Knoxville

[psbf]

There is an article in 'The Tennessean' on the Knoxville Thunderbolts merging ownerships and trying to get more fans in. Their arena apparently holds 9,000 capcity, but their average attendence is a reported 1,250(not too bad imo!).
My question is, why don't they switch to a smaller arena? Only 3 losses all season obviously they are doing well! Owned by a former rodeo star. With that turnout, they should be another team to switch leagues.

[ABARedWhiteBlue]

There is an article in 'The Tennessean' on the Knoxville Thunderbolts merging ownerships and trying to get more fans in. Their arena apparently holds 9,000 capcity, but their average attendence is a reported 1,250(not too bad imo!).
My question is, why don't they switch to a smaller arena? Only 3 losses all season obviously they are doing well! Owned by a former rodeo star. With that turnout, they should be another team to switch leagues.

Link?

I assume you mean this article:
http://www.tennessean.com/article/20090127/SPORTS11/901270356

If so, the article is already posted in this thread:
http://www.oursportscentral.com/boards/showthread.php?t=11446

BTW:

- It is NASHVILLE, not Knoxville

- The owner "signed a lease with Municipal Auditorium in downtown Nashville at a cost of $10,000 per game for 16 games, which was paid upfront." He's not leaving now, after dropping $160K

- The same article (did you just skim it?) says "Officially, the Broncs say they're drawing 1,250 people per game, though some of the crowds have appeared much more sparse in the 9,800-seat venue"

You should know from the X days that reported attendance and actual, paying attendance are often two wildly different numbers (I'll let you decide which one is usually much higher - and incorrect)

[LightningMan]

There are some people who believe that playing in a smaller arena lowers your credibility and (most likely in this case) there is probably an existing lease that would be too costly to break to evidence any savings gained by moving to a smaller venue.

[LightningMan]

- It is NASHVILLE, not Knoxville
Not if he means this article:

http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3769680

[ABARedWhiteBlue]

Not if he means this article:

http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3769680

Except that:
There is an article in 'The Tennessean' on the Knoxville Thunderbolts merging ownerships and trying to get more fans in. It's not the Tennessean

Their arena apparently holds 9,000 capcity, but their average attendence is a reported 1,250(not too bad imo!).
My question is, why don't they switch to a smaller arena?
There is no mention of their arena capacity - these numbers are from the Nashville article

Only 3 losses all season obviously they are doing well! Owned by a former rodeo star.
Also info about Nashville, not Knoxville.

But, at least he posted it in the right league's thread...
:rolleyes:

[psbf]

Thanks, that's the article and I was going by the name in the title.

[ABARedWhiteBlue]

Thanks, that's the article and I was going by the name in the title.

The name, but not the content?

OK...

You do know that
"Catcher in the Rye" isn't about baseball, or bread?
"Silence of the Lambs" isn't about sheep?
"Gone with the Wind" isn't referring to the weather?
"Milk" isn't about dairy products?

Right?

[runninref]

The Knoxville guys are good people ... this is a sound move for them. I do expect them to be around next year and yes ... I am a believer in the Thunderdome as well! No, I have not been drinking this morning.:mrgreen:

[LightningMan]

Thanks, that's the article and I was going by the name in the title.
The name in the title of what? The Tennessean article clearly says Nashville not Knoxville. The OSC thread title clearly says Broncs not Thunderbolts. The Tennessean article doesn't say anything about ownership changes. The Knoxville article doesn't say anything about attendance. Perhaps you read both articles and confused them in your mind.

[LightningMan]

The Knoxville guys are good people ... this is a sound move for them. I do expect them to be around next year and yes ... I am a believer in the Thunderdome as well! No, I have not been drinking this morning.:mrgreen:
Then tell Knoxville to get into the PBL. There are two teams who could use them geographically.

[zeke41]

Make that three by 2011!

[LightningMan]

Make that three by 2011!
That'd be a decent division for distance:

WLM KNX 361
AGS KNX 203
ORL KNX 541
WLM AGS 242
ORL AGS 347
WLM ORL 432

[ABARedWhiteBlue]

An article - according to the title - about the Thundebolts...

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2009/jan/27/team-isnt-risky-business/

Owning Thunderbolts isn't risky business
New owner says success will come with structure
By Dave Link (Contact)
Originally published 11:46 p.m., January 27, 2009
Updated 11:46 p.m., January 27, 2009

Sam Smith started a highly successful construction company about 14 years ago in Chattanooga, and he expanded into Knoxville in 1997 where the company headquarters are located.

So why would a savvy businessman like Smith invest in the Knoxville Thunderbolts ABA basketball team, a seemingly risky investment given today's economy and the poor track records of previous ABA teams in Knoxville?

"All of that is how it's structured," Smith, 39, said Tuesday at a press conference announcing new owners of the Thunderbolts. "We've got a great structure, a great support system and a great team that I don't believe they've had (in Knoxville) in the past. That's the secret to success, having the right personnel, the right management and the right core group of players."

Sam Smith and his wife, Stephanie, started Creative Hardscapes in 1995.

The company constructs cobblestone streets, driveways, and retaining walls for residential and commercial construction.

Two of the company's biggest jobs were building a 3-mile cobblestone street for The Atlantis Hotel and Casino in Nassau, Bahamas, and the cobblestone work around the Chattanooga Aquarium.

Smith's new title is President of Crossroads Sports Entertainment Group, which owns the Knoxville Thunderbolts and Tri-Cities Racers, an ABA-sanctioned traveling team.

Brothers Chris and Marty Glisson were part of the Huffson Group, which previously owned the Thunderbolts and Racers, and the Glissons remain partners in the new ownership. Smith and Chris Glisson are majority owners of the team; Glisson is vice president of Crossroads Sports Entertainment Group.

Smith said the team is financially stable, and the new ownership - which includes five other new owners - makes the business more solid.

"It's diversified our capital," Smith said. "It's not just dependent on Chris or I. We've got a team that all has the same desire, the same heart, and resources."

Chris Glisson said the Thunderbolts' operating expenses for the 2008-09 season is $375,000.

Attendance to home games has ranged from fewer than 100 fans to an announced crowd of 400-plus.

Asked how much he invested, Smith said: "In time and money, more than I care to say. It takes $30,000 to $40,000 a month just to cover the (expenses). We've been running for several months, so between the Glissons and myself we've invested hundreds of thousands of dollars to keep this thing going."

And they don't plan to stop.

The Glissons and Smith intend to build a multi-purpose sports facility called The Thunderdome, which will be the home court of the Thunderbolts, at a cost of about $20 million.

"We've got more response on that alone, from not just investors but landowners and major corporations wanting to invest in that," Smith said. "That (dome) is definitely a reality, but right now we're getting through the first season. Most people want to see what we're about and see us succeed. We're excited about that."

[rockhound]

Folks on Ole Rockytop may get their corn from a jar, but their crack must come in some big baggies.

[Minor League Man]

Ya know, I do think the Bolts would make a good rival for the Broncs again next year...and both teams would make good rivals for the Wilmington Sea Dawgs, Augusta Groove, and Florida Flight...

Does anybody else think so?

[zeke41]

I definitely think so! :)

Maybe get some interest in a team out of, say...Alabama as well?

[psbf]

Regardless of the headline or the name of this thread, my intention was to call attention to the ownership and intentions.

I agree, MLM!

[ABARedWhiteBlue]

Regardless of the headline or the name of this thread, my intention was to call attention to the ownership and intentions.


of which team/article/intentions? Never really cleared that up.

Oh, well. :infun:

Moving on...