Roscoe
Blue-Chip Prospect
Posts: 425
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Post by Roscoe on Feb 21, 2023 16:55:55 GMT -4
The following is what jumped out at me the most. A day after the sale is announced - the owner's son will be travelling with the team on a road trip. I know that there are owners who travel with their teams - Roy - the Hunters, etc. - but the following seems a bit sudden. I could be wrong - with owners travelling with their teams being common place? Not meaning to say it's wrong or anything - just sudden. Simon and his sons will remain in Michigan but plan to be in Halifax as much as possible. Peter will travel with the team on its road trip to Quebec this week.I'm going to take this as a positive sign!! |
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Post by howitzer on Feb 21, 2023 17:14:26 GMT -4
Yea I'm not liking this. When an organization has had the success and stability the Mooseheads have had the last decade, a change in ownership is the last thing you want.
I pretty much echo what most on here have said. Less is more. The best thing Simon can do, is leave this thing on auto pilot and let the professionals continue to do amazing jobs. Unfortunately, its naive to think new owners of any business won't make changes and won't put their own stamp on things. This is what worries me.
I'll give them a chance, that's for sure. He could turn out to be an awesome owner. Only time will tell. But I'm skeptical, I can't lie.
He best be keeping Cam happy!
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Post by Score on Feb 21, 2023 17:27:07 GMT -4
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Post by yesisaiditfirst on Feb 21, 2023 17:38:08 GMT -4
It would be very interesting if the new owners are entertaining buying the facility down the road. Many of these owners do go that route. Big picture makes sense for them. Does it for a Q team though? Managing the building would be a headache. You also can't prevent the scenario of: Owner buys property. Owner doesn't upkeep property. Public gets pissed at state of arena. Government eventually forced to reclaim arena and spend millions on overdue maintenance or do tear down/rebuild. That would be a very bad owner to let it get that far and for all the reasons you make there would be opposition to making a public owned facility private. But there are two sides to it. How profitable is the facility now? Is there cash to improve it? Who has the cash? The city/province would want some guarantees for sure. There is also opposition to public money fixing these places, building them, assuming annual losses. This debate is a really old one in public sphere. In the 90s private owners started building new facilities on their own and in many places to mixed results. It also has worked in some places to totally rejuvenate their downtowns. I look at it like this. You have lots of money and live in Michigan. Why buy this franchise and in this city? For fun? or does it also have a longer upside. Halifax is still a growing community. I think it is a stepping stone to the sports entertainment business if you have the money and can part with it for a while. The other narrative if only wanting to own a junior hockey team for fun seems to cute. Perhaps this is also going to be our CFL stadium suitor? Does anyone know what the purchase price of the Mooseheads was? Has anyone asked that? |
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Post by coleminer on Feb 21, 2023 18:29:46 GMT -4
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Post by coleminer on Feb 21, 2023 18:31:21 GMT -4
I think we have to at least give this new group a chance, but I'm a bit nervous.
This could also be a training wheels for them to buy a bigger sports franchise.
The use of the word "historic". What a joke. The Denver Broncos recently sold, you don't hear that "historic" crap coming out of that sale.
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Post by Jacques Strap on Feb 21, 2023 18:31:27 GMT -4
Does it for a Q team though? Managing the building would be a headache. You also can't prevent the scenario of: Owner buys property. Owner doesn't upkeep property. Public gets pissed at state of arena. Government eventually forced to reclaim arena and spend millions on overdue maintenance or do tear down/rebuild. That would be a very bad owner to let it get that far and for all the reasons you make there would be opposition to making a public owned facility private. But there are two sides to it. How profitable is the facility now? Is there cash to improve it? Who has the cash? The city/province would want some guarantees for sure. There is also opposition to public money fixing these places, building them, assuming annual losses. This debate is a really old one in public sphere. In the 90s private owners started building new facilities on their own and in many places to mixed results. It also has worked in some places to totally rejuvenate their downtowns. I look at it like this. You have lots of money and live in Michigan. Why buy this franchise and in this city? For fun? or does it also have a longer upside. Halifax is still a growing community. I think it is a stepping stone to the sports entertainment business if you have the money and can part with it for a while. The other narrative if only wanting to own a junior hockey team for fun seems to cute. Perhaps this is also going to be our CFL stadium suitor? Does anyone know what the purchase price of the Mooseheads was? Has anyone asked that? Paul Hollingsworth on CTV Atlantic asked Sam Simon directly how much he purchased the team for and he declined to answer. |
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Post by coleminer on Feb 21, 2023 18:32:39 GMT -4
There are some crazies out there that think the team will be moved to Michigan. lol
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Post by yesisaiditfirst on Feb 21, 2023 18:40:58 GMT -4
That would be a very bad owner to let it get that far and for all the reasons you make there would be opposition to making a public owned facility private. But there are two sides to it. How profitable is the facility now? Is there cash to improve it? Who has the cash? The city/province would want some guarantees for sure. There is also opposition to public money fixing these places, building them, assuming annual losses. This debate is a really old one in public sphere. In the 90s private owners started building new facilities on their own and in many places to mixed results. It also has worked in some places to totally rejuvenate their downtowns. I look at it like this. You have lots of money and live in Michigan. Why buy this franchise and in this city? For fun? or does it also have a longer upside. Halifax is still a growing community. I think it is a stepping stone to the sports entertainment business if you have the money and can part with it for a while. The other narrative if only wanting to own a junior hockey team for fun seems to cute. Perhaps this is also going to be our CFL stadium suitor? Does anyone know what the purchase price of the Mooseheads was? Has anyone asked that? Paul Hollingsworth's on CTV Atlantic asked Sam Simon directly how much he purchased the team for and he declined to answer. so TSN published franchise values for every OHL WHL team back in 2016. Ottawa 67s had a value north of $55 million. Calgary Hitmen $67 million. www.google.com/amp/s/www.tsn.ca/talent/chl-franchises-worth-millions-can-afford-to-pay-players-study-1.522306%3ftsn-ampInteresting data and we can only speculate these values in the Q. This owner also tried to buy the Detroit Pistons. Their last reported value was $1.450 billion. Don't know what year he tried to buy them. Their value is up 33% over 10 years. So not like money would stop him. I guess Halifax is a $25-$30 million franchise but it's a guess. |
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Post by mooseguy on Feb 21, 2023 18:55:51 GMT -4
Agree with all the comments the "historic" hype was over the top. At first I was worried the guy was from the US but so was Bobby but with a huge connection to the area. The fact Bobby lived year round in Arizona and flew in a few times a year won't mean a huge change in operations from that standpoint.
The one question I do have is this a personal transaction between two friends or was the team quietly put up for sale and no local buyer wanted it? It's a kick in the teeth to a growing city like ours that no local group or person would have the money to buy it (or want to). If we don't have anyone who could afford the Mooseheads this should be a big wake up call to those who think a professional hockey team would work here.
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Post by coleminer on Feb 21, 2023 18:58:20 GMT -4
Agree with all the comments the "historic" hype was over the top. At first I was worried the guy was from the US but so was Bobby but with a huge connection to the area. The fact Bobby lived year round in Arizona and flew in a few times a year won't mean a huge change in operations from that standpoint. The one question I do have is this a personal transaction between two friends or was the team quietly put up for sale and no local buyer wanted it? It's a kick in the teeth to a growing city like ours that no local group or person would have the money to buy it (or want to). If we don't have anyone who could afford the Mooseheads this should be a big wake up call to those who think a professional hockey team would work here. Uh oh, someone didn’t read the Saltwire article linked in this thread. |
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Post by Fryar on Feb 21, 2023 19:06:22 GMT -4
Yea I'm not liking this. When an organization has had the success and stability the Mooseheads have had the last decade, a change in ownership is the last thing you want. My feeling is that this is a Resume Builder for his son who wants to get into professional sports management. You will see likely a 3 to 5 year window for the owner's son to build up some experience and look to get an assistant GM job in some other professional sport. The alternative is that they will cut their teeth overall here and become a majority owner of a pro sports team down the road. I pretty much echo what most on here have said. Less is more. The best thing Simon can do, is leave this thing on auto pilot and let the professionals continue to do amazing jobs. Unfortunately, its naive to think new owners of any business won't make changes and won't put their own stamp on things. This is what worries me. I'll give them a chance, that's for sure. He could turn out to be an awesome owner. Only time will tell. But I'm skeptical, I can't lie. He best be keeping Cam happy! This definitely feels like a Resume Builder for the owners son. They probably have a 3 to 5 year plan where he will then start applying for assistant GM jobs in Pro Sports. Alternatively, they may be cutting their teeth as an entire family for a future majority purchase of a pro sports team. Doesn't feel permanent like it did with Bobby Smith, but most things aren't permanent anyway. |
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Post by howitzer on Feb 21, 2023 19:08:31 GMT -4
Agree with all the comments the "historic" hype was over the top. At first I was worried the guy was from the US but so was Bobby but with a huge connection to the area. The fact Bobby lived year round in Arizona and flew in a few times a year won't mean a huge change in operations from that standpoint. The one question I do have is this a personal transaction between two friends or was the team quietly put up for sale and no local buyer wanted it? It's a kick in the teeth to a growing city like ours that no local group or person would have the money to buy it (or want to). If we don't have anyone who could afford the Mooseheads this should be a big wake up call to those who think a professional hockey team would work here. The team wasn't for sale. Bobby said every once in a while someone would show interest. He'd listen but nothing ever went anywhere. Sounds like Simon came along and made an offer he couldn't refuse. |
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Post by Jacques Strap on Feb 21, 2023 19:16:57 GMT -4
I was very disappointed that Peter Simon didn't know what a Donair was. The food of Halifax? C'mon Pete, do some research about the city before you talk to the media.  |
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Post by mooseguy on Feb 21, 2023 19:29:15 GMT -4
Agree with all the comments the "historic" hype was over the top. At first I was worried the guy was from the US but so was Bobby but with a huge connection to the area. The fact Bobby lived year round in Arizona and flew in a few times a year won't mean a huge change in operations from that standpoint. The one question I do have is this a personal transaction between two friends or was the team quietly put up for sale and no local buyer wanted it? It's a kick in the teeth to a growing city like ours that no local group or person would have the money to buy it (or want to). If we don't have anyone who could afford the Mooseheads this should be a big wake up call to those who think a professional hockey team would work here. Uh oh, someone didn’t read the Saltwire article linked in this thread. Thanks, I didn't know you could read sports articles without a subscription. I'm still surprised there is nothing in agreements with teams and the QMJHL that a local owner would have the right to purchase a team first. What would theoretically stop a team being purchased and moved? (I'm not worried this would happen with Halifax) |
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