Q&A with Bob Funk Jr…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Well, we’ve heard from just about everyone about the end of the Blazers and the prospects of an AHL franchise coming to Oklahoma City for the 2010-11 season. One major person who has been pretty quiet has been AHL Hockey Club, LLC manager and Express Sports president Bob Funk Jr. Funk took the opportunity to sit down with me Tuesday afternoon to address some of the issues and where we’ve been, where we are and where we’re heading.
Q: The city council approved everything today. It’s finally official. How are you feeling?
A: I feel really good right now. We’re glad to be moving down a different path. Hopefully, we’ll be able to do things with the AHL in Oklahoma City. We feel it’s going to be good for everybody involved. For us, for the city and for the fans of hockey in Oklahoma City.
Q: Why now when it comes to closing the door on the Blazers and opening the door to the AHL?
A: It’s unfortunate that we had to close our doors, but it just wasn’t financially viable. We’ve lost upwards to $6 million over the last nine years. We’ve lost a lot of money on it. There was really no other choice at this point. We made our management changes to do what we could to try to salvage it (in November). We simply gave away too many free tickets through the years. It’s great to be No. 1 in attendance but to do it at the expense of the ticket value is not good. It’s hard to recover from something like that. And it’s not fair to the season ticket holders.
Q: A lot of fans are wondering if a team couldn’t survive in the CHL, how in the world could a team survive in the AHL?
A: First of all, the deals are different. It’s a different business model. Moving across the street will give us a better opportunity to do what we want to do. Overall, honestly, we’re not going to get rich off of this thing. It’s not going to be a big money-making venture. But I believe in what the fans have given us over the last 17 years. Oklahoma City hockey fans deserve to have a team at the next level. We have such passionate and dedicated fans. Without them, this wouldn’t be possible. The models (CHL, AHL) I don’t know if they really compare.
Q: Are you afraid of losing fans because of the way everything went down in the last couple of months?
A: Yeah, it’s definitely a concern. We were taking such massive losses. It’s better to try to start another organization anew. Start something fresh and do it right.
Q: AHL Hockey Club, LLC has been in existence since May, 2008. That’s almost 14 months now. How long have you been thinking about doing this?
A: The thought itself has been on my radar for quite a while. Did I think it would be a reality? Honestly, I’m taking a shot in the dark. I think we have a good opportunity in front of us. I’ve been thinking about this ever since the sports environment changed in Oklahoma City. It has matured as a market since we bought the team nine years ago. It’s a much more cosmopolitan city. The fact the Thunder is here proves that. People are more sophisticated about sports. So I felt we were ready for the next step. In my mind, that meant the AHL.
Q: The terms of the new lease is at the Cox Convention Center, was the Cox Center always the first choice?
A: We looked at both (Ford Center and Cox) and had to do what is best for everybody to try to give the Blazers a home or whatever we decide to call it.
Q: The name of the team is up to you guys. Will the Blazers name stay?
A: I’m of the mindset that we want to keep it. But I’m open to any options at this point. I’m trying to start and revamp an entire brand and what our hockey is. There is good and bad to both. We have such a long-standing tradition, but there’s a lot of baggage as well. I’m not sure if we want to carry that to the new team.
Q: The ice situation at the Cox Center has been a concern for some fans. Is that complete now, or does that still need to be done?
A: As far as I know, it is still in the process of being done. I don’t know the details, per se.
Q: There has been a lot of speculation that the negotiations will be with the Edmonton Oilers. Oilers president and CEO Patrick LaForge has already confirmed the team is interested in Oklahoma City as a market. Is Edmonton the team you’re negotiating with?
A: No comment.
Q: What’s going to happen with all the Blazers stuff (banners, merchandise, etc)?
A: The banners we are going to keep. We’ll liquidate what we can with the merchandise. It’ll happen Aug 7-9 at the Blazers Ice Centre. As far as I know, it’s just merchandise at this point. There are certain items that I’m going to purchase from the team itself for the new team. But the rest of the stuff will go on.
Q: What role will Blazers head coach Doug Sauter play in this? Is it up to him basically?
A: He’ll always be a part of our organizations. Whether it’s helping with the hockey team or doing other stuff, he’ll always be a part. As for the coaching, I’m not in a spot to comment on that.
Q: Since you’re the manager of the AHL Hockey Club, LLC and president of Express Sports, is it safe to assume this will be an Express Sports venture?
A: Not at this time, no. Probably not. It will be loosely affiliated. We will probably utilize the assets and resources as well as our other sport entities with Express Sports. There may be a loose affiliation with the RedHawks in terms of promotions and stuff like. But no, Express Sports is not a part of the official business structure.
Q: If it’s not Express Sports, how will the ownership work out?
A: It’ll be owned and mainly operated by me.
Q: I’ve reviewed the terms of the new lease, and it appears you got a lot of things you were looking for. Was there one thing in it that you really sought after and clinched the deal?
A: No, not really. Overall, thought it was a fair deal for us, for SMG, for the city. Everybody (Tom Anderson, Gary Desjardins, and Jim Couch) were all good to deal with. They’ve all been great through this process. Can’t say it’s been one thing. Getting something that made financial sense, not just for us, but that didn’t take away from the city or the building was important. It was a working cooperation to make our team as good as it can be.
Q: It’s not exactly defined in the lease, who will be paying for all the renovations to the Cox Center?
A: No comment.
Q: How will the expenses work? Will the parent team pay for everything? Has it been decided yet?
A: No comment.
Q: How does your dad (Bob Funk Sr.) feel about everything?
A: You know what, I can’t say. You’ll have to ask him. I just know he wants what is best for Oklahoma City and the fans. He always has.
Q: You’re involved in so many other things. Are you still going to be running all over the place?
A: No, I’m still going to have my hand actively out there in other areas. Honestly, working in conjunction with Express Sports, there is no better team to be operating with or working through the process with.
Q: Will you be centrally located here now, though (he’s been living in Nevada)?
A: I’ll be moving here in September. Hopefully, in September. As soon as I get a house. September is the goal.
Q: How crazy and/or stressful has this last week been?
A: Not really, actually. We planned appropriately so it hasn’t been very stressful. We’ve been very cautious more than anything. For us, it was more an inevitably to shut the Blazers down. It was a business decision. Not what we wanted to do but what we had to. Not really stressful, really just a sad thing. A very unfortunate, sad thing.
Q: Will Express Sports still operate as normal?
A: Yes. We still have the PBR events and the agency. And then if there are any new things that pop up and make business sense, we’ll do it.
Q: Any chance of selling the Blazers?
A: I don’t know. I haven’t talked to the league honestly. Nor have I had any time to gauge any interest. Hopefully something can be worked out.
Q: Since you’re taking such a big role, are you at all nervous about laying it all out there?
A: It’s like any other business. You have a product, market it and sell it. Have to control expenses and revenues and try to max profit. There’s a risk in everything you do when it comes to business.
Q: From talking to you in the past, it feels like you would have liked to have had this done a lot sooner. Has this put you behind in terms of the schedule of getting things done?
A: No, it hasn’t. It did take a little longer, but I knew it would be a hard and long process. Now I’m ready to move forward.
***
Be back tomorrow with any further developments. Also, hoping to get a chance to visit Tyler Fleck and some of the boys at Fleck’s camp at the Blazers Ice Centre.
Q&A with Bob Funk Jr. soon…
Hey, it’s been a long day today. Had a chance for a lengthy Q&A with Express Sports president and manager of AHL Hockey Club, LLC, Bob Funk Jr. today at the Express Sports offices. I’ll try to post it tonight, but it’s a lot of transcribing, my friends.
City council approves negotiations for AHL team
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
The Oklahoma City council unanimously passed and accepted the “letter of intent” with the city and AHL Hockey Club, LLC to begin negotiations for an American Hockey League franchise Tuesday.
Among the items in the letter were terms of a five-year lease for the prospective franchise to begin play at the Cox Convention Center in 2010-11.
Express Sports, which owns the Oklahoma City Blazers, elected to suspend operations for an indefinite period of time last week after 17 seasons in the Central Hockey League.
The Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League have a dormant AHL franchise, and Oilers president and chief executive officer Patrick LaForge said Sunday that Edmonton has interest in Oklahoma City as a market.
There was no discussion about the “letter of intent” by the council.
***
It was kind of funny. One minute the items are put on the floor. There’s no discussions on the items, all the lights go green for approval and bam, it’s passed.
Fan emotion flarin’ up…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
It seems AHL Hockey Club, LLC has ruffled a few feathers with the piece that came out in today’s paper.
Still haven’t been able to get in touch with the AHC manager and Express Sports president Bob Funk Jr.
The poll on NewsOK is still 76 percent for AHL (245 votes) and 24 percent for the CHL (78 votes).
Myself and Dan Barnes of The Edmonton Journal have been exchanging information, and here is his piece on the latest dealings.
If nothing else happens today, be back tomorrow with a full report from the city council meeting. It’s at 8:30 in the morning and can be seen live on Cox Ch. 20 and replayed at 6:35 on Ch. 20.
Here is the latest batch of feedback from this morning:
“The thing that makes me really angry about losing the team is being lied to for over a year. During a season ticket holder function Bob Funk Jr. was asked if OKC was pursuing an AHL team and he responded with a “No”. Then I received a letter last week from the front office stating they were sorry to disappoint, blah, blah, blah. There was also a page of FAQs and one was the same, “Are you pursuing an AHL team?”. The answer was again “No, we are not pursuing an AHL team”. It is bad enough to lose the Blazers after all these years but to be lied to on numerous occasions makes it seem like the whole situation is built on lies and underhanded dealings. Am I just in denial or does it seem a bit dubious to you too?” – Diana Holladay
“I still can’t believe they’re gone. I honestly have not been able to sleep since Thursday. Every morning I awake praying that the news of my beloved Blazers closing was all just a terrible, terrible nightmare. I mean just two weeks ago I was cutting the hockey puck cake with the Blazers logo at my wedding, and presenting my bride with the black and gold Blazers jersey with her new last name (a gift she longed for). I just don’t know how to feel. For fifteen years I have been a diehard Blazers fan. Even when I moved to Muskogee to attend college, I drove home every chance I could to catch a game. If I could not be present, I was listening to every game on the radio. On several occasions I was sitting in night class on a Wed or Tues night, secretly listening to the play by play (even though I should have been paying attention to my professor) and when the Blazers would score I couldn’t help but shout aloud. (I got in trouble several times).
When you took away our Blazers, you removed much more than a team. You took away a family, a beating heart. There is no feeling in the world like standing in your seat and chanting with several thousand fans, “Let’s Go Blazers!” THIS IS OUR TEAM! Even if you bring in an AHL team, you will never be able to replace players like Fleck, Jelitto, Franck, Bauman, Goose, Hinz, and the Vandermeer’s. It kills me to see them go to other teams. You will never be able to replace rivalries like OKC vs. Tulsa, and OKC vs. Wichita.
Why were we not allowed one more year? If you want to bring in the AHL next year fine, but please give us one more year with our boys. You have broken many hearts with this decision, and this will not be forgotten. LET’S GO BLAZERS!!!” – Ace Perreault
Ed Kelley video on Blazers impact…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Here is a video from Ed Kelley, the editor of The Oklahoman, on what he feels the Blazers impact and legacy is/was in Oklahoma City.
Dunklin speaks…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
I wanted to get the opinion of the biggest Blazer nut I know, Kevin Dunklin. For those that don’t remember, here’s a trip down memory lane with Dunklin.
What the Blazers mean to me
By Kevin Dunklin
I started to show up to games in the year 2004-2005 because my girlfriend invited me to a game. I thought that it will be in the nose seats but it was near the Blazers bench in front row. I started to go all the regular season home games. One player, Brad Herauf, give me a puck to get it sign. That’s how got my autograph collection got started.
I asked one of the players where practice was. I started to show up in practice in the year of 2005-2006 and started to get newspapers articles and have the Blazers players sign them.
I met coach Doug Sauter. He noticed I was coming to practice all the time. He asked me to help to fill up the water bottles and help out. It felt great because I got to know the players and coaches like Peter Arvanitis, Chris Dashney and Sauter and I felt like I was part of the team and I was very important.
I was born with cerebral palsy. Growing up disabled, I had a hard time fitting in because kids and people would make fun of me and they would think I was not important. So I got into hockey and the OKC Blazers and the players, they made my day and made me feel important.
The players were down to earth to me and lots of fun and made me fee; very important. I felt like a winner every morning; that’s why I started to volunteer my time because they believe in me and I was just one of guys.
Some of the players give me personal stuff because of my help. Like Marty Standish (#8), he gave me an autograph picture. Captain (#14) Tyler Fleck gave me a game-autographed stick.
I thought the OKC Blazers were heroes because they cared about me and wanted me to help.
When I found out that the OKC Blazers could have renewed the lease and did not do it, I felt hurt and betrayed because I will not able to go to practice and feel like part of the team.
I’ve been very sad and depressed because the team that I felt part of is gone forever and part of my heart is gone forever.
Now I know they said it’s a business decision, but it is more than a business to me. It was a very painful decision to me because I am more than a fan. I feel like my family is gone to me and my important volunteer help and my team is gone forever. I am very sad. It’s going to take a while to get over.
I know they think they will get the AHL in 2010-2011. It will not be the same to me because all the people that I know will be gone like coach Doug Sauter, Coach Chris Dashney and all the players be gone so nobody I know would know about my volunteer help
I am afraid that the players in (AHL) will be stuck up and won’t want to sign stuff like the OKC Players and CHL for me. I hope if a team, any team comes in that somebody in the office tells my story and the coach will let me into practice and the players will sign stuff.
I hope that Express Sports management looks at this and invites me back because I felt when the OKC Blazers were here, the years I was involved, I felt they did not look at my disability, and they made me feel like I was important and a champion everyday.
I will miss the OKC BLAZERS everyday. If they raise the tickets up and the players do nothing with fans, the new team will not make it in Oklahoma. In my book, that is sad because we have great hockey fans in Oklahoma.
An OKC BLAZERS Hockey Fan, Kevin Dunklin
***
Reminder that the city council meeting is Tuesday at 8:30 a.m., if you want to attend.
Some info on AHL Hockey Club, LLC…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Doing a little more investigating and finding out more things about AHL Hockey Club, LLC (Limited Liability Company), the company that is attempting to bring an AHL franchise to Oklahoma City.
The registered agent is Armand Paliotta, an Oklahoma City-based attorney who specializes in corporate law.
Now while Paliotta’s address is an Oklahoma City one, the entity address for the company is in Reno, Nevada.
It was filed on May 13, 2008, a good 14 months ago. Some readers have pointed out to me that is before all the goings on with the Seattle and Thunder situation.
I’ll grant you that to a point. It feels a lot like a pre-emptive strike kinda like the way Thunder beat writer Darnell Mayberry was basically a court reporter for the 2007-08 season.
And kinda like how I will take a vested interest in what the Edmonton Oilers do from this point forward. There’s no guarantee an Edmonton farm team is coming to Oklahoma City.
But if there are signs that perhaps it’s possible, need to try to get ready for it. I can’t confirm that was the case with the AHL Hockey Club, LLC, but it’s possible.
The city council formal agenda is now available to look at for Tuesday’s meeting at 8:30 a.m. The AHL situation is pretty early on the docket and will be discussed during the Oklahoma City Public Property Authority session of the meeting.
If you can’t make the meeting, it will be shown live Tuesday on Cox Ch. 20 with a replay at 6:35.
Anyway, back to more digging.
Terms of the proposed new lease…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
City writer Bryan Dean found the Memorandum on Thursday that significantly helped me out on that crazy day that basically stated negotiations for a prospective AHL franchise to come to Oklahoma City are underway.
But I started to wonder if maybe there was more paperwork to go with the two-page document.
Sure enough, there is. Here is a summary of some of the proposed lease terms that are set to be approved by the city council Tuesday.
The initial term will be a five-year lease that is scheduled to begin with the prospective AHL franchise that will be run by AHL Hockey Club, LLC (referenced as AHC from this point on to make it easy on me) for the 2010-11 season at the Cox Convention Center.
It may be extended for up to two additional three-year terms if the AHC wants to do so.
However, AHC or SMG and the City working together can terminate the agreement after the second season (and every season after) if the average attendance dips below 4,000.
AHC will rent out the Cox for $7,500 per game. That cost will increase if there are games on holidays.
When it comes to the schedule, 60 dates will be reserved for preseason and regular season games. Twenty dates are reserved in April and May for any potential playoff games.
Another crucial point is 30 dates are reserved for Friday and/or Saturday games. And another 10 dates are reserved for team-related events (fan stuff, media, etc).
There will also be a team store where AHC will receive 100 percent of the gross revenues.
The terms have been negotiated and accepted with the intent and principal purpose of relocating an AHL team to Oklahoma with approval of the AHL.
And finally, renovations to the Cox Center:
Ice plant, loge boxes, VIP and STH club, upgrade to locker rooms, improvements to meeting rooms, additional team storage as well as the team store as well as improvements to how the advertising will be displayed and the lighting, among other things.
You had to scroll a long ways down the council agenda to find it but definitely worth it. I’ll have much more to say about it in Monday’s paper.
***
Once again, fellow chum Berry Tramel voiced his opinion on the Blazers saga. Definitely worth checking out, so here ya go.
***
Meant to post this Friday but forgot. Former Blazers enforcer Robin Gomez was found not guilty of assault causing bodily harm for his punch to ECHL player Chris Ferraro
In a lengthy decision, provincial court Judge Mike Hubbard found that the punch was “within the scope of the game of hockey.”
“If this judgment had went the other way I would have had to retire because I’d been in and out of court for the rest of my life,” said Gomez outside the courtroom after the verdict was read.
Ferraro plans on filing a civil suit.
Hersom weighs in…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
You’ve heard me say on a few occasions that sometimes I don’t feel qualified to talk about some of the matters regarding the history of the Blazers or the history of the hockey scene in Oklahoma City in general. I’ve read up on it, but you can’t replace the experience of actually being there.
But I’m sure none of you will have any qualms with letting someone who’s been around the block once or twice (or three times) chime in with his own thoughts.
I asked former Blazers beat writer and longtime sports writer Bob Hersom to give his thoughts. And though we had some e-mail issues a couple of times, it finally got through.
Here’s what he had to say:
Boneman has spoken. He has asked me for a “Blazers retrospective” for his blog, and I’m happy to oblige.
I certainly enjoyed my time as the Blazers’ beat writer for five years. The Blazers organization has always been – and still is – top notch. And hockey players have long had the reputation of being among the top athletes for us media types. I found that especially true of the Blazers. I hope Tyler Fleck and many other former Blazers players still consider me to be their friend. Doug Sauter, Chris Dashney and Wade Sundbye are all class acts. If they weren’t, they wouldn’t have been with the Blazers in the first place.
I’m convinced that the AHL is where OKC should be in the hockey arena.
Oklahoma City just doesn’t fit in with most of the CHL cities anymore.
Maybe most fans won’t notice the difference in skill level, but those of us who have watched a lot of hockey certainly will.
Should OKC’s new AHL team be called the Blazers? I’d say yes, and I’m not aware of any valid reasons why not. Just continue the grand tradition but at a higher, AAA level – the way it used to be in the city.
***
Fellow chum Berry Tramel has also posted his own thoughts on his blog yesterday. You can go here for that one. As for my story in today’s edition, here ya go. And as for the NewsOK poll, it is now 76 percent for AHL (114 votes) to 24 percent for CHL (36).
Be safe today on the 4th of July, and I’ll be back tomorrow as I think I might have found something.
The fall of the Blazers…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
It’s an interesting topic. What led to the fall of the Blazers franchise? I’ma take a swing at it in Saturday’s paper. I’m sure some won’t agree with me, and that’s OK. I was truly writing what I felt from what I’ve gathered and observed.
To me, there were three big reasons: 1. The Oklahoma City Thunder; 2. The state of the economy; 3. The city out-growing the CHL.
I have a strong feeling there will be much debate about reason No. 3. There is probably some hurt feelings among Blazer die-hard fans when it comes to something like that.
But devoted readers of this blog aren’t (well, for the most part) part of the No. 3 reason.
However, on NewsOK right now, we’re running a poll about what fans will prefer. And right now (as of 6 p.m.) it is 77 percent for the AHL and 22 percent for the CHL.
The dedicated, passionate Blazer fan has never been a question. I know some of you would come to a game in a middle of a snow storm. That’s never been the problem.
But I’m not sure the fanbase was growing anymore. The Thunder is the toast of the town right now.
There is a lot of backlash from some readers saying “oh, just wait five years when the team still stinks and nobody shows up.”
We’ll see. Maybe that’s true or maybe Sam Presti is on the road to building a solid, competitive team that is led by one of the NBA’s future stars in Kevin Durant. Time will tell on all accounts.
There is also a lot of sentiment of “the city turned its back on the team that carried OKC for years.” Mayor Mick Cornett certainly doesn’t believe that is the case.
“Baseless.”
That’s what he said about those type of accusations about the Thunder running the Blazers
I haven’t been around the game and the Oklahoma City area long enough to give an accurate account on something like that. All I can say is that I did my best to give the Blazers the best coverage I could give because the fans, the players, the staff deserve that type of commitment.
I’ve asked former beat writer Bob Hersom to weigh in on things and the feedback is still rollin’ in from readers. I say let it roll.
Scott Ellis has been the most frequent commenter, so I was a little shocked that it took to Friday afternoon:
Though I am sad to see this incarnation of the OKC Blazers fade away, we
as hockey fans should look toward the 2010-11 AHL season with a renewed
spirit. To the City, Media (expect for Mr. Przybylo and Bob Hersom ):
This is A Hockey Town, even before the dreams of an NBA franchise here.
The Blazers or Stars’ made Oklahoma City an unusual place for hockey.
But you forgot about them, treated them like the forgotten step child of
this town. Or even give them a front page article on your newspaper,
until they decided to close up shop. Now you (as the media) want to jump
on the ship sailing for a new territory.
***
Hope you have a wonderful 4th of July. Boneman is headed to the RedHawks game. Back either Sunday or Monday. Keep updating with more Blazer thoughts but a lot of attention will now be toward the prospects of an AHL team in Oklahoma City.
