Can we all agree that Wang has been in this for things other than hockey, such as real estate and that if he doesn't see an oppurtunity to build a HUB after the '15 that he will sell and move on?
Except he said that last year. Not word for word, but he did say it was a mistake to buy the team and wouldn't do it again. Couple that with the budget, the deadline, and no real plan B and what's that sound like to you? People aren't choosing to look at the glass half empty. The glass is 90% empty. That's empty.
Wang never said he hated owning the team.
there is a huge difference between hating losing millions of dollars each yr,after feeling you've been screwed over and lied to by local pols for over a decade vs. hating owning the team.Wang is a meddling,micro managing owner,who credible sources says is very involved with the players and who other credible sources says likes being an owner.If given the choice,knowing then what he knows now,of course he would do things differently.Wouldn't anyone in his position?
Was it a mistake to trust the pols? I'd have to think he does feel it was a mistake to do so.If he'd known that 11 yrs later ,he'd still be waiting on a new Nassau County arena ,he'd probably demand an agreement in writing before completing the sale.
Does he regret buying the team?I'd think he does. If any of us on this board had hundreds of millions of dollars.Would we knowingly and willingly buy a business, that we knew would lose a few hundred million dollars over a 10-14 yr period?
Would he like a do over?Knowing that 11 yrs after being promised a new arena ,there isn't one anywhere in sight and knowing how much money he's lost, I'm sure he would.If he could get a do over,he'd get more then promises and handshakes fom county pols.He'd get a legally binding agreement from those pols.
Would he buy the team again if given the chance?Not under the same circumstances.What owner would?
Can we all agree that Wang has been in this for things other than hockey, such as real estate and that if he doesn't see an oppurtunity to build a HUB after the '15 that he will sell and move on?
Considering that Wang wasn't even a hockey fan,yeah,I can agree that it was land deal that drew him in.
However,it sounds like he likes being an owner.Comments from Botta and Hahn ,along with quotes from Tavares and Moulson,have me thinking since he likes being an owner,he might end up keeping the team after 2015.
It's gonna depend on what kind of arena/lease deal he's offered at that point.None of us know what's being discussed,what the County's final offer will be,what the execs at Barclay's might offer.
Heck,a few months ago,Barclay's execs were not even showing interest.They were brushing aside NYI questions.
there is a huge difference between hating losing millions of dollars each yr,after feeling you've been screwed over and lied to by local pols for over a decade vs. hating owning the team.Wang is a meddling,micro managing owner,who credible sources says is very involved with the players and who other credible sources says likes being an owner.If given the choice,knowing then what he knows now,of course he would do things differently.Wouldn't anyone in his position?
Was it a mistake to trust the pols? I'd have to think he does feel it was a mistake to do so.If he'd known that 11 yrs later ,he'd still be waiting on a new Nassau County arena ,he'd probably demand an agreement in writing before completing the sale.
Does he regret buying the team?I'd think he does. If any of us on this board had hundreds of millions of dollars.Would we knowingly and willingly buy a business, that we knew would lose a few hundred million dollars over a 10-14 yr period?
Would he like a do over?Knowing that 11 yrs after being promised a new arena ,there isn't one anywhere in sight and knowing how much money he's lost, I'm sure he would.If he could get a do over,he'd get more then promises and handshakes fom county pols.He'd get a legally binding agreement from those pols.
Would he buy the team again if given the chance?Not under the same circumstances.What owner would?
I wish I had the quote handy, because my memory remembers something like, "I wouldn't buy the club if I had it all to do over again." I know that's not the exact quote, but for some reason I remember it being more final.
I don't think he could get assurances like you suggest anyway. Think about the snakes involved who talked him into buying. I may despise the man for what he has done to the club, but separately, he has 110% of my sympathy and support for what the politicians did to him. If he buried them in court I'd give him a high five.
For being involved in hockey ops and destroying our club in the process I'd hire Semin to slap him like a girl.
I wish I had the quote handy, because my memory remembers something like, "I wouldn't buy the club if I had it all to do over again." I know that's not the exact quote, but for some reason I remember it being more final.
I don't think he could get assurances like you suggest anyway. Think about the snakes involved who talked him into buying. I may despise the man for what he has done to the club, but separately, he has 110% of my sympathy and support for what the politicians did to him. If he buried them in court I'd give him a high five.
For being involved in hockey ops and destroying our club in the process I'd hire Semin to slap him like a girl.
I believe the quote came form an interview with Howie and Howie asked him something like "if you knew it was going to play out like this / be this hard (the lighthouse stuff) would you still have bought the team?" and he answered "no".
I wish I had the quote handy, because my memory remembers something like, "I wouldn't buy the club if I had it all to do over again." I know that's not the exact quote, but for some reason I remember it being more final.
I don't think he could get assurances like you suggest anyway. Think about the snakes involved who talked him into buying. I may despise the man for what he has done to the club, but separately, he has 110% of my sympathy and support for what the politicians did to him. If he buried them in court I'd give him a high five.
For being involved in hockey ops and destroying our club in the process I'd hire Semin to slap him like a girl.
I'm not disagreeing that Wang made that statement.
But based on the info from Botta,Hahn,Moulson and Tavares about how much Wang enjoys owning the team and how personally involved he gets with the players,I think the statement has been taken out of context.
I think what he hates is being misled by pols,losing millions of dollars and having such resistance to his development plans.
I'm not disagreeing that Wang made that statement.
But based on the info from Botta,Hahn,Moulson and Tavares about how much Wang enjoys owning the team and how personally involved he gets with the players,I think the statement has been taken out of context.
I think what he hates is being misled by pols,losing millions of dollars and haaving such resistance to his development plans.
and fielding a competitive team for the paying customers.
There's no argument ,that Wang is keeping his payroll down as much as possible.
Would he being doing that if he had a much more favorable lease?
I guess time will tell.
He HAS a much more favorable lease. Just a lil' reminder.
He also has no desire to use that money WISELY to MAKE MORE money.
I guess he's too butt-hurt over the referendum to hire competent people to run the arena (and get more bands to tour here or get better players for the $13M he spent on Reasoner, Rolston, Mottau, Eaton and Pandolfo).
He HAS a much more favorable lease. Just a lil' reminder.
He also has no desire to use that money WISELY to MAKE MORE money.
I guess he's too butt-hurt over the referendum to hire competent people to run the arena (and get more bands to tour here or get better players for the $13M he spent on Reasoner, Rolston, Mottau, Eaton and Pandolfo).
Souzzi changed the lease terms about 15 months ago I believe.
So about a decade with one of the worst leases in sports,followed by about 15 months with a more agreeable lease.Wow.He must be close to recouping the money lost during the first 10 yrs.
As I said in a post above,imo Wang's selling will depend on Nassau County's final offer and Barclay's final offer.
Souzzi changed the lease terms about 15 months ago I believe.
So about a decade with one of the worst leases in sports,followed by about 15 months with a more agreeable lease.Wow.He must be close to recouping the money lost during the first 10 yrs.
As I said in a post above,imo Wang's selling will depend on Nassau County's final offer and Barclay's final offer.
Yeah, he has a few years to recoup the money and then.....
Until then, he has to run the team, the arena and so on MUCH better. But, in the absence of his desire to sell his business to the public and advertisers, yes, he has to sell the team. He won't make money in Barclays.
I believe the quote came form an interview with Howie and Howie asked him something like "if you knew it was going to play out like this / be this hard (the lighthouse stuff) would you still have bought the team?" and he answered "no".
The quote was said on Mike Francessa's radio show.
Yeah, he has a few years to recoup the money and then.....
Until then, he has to run the team, the arena and so on MUCH better. But, in the absence of his desire to sell his business to the public and advertisers, yes, he has to sell the team. He won't make money in Barclays.
If he get's a good lease and part of the Atlantic Yards Development he can make money in Brooklyn. Bruce Ratner needs more money to get the development around the arena off the ground and that is where Wang can make his money. Even when his plan was to build the Lighthouse the money wasn't in the arena, but in the development around the arena and Wang can still get that in Brooklyn.
Yeah, he has a few years to recoup the money and then.....
Until then, he has to run the team, the arena and so on MUCH better. But, in the absence of his desire to sell his business to the public and advertisers, yes, he has to sell the team. He won't make money in Barclays.
I should have used the sarcasm smilie ,when I wrote he must have come close to recouping his money lost over the past decade.It's gonna take a heck of a lot more then controlling Coliseum events for 15 months,to make up for the first 10 yrs.
I do agree that Wang does not want to be a tenant in someone else's arena and that's why we'll see him use the Barclay's game as a threat ,but make no long term committment.The Nets and their owners will make the bulk of the money at Barclay's.
NHL exec. Daly told Botta that the Isles, Devils and Ducks have been pushing to change the revenue sharing rules.All three teams are hurting financially.
I read a short article about Columbus getting revenue sharing.The article said that check could be worth as much as $10m.
If Wang gets revenue sharing, I expect him to put that money into the payroll.One of the most frustrating parts of having him as owner,has been the payroll games: using ELC bonuses that won't be reached and buyouts to reach the cap floor.
NHL exec. Daly told Botta that the Isles, Devils and Ducks have been pushing to change the revenue sharing rules.All three teams are hurting financially.
I read a short article about Columbus getting revenue sharing.The article said that check could be worth as much as $10m.
If Wang gets revenue sharing, I expect him to put that money into the payroll.One of the most frustrating parts of having him as owner,has been the payroll games: using ELC bonuses that won't be reached and buyouts to reach the cap floor.
1) Wang will be the owner as long as there is a chance of him developing the "Hub" or whatever you want to call it.
1a) Wang wants to make money, just like the rest of us. If he can move the team to Quebec or Seattle and still make money, then he'll still own the team. Maybe he's on the phone with both municipalities as we speak, seeing if either will be willing to go for his Lighthouse project.
2) No. The NIMBYs of Nassau have spoken at least twice and the Isles aren't wanted.
Brooklyn? I highly doubt it. Unless that Russian guy who owns the Nets, whose name I forgot, wants to buy them, then no. They won't be on the Island after 2015.
I'm not trying to derail anything here, but, two teams need to go.
Can't have a league with 29 teams. That's part of the reason the re-alingment didn't go through-not too many options with 30 teams-and the unbalanced conferences.
So...28 teams, 4 conferences of 7 teams each. Top four go to the playoffs.
And, I don't think the talent pool and league can handle 32 teams.
(4 conferences, 8 teams each.)
I agree, they either need to add teams or subtract. But, given many of them are in non-hockey markets, I think you'll need to lose teams in order to get the divisions and conferences sorted out.
I don't see Canada getting another team. Perhaps, Quebec but the current status of teams and divisions needs to be established first.
Regarding the Islanders, I was wondering what the situation is here about discussing Wang as the owner. Is it taboo? Will mods intervene? I really think he's a horrible owner and by his own soundbites and quotes, he has shown he only cares about money and profit among everything else. He's NOT a hockey fan. I hope I can at least say that much (i.e. my opinion). I don't know why Islander fans aren't wishing they could get new ownership at least in every thread here.
I think he'll go with the Barclay Center or whatever it is if he doesn't have to invest anything or a minimum of his own funds. That's why they're not in LI now. Because, he won't invest enough from his own pocket.
Btw, the comment about the Nets ownership. Geez, that's an AWFUL ONE. HORRIBLE WITH A CAPITAL 'H.' Prokhorov is a shady oligarch in Russia. And 'Jay-Z?' If I was the owner of the Islanders, I'd want my own terms and my own rink. At least, have enough say in events in the building etc. I could see Wang going in there since he's only about business. Of course, everything is, but there are limits, aren't there?!?
Finally, aren't fans tired of the awful alternate jerseys?!? Those look awful, sorry. I watched some portion of the Devils-Islanders games and I can't get over them. Why are they using them after they had the 'fish sticks' debacle?!? It makes little sense. Are fans buying those?!?
I like the Islanders as one of my fav. teams. I rank them very high. Although, I also like Pittsburgh so I hope I wouldn't/won't be crucified for that. It's a long story but my #1 team I disposed of because of an ownership acquisition that I can't tolerate. I guess that is one reason I feel so strongly about the Islanders ownership. It is important to me.
Comments? P.S. I hope I'll be just lectured or something if my comments about Wang is 'out of bounds.' I don't see why, though.
Cheers... Good luck with the Isles... I hope they stay as NYI and not change to 'Brooklyn' if that's where they go.
Can we all agree that Wang has been in this for things other than hockey, such as real estate and that if he doesn't see an oppurtunity to build a HUB after the '15 that he will sell and move on?
