Rockstars and Joe Newman

[Bullsno1]

I feel the need to join this forum and present facts regarding the Chicago Rockstars. I had a conversation with Mr. Sullivan the owner and his wife.
The following are highlights(or lowlights):

Fact: Mr . Newman said it was very easy to run a team and make money
Fact: Mr. Newman encouraged Mr. Sullivan to join explaining the previous owners of the Chicago market did not know what they were doing.
Fact: Mr. Newman said he would personally help in daily business of the Rockstars to insure it would be profitable.
Fact: Mr. Newman never called. Mr. Newman would not answer calls after a month into the season
Fact: Mr. Newman sent a letter stating that Chicago is NOT following his business model.
Fact: Mr. Newman misrepresented the costs involved to run a franchise.
Fact: Mr Newman at one point promised travel funds so Chicago would make a road trip. the funds never came.

[WHAFAN]

If its so easy to run a team and make money, every small town in every state would have one. If everything is so easy, can Joe explain why dozens and dozens of teams have folded in the last 3 years? The only person making easy money is Joe. He's basically a used car salesman, no doubt complete with plaid pants, white shoes and a pinkie ring. Sign on the dotted line and best of luck to ya sucker !!

[Fells]

I feel the need to join this forum and present facts regarding the Chicago Rockstars. I had a conversation with Mr. Sullivan the owner and his wife.
The following are highlights(or lowlights):

Fact: Mr . Newman said it was very easy to run a team and make money
Fact: Mr. Newman encouraged Mr. Sullivan to join explaining the previous owners of the Chicago market did not know what they were doing.
Fact: Mr. Newman said he would personally help in daily business of the Rockstars to insure it would be profitable.
Fact: Mr. Newman never called. Mr. Newman would not answer calls after a month into the season
Fact: Mr. Newman sent a letter stating that Chicago is NOT following his business model.
Fact: Mr. Newman misrepresented the costs involved to run a franchise.
Fact: Mr Newman at one point promised travel funds so Chicago would make a road trip. the funds never came.


I hate to say it, but this does not come as a surprise to any of us. I wish the former owners all the best.

[teqkng]

lets be realistic, if an individual has enough money to put up the franchise fee they should be intelligent enough to work out the numbers, if they had to get a loan to put up the franchise fee the bank would have done it for them. I dont like Unca Joe any more than most of the posters here and I think the best bet for the ABA is for him to become a "Silent" partner or even spokesman (He does spout some serious spin) but let the operations/decisions be handled by better individuals.

[The Magician]

... I think the best bet for the ABA is for him (Joe Newman) to become a "Silent" partner or even spokesman (He does spout some serious spin) but let the operations/decisions be handled by better individuals.

AMEN :mrgreen:

[sportsguy12]

I feel the need to join this forum and present facts regarding the Chicago Rockstars. I had a conversation with Mr. Sullivan the owner and his wife.
The following are highlights(or lowlights):

Fact: Mr . Newman said it was very easy to run a team and make money
Fact: Mr. Newman encouraged Mr. Sullivan to join explaining the previous owners of the Chicago market did not know what they were doing.
Fact: Mr. Newman said he would personally help in daily business of the Rockstars to insure it would be profitable.
Fact: Mr. Newman never called. Mr. Newman would not answer calls after a month into the season
Fact: Mr. Newman sent a letter stating that Chicago is NOT following his business model.
Fact: Mr. Newman misrepresented the costs involved to run a franchise.
Fact: Mr Newman at one point promised travel funds so Chicago would make a road trip. the funds never came.

I feel really bad for these owners who are suckered into the ABA web. On the other hand, I can't believe that these individuals don't do any research on the ABA or are totally blind to their historical antics. The ABA has been suckering people in for years. It's not like this has just started recently.

They've had 100s of teams fold. Surely if Chicago's owner did any research on the ABA whatsoever, they could would found some sort of warning sign. They're aren't too many owners out there that would defend Joe or the league.

I do fault Joe, but the owner has no one to blame for his own shortcomings as well. Again, I am sympathetic to what happened.

[ABARedWhiteBlue]

It may be only semantics, but it seems calling them “expansion” teams is a misnomer. Expansion implies growth from x number to x + y number. Since the number of franchises that began this year has already been lowered significantly (and the season still isn’t complete; the numbers will change), the league isn’t really expanding at all. It is – at best – filling in the 50 or so holes it has already dug for itself. “New” teams? Yes. Expansion? Not really.

And keep in mind that the ABA has already had some sort of presence in well over 100 North American markets; some markets have seen multiple attempts. The most mind-boggling thing about bringing in the new teams is that there are new markets/people still willing to join after the overwhelming collapse of such a high percentage of previous franchises – and the lack of an outcry from within the league to change the leadership that has overseen – and indeed, often been responsible for - such a high percentage of failure.

To use a favorite kitchen cabinet comparison: if the CEO of McDonald’s had well over 60% of their franchises fail in just a three year period, he wouldn’t see a fourth year (he probably wouldn’t have seen years 2 or 3 either, but that ship has already sailed).

[oldfatguy]

An earlier posting stated...

"If its so easy to run a team and make money, every small town in every state would have one."

According to the ABA team list... every small town in every state DOES have one.

Sorry, I had to... that one was too easy.