Wetcoaster
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In one of the great ironical twists of the Bettman lockout, one of Gary's staunchest supporters Peter (it was my evil twin who made that absurd RFA offer to Sergei Federov) Karmanos has become the year's leadin nominee in the category for the Brett Hull Award for failure to put brain in gear before engaging mouth.
Karmanos has apparently ignited a firestorm amongst the 'Canes fans (or at least among those who are still fans).
Earlier this week he was blithely telling all who would listen that the season was over. It appears the 'Canes fans have taken him at his word and now want their money back for season's tickets. This is causing some consternation in the land of cotton where good NHL times are soon forgotten.
Maybe his buddy Gary won't fine him given that he has manged to shoot himself so effectively in the foot while removing it from his mouth. :lol
Karmanos has apparently ignited a firestorm amongst the 'Canes fans (or at least among those who are still fans).
Earlier this week he was blithely telling all who would listen that the season was over. It appears the 'Canes fans have taken him at his word and now want their money back for season's tickets. This is causing some consternation in the land of cotton where good NHL times are soon forgotten.
Hurricanes try to calm fans seeking refunds
By LUKE DECOCK
January 12, 2005
The Carolina Hurricanes are scrambling to talk fans into keeping their season-ticket deposits with the team after owner Peter Karmanos said Tuesday he thinks the 2004-05 NHL season is a lost cause.
With the team holding millions of dollars in ticket payments for games the owner doesn't think will be played, the Hurricanes are expecting plenty of questions from fans.
"Our ticket people are working on that now," Hurricanes president and general manager Jim Rutherford said Wednesday.
On Tuesday, Karmanos told the Canadian Press that his "gut feeling" is the season will be canceled and next season may be lost as well.
Reached in Detroit on Wednesday, Karmanos said he had been "spoken to" by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and that he would not be speaking further about the lockout.
Canes fan Peggy Zieman of Cary, N.C. said she was "extremely upset" with Karmanos' comments and the lack of negotiations, but she isn't demanding a refund. She and her husband bought a mini-plan on the RBC Center's club level after the excitement of the 2002 Stanley Cup finals. She said she's willing to leave her money with the team this year - but not if next season is canceled, too.
"If it goes another year, there will be no NHL," Zieman said. "People are going to do what they did in baseball. Baseball went through it, and people are finally coming back to watch after all these years. If we lose the Hurricanes, we've got nothing."
The deposits are important to the Hurricanes because of the team's financial situation. According to statements by team officials, the Hurricanes will lose $7.5 million during the lockout and have lost $135 million since moving to North Carolina in 1997. The Hurricanes brought in an estimated $20 million in gate receipts last season.
The team obtained a $90 million credit line from a Detroit bank in July, pledging the team and its arena lease at the RBC Center as collateral. Meanwhile Rutherford said negotiations continue over the sale of Karmanos' other hockey assets: a minor league team and arena in Estero, Fla., and a junior team and arena in Plymouth, Mich.
But the team has not received any allocations from its share of the league's $300 million lockout fund, Rutherford said, and can survive even if every deposit was refunded.
Maybe his buddy Gary won't fine him given that he has manged to shoot himself so effectively in the foot while removing it from his mouth. :lol
