Rockford and Gary

[Ken, Steelheads fan]

I can't say that I much like the idea of a big blue and green raccoon serving as the mascot for a team named the Lightning, but there's no need for violence. See article below:

http://www.rrstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051129/SPORTS09/111290032/1001/SPORTS

[preeths]

Mascot abuse! We need an afterschool special to steer wayward teens out of this vicious cycle.

[Pounder]

No, you really need a mascot that fights back.

Enter Cyril, the Swansea Swan.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/1580923.stm

Does it at games, too.

[mrcool92501]

rise unite and dont take anything from fans!!!

take action upon those who strike against thee!!!

transgressors of mascots ---take fear of retribution !!!

:) :) :)

[Chuck the Writer]

I dunno... I'm still not warming up to the big cuddly panda bear that the Patroons have selected as a mascot... maybe they couldn't find the old "Gator" mascot the team had in the early 90's...

[Ken, Steelheads fan]

Gary tried the run 'n' fun offense without beef in the middle and were out rebounded seven of their first eight games. Since then they acquired 6'9" Shelly Clark and 6'8" Kevin Frey.

Rockford might consider doing the same with THEIR lineup--recruiting a little muscle. Thursday night, Gary 125 to Rockford's 117 (and it wasn't even THAT close). I can't recall Rockford being successful in Gary with their fast paced offense. They do better crashing the boards with big men than they do running up and down the court with toothpick thin guards and forwards.

[Ken, Steelheads fan]

The following excerpt is from the Gary Post-Tribune:

Steelheads land two for CBA’s All-Star game
Jan. 5, 2006

By Michael Osipoff / Post-Tribune staff writer



Snap Hunter and Randy Holcomb have been a formidable 1-2 punch for the Steelheads all season.

On Wednesday, each was announced as a CBA All-Star, among 10 players named in the Eastern Conference.

Hunter received the most votes of any player, one short of being a unanimous selection. He was named on 19 of the 21 ballots submitted by the league’s eight coaches and selected media members, with coaches not allowed to vote for their own players.

Holcomb received 18 votes, tied for the second-highest total.

__________________________________________________ _______________

I never liked Snap's game while he was with Rockford, but he has become a well-rounded (and less selfish) player this season with Gary. If he doesn't get a call-up to the NBA soon, then it's obviously not going to happen...ever.

[game]

How did Gary make up so much ground on rockford, and is that the biggest collapse ever in cba history from 1st place? I mean rockford had a hugh lead not too long ago!

[one way]

from the yakima sun kings web page


Who Are These Guys?
2006-02-27


Remember the Sun Kings who had the First Place seed in the playoffs, were pretty much assured to win the division and, had only lost seven home games in the entire season? That team obviously is no where to be found after losing four straight home games to the division leaders, knocked themselves out of first, went all the way to fourth seed in playoffs as they lost to the Sioux Falls Skyforce Monday night 92-100 (1-6). With only two home games left Coach Paul Woolpert is lost watching this former powerhouse team have huge turnovers and fouls at the most critical time, throwing the ball away with seconds left in the quarter to lose the points and other mental errors.

[game]

maybe yakima and rockford are both too old! although with the rockford coach complaining his team is too young when they are the second oldest team in the league behind yakima, maybe they should sign bob cousy or maybe see if johnny red kerr will come over from chicago and play or even stacey king. of course they would still complain they were young and thats why they made mistakes.

albany just beat rockford back to back after losing the first eight to rockford. how can this be? i read that the coach said it was because ronnie fields missed the game. last i checked every team had players missing from time to time. the cba all star mvp from this season randy holcomb missed plenty of games, but i never read where the gary coach blamed his loss on a player not playing or injured.

[one way]

wow- bitter, bitter- whatever axe you have to gring take it somewhere else. By the way, I live in Gary, In. and have attended all Steelheads games, and I have seen Holcomb play. Great player, but stop your drinking your haterade

[game]

one way, you live in gary and attend all the gary games, but you support rockford? sounds like you must be the hater. also, why must their always be an excuse when rockord loses, and will their be any NBA call ups or anyone getting any big contracts to go overseas from the rockford team this season?
With their coach coaching the all star game, four of their players made the all star team.

well maybe their players are still so young, they are not ready yet! or maybe they're happy with the big contracts over in rockford and dont need anymore money.

[one way]

been to gary games, rockford games and i even attended a michigan game when i went to visit relatives. Enjoyed them all. but, favorite team is yakima and favorite player is justin miller from albany. favorite motto- do onto others and you would like done on to you- i just think you should live by those words and stop your cowardly ways. Remember God sees all and someday you will have to answer to him. What goes around does certainly come around

[game]

Wow, one way found religion, thank you Roger Powell. keep listening to Roger, and you might get saved.

By the way with snap hunter gone, rockford will back into the championship. but championships are hollow with no player from rockford even getting a call up.

maybe when ronnies gets older, but now he's much too young! i mean six years in the CBA, 28 years old, he's just a baby!

[Ken, Steelheads fan]

...and all this time I thought I was the only Gary resident on this message board.

The lose of Randy Holcomb is more significant to the Steelheads' playoff future than the lose of Snap Hunter, in my opinion. The Steelheads have several players that can "jack-up threes" (the Steelheads lead the league in that department). Another rebounding/offensive threat is needed if Randy is out for the season.

By the way, it is looking more and more like Gary IS returning next season. It is also looking more and more like Rockford will return...just NOT next year (or the year after that for that matter). Rockford needs to legalize gambling on the Rock River so arena construction can be financed. The Lightning are in dire need of a suitable venue. The idea of using college arenas and high school arenas just won't work.

[Ken, Steelheads fan]

The following excerpt details one of the behind the scenes reasons why the Steelheads are almost guaranteed to return next season. The complex is only a few blocks from the Genesis Center:


Gary examines bids on restaurant project
March 4, 2006

By Andy Grimm / Post-Tribune staff writer

GARY — City officials have received contractors’ bids to build a 14,000-square-foot restaurant complex across the street from the U.S. Steel Yard.

Combining the highest bids for the construction, the work would total $3.4 million, just $600,000 shy of the $4 million in federal funds set aside for the program by the city and the Gary-Hammond-East Chicago Empowerment Zone.

Powers & Sons Construction Co. was the sole bidder on the general construction contract, offering to lead work on the project for $1.86 million.

Staff from the Empowerment Zone and city Public Works Department will review bid proposals.

The city Board of Public Works could award contracts for work including plumbing, heating and air conditioning, fire protection and roofing, as soon as its next regular meeting on Wednesday, which should allow construction to begin on schedule this spring.

__________________________________________________ ____

I still think a UHL Hockey team is on Gary's horizon, but I don't have enough information yet.

[lightning fan]

The following excerpt details one of the behind the scenes reasons why the Steelheads are almost guaranteed to return next season. The complex is only a few blocks from the Genesis Center:


Gary examines bids on restaurant project
March 4, 2006

By Andy Grimm / Post-Tribune staff writer

GARY — City officials have received contractors’ bids to build a 14,000-square-foot restaurant complex across the street from the U.S. Steel Yard.
__________________________________________________ ____

I still think a UHL Hockey team is on Gary's horizon, but I don't have enough information yet.

If Gary get's a hockey team you can kiss the Steelheads goodbye. Hockey will get choice dates as they usually bring bigger crowds. Hockey plays many more games with longer season than basketball. As the dates improve the crowds will grow which will become a self fullfilling prophecy, like in Rockford with Icehogs, and Steelheads dates will get worse and worse. Not much crossover in fans and basketball draws many more kids then hockey. Kids can not go on tue wed thurs nights so attendance drops. You do not see Lightning fans changing to Icehogs and of course no Icehog fan would be caught dead at a basketball game. (the few Icehog fans that show up, 1 or 2, stand around on the concourse and do not cheer or enjoy themselves, they then post on rrstar.com message board how bored they were at the game and how dead the fans spirit is etc etc.., I think they designate a fan or two to go now and then to just keep an eye on things, they probably get free tix from Icehogs which Hogs get from Lighting in a season tix swap with front offices) Hockey fans share a us against the world mentality and get very defensive if the smallest word is even the slightest bit(in their heads) negative about hockey. I guess this is similar all over US in my travels on internet newspapers boards etc etc..

Gary also has the feud with Mayor and Steelheads owner so that will not help. With the new rest. complex going up nearby you will see similar newspaper stories when Steelheads fold about how the hockey team brings much more business and they did not notice any from Steelheads. Of course by that time the self fullfilling prophecy will have kicked in and attendance will have dropped and with Steelheads fans not able to stay out late on school nights anyway. Hockey also brings more single dating 20 to 30 yr olds who go out more so that will also help kill Steelheads.

On a side note: hockey will also bring the richer white suburb fans into town just like the Railcats do. So local businesses will also like that from a pure profit point of view. Icehog games are all white all the time. Lightning is much more mixed. Not as mixed as Steelheads games, of course, but for Rockford it is pretty good as Rockford does not have the high minority % like Gary.

2nd side note: I really enjoy going to Steelheads games, atmosphere food fans etc etc... and if/when Lightning fold will go over as much as I can to watch the Heads as long as they last.

Ken: any chance or any rumors Hoffman Estates new "Sears Center" arena would get a cba team or Steelheads themselves? Local TV had a rumor a group checked out moving Lightning there, however, that appears to be not true.

[Ken, Steelheads fan]

Minor league basketball would not work in an area like Hoffman Estates. Besides, the person most interested in purchasing the Lightning (Rockford's Frontier League baseball team owner) wants the Lightning to share a parking lot with his baseball team. That's only going to happen when (and if) a new arena is built at that location.

I agree. If UHL hockey comes to Gary, then the Steelheads are doomed. That scenario is quite likely if the Steelheads get new ownership next season (and the new ownership is who I think it will be).

My side notes:
The Steelheads ran some slick television ads to promote the team this year. The pitchman (woman?) was a rather attractive SWF type person. The Steelheads and I are on the same page in that department. Now we need to get on the same page with the skyboxes. The Steelheads need to better utilize these amenities. They can begin by removing the glass enclosures, thus making the skybox patrons LESS detached from the basketball action. Next, they can actually MARKET the skyboxes (instead of doing so as an afterthought).

[lightning fan]

Skyboxes? What is a skybox? People from Rockford have never seen one and the Metrocentre does not even know what a skybox is.

Gary has skyboxes? Are you talking about the glass between the balconey and concession area on upper level behind basket? Or did you guys build some skyboxes since I was there on opeing night?

Metrocentre has talked about them and club seats, even had mock up one time in arena. Artists renderings also, however, nothing has shown up. Naming rights deal was to help pay for the upgrades, however, have not seen that yet either.

State money that payed for new seats, painting, concessions upgrade(not sure, all or most, vendor may have payed), concrete steps repair/replace, new BB court, new baskets/standards, was also suppose to pay for new exterior/new color. Rrstar quoted Metrocentre speculating on color etc... even had polls to choose. Later said it was on hold until they decided on naming rights deal. Did not want to choose color that conflicted name rights co..

My solution: get "Home Depot" then all they need is Home Depot painted on each corner of orange exterior and they are done. Then Icehogs and fans could continue to call arena "The BOB" which means "big orange box", it would fit as Home Depot is a big box store.

I lived in area for almost 15 years and never heard the term "The BOB" or "big orange box" used to describe the Metrocentre until the Icehogs arrived and the fans/media(not sure who) started calling it that. First time I heard it was on a local tv sports report. Weird.

[Ken, Steelheads fan]

lightning fan,
Ya' see what I mean? The skyboxes have not been marketed and the glass fronts detach skybox patrons from the rest of the crowd. You have been to the Gary Genesis Center several times and you obviously have not noticed them.

The Gary Genesis Center has two rather large skyboxes on either side of the food court deck. One skybox is reserved for the owner and Steelheads artwork adorns the walls. The other skybox is generic. When the arena is not being used, then the skyboxes can be configured as conference rooms. One year I inquired about renting the generic skybox out for a birthday party and the Steelheads staffer didn’t have a price structure readily available.

In my opinion the owner needs to give up his box, configure both existing boxes into four smaller skyboxes, of course remove the glass barriers, and then aggressively market them as luxury skyboxes for an additional revenue stream.

[Pounder]

You think there are designs where skyboxes are "integrated" into the arena environment?

Wait, let me restate that... you think that patrons who seek skyboxes WANT to be integrated into the arena environment?

I probably have to play around with this more to get better poignancy, but I think I have the gist of it.

Designs where the suite can be "opened and closed" in a classy manner might be something to consider, in any event. Anything that encourages off-hour use of the facility...

[Ken, Steelheads fan]

Yes, sliding glass is the ticket. That minor detail was forgotten when the Genesis Center was refitted for the CBA.

[panchess]

..plenty of baseball and football stadiums fit that model well. Part of the skybox is outside (in the arena view for an indoor facility), and part is walled off.

The Patroons facility at the Armory has some boxes behind one of the baskets, but it is a weakness of the facility in general.