors, towels, laundry soap, (hey Reg how about some downy in these sweaters), Ice, Water, gatorade, therapy wraps tape and the like. workoout facility..... expenses go on and on.
Keep adding on the expenses, there are quite a few more.
i'm thankful we have an ownership group that is not only business minded, they are hockey minded and they love the Komets.
You think, maybe, just maybe if there was someone worth a hoot out there, that was available, it would be on their radar? I think it would be. Europe isn't a last resort, right now the exchange rate favors the Euro if you bring them back and change them in for USD you make a little coin.
We finally got the ECHL, we were affiliated last year, this year we aren't, revolving door both years, this is what people were screaming for when we were in the other leagues. Enjoy it!
AHL, you're looking at it, just at a tad bit lower level and a little less expensive.
If we were winning, none of this second guessing would be going on, we would be out on other boards cyber slapping people telling them how great the K's are.
it's going to take time to navigate and figure out this new league.
The dead horse has to have been beaten in to a fine leather by now, maybe even priceless.
I think you are forgetting another big one in league fees which could be anywhere from $200,000 to $500,000.
great comments for showing the costs in running a team and for who/suz, if you put out your money to buy a buiness and built it to a profitable level, would you wnat to give up your say in what it is your buisiness does to someone else that then turns around and charges you money for that priviledge? and besides that they then tell you who your gm and coach will be and you have no say?? and you think the frankes would love to give up that control? i think not. and blake, whats your thoughts about mahfouz???
Ron just to clear things up on Mahfouz, the Ahmed Mahfouz who is into working out and posting shirtless pictures is not that same Ahmed Mahfouz that is on the Demonz.
FICA, FUTA, SUTA another easy $30,000
Pucks, puck bag, equipment bag, equipment travel cases wear and tear, travel sweat suites, road pops, parking passes (its the coliseum, stuff ain't free), ice rental (practice ain't free) coliseum and canlan, preseason ice time, press box food for media, office space, property taxes, non player salary expenses, benefits, phones, utilities, water, sewage, trash. Season ticket books printing/mfg expenses, postage.
You're probably looking at more like $250,000 for equipment and those expenses. Outfitting a goalie in equipment is $5000 easy in itself x 2! And you still have 18 other players. Skates are $500+ nowadays.
I have to congratulate Old Quotes on his post. Either he has experience in the business end of a hockey team or he did quite a bit of thinking.
While I would never dispute his figures, I tend to look at things from a different perspective. That perspective isn't the income realized, BUT from the income not taken in. In other words I look at the empty seats not providing any income. At 4000 empty seats per game, using a modest $5 per seat, the organization loses approx. $20,000 each game in potential dollars. Carry that over 30+ games and it figures out to be $600,000.
Acknowledging that this market would never be able to sell out each game, (also realizing that $5 per game is a little conservative), one could argue that a half million dollars is out there to be gained. Heck, just an increase of 500 people pre game is $2500. Over thirty games that figure rises to $75,000.
As an old salesperson, I always tried to increase my customer base while maintaining and servicing my existing customers. It takes a lot of work to create new customers. If you think that is difficult, try to regain a "lost" customer. Many things can go wrong which has absolutely nothing to do with you, personally. Lots of times that doesn't matter to the customer, he or she just knows some form of problem ocurred. And there is lots of competition out there ready and willing to take over.
In the context we're involved with, here, winning will heal a lot of wounds. Solves a lot of problems, too. A lot of problems.
As for the players who've chosen to leave...
I quote Curly Bill from the movie Tombstone...
"Well... bye."
This year ticket out avg per game is 7,377 or about 70% of capacity, leaves roughly 3,000 seats per game.
Based on old numbers walk up crowd is still out numbering the sth crowd
Even though the crowds don't appear to be that large someone is paying for all those tickets out.
I tend to agree with the per ticket revenue amount used.
Past history is the best indicator of future activity. Using that logic we are short about 250 tickets out per game. I would use that to determine potential additional revenue.
100% capacity in the minor league for this size stadium just isn't a realistic figure to be used. Even in ft wayne in a perfect world with the best Komets team ever.
I think if Mahfouz was half as good as everyone seems to think, he'd have been here or somehwere else already. Just like there's a reason why great AA or AAA players from the past were lifers at that level, this is an age-old story.
And, no, I'm not going to ask the GM or coach about him because they will not comment about him. That would be incredibly irresponsible on their part, and they aren't that stupid.
Did you have player housing costs? How about insurance for the rest of the employees which is a huge cost?
Mentioned them, housing could be an easy $8, 000 per month or $48, 000 per year.