Houston Hosting ABA All-Star Game

[The Magician]

ABA News
http://www.abalive.com/news/releases/?newsid=2007082806001

HOUSTON TAKERS THROW HAT IN RING FOR ALL-STAR GAME

28-Aug-2007
Houston, TX. At the ABA League Meeting in Indianapolis, Houston Takers owner Larry Leonard II and a group of local investors "put their hat in the ring" for hosting the ABA All Star Game in January.

"We are aware of the various components to host the game having seen the extraordinary job they did last season in Halifax at the meeting," stated Leonard. "Houston is a terrific city and has been host to many major events the past few years such as the Super Bowl, MLB All-Star Game, NBA All-Star Game, Conference USA Championship Game and the MLS Championship Game. We are more than capable to host this great event; we just need this great city to come together again and make it a super weekend. We are pleased that the league is giving us this consideration."

The ABA All Star Weekend is planned for Saturday, January 26 with a concert followed by the 3-Point Shooting Contest and Slam Dunk Competition and ending on Sunday, January 27 with the greatest show on the court in the ABA All Star Game.

"I believe that we turned a corner in our meeting this past week and I am really excited about this opportunity in our great city of Houston," added Leonard.

The league also announced that the 18 Houston Takers home games would be part of the broadcasts of the games being done by PlayON! Sports, a division of Turner Broadcasting this season. The league plans to webcast nearly 300 games. Full details are available on the ABA Web site, www.abalive.com.

For more information about the Houston Takers, call 877-407-1199, ext 3, email houstontakers@yahoo.com, or visit www.houstontakers.com.

[tbayz1]

hahaha, great city for that because people really flock to games in Houston, great choice by the ABA


They should have did it in Jacksonville or Vermont

[The Magician]

"I believe that we turned a corner in our meeting this past week," ... added Leonard.

How so :confused:

By listening to the Interview with Brad Hester, VP of Team Opeations, at Friday's owner's meeting ...

57:27 - 1:05:25

http://www.audiosportsonline.net/ABA/AllAccess.htm?abalive

I'm not too sure that the meeting was as GREAT as we might have been led to believe ...

[a1sports]

Turned a corner?

IMO, sounds more like they fell off a cliff.

Everyone know there were only 10-12 owners for this year (2007) at the meeting...they still cant stop the spin. Oh wait...Here comes Jaloza....the spin stopper !!!!

[Chuck the Writer]

At the ABA League Meeting in Indianapolis, Utica Wreckers owner and spokesperson Abia Ausichser and a group of local investors also "put their hat in the ring" for hosting the ABA All Star Game in January.

"We are aware of the various components to host the game having seen the extraordinary job they did last season in Halifax at the meeting," stated Ausichser. "We know this can be a financial boon for the city of Utica. The ABA All-Star Game can no more lose money than a man can have a baby."

At the presentation, Ausichser touted the Wreckers' strengths on the court, including the return of stars Schultz Dooley, Purlie Scarvin, Tyree Elk Deer and Valerio "V.D." Dawson, as well as new acquisitions Mark "Scew" McSechler and Utica Chug-A-Lug Community Center basketball league reject C.J. Harper. "Utica is a terrific city and has been host to many major events the past few years such as the New York State Curling Championships, the Utica Boilermaker marathon race, and the 1967 Eastern Hockey League playoff championship. We are more than capable to host this great event; we just need this great city to come together again and give us lots of money and forgive all our debts, to make it a super weekend. We are pleased that the league is giving us this consideration, and we promise not to use the game as a publicity stunt so that we can stick an 82-year-old geezer in an all-star uniform - our old geezer, Schultz Dooley, is only 54."

The ABA All Star Weekend is planned for Saturday, January 26 with a concert followed by the 3-Point Shooting Contest and Slam Dunk Competition, as well as a beer-drinking contest, a flatulence competition (immediately after the beer drinking contest), the Pole-Polka Dancing Championships (which is sponsored by both the local Polish Community Center and Utica's several adult entertainment establishments), and ending on Sunday, January 27 with the greatest show on the court in the ABA All Star Game - pending arena availability.

"I believe that we turned a corner in our meeting this past week," said Ausichser, "and I am really excited about this opportunity in our great city of Utica - the Home of Happiness."

More information to follow...

[Fells]

By the way A1 ... What's the holdup with "the judgement?"

I have a copy of the judgement and it doesn't look good at all for the ABA. I am still going through everything, but Jaloza has a solid case.

[The Magician]

I have a copy of the judgement and it doesn't look good at all for the ABA. I am still going through everything, but Jaloza has a solid case.

What's the date on that judgement?

[Pounder]

Houston has not hosted the MLS championship game.

The Dynamo won it in Frisco (stadium of FC Dallas) last year, their first year in the league. Nice homework, eh?

[Fells]

Houston has not hosted the MLS championship game.

The Dynamo won it in Frisco (stadium of FC Dallas) last year, their first year in the league. Nice homework, eh?

Just a little outside of Houston......Way to check those releases for facts there Larry.

[rams80]

It's good to see Larry's perseverance and dedication to the point of illogic get rewarded. It's the least Newman could do.

[psbf]

is normally considered rival territory for the Dynamo, but they can call it 'home' since it is in the same state with the Dynamo. That is probably what he meant.
As far as Houston hosting the ABA All-Star game, they better hope the league has a season with the many teams leaving.

[rams80]

is normally considered rival territory for the Dynamo, but they can call it 'home' since it is in the same state with the Dynamo. That is probably what he meant.
As far as Houston hosting the ABA All-Star game, they better hope the league has a season with the many teams leaving.

Considering how far Dallas is from Houston, that's a weird definition of home.

It'd be like the Steelers claiming they won a Super Bowl played in Philly "at home."

[TheStandard]

so i bet Howard Judah is going to be an all start team member?

[psbf]

been in Texas, aside from the Panhandle, so I don't know how far they are except for looking at a map. But I did see how many supporters the Dynamo had at the final last season and considering all the fans they had travel up to Dallas for that match-up, I would say it would be appropriate to call PHP 'home' for it.
Besides the word 'weird' means different things to some and it is only my guess as to what he meant.

[besl]

I wonder if Larry realizes how much this endeavor would cost. He'll have to pay the airfare and accomodations of roughly 20 players and 4 coaches.

At an average of $500 per flight (and that's being conservative... It cost the Rainmen over $1,000 just to fly Bellingham's player to Halifax last season), that would add up to $12,000 on airfare alone.

If everyone shares a room, you'll need 12 rooms for three nights. Let's assume you can get a special deal for $50 a night, and that's $1,800 in hotel rooms.

Throw in a couple vans and meals for the players for the weekend, and you're well over $15,000 to host the event.

At $10 a ticket, you'll need to sell 1500 tickets to break even. Has Houston ever had a paying crowd of 1500? Have they even had a paying crowd of 150?

My advice: Let a team that has a fan base that would be interested in seeing no-name ABA players play in an exhibition game host the event. Teams that meet that criteria are as follows:

Vermont.

[TheStandard]

I wonder if Larry realizes how much this endeavor would cost. He'll have to pay the airfare and accomodations of roughly 20 players and 4 coaches.

At an average of $500 per flight (and that's being conservative... It cost the Rainmen over $1,000 just to fly Bellingham's player to Halifax last season), that would add up to $12,000 on airfare alone.

If everyone shares a room, you'll need 12 rooms for three nights. Let's assume you can get a special deal for $50 a night, and that's $1,800 in hotel rooms.

Throw in a couple vans and meals for the players for the weekend, and you're well over $15,000 to host the event.

At $10 a ticket, you'll need to sell 1500 tickets to break even. Has Houston ever had a paying crowd of 1500? Have they even had a paying crowd of 150?

My advice: Let a team that has a fan base that would be interested in seeing no-name ABA players play in an exhibition game host the event. Teams that meet that criteria are as follows:

Vermont.

Jacksonville

[Chuck the Writer]

Jacksonville

Utica. Definitely Utica.

[Fells]

Utica. Definitely Utica.

Make it two votes for Utica........

[TheStandard]

Make it two votes for Utica........

Hawaii i mean Utica but with the aud decorated in a Hawaiian theme

[Fells]

Hawaii i mean Utica but with the aud decorated in a Hawaiian theme

Will there be dancers too? The "Beer Swilling Fat Guys" at the half? How about REALLY fat and scary women whose idea of a diet is having only five things of fried dough, three Bloomin' Onions and a case of Fried Orios with one Diet Coke at the state fair? Their cheer can be "Go Blue...Wait is it West? South? Purple Division......MARTHA!! I CAN'T THINK!! I NEED SOMETHING GREASY AND FRIED SO I CAN THINK RIGHT!!"

[Paul S]

It cost the Rainmen over $1,000 just to fly Bellingham's player to Halifax last season

Wow. What did he fly via Guam, why didn't he just drive 20 miles north to Vancouver and fly out of Vancouver. Or was that still the price. OUCH thats gonna put a huge dent in some owners wallet getting 12 guys to Halifax.

They'll be bunking at the local homeless shelter.......

[tbayz1]

Some people prolly wont even show LOL

I can see it now, 200 people at the All Star Game, 5 players for the west and 6 for the east, and 1 coach, and theyll arrive in a Ford Festiva like the clowns at the circus(o wait thats the ABA)

Man, thats where I want to be!!

[nksports]

It'd be like the Steelers claiming they won a Super Bowl played in Philly "at home."

Haven't you ever heard of the Steagles (combined Phil-Pitt NFL team back in WWII).

[ABARedWhiteBlue]

Pittsburgh won a home game Super Bowl in Detroit for SB40 - did you see the number of Terrible Towels? You couldn't find a Seahawk fan with a search party.

(and I am a lifelong Steeler fan...)

[psbf]

had a group of fans there, although it was dominated by Steelers fans, because we are a lot closer to the Motor city than the Emerald City is.
This is why Ford Field may have looked like Heinz Field, from the inside.
I did not really like Cowler, so that is why I was leaning for the Seahawks.
Anyway, if someone wants to change this back on topic feel free;

[TheStandard]

umm gents,

found out that the budget for this ABA all star game weekend is at 90k. Venue, transportation, entertainment, advertising, the whole 9 yards.

[nksports]

umm gents,

found out that the budget for this ABA all star game weekend is at 90k. Venue, transportation, entertainment, advertising, the whole 9 yards.

Does the league have 90k?

[bomp]

Chuck, I'm afraid that you are wrong about Utica.

That time of year, it would be much better to have the All-Star Game in Watertown. Up there, those people are used to a snowjob so it is no harm, no foul. :D

[tbayz1]

Does the league have 90k?

They have 98k last time I checked HAHAHAHA

[TheStandard]

league is not paying. and not its not larry either. but i did find out who. Also I do know of a new team showing up in Florida

[Fells]

league is not paying. and not its not larry either. but i did find out who. Also I do know of a new team showing up in Florida

Yup, so do I.

[TheStandard]

isn't it great when you either just have to call or they call you to give you the straight facts of everything?

[The Magician]

... Also I do know of a new team showing up in Florida ...

Would this team happen to be down I-95 from Jacksonville?

[Fells]

Would this team happen to be down I-95 from Jacksonville?

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm, could be. :mrgreen:

[The Magician]

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm, could be. :mrgreen:

Somebody send me a PM with the info ... or at least the zip code!

[TheStandard]

hmmm its like somewhere between the I-95 and the I-10 or south of jacksonville to the western shore or past orlando nearing the cape. it's somewhere in florida lol

[The Magician]

That narrowed it down for me ... I would have never guessed, lol.

[TheStandard]

but it can be located near mobile or it may be in the keys or in an area where theres a ton of juice