Cavs bid to manage Youngstown arena
Cavs bid to manage Youngstown arena
Cavs bid to manage Youngstown arena
Story By DON MURET
Staff writer
Published December 10, 2007 : Page 08
The Cleveland Cavaliers, venturing into third-party management for the first time, are competing for the facility operations contract at Chevrolet Centre in Youngstown, Ohio, about 65 miles southeast of Cleveland.
The Cavaliers also would bring a D-League team to
play at Chevrolet Centre.
The bid is tied to bringing an NBA Development League expansion team to the 5,700-seat arena.
If we are successful, we would bring a franchise to the arena and operate it as the principal owner, said Cavaliers President Len Komoroski.
The Cavs are partnering with facility developer IFG. SMG and Global Spectrum, the two biggest players in third-party arena management, also submitted bids.
The city owns Chevrolet Centre and expects to make a decision by March 30.
Global Entertainment, a Scottsdale, Ariz., company that is part of a group that owns the Central Hockey League, originally operated Chevrolet Centre, where the CHLs Youngstown Steelheads are the primary tenant.
The city cut short its agreement with Global Entertainment after local officials were not satisfied with the way it was running the building, according to local reports. The $42 million arena has operated with a $278,041 deficit since it opened in October 2005, The (Youngstown) Vindicator reported.
The Cavs would bring about 25 D-League dates to the building, and Komoroski thinks the organizations strong presence in northeast Ohio working with event promoters to book sports and entertainment at Quicken Loans Arena would benefit Youngstown.
He said its too early to tell whether the Cavs would pursue other arena management deals.
The Cavaliers initial foray into managing arenas other than their own property in Cleveland is no different than the business model Global Spectrum has pushed in its first seven years of operation, said Joe Briglia, IFGs vice president of business development and a former SMG executive.
Global Spectrum is part of Comcast-Spectacor, the corporation that owns the Philadelphia Flyers and Sixers, and the facility manager leverages the clout of its big league parents and other divisions when competing for arena contracts in smaller markets. Just as Comcast-Spectacor has a ticketing division, Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert and his investor group own Flash Seats, a ticketing technology firm.
AEG is doing the same in Ontario, Calif., where it will operate Citizens Business Bank Arena, a building that will be home to the D-Leagues Los Angeles franchise when it opens in 2008. The Los Angeles Lakers own that minor league team.
In addition, Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment owns the AHL Toronto Marlies, who play in MLSE-managed Ricoh Coliseum, and the Dallas Stars plan to bring a minor league hockey team to a new arena planned for suburban Austin, Texas, a facility the NHL club will operate.
Its nothing thats really new. Its just the focus on the footprint of Cleveland, Briglia said. If [Youngstown] was another 100 miles away, would the Cavs be doing it? I dont think so, but its a logical extension of their brand. Theres a benefit to having a big brother in there.
Story By DON MURET
Staff writer
Published December 10, 2007 : Page 08
The Cleveland Cavaliers, venturing into third-party management for the first time, are competing for the facility operations contract at Chevrolet Centre in Youngstown, Ohio, about 65 miles southeast of Cleveland.
The Cavaliers also would bring a D-League team to
play at Chevrolet Centre.
The bid is tied to bringing an NBA Development League expansion team to the 5,700-seat arena.
If we are successful, we would bring a franchise to the arena and operate it as the principal owner, said Cavaliers President Len Komoroski.
The Cavs are partnering with facility developer IFG. SMG and Global Spectrum, the two biggest players in third-party arena management, also submitted bids.
The city owns Chevrolet Centre and expects to make a decision by March 30.
Global Entertainment, a Scottsdale, Ariz., company that is part of a group that owns the Central Hockey League, originally operated Chevrolet Centre, where the CHLs Youngstown Steelheads are the primary tenant.
The city cut short its agreement with Global Entertainment after local officials were not satisfied with the way it was running the building, according to local reports. The $42 million arena has operated with a $278,041 deficit since it opened in October 2005, The (Youngstown) Vindicator reported.
The Cavs would bring about 25 D-League dates to the building, and Komoroski thinks the organizations strong presence in northeast Ohio working with event promoters to book sports and entertainment at Quicken Loans Arena would benefit Youngstown.
He said its too early to tell whether the Cavs would pursue other arena management deals.
The Cavaliers initial foray into managing arenas other than their own property in Cleveland is no different than the business model Global Spectrum has pushed in its first seven years of operation, said Joe Briglia, IFGs vice president of business development and a former SMG executive.
Global Spectrum is part of Comcast-Spectacor, the corporation that owns the Philadelphia Flyers and Sixers, and the facility manager leverages the clout of its big league parents and other divisions when competing for arena contracts in smaller markets. Just as Comcast-Spectacor has a ticketing division, Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert and his investor group own Flash Seats, a ticketing technology firm.
AEG is doing the same in Ontario, Calif., where it will operate Citizens Business Bank Arena, a building that will be home to the D-Leagues Los Angeles franchise when it opens in 2008. The Los Angeles Lakers own that minor league team.
In addition, Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment owns the AHL Toronto Marlies, who play in MLSE-managed Ricoh Coliseum, and the Dallas Stars plan to bring a minor league hockey team to a new arena planned for suburban Austin, Texas, a facility the NHL club will operate.
Its nothing thats really new. Its just the focus on the footprint of Cleveland, Briglia said. If [Youngstown] was another 100 miles away, would the Cavs be doing it? I dont think so, but its a logical extension of their brand. Theres a benefit to having a big brother in there.
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[quote=""SignGuyDino""]I still think Akron is a better choice. I wonder when the NBA will dare to change things around to have a preseason game between the NBA team and it's D-league team in the D-league city?[/quote]Since D-League teams don't start training camp until the NBA preseason is over, never.[quote=""jjbballfan""]Somebody said Akron will get a team also but will be independently ran and own[/quote]I thought that was Toledo.
The arena doesn't seem to be too far in the red. Is the amount mentioned even owed by the management company?If theyare ging to do this it will allow them to get prime dates and hold there own but its a risky business running an arena.....
Last edited by ChumpDumper on Sat Dec 15, 2007 4:45 am, edited 1 time in total.
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[quote=""ChumpDumper""]Since D-League teams don't start training camp until the NBA preseason is over, never.I thought that was Toledo.The arena doesn't seem to be too far in the red. Is the amount mentioned even owed by the management company?[/quote]
your right my bad..... I get all those Ohio cities confused.....
your right my bad..... I get all those Ohio cities confused.....
Akron/Toledo?
Toledo would make much more sense...Akron has always been a tough minor
league city. Little brother complex with Cleveland I think. The Aeros do
pretty good in Akron though (Eastern League AA). I know Canton bombed
with the ABA (like everybody), but have often wondered how minor league
basketball would fair. The CBA looked into it about 16 years ago.
How do other Youngstown teams do attendance wise??? I know the WBL's
Pride had a pretty good fan base going at one time.
league city. Little brother complex with Cleveland I think. The Aeros do
pretty good in Akron though (Eastern League AA). I know Canton bombed
with the ABA (like everybody), but have often wondered how minor league
basketball would fair. The CBA looked into it about 16 years ago.
How do other Youngstown teams do attendance wise??? I know the WBL's
Pride had a pretty good fan base going at one time.
Adios, OSC message boards. (2007-2017)
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[quote=""jjbballfan""]Somebody said Akron will get a team also but will be independently ran and own.... If theyare ging to do this it will allow them to get prime dates and hold there own but its a risky business running an arena.....[/quote]
No, I said the Cav's were buying a team and placing it in Youngstown and that the group that owns Toledo's minor league baseball team is going to buy a D-League team. I never said anything about Akron.
No, I said the Cav's were buying a team and placing it in Youngstown and that the group that owns Toledo's minor league baseball team is going to buy a D-League team. I never said anything about Akron.
Basketball Junkie and Rummikub Champion
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