2009-07-05T21:02:13Z http://desmoinesisnotboring.com/comments/atom.aspx Quick Blogcast tag:desmoinesisnotboring.com,2009-06-25:2196582 Larry Bradshaw http://www.livingdowntowndesmoines.com 2009-06-25T23:46:27Z 2009-06-25T23:46:27Z tag:desmoinesisnotboring.com,2009-06-24:2193294 Pete Jones 2009-06-25T01:01:47Z 2009-06-25T01:01:47Z ]]> tag:desmoinesisnotboring.com,2009-06-23:2189096 Doug Enright http://www.ypcdsm.com 2009-06-23T19:32:50Z 2009-06-23T19:32:50Z tag:desmoinesisnotboring.com,2009-06-22:2184366 Pete Jones 2009-06-22T11:56:19Z 2009-06-22T11:56:19Z I guess you are right, it is easy to blame the group that is not local in this entire mess. I have to wager a bet to assume that any local ownership group would want more rights and not be third on the profit payouts as the BOS and GS have it set up currently. I bet that is the largest issue with local or non-local ownership especially since there are reports and proof that the 3rd spot is the one that is not getting paid. I still remain optimistic though, and believe we will have AHL at some point in Des Moines; it may not be this year, but hopefully for next. ]]> tag:desmoinesisnotboring.com,2009-06-22:2183667 RH 2009-06-22T05:22:35Z 2009-06-22T05:22:35Z
The stark reality is that as much as they tried during the process of securing an AHL team, the BOS, Global Spectrum, and others could not find anyone locally who was willing to own and operate the team. No one wanted to do it. Only the Schlegels were the only ones who would do it.

If the Schlegels have to answer the questions, the Polk BOS has to as well. Their decision to build WFA, selecting Global Spectrum, and giving Schlegel the control of the team, have gone without some controversy. As smart as the BOS is, how could they not see the red flags circulating around the ownership and the team?

Another issue that I can't get out of my head is how no one locally wanted to own an AHL franchise. Is it because of Polk BOS and their constant hands-on approach in having a permanent tenant there, or was there a sense from the business community and overall in Des Moines that football and basketball was more important than hockey?

Nevertheless, the Polk BOS are the ones holding the bag and to a certain degree, it should be their job to resolve this, along with the AHL. If the Schlegels intent was to move the franchise to Texas, as the Dallas Stars wanted, then shame on the Stars for not caring about fielding a team here in the first place.

At least the Anaheim Ducks were willing to give it a shot, through transparency. I don't blame the Ducks for calling the Schlegels out for the inability to pay the Ducks as stipulated in their contract.

The Schlegals didn't "screw us". They screwed themselves with their constant "inconsistancies" with regards to shuffling of staff, money flow, and not being upfront.

The Minnesota Wild will not move or place an AHL team here in Des Moines. After seeing and reading what has taken place here, they are asking themselves, "is it worth coming to Iowa, where there is no credible ownership to run our AHL team, roughly 3,000 attend every game, and competing with the I-Cubs, Energy, and the Barnstormers put us at an disadvantage?"

Polk BOS and GS can save face by making the Energy and the Barnstormers their permanent tenants and toss that initial contract out the window with the AHL and the Schlegels.]]> tag:desmoinesisnotboring.com,2009-06-17:2171567 Susan Ramsey http://www.desmoinesmetro.com 2009-06-17T13:55:42Z 2009-06-17T13:55:42Z tag:desmoinesisnotboring.com,2009-06-17:2171283 Pete Jones 2009-06-17T12:09:04Z 2009-06-17T12:09:04Z tag:desmoinesisnotboring.com,2009-06-16:2169110 DSMFAN 2009-06-16T17:38:59Z 2009-06-16T17:38:59Z tag:desmoinesisnotboring.com,2009-06-08:2149007 Pete Jones 2009-06-08T17:44:18Z 2009-06-08T17:44:18Z It will be interesting to see how this plays out. I hope an AHL affiliate will see the possibilities with another franchise and hopefully the third time will be the charm for some longevity for a team the city can really rally around. ]]> tag:desmoinesisnotboring.com,2009-06-08:2148969 Adam http://centraliowalax.blogspot.com 2009-06-08T17:30:44Z 2009-06-08T17:30:44Z For whatever reason, there are a large number of people in our fair city that seem to view AHL hockey as "the enemy" of something in DM. Perhaps they prefer Dead Moines as it was in the early 1990s to the blossoming metro that it has become as of late. No doubt these are the same people that cheer when the city council conducts a last minute meeting to shut down an event or concert as was done several times earlier this decade.
People forget that although its size is for concerts, WFA was built with the intent of having an AHL team as the anchor tenant. Without the Chops we are left with the NBA's short season experimental D-League and minor-minor league AF2 football. Neither has a long enough season to anchor our facility. Hockey is the foundation upon which those franchises rest. At least Polk County recognized its importance when it wrote the $12 million penalty. Too bad they opted for Schlegel & Global spectrum over the Wild's ownership group way back when...]]>