Post by Marc Foster on Feb 28, 2008 10:17:42 GMT -5
I didn't blog it this morning so I'll drop it down here... Obviously, the USHL is circling like a vulture...
pantagraph.com/articles/2008/02/28/news/doc47c619583be9d771389981.txt
City officials concerned about reports of Thunder owing money
By M.K. Guetersloh and Douglas Hamm
BLOOMINGTON -- The Bloomington PrairieThunder hockey team appears to be in financial trouble, and while the city is concerned, it won’t take over team ownership, Mayor Steve Stockton said.
The team was the topic of discussion between city and International Hockey League officials Wednesday afternoon at Bloomington City Hall. The roughly three-hour, closed-door meeting included discussion about the team being owned by a “local corporation,” Stockton said.
The PrairieThunder is owned by Tony Lisman, a Michigan businessman who also owns another IHL team, the Muskegon Fury.
Stockton said city officials are concerned about recent reports they have heard about Lisman owing money to Central Illinois Arena Management, operators of the city-owned U.S. Cellular Coliseum.
Lisman was not at the meeting Wednesday, Stockton said.
IHL President Paul Pickard was seen walking into City Hall just before the meeting started. He was on hand later to drop the puck at the PrairieThunder game.
Stockton denied the city is interested in taking over ownership of the team but said there is a potential local owner.
“I don’t think legally we have any way to take over the team, and I, as mayor, am not interested in seeing the city take over ownership of the team,” Stockton said. “I know there have been some meetings, but I am not privy to the details of who the potential owners could be.”
However, who owns the team and how well it does is an area of concern for the city because the team is considered an anchor tenant for the $35.8 million Coliseum.
As of December, the Coliseum was operating at a loss of $116,000 for the fiscal year that began April 1, 2007, not including debt service on the construction bonds.
“We want to make sure the Coliseum is doing well, and a key piece to that is making sure we have hockey a team that is viable and providing entertainment to our community,” Stockton added.
The PrairieThunder play 38 games at the Coliseum, and the team is struggling in last place this season with a 21-28-4 record going into Wednesday night’s game.
As he left the meeting at City Hall, Coliseum General Manager Mike Nelson confirmed there was a discussion about the team and its ownership. He would not comment further.
Nelson and John Butler own the arena management group. As part of their contract with the city they must have a hockey team signed as a building tenant.
Last season, Nelson and Butler co-owned the team with Lisman. They sold their interest in the team to Lisman before the start of the 2007-08 season.
Lisman did not return phone calls or respond to an e-mail requesting comment.
Jerry McBurney, director of hockey operations for the PrairieThunder, denied rumors the team missed payroll or the team was having financial problems.
“We’re not going to miss payroll. We’re not going to miss anything,” McBurney said. “We’re fine. Believe me, if they didn’t get paid you would have heard about it. I have no idea where that rumor is coming from. Friday is payday. I sent out a (payroll) filing today (Wednesday).”
McBurney also denied rumors the team was lacking in equipment.
“We’ve got all the equipment that we need downstairs,” McBurney said. “I just bought goalie sticks last night. We’re fine.”
Several aldermen contacted Wednesday evening echoed Stockton’s stand that the city is not interested in taking over the team.
Ward 6 Alderman Karen Schmidt said she was aware of financial concerns relating to the team.
“The goal is stability for the team,” Schmidt said.
Meanwhile Ward 4 Alderman Judy Stearns said she was deeply concerned about the future of the team because it is such a big part of the operations at the Coliseum.
“It would be devastating to see them struggle,” Stearns said.
Ward 1 Alderman Allen Gibson said he was made aware of ongoing discussions about the team. Ward 3 Alderman Kevin Huette said he did not know enough about the discussions to comment.
Aldermen David Sage, Jim Finnegan, Steven Purcell, John Hanson and Jim Fruin were not available Wednesday.
pantagraph.com/articles/2008/02/28/news/doc47c619583be9d771389981.txt
City officials concerned about reports of Thunder owing money
By M.K. Guetersloh and Douglas Hamm
BLOOMINGTON -- The Bloomington PrairieThunder hockey team appears to be in financial trouble, and while the city is concerned, it won’t take over team ownership, Mayor Steve Stockton said.
The team was the topic of discussion between city and International Hockey League officials Wednesday afternoon at Bloomington City Hall. The roughly three-hour, closed-door meeting included discussion about the team being owned by a “local corporation,” Stockton said.
The PrairieThunder is owned by Tony Lisman, a Michigan businessman who also owns another IHL team, the Muskegon Fury.
Stockton said city officials are concerned about recent reports they have heard about Lisman owing money to Central Illinois Arena Management, operators of the city-owned U.S. Cellular Coliseum.
Lisman was not at the meeting Wednesday, Stockton said.
IHL President Paul Pickard was seen walking into City Hall just before the meeting started. He was on hand later to drop the puck at the PrairieThunder game.
Stockton denied the city is interested in taking over ownership of the team but said there is a potential local owner.
“I don’t think legally we have any way to take over the team, and I, as mayor, am not interested in seeing the city take over ownership of the team,” Stockton said. “I know there have been some meetings, but I am not privy to the details of who the potential owners could be.”
However, who owns the team and how well it does is an area of concern for the city because the team is considered an anchor tenant for the $35.8 million Coliseum.
As of December, the Coliseum was operating at a loss of $116,000 for the fiscal year that began April 1, 2007, not including debt service on the construction bonds.
“We want to make sure the Coliseum is doing well, and a key piece to that is making sure we have hockey a team that is viable and providing entertainment to our community,” Stockton added.
The PrairieThunder play 38 games at the Coliseum, and the team is struggling in last place this season with a 21-28-4 record going into Wednesday night’s game.
As he left the meeting at City Hall, Coliseum General Manager Mike Nelson confirmed there was a discussion about the team and its ownership. He would not comment further.
Nelson and John Butler own the arena management group. As part of their contract with the city they must have a hockey team signed as a building tenant.
Last season, Nelson and Butler co-owned the team with Lisman. They sold their interest in the team to Lisman before the start of the 2007-08 season.
Lisman did not return phone calls or respond to an e-mail requesting comment.
Jerry McBurney, director of hockey operations for the PrairieThunder, denied rumors the team missed payroll or the team was having financial problems.
“We’re not going to miss payroll. We’re not going to miss anything,” McBurney said. “We’re fine. Believe me, if they didn’t get paid you would have heard about it. I have no idea where that rumor is coming from. Friday is payday. I sent out a (payroll) filing today (Wednesday).”
McBurney also denied rumors the team was lacking in equipment.
“We’ve got all the equipment that we need downstairs,” McBurney said. “I just bought goalie sticks last night. We’re fine.”
Several aldermen contacted Wednesday evening echoed Stockton’s stand that the city is not interested in taking over the team.
Ward 6 Alderman Karen Schmidt said she was aware of financial concerns relating to the team.
“The goal is stability for the team,” Schmidt said.
Meanwhile Ward 4 Alderman Judy Stearns said she was deeply concerned about the future of the team because it is such a big part of the operations at the Coliseum.
“It would be devastating to see them struggle,” Stearns said.
Ward 1 Alderman Allen Gibson said he was made aware of ongoing discussions about the team. Ward 3 Alderman Kevin Huette said he did not know enough about the discussions to comment.
Aldermen David Sage, Jim Finnegan, Steven Purcell, John Hanson and Jim Fruin were not available Wednesday.
