wardog fan
06-11-2008, 11:04 AM
Warriors react to WHL ultimatum
MATTHEW GOURLIE
The Moose Jaw Times Herald
The Moose Jaw Warriors knew their future was going to be on the agenda at the Western Hockey League’s annual general meeting next week.
The severity of the situation has been underscored as WHL commissioner Ron Robison has sent a letter to the City of Moose Jaw asking it to “re-confirm its commitment to provide a facility of acceptable standard to the WHL.”
The WHL has also asked the city to enter a binding formal contract with them to ensure that it will fulfill its commitment to build a facility of standard by a date agreed upon by both parties. In a letter to the league from January of 2007, the city had committed to a facility by the start of the 2009-10 season.
Warriors president and governor Darin Chow will represent the club at next week’s AGM in Calgary and was not surprised by the league’s letter.
“Ultimaely Moose Jaw has to do what it can do to get its situation in place,” said Chow who also sits on city council. “From time to time people portray it as though the Western Hockey League is being heavy-handed with Moose Jaw, but that is not at all the case. The reality is that they have probably given us more leeway than most clubs within that league.
“At the end of the day Moose Jaw has to do what it can do to conform, the same as every other team. The league has to also be cognizant though of the fact that Moose Jaw is also dealing with some price-crunch right now. Saskatchewan right now is in situation where it has never seen this much escalation.”
More will be known about the fate and direction of the multiplex proposal by Monday, but there will still be unanswered questions when the AGM begins the following day.
The multiplex steering committee is expected to make its recommendations known Monday at the next city council meeting. That won’t allow time for council to grant the WHL’s wish — expressed in the letter — to have a binding agreement before the AGM.
The date of the next league meeting will be set at the AGM, but is typically held in October. It remains to be seen whether the governors will accept another assurance from the City that the multiplex is moving ahead — provided the City gives one — without a binding contract.
Robinson has expressed that an extension for the binding contract was “likely”.
“The thing to bear in mind is that Ron is the commissioner and Ron does a lot of the leg work and he has a lot of input on that, but at the end of the day it is up to the other owners,” said Chow.
“My sense with the other owners is, quite frankly, that they’re very reasonable. I’ve never found them to be quick to take advantage of a situation and they always are very respectful of other owners in the league. My expectation is that they will appreciate the situation Moose Jaw is in with the escalating costs that are involved at present.”
While emotional attachment and civic pride is part of having a sports team, it is also a business. Chow compared their current situation to that of a fast-food franchisee.
“At the end of the day it’s no different than a McDonald’s or an A&W or whatever else,” said Chow. “If the company tells you you’re going to build a new building, you have one of two choices: you either build it or you just don’t operate that franchise any more.”
Robinson stated in the letter that without a binding agreement he would have to recommend the team be moved by the 2009-10 season.
“There’s 21 other teams and there are other issues that the league has to deal with,” said Chow. “It is very difficult — at least in my discussions with other owners — for them to take hard stance with other communities that have to fall into line and have to do what is necessary to meet the minimum standard if Moose Jaw is being cut slack all of the time.”
Chow said the owners understand the issue here and are aware of the escalating costs associated with the project. While they are sympathetic to the situation, there are limits.
“You’re also talking about business people and we’re dealing with multi-million dollar assets and obviously it is in their best interests to make sure they maximize the value of that too.”
MATTHEW GOURLIE
The Moose Jaw Times Herald
The Moose Jaw Warriors knew their future was going to be on the agenda at the Western Hockey League’s annual general meeting next week.
The severity of the situation has been underscored as WHL commissioner Ron Robison has sent a letter to the City of Moose Jaw asking it to “re-confirm its commitment to provide a facility of acceptable standard to the WHL.”
The WHL has also asked the city to enter a binding formal contract with them to ensure that it will fulfill its commitment to build a facility of standard by a date agreed upon by both parties. In a letter to the league from January of 2007, the city had committed to a facility by the start of the 2009-10 season.
Warriors president and governor Darin Chow will represent the club at next week’s AGM in Calgary and was not surprised by the league’s letter.
“Ultimaely Moose Jaw has to do what it can do to get its situation in place,” said Chow who also sits on city council. “From time to time people portray it as though the Western Hockey League is being heavy-handed with Moose Jaw, but that is not at all the case. The reality is that they have probably given us more leeway than most clubs within that league.
“At the end of the day Moose Jaw has to do what it can do to conform, the same as every other team. The league has to also be cognizant though of the fact that Moose Jaw is also dealing with some price-crunch right now. Saskatchewan right now is in situation where it has never seen this much escalation.”
More will be known about the fate and direction of the multiplex proposal by Monday, but there will still be unanswered questions when the AGM begins the following day.
The multiplex steering committee is expected to make its recommendations known Monday at the next city council meeting. That won’t allow time for council to grant the WHL’s wish — expressed in the letter — to have a binding agreement before the AGM.
The date of the next league meeting will be set at the AGM, but is typically held in October. It remains to be seen whether the governors will accept another assurance from the City that the multiplex is moving ahead — provided the City gives one — without a binding contract.
Robinson has expressed that an extension for the binding contract was “likely”.
“The thing to bear in mind is that Ron is the commissioner and Ron does a lot of the leg work and he has a lot of input on that, but at the end of the day it is up to the other owners,” said Chow.
“My sense with the other owners is, quite frankly, that they’re very reasonable. I’ve never found them to be quick to take advantage of a situation and they always are very respectful of other owners in the league. My expectation is that they will appreciate the situation Moose Jaw is in with the escalating costs that are involved at present.”
While emotional attachment and civic pride is part of having a sports team, it is also a business. Chow compared their current situation to that of a fast-food franchisee.
“At the end of the day it’s no different than a McDonald’s or an A&W or whatever else,” said Chow. “If the company tells you you’re going to build a new building, you have one of two choices: you either build it or you just don’t operate that franchise any more.”
Robinson stated in the letter that without a binding agreement he would have to recommend the team be moved by the 2009-10 season.
“There’s 21 other teams and there are other issues that the league has to deal with,” said Chow. “It is very difficult — at least in my discussions with other owners — for them to take hard stance with other communities that have to fall into line and have to do what is necessary to meet the minimum standard if Moose Jaw is being cut slack all of the time.”
Chow said the owners understand the issue here and are aware of the escalating costs associated with the project. While they are sympathetic to the situation, there are limits.
“You’re also talking about business people and we’re dealing with multi-million dollar assets and obviously it is in their best interests to make sure they maximize the value of that too.”