Colorado Mammoth Message Board

Steve,

I have been watching some of this thread and seeing that you have had some tough questions.

I was wondering if you are able to comment about the State of the League? Is there stability of the teams this year? Stability with the leadership (ie Commissioner Daniel)? Any talk of expansion? Or will one of the teams suspended/folded come back?

Do you have any thoughts on the teams that moved? Having grown up in Washington State (Bellingham), I am wondering about the Stealth moving to Everett?? I compare Everett to a lot like Broomfield or Loveland. Do you think they will move to Vancouver?

Is there talk of a TV contract beyond the TSN contract?

The State of the League! I would tell you that as we roll into the 2010 season the League has never been stronger. Individual teams will have their own ups and downs but as far as the League office is concerned things have stabilized after a tumultuous time prior to the 2009 season.

George Daniel has been an instrumental factor in the recent stability of the NLL. A collective focus on the governance of the League along with fiscal responsibility in a challenging economic market has made for some very difficult decisions, our new Commissioner has met each challenge with a strong determination towards the long term success of the NLL.

The sports and entertainment landscape has changed dramatically in the last 18 months or so, corporate sponsor money has been limited nationally, teams and leagues are being forced to decrease spending and cut significant initiatives in order to stay in business. The good news for the NLL is that we run a pretty tight ship and don't spend a great deal of money at the League level. This has allowed us to move through difficult times with a unique perspective on the opportunities that are now emerging in the new economy.

The League is the collection of the owners of the teams, and each Governor is working on the Board together to explore new horizons for the League to head towards. We are always considering expansion, the model is one where we have stopped the process of grabbing everything we can, whereas now we are selective choosing the best. Plenty of groups have inquired about owning in the National Lacrosse League but the focus mandated by our Board and Commissioner recently, is to focus on the teams in the League currently. By building up the value of the current teams it only serves to increase the value of potential expansion teams for the future, that is the focus today.

At this time I do not see any folded or suspended teams returning, my understanding of the new rules of the NLL are that those teams have been terminated. We are excited about the moves of both the Stealth and the Titans, the hope is that they each have a new lease on life in their respective markets.

As I grew up in the Vancouver area, I too was skeptical of the Everett move but after having visited the area and the building a few weeks back, I am very optimistic about their chances. Clearly the advertising dollar in Everett goes a much longer way than it did in San Jose and there is some excitement there. The building is fantastic, if they can fill even half of it, the experience for the fans and the team will be tremendous. We are 100% behind their efforts there and have helped as much as we can with their launch.

Vancouver is a unique situation. First, I don't expect that the Stealth are destined to move there. Vancouver has been specifically preserved by the NLL Board of Governors as an expansion market, we feel with the right ownership group, that market could become an NLL flagship. It has to be done correctly and has to be under the correct circumstances. The League spent a great deal of money to defend its rights to the Vancouver market and allowing a relocation is simply not acceptable to the Board. The League at this time is willing to wait to find the correct ownership, we only have one more shot to get it right there. I hope, as a Vancouver native, that we get there sooner than later but doing it right is most important.

Television is a different animal, we talk about television on a weekly basis. Multiple options are being explored but as in Vancouver, the right situation must exist for our owners to invest in television's future with the NLL. There are no networks out there paying to put new sports on television, in order for the NLL to find a television home it will take partnerships with sponsors, advertisers and a network willing to feature our very unique and exciting sport. The bottom line is it comes down to money, with our stabilization plan moving forward at the League level and at the Team level, I beleive its only a matter of time before we find the deal that makes the most sense for our owners, our fans, and our sponors.

Hope that answers the bulk of your question! Happy Holidays to everyone!

SG

Awesome response as always, Steve.

Your comments about Vancouver do not surprise me, particularly after we saw the league go to court to sort that situation out once and for all. I think for awhile now many of us have been looking at Vancouver with a "when" rather than "if" outlook.

However, I do have one follow up.



So does this mean other markets as well, such as Phoenix, AZ, and Anaheim, CA, , and Portland, OR, are also opened up once again?

Mostly I ask because people are curious about the rights to the Sting with the sale of the Phoenix Coyotes NHL team. Apparently the Sting were mentioned often in court documents and hearings, but no NLL fans seem to know the fate of the team or the rights to the franchise.

It may just be that the Sting situation is unique, seeing as they were apparently part of the holdings of the Coyotes when Moyes went to sell the team.

But I am hoping you could offer some clarification/insight, if you have any.

Thanks Steve,

Again I think your desire to run a "transparent" organization speaks volumes about the team and the fans. I only wish your Broncos, Rockies, Nuggetts, and Avalanche counterparts would take the time to do the same.

It is good to know the league is stable financially. It will be nice to know that Mammoth and most of the other teams will be here for years to come.

As far as Everett, I am with many watching and seeing if they can make it work there. In the Seattle area, there are not really that many choices. I am sure they could have made a deal to play at Key Arena, but it is a terrible venue for Hockey and therefore Lacrosse.

Again thanks for your honest and transparent response...

Although difficult to fully understand, and because of bankruptcy proceedings and legal issues, I can't comment fully, the Arizona Sting were terminated prior to the bankruptcy of the Phoenix Coyotes, therefore they have no claim to the franchise. The Sting situation is unique because the Coyotes always claimed that their rights to the franchise continued, and therefore included the lacrosse team in their bankruptcy filing, the NLL position was contrary to that, the rights to the franchise had lapsed.

Technically, I guess you could say that each of the markets are "open", but again, we need to find strong ownership groups to go back into those markets and re launch a team that "failed" for whatever reason.

Personally, I believe there are markets out there that the NLL has been in that could be great in the future, ownership is key. We can't be undercapitalized in large markets, advertising or making any headway in those markets without a massive ad budget is like a tree falling in the forest, with no one around to hear it.

One day I will give my top ten markets for a new NLL team, I am sure people will hammer that one.

SG

Looking forward to it!

If I hear New York or New Jersey again, ...................................... words will be spoken.

_________________
Who has the Mic? A Doosh!

Well, to be fair, the NJ/NY Saints lasted 17 seasons, the first two in NJ, and then they played 15 years at Nassau Coliseum. So, they were obviously doing something right for a long time.

Point.

Actually, that brings up a good question.

Steve,

You mentioned capital as a necessity to any new teams in major markets. Was this the failing in NY? Or, is the appetite for Indoor LAX not what it needs to be in that town?

_________________
Who has the Mic? A Doosh!