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Post by excanucksfan on Dec 4, 2007 13:33:31 GMT -5
I copied this post from the IceDogs Fans site:
Niagara falls Game ? OURDOOR -INDOOR
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Had meeting today in Niagara falls about outdoor game on Feb 10th 2008.
Talks were about logistics and pricing of such an event.
As of now we are over $100,000 in costs just for the ice and boards.
Not including bleachers and other things.
But are looking to bring costs down, prices were quoted from city of Niagara Falls staff from people they have sourced out.
I brought up point of season ticket holders and regulars that might not have transportation to the game.
Bob Gale from gales gas bars (very strong supporter of (Loves OHL hockey) and the community ) offered to supply transportation for every one who needed it.
As everyone knows about the outdoor game in Buffalo , I brought up the fact that we might get a discount or freebee of the equipment to use here.
Also looking into the casino Niagara being a major sponsor of this event.
People at the meeting suggested a yearly event that would travel to different cities in the region every year.
Also if the 2008 date was not feasable we would look at doing a game in memorial arena either feb 10th or march 2nd ( Erie vs Niagara ) old Thunder team.
Also season ticket holders would be first up on the list for the event.
Every one in attendance was in agreement that this team is a regional team and should be marketed that way.
St kitts have over 800 season ticket holders , Niagara on the lake 40 + , Niagara falls 80 + and few from Grimsby lincoln and lets not forget Welland.
So a city like Niagara Falls with it's history of hockey should be able to get 400 to 500 season ticket holders. Welland around 300+.
As it stands the Burke's are in this for the love of the game they have a passion for this area and the people that live here.
But as you know it takes money to run a team, Love & Passion do not pay the bills, and sooner or later Reality kicks in.
Bill said he doesn't mind loosing money to build the team, but it would make things easier even if they came close to breaking even.
I myself try to do what I can to support the team, Hence being at the meeting today.
As I get some more numbers from people doing the sourcing out I will keep everyone informed.
Also I would like to say this meeting would not have been possible except for Dave Martineau Publisher of the Niagara Falls review.
He has skated up and has taken positon at center ice and has started to put a team together that hopefully will keep the Burke's and the Dogs in the region for years to come.
By the way I mentioned to Denise how she's like a Hockey mom, I think we should give her the name Mom.
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Post by back2back on Dec 4, 2007 14:52:13 GMT -5
I'm not sure if I would attend an outdoor game - it would depend on the weather.
Personally, I think it would be good to play a game at the Niagara Falls Memorial Arena, maybe it would increase fan interest there. I just wonder if it can be done since the schedule is already out. How would a fan react to showing up at the Jack only to find out the game is in Niagara Falls. Would rink board sponsors be upset that they will have one less game to show their ads, unless they move the boards to Niagara Falls for that game.
If they cannot do it this year, they should do it next year and indicate on the schedule and to season ticket holders and advertisers that some games may be played in Niagara Falls, or even Welland as well.
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Post by dogman on Dec 4, 2007 18:18:04 GMT -5
Has anyone, with the exception of the NHL, tried an outdoor game before. I am wondering if they are well attended or not.
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Post by fishfan51 on Dec 4, 2007 18:57:39 GMT -5
They did it in Michigan for NCAA game years ago. I think they set an attendance record at the time.
An Outdoor game seems a little far fetched for the OHL. I think they would be better suited to play a game or two at the Memorial Arena.
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Post by groulxisright on Dec 4, 2007 19:48:09 GMT -5
They could play a few games in Niagara Falls, a few games in Welland, maybe a game in Thorold. They could call it the, "Who will help me build a real arena tour?"
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Post by pettione on Dec 4, 2007 22:19:22 GMT -5
"Who will help me build a real arena tour"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wake Up Niagara!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wake Up Regional Niagara!!!!!!!!!!
Wake Up Politicians of Regional Niagara and Municipal Niagara Cities!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Stop competing against each other and unite!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Get this logic or lack there of!!!!!!!!!!!!!
St. Catharines builds a 4 pad----no seating for 7000!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Niagara Falls will be building a 4 pad----probably same type of logic ----no seating for 7000!!!!!!!
Now the Topper!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!----
The federal government gives Niagara Falls 35 million for a convention center!!!!!!!!!!----
Any mention of dropping down pipes under concrete to allow for a wonderful convention/ arena complex like Oshawa aka General Motors Place!!!!!!!!!!!-----
NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!---
Why Not!!!!!!!!!!!!----
It is a No Brainer for people and politicians with foresight----a commodity that seems lacking in Regional Niagara Political front!!!!!---
Wake Up Niagara Start acting like a Region!!!!!!----
Do the right thing!!!!!!----
Use that 35 Million federal monies for a convention center/arena for the Region!!!!
Bob Gale if you read this thing----use some of your clout and arouse the poor souls of Niagara to Act wisely----so the Burkes and The IceDogs can become a permanent asset for the Region!!!!!!!!!!
Yes, I said ASSET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Frustration runs wild because of the narrow sight of many elected officials on all levels of government!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Post by groulxisright on Dec 4, 2007 22:38:02 GMT -5
"Who will help me build a real arena tour"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wake Up Niagara!!!!!!!!!!!! Wake Up Regional Niagara!!!!!!!!!! Wake Up Politicians of Regional Niagara and Municipal Niagara Cities!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Stop competing against each other and unite!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Get this logic or lack there of!!!!!!!!!!!!! St. Catharines builds a 4 pad----no seating for 7000!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Niagara Falls will be building a 4 pad----probably same type of logic ----no seating for 7000!!!!!!! Now the Topper!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!---- The federal government gives Niagara Falls 35 million for a convention center!!!!!!!!!!---- Any mention of dropping down pipes under concrete to allow for a wonderful convention/ arena complex like Oshawa aka General Motors Place!!!!!!!!!!!----- NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!--- Why Not!!!!!!!!!!!!---- It is a No Brainer for people and politicians with foresight----a commodity that seems lacking in Regional Niagara Political front!!!!!--- Wake Up Niagara Start acting like a Region!!!!!!---- Do the right thing!!!!!!---- Use that 35 Million federal monies for a convention center/arena for the Region!!!! Bob Gale if you read this thing----use some of your clout and arouse the poor souls of Niagara to Act wisely----so the Burkes and The IceDogs can become a permanent asset for the Region!!!!!!!!!! Yes, I said ASSET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Frustration runs wild because of the narrow sight of many elected officials on all levels of government!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dude! That's gonna be one big a$$ banner!  |
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Post by jrbfan on Dec 5, 2007 0:31:56 GMT -5
That's too funny!
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Post by puckhound on Dec 5, 2007 8:48:33 GMT -5
"Who will help me build a real arena tour"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wake Up Niagara!!!!!!!!!!!! Wake Up Regional Niagara!!!!!!!!!! Wake Up Politicians of Regional Niagara and Municipal Niagara Cities!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Stop competing against each other and unite!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Get this logic or lack there of!!!!!!!!!!!!! St. Catharines builds a 4 pad----no seating for 7000!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Niagara Falls will be building a 4 pad----probably same type of logic ----no seating for 7000!!!!!!! Now the Topper!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!---- The federal government gives Niagara Falls 35 million for a convention center!!!!!!!!!!---- Any mention of dropping down pipes under concrete to allow for a wonderful convention/ arena complex like Oshawa aka General Motors Place!!!!!!!!!!!----- NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!--- Why Not!!!!!!!!!!!!---- It is a No Brainer for people and politicians with foresight----a commodity that seems lacking in Regional Niagara Political front!!!!!--- Wake Up Niagara Start acting like a Region!!!!!!---- Do the right thing!!!!!!---- Use that 35 Million federal monies for a convention center/arena for the Region!!!! Bob Gale if you read this thing----use some of your clout and arouse the poor souls of Niagara to Act wisely----so the Burkes and The IceDogs can become a permanent asset for the Region!!!!!!!!!! Yes, I said ASSET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Frustration runs wild because of the narrow sight of many elected officials on all levels of government!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Some excellent points made there Pettione regarding the upcoming four pad and convention center in Niagara Falls. Its too late for the St. Catharines 4 pad which was built before the OHL arrival in that city. But there is architectural planning in the works in the Falls. I asked the architect if expansion is possible with the new 2000 seat arena to 4500 (OHL minimum) by raising the roof. It was not worked in. Why?... no foresight. As far as the convention center goes, local hotel money, provincial and federal money is splitting three ways. Is anybody lobying for ice. I doubt any of these agencies care. I fear 4 year from now the Icedogs stay where they are at the Jack, or move on. |
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Post by 2manystripes on Dec 5, 2007 8:59:09 GMT -5
It is a No Brainer for people and politicians with foresight----a commodity that seems lacking in Regional Niagara Political front!!!!!---
Our political front have no brains.
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Post by mia on Dec 5, 2007 10:31:09 GMT -5
Guys why are you even talking about this.If you look at the past 20 years of growth in the Niagara Region it is going the other way.People are moving away to get jobs so why would the Federal or Provincial Government give us money for a declining tax base.If you want to borrow the money they will give it to you but you better have the backing first.Oshawa,Brampton,and Mississauga they are all booming.The Niagara Region is either retired or going to be in the next 20 years, so if you think the government is going to ante up forget it!
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Post by omhafan on Dec 5, 2007 11:22:27 GMT -5
Mia, you missed the point. Local, Provincial and Federal gov'ts have already anti'd up for the Niagara Falls convention center. Some are wondering if anyone enquired about plumbing for an ice surface.
Next year will be the last for the old Niagara Falls arena. The new four pad is due to open Sept 2009 so it might be a good idea to have one last OHL game in the old Memorial arena. Two memorial cup winning teams from there and many great NHL players played there jr hockey there.
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Post by dogfan on Dec 5, 2007 12:33:54 GMT -5
First off mia the Grimsby/Beamsville area had the third most growth in Ontario last year, go to the Regional web site and check it. Secondly St. Catharines is having a problem finding area for residential development because it is so full now, hence the recent debates at Regional committee meetings about Thorold becoming a township and being merged with St. Catharines. The actual outlook for the region is very good. I'm sure you have heard about the provincial studies that have been done to have GO Train service here in Niagara because a lot of people that work in Toronto are moving here to Niagara.
Anyway, everyone that's talking about government money can relax. I doubt that this team will need much from the government. This new arena will be privately funded. The only public money will come from the purchase of land and any road and sewer construction. I have said this a million times it's not an if it's a when. My guess is the beginning of the third season the team will have an announcement.
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Post by mia on Dec 5, 2007 15:47:05 GMT -5
I hope Burke can hang in there that long with the losses he will incur.I will assume that St. Catharines will only put in a certain amount of money in the Jack, if he builds a new Arena somewhere.
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Post by excanucksfan on Dec 5, 2007 16:56:20 GMT -5
It is a No Brainer for people and politicians with foresight----a commodity that seems lacking in Regional Niagara Political front!!!!!--- Our political front have no brains. Our politicians are what is holding us back. I think when the time comes, everyone who supports the IceDogs will need to contact their alderman and push for a new arena. That might be in St. Catharines or Niagara Falls or somewhere else in the region. Hopefully the Booster club will be able to get people organized and get a petition or some type of rally going. I can guarantee you the non-sports fans will be saying don't spend the money for a new arena. The sports fans need to make sure their voice is heard, instead of staying quiet like we usually do. |
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