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Why Can\'t The Brass Rent the Empty Auditorium?

February 3, 2003 - ECHL (ECHL)
New Orleans Brass News Release


The New Orleans Brass hockey team, in its fight to remain in New Orleans, has filed suit against the City, alleging failure to comply with the Louisiana Public Records Act. The Brass has consistently requested information relevant to the Municipal Auditorium, its availability, tenants, rental rates, operation costs etc. and has been forced to file two public records requests to which the City and SMG have failed to respond.

In response to the City Council's request at last Thursday's council meeting, the Brass is releasing all correspondence between the team and the Administration.

"Releasing these documents – shedding light on the bad faith bargaining by the Administration – was the last thing we wanted to have to do", said Dan Belisle, team Manager. "We kept thinking that a practical business deal was bound to come out of our efforts. For reasons unknown to the Brass, the administration is doing everything in its power to ensure that the Brass will not ever skate again in New Orleans. The East Coast Hockey League made it clear last week that they support us fully. Our fan base – which has set League records for attendance - supports us. We feel that we're doing the right thing by fighting rather than giving up."

The enclosed documents illustrate that the Administration has dragged negotiations out for six months, and has only recently offered the Brass a 36 days at a rate of $2500 per day. Additionally, the documents make clear that $2500 is not the average rent for the facility, which is currently leased only 60 days per year to non-city government users, at rent that ranges from $0 to $500 to a maximum rate of $2,600.

Finally, the documents demonstrate that Brass ownership has implored the Mayor – the largest individual owner of the team - to resolve his dual conflict of interest. For over a year, Mayor Nagin has refused to take any action to resolve his conflict of interest as a Team owner and as Mayor of the City with the sole authority by Charter to lease City owned property. Instead, the Mayor has allowed SMG to control the negotiations with the Brass and to allow City property to remain vacant.

The Brass are attempting to rent the underutilized building for 100 days per year, at the average rate already being charged by SMG. This rate - $1000 per day or $100,000 per year – would make a significant dent in the current $500,000 per year deficit being shouldered by the City under its contract with SMG. SMG has asserted that the Brass will cause the building to lose money but has refused to allow the Brass access to any of the public documents that would prove otherwise.

"The Municipal Auditorium is a public building available for rent, vacant for 300 days of the year, virtually abandoned. This is something that everyone seems to agree on" said team owner Roy Rodney. "And yet, a local business willing to rent it for 100 days per year is being turned away. We have committed to honor all existing tenants, both in terms of their desired dates, and in terms of other issues, including flooring. Bottom line: the Brass is committed to accommodating all existing tenants."

In addition to the 100 dates that the Brass wishes to rent the Auditorium at existing rental rates, the Brass has requested to operate the parking for the Auditorium and the Cultural Center as a mechanism for recouping the substantial capital investment it plans to make in the renovation of the building for ice. The parking is currently managed by SMG pursuant to an oral contract with the City. It is no surprise that SMG has also refused to produce the public documents relating to past parking revenues collected under their watch.

"It is clear that this Administration has no interest in keeping the team in New Orleans – so much so that it would prefer to have the Auditorium be vacant for 300+ days out of the year, and to be left holding the bag for $500,000 every year" said Dan Belisle, team Manager. "This locally owned team has established its financial viability, has set league records for attendance, and is a fun and affordable outlet for locals and visitors. This is about so much more than sports, this is a business issue and, unfortunately, it seems to be a political issue as well. Why, at a time when the Administration is reviewing and throwing out existing contracts right and left, is this particular, very costly contract with SMG sacred? Why has the administration resorted to falsely accusing the Brass of requesting a ‘sweetheart deal' when the Brass has pledged its own capital to improve the aging Auditorium?"

It's all come down to a punch-clock. The Brass have until March 1 to achieve their goal of finding a home at the Auditorium.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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