wouldn't be too sure Elmira will be there, either, remember, Solution, Port Huron hangs over an Afr franchise, whether it be McMorran or the new proposed arena for them if indeed First Arena was sold as it's been rumored, whether that's been confirmed or not....
I posted a link on this earlier but the Kimball Arena that was long started is no more. The materials used paved way to a Credit union in 2006. Would have to start all over. elements have ruined what was buiklt(never finished the outside)McMorron was locked by Uncle larry Kinney I believe. As he just upped and left town with his Icejawks. Nobody could get in touch with him...
Really upset. I usually go about 10 times a year. $7 bucks for a student ticket and dollar beer on friday nights. $15 for a good night out to a hockey game.
heading to the game tomorrow night. I'll be in an old school Chiefs jersey in the pit. Should narrow it down to about a dozen people.
Have fun. I still hate that Johnstown does not have a team. I understand the economics of it, but the nostalgia part of me is not dealing well with it.
When somebody has the bills to pay the mortgage payments Mostafa Afr hasn't made in years. Thats why the alleged Pegula thing has calmed down. Bank doesn't want to get stuck with an empty arena. His "arena" in Poirt Huron is basically gone. His only asset left is our arena...he owns it. The bank could think the check could bounce perhaps.
Good grief. I would ask how a guy like that gets to own a team, but I remember the situation with the Islanders about 10 years back where the guy had no money but convinced everybody including the NHL that he did. So how does a team win like you guys are with a guy like that in charge. Wait never mind. Wheeling is doing the same thing. I feel for the organization. those people have to try to run a business with all of this garbage happening.
Have fun. I still hate that Johnstown does not have a team. I understand the economics of it, but the nostalgia part of me is not dealing well with it.
I hear ya. As mentioned in the other Nailers thread, I'm a soon-to-be former resident who lived there for all but 4 years of my life. Even though I'm no longer there - I will be this weekend due to drill and a move that's still taking place - there's still a part of me that wants Johnstown to have a team. I know the crowds are no longer there and alot of it has to do with the economy (people moving away for jobs, not having $ to spend at 10-20 games a season, etc.), but I think a lot of it is nostalgia. I grew up going to the game and I'd like to see other people have the chance to see games growing up.
Good grief. I would ask how a guy like that gets to own a team, but I remember the situation with the Islanders about 10 years back where the guy had no money but convinced everybody including the NHL that he did. So how does a team win like you guys are with a guy like that in charge. Wait never mind. Wheeling is doing the same thing. I feel for the organization. those people have to try to run a business with all of this garbage happening.
The ECHL cap is some like $12,000 something I believe. Not expensive. Not sure how many spend to i. Some of our guys aren't on ECHL Contracts, that helps. Doc has some form of money, but he's from Egypt. He hides his money there from the tax man. How he got citizenship is beyond me.
Here is the most interesting thing of the article:
Quote:
The idea was that the arena would be home to Port Huron's minor league hockey team, the Border Cats. The teams owner - Mostafa Afr – had a good track record of taking financially distressed arena properties and turning them around, and hoped the project would draw residents and people from the surrounding area.
Unfortunately, construction was halted only a year after it began when financing for the project dried up. While considerable structural work had been completed on the building housing the additional ice rinks, the arena itself was just a foundation pit with a few concrete uprights, which soon filled with water.
Couldn't be more of the opposite. Google the Louisville Panthers....
Nobody in Wheeling or West Virginia has that kinda cash. He's just trying to cover his butt cause he started that rumor.
What?! You are going to question the integrity of Shawn Rines?
Actually, that is kind of what I thought. The report was so quick that it seemed like the Brooks had the new owner lined up already which would have been a bit shady would it not.
What?! You are going to question the integrity of Shawn Rines?
Actually, that is kind of what I thought. The report was so quick that it seemed like the Brooks had the new owner lined up already which would have been a bit shady would it not.
What are they gunna have a press connference for if nothings gone on? To tell people to buy? Shouldn't that be obvious if they could??? 4PM on a business day? Good lucl getting many there. My guess is less than 50 citizens in attendance.
The latest on the sale of the Nailers (from local Wheeling radio show Facebook):
# the Brooks brothers have not talked to anybody as of yet in regards to selling the team
# the report the team has been sold already to an individual in Georgia is false
# the ECHL and it's member teams do not want the team to leave Wheeling and will help find a local buyer
# the Penguins affiliation is rock solid if the team is sold to a local owner
# about 4 or 5 local individuals have expressed interest about purchasing the team
The ECHL has to be lying. They let Johnstown go really fast. Indfact that broke midseason as well. No time was put in to find a local owner. If there is an arena worse than JTown was, it's WesBanco. Lol, good luck but nobody in Wheeling has money. Why does the ECHL wanna stay in a market barely getting 2,600? I'm sure some of that figure is padded.
The latest on the sale of the Nailers (from local Wheeling radio show Facebook):
# the Brooks brothers have not talked to anybody as of yet in regards to selling the team
# the report the team has been sold already to an individual in Georgia is false
# the ECHL and it's member teams do not want the team to leave Wheeling and will help find a local buyer
# the Penguins affiliation is rock solid if the team is sold to a local owner# about 4 or 5 local individuals have expressed interest about purchasing the team
This part is believable but only if it is local. If the team were to leave Wheeling, the Penguins would look for something close to Wilkes-Barre and Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh and Wilkes Barre seem to like having an affiliate nearby. In fact John Bombulie, the WBS reporter, claims that the Penguins like the current arrangement.
I seem to remember the ECHL saying the same thing in years past so it is questionable. Besides, the issue would be what else would they say.
This part is believable but only if it is local. If the team were to leave Wheeling, the Penguins would look for something close to Wilkes-Barre and Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh and Wilkes Barre seem to like having an affiliate nearby. In fact John Bombulie, the WBS reporter, claims that the Penguins like the current arrangement.
I seem to remember the ECHL saying the same thing in years past so it is questionable. Besides, the issue would be what else would they say.
Like I said, they gave JTown no public time. The typical response was..."Why if people aren't going would they put up money for a team"
I thought the Penguins had something with the brooks bros now? In part of the arena name or somethin like that?
I'm quite disappointed at this situation. I've always enjoyed my road trips to Wheeling and will certainly try to get there at least once more.
The statement to the media by Jim Brooks was quite touching, really. He choked up a couple of times during his statement. He and his brother have put forth a lot of their passion, energy and money to try to make a go of it in Wheeling--and that came through during his statement.
It would be a daunting task to try to make a $2 million budget hockey operation work in Wheeling. The town is small, it's been economically depressed, the game lacks the physicality it once had, and the novelty of hockey is gone. Still, there may be that one person or group who has the means and are willing to try to keep this 20 year old franchise going. I hope that's the case and that AA hockey can continue in West Virginia.
Sorry to hear about the apparent difficulties of the Jackals/arena. Hopefully those can be worked out.
I'm quite disappointed at this situation. I've always enjoyed my road trips to Wheeling and will certainly try to get there at least once more.
The statement to the media by Jim Brooks was quite touching, really. He choked up a couple of times during his statement. He and his brother have put forth a lot of their passion, energy and money to try to make a go of it in Wheeling--and that came through during his statement.
It would be a daunting task to try to make a $2 million budget hockey operation work in Wheeling. The town is small, it's been economically depressed, the game lacks the physicality it once had, and the novelty of hockey is gone. Still, there may be that one person or group who has the means and are willing to try to keep this 20 year old franchise going. I hope that's the case and that AA hockey can continue in West Virginia.
Sorry to hear about the apparent difficulties of the Jackals/arena. Hopefully those can be worked out.
Honestly Brooks sounded like he was on some form of medication or like he was drunk. He was stuttering a lot. While he may have tried to sound sad i'm just not 100% sure I buy that. They have a reputation to the Wheeling fans anyway, of being liars and very sneaky. While they deny the Savannah thing, it very well may not be true but I have this suspicion someone really already has put an in offer. Gicing them til March is a very fast and short deadline. I think somebody in Baltimore is interested in a franchise of sorts(so say the Reading fans who say the team was purchased over the summer to prevent it from going out of town.)
If one thing, I give them credit for even putting forth the 9 years. Wheeling has been economically depressed well before that. I agree with you on the game, thanks affiliated hockey. Word is the NPHL is starting up and they are looking at Huntington and Charleston WV. Apparently Johnstown is an interest. This might be a better alternative...
Eh, thanks. But it's Afr. We all know who/what he is. It's lasted longer than I thought.
I take it that you will not be joining in on the #SaveourNailers (or whatever it is) movement. Maybe you could join the HF Penguins board bake sale to raise the moeny.
Shawn Rine is concerned about his job. That is my guess. If the Nailers are not in town, what is he going to cover? He seems like one of the media types who likes to create a stir. He tried it last season with his the Penguins do not care for us article. This one with the mayor not offering to buy the team from city coffers. (Just my read on it.)
I did find it interesting that he said how all of the Pittsburgh sports media talked about it. I have not heard a thing about it on the local talk radio. Plus I did not hear it mentioned during the Penguins' game. Now I did miss the second period while I shovelled snow plus I missed the pregame so it could have been mentioned. He gives no examples of these sports personalities who said something.
Like I said, they gave JTown no public time. The typical response was..."Why if people aren't going would they put up money for a team"
I thought the Penguins had something with the brooks bros now? In part of the arena name or somethin like that?
The agreement is that for five years the Penguins and Nailers would be affiliated. The Brooks had to pay an affilaition fee. I forget what it is, but they got the money from the naming rights to the arena. I think that the city wanted that put in with the Penguins to try and tie the Brooks down. (Just a suspicion). So if the franchise leaves, it is a moot deal as I understand it.
I take it that you will not be joining in on the #SaveourNailers (or whatever it is) movement. Maybe you could join the HF Penguins board bake sale to raise the moeny.
SaveTheNailers* Fan page on Facebook. I have no idea what the site is supposed to be, a message board?
