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Post by Citris on Feb 21, 2023 20:08:14 GMT -4
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) The league would have to approve the relocation just like the purchase. They wouldn't agree to relocate their second-largest market... some of their smaller markets tho... |
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Post by mooseguy on Feb 21, 2023 20:15:54 GMT -4
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) The league would have to approve the relocation just like the purchase. They wouldn't agree to relocate their second-largest market... some of their smaller markets tho... I guess I'm just disappointed this is the least connected the team ownership has been to Halifax since it's inception. |
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Post by MikeC on Feb 21, 2023 20:40:13 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. I figured you would be ecstatic with the new owners, seeing as they don't have traditional hockey roots; having only emigrated from Armenia to the US in 1973. |
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Post by Reesor on Feb 21, 2023 21:10:43 GMT -4
The league would have to approve the relocation just like the purchase. They wouldn't agree to relocate their second-largest market... some of their smaller markets tho... I guess I'm just disappointed this is the least connected the team ownership has been to Halifax since it's inception. It's going to feel a bit different to have the profits of the team going to a company in Michigan. It's up to the ownership and the team to do whatever they can to give back to the community in a meaningful way. It's one thing to say it as a sales pitch. It's another to act on it. Bobby Smith saw an investment opportunity when he bought the team but we know he was a semi-local guy that had a true passion for hockey. The Simons are saying the right things... I'm curious to see what they'll do and how long it will take them to do it. |
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Post by coleminer on Feb 21, 2023 21:40:10 GMT -4
Bobby Smith took his money to Arizona though, no different than money going to Michigan.
As I think more about this, he did say his sons were avid sports fans, it was their main hobby. One of them took Sports Management, you would need to have a passion and strong interest to take that. How many people that don't care about sports, would major in Sports Management? Being a long-time NHL fan might give a misunderstanding of Junior Hockey and how to run a team. So there could be a learning curve.
The passion will likely be there. Passion and understanding and patience when need be, are a trifecta that is hard to come by in owning a sports team, especially someone new to it. So it makes sense we are a bit nervous as fans, a fear of the unknown if you will.
I wonder what the players think when they hear of the big money Bobby Smith made from this deal? haha
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Post by trueblue on Feb 21, 2023 22:28:27 GMT -4
For those of us who are also Wanderers fans, I think we should have some sense of what hands on and visible ownership looks like... it doesn't have to be a scary thing. I think the best case scenario is for the Simons to have a similar presence that Derek has - spokesperson, cheerleader, government liaison - and let the staff do their work.
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Post by nsvees on Feb 21, 2023 22:38:23 GMT -4
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) As long as the franchise is being well run both on and off the ice, I don't think anyone cares that there isn't a local connection to the ownership group. It'd be nice, but, to me, it's not exactly a deal breaker. I'll give the new ownership a chance. As long as the new ownership doesn't bleep things up, the Mooseheads will be a strong and successful franchise for many years to come. Will there be down years, yes, but they have the ability to get back to contention within a short time. Leave the hockey operations to people like Cam Russell and his staff, they know how to build a winner. A question might be does Cam Russell stay or decide to move on? It'll likely depend on the relationship he has with the Simon family and that'll play itself out over time. Judging by what Bobby Smith said, the team wasn't for sale, but Simon contacted him; they started talking and then a deal was made. I doubt the team was offered up to local investors (who would've been interested? I honestly don't know specifically who in the Halifax area would have the kind of money it would take to buy the Mooseheads, maybe a group/consortium). |
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Post by Smiley on Feb 21, 2023 23:36:26 GMT -4
I don't think there will be anything noticeable for the rest of the season. I'm a negative person by nature I guess. Instead of automatically seeing the sale as a good thing - I don't know - I hate to see Bobby Smith go. I understand the question of the word historic - but ya - Bobby Smith coming and going as Moose owner is historic to me. He's been an exemplary owner. He's classy and a winner. The worry I have is that while now I think Bobby is one of the best owners in Junior hockey, he wasn’t at the beginning. - He threatened to move to the forum over a lease fight with little regard to the fans. - he hired his buddy Al MacAdam as coach, who openly said he didn’t want to coach Junior hockey. - He forced the Marchand trade, which was a disaster (especially when Groulx was the other option.) - He hired himself as coach - which was a disaster. - this ended up in the dark period where attendance dropped to around 5000 Then he learned and became a great owner. Still hands on, but a great owner who mostly let Cam do his thing. The last 10-11 years were great. Now as a Moose fan, you have to hope we have an owner that lets his GM call the shots and hope Cam stays around. |
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Post by canbeer on Feb 22, 2023 0:21:48 GMT -4
I don't think there will be anything noticeable for the rest of the season. I'm a negative person by nature I guess. Instead of automatically seeing the sale as a good thing - I don't know - I hate to see Bobby Smith go. I understand the question of the word historic - but ya - Bobby Smith coming and going as Moose owner is historic to me. He's been an exemplary owner. He's classy and a winner. The worry I have is that while now I think Bobby is one of the best owners in Junior hockey, he wasn’t at the beginning. - He threatened to move to the forum over a lease fight with little regard to the fans. - he hired his buddy Al MacAdam as coach, who openly said he didn’t want to coach Junior hockey. - He forced the Marchand trade, which was a disaster (especially when Groulx was the other option.) - He hired himself as coach - which was a disaster. - this ended up in the dark period where attendance dropped to around 5000 Then he learned and became a great owner. Still hands on, but a great owner who mostly let Cam do his thing. The last 10-11 years were great. Now as a Moose fan, you have to hope we have an owner that lets his GM call the shots and hope Cam stays around. Most of those issues arose because he’s was a hockey guy… the other issue that I don’t know the validity of but many mention is the Desnoyer non-trade. Hoping that a non hockey guy buying one of the most successful junior hockey franchises in Canada (that comes with a tenured and successful GM) will let the hockey guys manage the hockey side. |
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Roscoe
Blue-Chip Prospect
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Post by Roscoe on Feb 22, 2023 7:21:59 GMT -4
The league would have to approve the relocation just like the purchase. They wouldn't agree to relocate their second-largest market... some of their smaller markets tho... I guess I'm just disappointed this is the least connected the team ownership has been to Halifax since it's inception. Well, before the team was owned by a rich guy from Arizona, now it's owned by a richer guy from Michigan... I don't see a big connection to Halifax either way. |
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Roscoe
Blue-Chip Prospect
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Post by Roscoe on Feb 22, 2023 7:24:47 GMT -4
I don't think there will be anything noticeable for the rest of the season. I'm a negative person by nature I guess. Instead of automatically seeing the sale as a good thing - I don't know - I hate to see Bobby Smith go. I understand the question of the word historic - but ya - Bobby Smith coming and going as Moose owner is historic to me. He's been an exemplary owner. He's classy and a winner. The worry I have is that while now I think Bobby is one of the best owners in Junior hockey, he wasn’t at the beginning. - He threatened to move to the forum over a lease fight with little regard to the fans. - he hired his buddy Al MacAdam as coach, who openly said he didn’t want to coach Junior hockey. - He forced the Marchand trade, which was a disaster (especially when Groulx was the other option.) - He hired himself as coach - which was a disaster. - this ended up in the dark period where attendance dropped to around 5000 Not to mention he installed his son on the team, who simply wasn't QMJHL material... |
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Post by Jack Bauer on Feb 22, 2023 8:56:01 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. What connection did Bobby Smith have? |
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Roscoe
Blue-Chip Prospect
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Post by Roscoe on Feb 22, 2023 9:08:21 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. What connection did Bobby Smith have? My earlier point exactly! |
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Post by statsman18 on Feb 22, 2023 10:07:40 GMT -4
I have to admit this kind of came out of no where. I slept on this because I felt my first thought was maybe a little unfair. Here the thing I just can’t shake it. Someone else did say this already but It really does seem like Daddy bought his son a new toy. Part of the reason I didn’t really want to post this because simply that sounds like I’m petty about all this. I’m truly not and don’t care. It his money he earned it and he can do what he wants with it.
Here’s the second thought about all this. Where did this come from? This is something that usually gets out but nothing. Also I know how long has this been in the works? It just seems very random. Which brings me to the next question. Was it such a stupid offer that Bobby just couldn’t say no. I say this because why wouldn’t he put it out there for a bidding war? For example I know it’s not the NHL but maybe Ryan Reynolds would’ve been interested. Just saying.
I do have a theory on why this happened. There was word that Booby was in the red from the Mem acup hosting and wasn’t happy about it. Now the next year the team sucked and he didn’t get to recoup much if any. Then the next season was the pandemic season bleed him a lot too. I will add hats off because he didn’t lay anyone off but there was definitely talk about it. So add the costs plus the travel headaches during the pandemic maybe Sam approached him with an offer that he just had to take. Now I truly don’t know anything here but I wish a reporter would ask Bobby if the pandemic was a factor in this just to see what his answer is.
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Post by nibs on Feb 22, 2023 10:20:47 GMT -4
Simon Sports will operate the Mooseheads.
I didn't look too deep, but it appears neither of Mr Simon's sons are named Daniel.
Consequently, all should remain good in Mooseland.
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