Randy, is there something you'd like to tell us?

**Shanny** · The Goddess Joined: 11 Feb 2007 Posts: 1509

The Beaumont Enterprise has now run two stories about the Ice Bats.
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jlocke · Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 8:24 am Post subject:

Here's the story from Wednesday (5/14):

Austin Ice Bats are moving - maybe to Southeast Texas

The Enterprise
05/14/2008
Updated 05/13/2008 10:59:58 PM CDT

The bats are leaving Austin, and they could come to Beaumont.

But these aren't the tiny flying rodents that frequent the Congress Street Bridge.

These bats fly on ice.

The Ice Bats hockey team has announced it is looking for a new bat cave, according to its Web site.

Ford Park General Manager John Hughes said the team has contacted SMG about the possibility of coming to Southeast Texas.

"They're looking at us and a couple of other markets," he said. "They like the building, but they're looking for local investors. Unless they can find some, I don't know if they're willing to make a move."

Hughes said the county would love to snag another hockey team - as long as the terms don't require influxes of taxpayer bucks.

bk · Gross Misconduct Joined: 11 Feb 2007 Posts: 1055

Unless John Hughes is related to Brent Hughes, it's hard to see this working out. Why would the county/etc. treat a new tenant better than they treated the Wildcatters?
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“I’m so frustrated with the business. If you look at my junior stats, there’s a lot of guys that come out of juniors with those kind of stats that sign pretty big contracts.” --James Hiebert

mcostanza · Fresh meat Joined: 01 May 2008 Posts: 6

I think he has already told us what he is doing. The dude is looking for another venue for the Bat's to play in. You know his options are very limited in the Austin area so he is looking in other markets.

Regards,
MC

**Shanny** · The Goddess Joined: 11 Feb 2007 Posts: 1509

Thanks for that insightful post, MC. Almost as informative as the last Wingmail.
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bk · Gross Misconduct Joined: 11 Feb 2007 Posts: 1055

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“I’m so frustrated with the business. If you look at my junior stats, there’s a lot of guys that come out of juniors with those kind of stats that sign pretty big contracts.” --James Hiebert

SinD · Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 3:32 pm Post subject:

Try this on for size....

Austin: Has a team to play but no building.

Corpus: Has a building to play in but no team.

Just a rumor I had heard....anyone up there know anything??? Not trying to start anything for those of you that know me know this....but it came from someone who is very aware of the dealings with the Corpus team. Like I said, it's just something I heard....don't shoot the messenger.

So what would it be: The Corpus Christi Ice Bats???
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CORPUS CHRISTI ICERAYS RETURN!!!!
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**dfwbat** · Gross Misconduct Joined: 11 Feb 2007 Posts: 1184

sin,

The Rayz players were almost saying as much at the last game in Chap v the Bats. CA leans over saying to one of the Rayz, "come on man, we need this. This is probably our last year." CC player, "Its probably our last year too...."

Can't remember if it was Parrish that said this or not. Sorry if its true.
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Batdog · Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 5:40 pm Post subject:

I've been saying as much for quite a while. If Beaumont ends up purchasing an existing CHL franchise, it's much more likely to be the former Corpus team than the former Austin team.
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**Shanny** · The Goddess Joined: 11 Feb 2007 Posts: 1509

Beaumont tv is reporting that Bats peeps are coming back to town.
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Batdog · Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 6:14 pm Post subject:

bk · Gross Misconduct Joined: 11 Feb 2007 Posts: 1055

Here we go... Frank can move the Rayz to Beaumont and Sanders can move the Bats to Corpus. Voila!
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“I’m so frustrated with the business. If you look at my junior stats, there’s a lot of guys that come out of juniors with those kind of stats that sign pretty big contracts.” --James Hiebert

Batdog · Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 6:28 pm Post subject:

verylowpriority · Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 6:55 pm Post subject:

Yes, and I think it should go by priority numbers. :)
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zambonirodeo · Five for fighting Joined: 11 Feb 2007 Posts: 438

Or he could just meet with Shanny.

I'm assuming the Beaumont arena would make a different deal with a new CHL team than they cared to offer the ECHL franchise that had just played there for free for two years. It was probably a little personal as well (also true, I'm sure, of the Bats' departure from the Expo). Also I don't think the Wildcatters really wanted to stay. And in theory, the CHL business model is cheaper.

I don't think Corpus has had a single serious conversation with anyone in Beaumont. Also don't see how/why Sanders or the Bats would move to Corpus, if he wants to own a team that can't make money he could have just stayed put. The Rayz need local owners who are willing to try and turn the team around because they want to be in the community, or someone new who's ready to lose money because they want to own a hockey team.

The real story here is that you can't really survive as a business, or have a particularly good team, if you don't play in a new arena you control, or have a very favorable arrangement with a new arena. And if you read about Laredo, even that is questionable.

verylowpriority · Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 7:28 pm Post subject:

It's really tragic, I think, that professional sports in America have become a subset of the real estate finance and development industry. This is true from Yankee Stadium and Minute Maid Park to Chaparral Ice. We don't sell the game as the product any more, we sell the use of the real estate as the "experience."

Bullshit. I just want to sit and watch the game. If I want to play arcade games, I'll go to Dave & Busters. If I want to be waited on by a waiter, I'll go to a restaurant. If I want to dip into a pool or a hot tub, why in hell would I go to a major league baseball game to do it? If I wanted to play pool, why would I go to Minute Maid Park? (Hint: the pool table is in the concourse over section 216.)

I just want to sit and watch the game. The good news, is that I can do that on TV. The bad news is that they can't even finance the real estate without charging me $100 a month for cable television.
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zambonirodeo · Five for fighting Joined: 11 Feb 2007 Posts: 438

Yeah, capitalism sucks.

SinD · Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 8:07 pm Post subject:

Corpus isn't talking to anyone in Beaumont. Doug is trying to get completely out from under the team. He had one deal that fell through because they didn't like Dougs terms. Doug is supposedly talking to another group and if that doesn't pan by his deadline with the CHL, then the team will go to the CHL and then the first deal will make their deal with the CHL direct. This is what I've been told about the team here.

Then I was told of the other just yesterday of Austin possibly coming to Corpus. I guess barring that the deal doesn't go through with the Corpus team.....who knows...I'll believe what I see in writing of a DONE deal either way....I just want HOCKEY in Corpus and Austin (or close to).
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verylowpriority · Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 8:14 pm Post subject:

Doug and Sandy are going to merge their franchises to save money. It will be called the Auspus Batz, and they'll play on an artificially frozen pond in Karnes City.
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zambonirodeo · Five for fighting Joined: 11 Feb 2007 Posts: 438

If Corpus folds or has their membership revoked, then yeah, the Bats could sell their membership in the league to a new Corpus group (or partner with them). That would be both unfortunate (because Frank was certainly as good an owner as the league could have when they first brought him in, he bailed out not one but two teams) and ironic (because he himself got the team after it was taken away from another owner), but so be it. Obviously the value of the asset is an open question but W.D. certainly deserves to get what he can.

SinD · Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 9:54 pm Post subject:

True, gotta pay those debts to everyone
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texassoldierhockeyfan · Posted: Sat May 17, 2008 2:51 am Post subject:

Wow..I thought things were bad where I am at!! No Hockey in Corpus...No Hockey in Austin... Cats and Dogs living together.. when does the madness end!!

Guess I will just go down south to South Padre Isalnd.. Retire and Watch the Killer Bee's!! Unless they are leaving too??

**Shanny** · The Goddess Joined: 11 Feb 2007 Posts: 1509

Article not on beaumontenterprise.com (WTF?), but certainly appeared in May 15 paper. Pic taken and emailed by Dad.

TV news reports Ice Bats mgmt back in town Monday for more talks according to Mom.

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backupgoalie · Posted: Sat May 17, 2008 8:03 am Post subject:

Read last paragraph an insert snickers and laughter. Did I miss seeing the Bats organization reaching out to the ATX community?

verylowpriority · Posted: Sat May 17, 2008 9:16 am Post subject:

zambonirodeo · Five for fighting Joined: 11 Feb 2007 Posts: 438

Mentioning those other cities strikes me as a pure negotiating tactic. Lafayette would be quite interesting. Little Rock would probably be dodgy (the good arena is too big, the bad arena is just bad). But then Beaumont's dodgy too.

bk · Gross Misconduct Joined: 11 Feb 2007 Posts: 1055

Does Little Rock have the distinction of CHL and ECHL teams folding there within a year or two of opening?
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“I’m so frustrated with the business. If you look at my junior stats, there’s a lot of guys that come out of juniors with those kind of stats that sign pretty big contracts.” --James Hiebert

zambonirodeo · Five for fighting Joined: 11 Feb 2007 Posts: 438

Yup, pretty much related events. The WPHL's fault for deciding to go in there even though they didn't get the new arena contract. If there had never been an ECHL team they probably could have made a go at it in the old place, but the reverse is probably true as well.

More importantly, it's not real hard to make the case that Arkansas is what killed Austin. Any profit that was made off of the Ice Bats, ever, went to the first owners and the Glacier Cats. McVaney certainly didn't make money over the long haul and god knows Buch and Sanders never did.

Hit Man · Two for slashing Joined: 26 Mar 2007 Posts: 147

Funny we did manage to sell out the old bat cave every game. (BIG SNICKER)
So if Randy decided to move the team to Beaumont maybe the numbers are real and not inflated. So I guess assuming Randy can get a cut of the overpriced beer and parking he could actually turn a profit there.
I know the players would like to know what is going on. They are in more limbo than us. They are not free to sign with any other CHL teams as long as the Batz are still in existence. Not too good for the vets and especially the ones with wives and kids. You would think that there would be some loyalty to the STE's but there should be more to the players and their familys. You know we all sit around and whine about no hockey in Austin(including me) but here are a bunch of players that are under contract to a team that they may or may not even exist next year. The way I see it is Randy just doesn't know when to call it quits for everyones sake.

bk · Gross Misconduct Joined: 11 Feb 2007 Posts: 1055

Why would you say they owe the STHs anything at this point? They've told us the team isn't returning to the Austin area. It doesn't matter from a STH viewpoint if they fold or if they move to Beaumont or if they move to Timbuktu - there is no more Austin Ice Bats, so no more STHs - therefore we don't exist except as former STHs. They owe us nothing further though of course we're interested in knowing where they end up (if anywhere).

I'm not saying it wouldn't be nice for Randy to let us know what ends up happening, just that he doesn't owe us that. He needs to move forward.
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“I’m so frustrated with the business. If you look at my junior stats, there’s a lot of guys that come out of juniors with those kind of stats that sign pretty big contracts.” --James Hiebert