Post by dogcatcher on Jan 29, 2008 6:52:41 GMT -4
Fog Devils demise no surprise to McCain
PETER MCGUIRE
GAME ON
Published Tuesday January 29th, 2008
Appeared on page B12
Saint John Sea Dogs majority owner Scott McCain wasn't the least bit surprised to hear the final nail had been driven into to the coffin of the St. John's Fog Devils.
He said they were swimming against the tide from the beginning with no land in sight.
In bad need of a life ring, the Fog Devils grabbed onto a $3-million-plus offer from Quebec media mogul Farrel Miller, the founder and CEO of SportTV.com and will call Verdun, Que., home next season. The deal was ratified during a board of governors conference call on Friday morning.
The Fog Devils lost a reported $750,000 last season and would be in the same neighbourhood this season.
As most people know by now, the Sea Dogs and Fog Devils were granted franchises Dec. 1, 2004 but instead of paying the previously anticipated $2 million, the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League hiked the fee to $3 million. You could hardly blame them, though. It was the group from Newfoundland that suggested they'd pay whatever it took to get a team.
"I don't know if ticked off is the right word," said McCain. "We felt the price was too high when we entered into it but that's what we were forced into it. It's probably the least challenging thing [St. John's] faced."
He was alluding to the three big hurdles that proved too high to clear.
"The first challenge this group faced is they had a very troubled, uncompetitive, border-line unfair lease for Mile One from the City of St. John's. In order to be sustainable, you have to have a lease that's fair. They seemed to always have an antagonistic relationship. Their lease agreement was egregious from the beginning."
The second hurdle was the travel subsidy they were forced to cover for the other 16 teams in the league. That bill has been reported to be as high as $500,000 annually.
The expansion price tag was at least a one-time hit, said McCain.
"It's hard to make that fly without the support from the government.
"But I'm not at all surprised they weren't able to make it go," said McCain. "I'm saddened about it because it's an Atlantic team and I feel bad for the folks from St. John's who aren't going to have competitive hockey."
"It's a message for any community," said McCain. "It doesn't matter if you're in Baie Comeau, Victoriaville, Verdun or Bathurst. It's a message for all 18 teams.
"Communities need to understand it has to be an economically viable position."
McCain wouldn't comment on the Sea Dogs' 10-year deal with Harbour Station. "Anything we do will be very, very private, if we ever get into that situation."
He called the Saint John deal "fair" before adding: "Let's call it like it is, we wish we had a few more fans. It's been the challenge here since Day 1."
There was a positive sign on Saturday night, when a season-high 5,657 souls witnessed a 5-4 setback to the Fog Devils.
The loss wasn't the result they were looking for but looking at the big picture, Saint John had to be encouraged.
The Sea Dogs average attendance now sits at 3,791.
PETER MCGUIRE
GAME ON
Published Tuesday January 29th, 2008
Appeared on page B12
Saint John Sea Dogs majority owner Scott McCain wasn't the least bit surprised to hear the final nail had been driven into to the coffin of the St. John's Fog Devils.
He said they were swimming against the tide from the beginning with no land in sight.
In bad need of a life ring, the Fog Devils grabbed onto a $3-million-plus offer from Quebec media mogul Farrel Miller, the founder and CEO of SportTV.com and will call Verdun, Que., home next season. The deal was ratified during a board of governors conference call on Friday morning.
The Fog Devils lost a reported $750,000 last season and would be in the same neighbourhood this season.
As most people know by now, the Sea Dogs and Fog Devils were granted franchises Dec. 1, 2004 but instead of paying the previously anticipated $2 million, the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League hiked the fee to $3 million. You could hardly blame them, though. It was the group from Newfoundland that suggested they'd pay whatever it took to get a team.
"I don't know if ticked off is the right word," said McCain. "We felt the price was too high when we entered into it but that's what we were forced into it. It's probably the least challenging thing [St. John's] faced."
He was alluding to the three big hurdles that proved too high to clear.
"The first challenge this group faced is they had a very troubled, uncompetitive, border-line unfair lease for Mile One from the City of St. John's. In order to be sustainable, you have to have a lease that's fair. They seemed to always have an antagonistic relationship. Their lease agreement was egregious from the beginning."
The second hurdle was the travel subsidy they were forced to cover for the other 16 teams in the league. That bill has been reported to be as high as $500,000 annually.
The expansion price tag was at least a one-time hit, said McCain.
"It's hard to make that fly without the support from the government.
"But I'm not at all surprised they weren't able to make it go," said McCain. "I'm saddened about it because it's an Atlantic team and I feel bad for the folks from St. John's who aren't going to have competitive hockey."
"It's a message for any community," said McCain. "It doesn't matter if you're in Baie Comeau, Victoriaville, Verdun or Bathurst. It's a message for all 18 teams.
"Communities need to understand it has to be an economically viable position."
McCain wouldn't comment on the Sea Dogs' 10-year deal with Harbour Station. "Anything we do will be very, very private, if we ever get into that situation."
He called the Saint John deal "fair" before adding: "Let's call it like it is, we wish we had a few more fans. It's been the challenge here since Day 1."
There was a positive sign on Saturday night, when a season-high 5,657 souls witnessed a 5-4 setback to the Fog Devils.
The loss wasn't the result they were looking for but looking at the big picture, Saint John had to be encouraged.
The Sea Dogs average attendance now sits at 3,791.