Flint Newspaper -
http://www.mlive.com/generals/index.ssf ... flint.html
Big changes in store for Flint Generals ownership group; team will return for 2009-10 season despite heavy financial losses
by Brendan Savage | The Flint Journal
Monday January 05, 2009
FLINT, Michigan The owners of the Flint Generals realize they've made some mistakes since purchasing the team 19 months ago and they're going to make changes this week in an attempt to straighten things out, according to co-owner Bob Dodge.
Dodge said changes in the nine-man ownership group will be announced at a press conference this week and that the Generals will field a team again next season despite heavy financial losses.
He also said the Generals owners hope to purchase Perani Arena soon in an effort to better promote and market the hockey team.
"We shook some things up today," Dodge said Monday night. "There are going to be some changes made in the group. There is a lot of discussion going on. Everything is positive. We're regrouping. We may take on some new investors. We have some people interested.
"I can tell you this: Everything is going to be better. We will be back next year. It's looking very, very good that we will own the arena very soon. We want it to work. We can't continue to pump money into it and keep doing it wrong.
"It's our fault for not having a permanent manager. The bottom line is it's our fault. We haven't managed it properly and when you're losing as much money as we're losing, things have to change."
With an 11-22-1-2 record, the team is off to the worst start in the 16-season history of the modern Generals. The average attendance of 1,485 is the lowest in the 39-season history of Flint pro hockey and ranks fifth in the six-team International Hockey League.
Dodge, who owns several businesses and has been part of The Perani Group since it bought the team two years ago, said he is going to take a more active role in the club and will serve as the day-to-day manager of the operation.
If the Generals owners are indeed able to buy the arena, they hope to bring youth hockey back to the building and have several other changes in mind as well.
"Just owning the team without the arena and not being able to control promotions and stuff like that is killing us," Dodge said. "I'm meeting with the players tomorrow morning. I'm going to discuss what's going on internally.
"It's for the best interest of the business to do what we're doing to purchase the arena, invest in the team, make some changes."
Dodge said staff changes have been discussed but that he's happy with the job being done by director of sales and marketing John Patch as well as director of game day operations Mary Nagy.
"I really like some of the people," he said. "J.P. (Patch) is one of the best arena guys you could find. People have to be used in the role they're meant to be put in. You can't have an accountant doing an engineering job.
"J.P. is your perfect arena game day guy. Mary Nagy has more heart than anybody."
It was no secret at Sunday's 7-6 victory over Fort Wayne that the players and staff haven't been paid in three weeks. Some business owners have also complained on The Journal's Flint Generals impact page that they are owed money.
Dodge said that will all be taken care of this week.
He said the players will receive a check today and the balance of what they're owed will be paid by the end of the week. The Generals Web site, which was shut down last week, is also up and running again.
"Everybody will be paid," Dodge said. "All of the players and staff will be paid. Everything will be up to date. We plan to have a busy week. We have a lot of work we have to do as far as the corporation being set up, changes being made, administrative things. Basically getting the cash flow where it needs to be.
"Basically starting back at zero and managing it the right way. I would say it's 100 percent as of right now we will be back" next season.
Flint Generals Will Return ... 1-7
Flint Generals Will Return ... 1-7
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[quote=""PigOut""]Flint Newspaper -
http://www.mlive.com/generals/index.ssf ... flint.html
Big changes in store for Flint Generals ownership group; team will return for 2009-10 season despite heavy financial losses
by Brendan Savage | The Flint Journal
Monday January 05, 2009
FLINT, Michigan The owners of the Flint Generals realize they've made some mistakes since purchasing the team 19 months ago and they're going to make changes this week in an attempt to straighten things out, according to co-owner Bob Dodge.
Dodge said changes in the nine-man ownership group will be announced at a press conference this week and that the Generals will field a team again next season despite heavy financial losses.
He also said the Generals owners hope to purchase Perani Arena soon in an effort to better promote and market the hockey team.
"We shook some things up today," Dodge said Monday night. "There are going to be some changes made in the group. There is a lot of discussion going on. Everything is positive. We're regrouping. We may take on some new investors. We have some people interested.
"I can tell you this: Everything is going to be better. We will be back next year. It's looking very, very good that we will own the arena very soon. We want it to work. We can't continue to pump money into it and keep doing it wrong.
"It's our fault for not having a permanent manager. The bottom line is it's our fault. We haven't managed it properly and when you're losing as much money as we're losing, things have to change."
With an 11-22-1-2 record, the team is off to the worst start in the 16-season history of the modern Generals. The average attendance of 1,485 is the lowest in the 39-season history of Flint pro hockey and ranks fifth in the six-team International Hockey League.
Dodge, who owns several businesses and has been part of The Perani Group since it bought the team two years ago, said he is going to take a more active role in the club and will serve as the day-to-day manager of the operation.
If the Generals owners are indeed able to buy the arena, they hope to bring youth hockey back to the building and have several other changes in mind as well.
"Just owning the team without the arena and not being able to control promotions and stuff like that is killing us," Dodge said. "I'm meeting with the players tomorrow morning. I'm going to discuss what's going on internally.
"It's for the best interest of the business to do what we're doing to purchase the arena, invest in the team, make some changes."
Dodge said staff changes have been discussed but that he's happy with the job being done by director of sales and marketing John Patch as well as director of game day operations Mary Nagy.
"I really like some of the people," he said. "J.P. (Patch) is one of the best arena guys you could find. People have to be used in the role they're meant to be put in. You can't have an accountant doing an engineering job.
"J.P. is your perfect arena game day guy. Mary Nagy has more heart than anybody."
It was no secret at Sunday's 7-6 victory over Fort Wayne that the players and staff haven't been paid in three weeks. Some business owners have also complained on The Journal's Flint Generals impact page that they are owed money.
Dodge said that will all be taken care of this week.
He said the players will receive a check today and the balance of what they're owed will be paid by the end of the week. The Generals Web site, which was shut down last week, is also up and running again.
"Everybody will be paid," Dodge said. "All of the players and staff will be paid. Everything will be up to date. We plan to have a busy week. We have a lot of work we have to do as far as the corporation being set up, changes being made, administrative things. Basically getting the cash flow where it needs to be.
"Basically starting back at zero and managing it the right way. I would say it's 100 percent as of right now we will be back" next season.[/quote]
and the dumbest state in the country is......
Flint shoulda folded like 5 years ago.
http://www.mlive.com/generals/index.ssf ... flint.html
Big changes in store for Flint Generals ownership group; team will return for 2009-10 season despite heavy financial losses
by Brendan Savage | The Flint Journal
Monday January 05, 2009
FLINT, Michigan The owners of the Flint Generals realize they've made some mistakes since purchasing the team 19 months ago and they're going to make changes this week in an attempt to straighten things out, according to co-owner Bob Dodge.
Dodge said changes in the nine-man ownership group will be announced at a press conference this week and that the Generals will field a team again next season despite heavy financial losses.
He also said the Generals owners hope to purchase Perani Arena soon in an effort to better promote and market the hockey team.
"We shook some things up today," Dodge said Monday night. "There are going to be some changes made in the group. There is a lot of discussion going on. Everything is positive. We're regrouping. We may take on some new investors. We have some people interested.
"I can tell you this: Everything is going to be better. We will be back next year. It's looking very, very good that we will own the arena very soon. We want it to work. We can't continue to pump money into it and keep doing it wrong.
"It's our fault for not having a permanent manager. The bottom line is it's our fault. We haven't managed it properly and when you're losing as much money as we're losing, things have to change."
With an 11-22-1-2 record, the team is off to the worst start in the 16-season history of the modern Generals. The average attendance of 1,485 is the lowest in the 39-season history of Flint pro hockey and ranks fifth in the six-team International Hockey League.
Dodge, who owns several businesses and has been part of The Perani Group since it bought the team two years ago, said he is going to take a more active role in the club and will serve as the day-to-day manager of the operation.
If the Generals owners are indeed able to buy the arena, they hope to bring youth hockey back to the building and have several other changes in mind as well.
"Just owning the team without the arena and not being able to control promotions and stuff like that is killing us," Dodge said. "I'm meeting with the players tomorrow morning. I'm going to discuss what's going on internally.
"It's for the best interest of the business to do what we're doing to purchase the arena, invest in the team, make some changes."
Dodge said staff changes have been discussed but that he's happy with the job being done by director of sales and marketing John Patch as well as director of game day operations Mary Nagy.
"I really like some of the people," he said. "J.P. (Patch) is one of the best arena guys you could find. People have to be used in the role they're meant to be put in. You can't have an accountant doing an engineering job.
"J.P. is your perfect arena game day guy. Mary Nagy has more heart than anybody."
It was no secret at Sunday's 7-6 victory over Fort Wayne that the players and staff haven't been paid in three weeks. Some business owners have also complained on The Journal's Flint Generals impact page that they are owed money.
Dodge said that will all be taken care of this week.
He said the players will receive a check today and the balance of what they're owed will be paid by the end of the week. The Generals Web site, which was shut down last week, is also up and running again.
"Everybody will be paid," Dodge said. "All of the players and staff will be paid. Everything will be up to date. We plan to have a busy week. We have a lot of work we have to do as far as the corporation being set up, changes being made, administrative things. Basically getting the cash flow where it needs to be.
"Basically starting back at zero and managing it the right way. I would say it's 100 percent as of right now we will be back" next season.[/quote]
and the dumbest state in the country is......
Flint shoulda folded like 5 years ago.
