drgregg
SLAP CHOP
It's not a radical suggestion by any means, if we are in fact in the basement again over the next 2 years. A team that loses $34 million, in the first year of a 5 year out clause that allows them to relocate without consequence if the losses add up to $50 million, then becomes one of the worst teams in the league, and sees attendance number fall in it's second year.
He presented the hypothetical scenario in which we may be in the basement again over the next 2 years (years 3 and 4 of the out clause). If this scenario were to unfold, the teams attendance would most likely continue to decrease, thus decreasing revenue, and increasing losses, which would probably make for cumulative losses much higher than $50 million, thus allowing ownership to relocate the team to a more immediately profitable market.
I can completely understand the concern, but I have to agree with DOM on here. I believe, and could totally be wrong as this is all just reasoning on my part, that this team's future for good or for ill was decided the day Barroway put 150 on the barrelhead.
IA were rolling the dice when they bought the franchise so they had more leeway to play. However Barroway did not have the luxury. I simply can't see making an investment of that magnitude without having a playbook in place. He either bought the team with every intention of keeping it here and making it work based on the growth he has already seen IA achieve, or he bought it with the plan of moving it based on making 70% of the out clause in 1 season.
That is why he wanted the rebuild, it wasn't about trying to wring out every single dollar every season anymore, it was about the long term future of the team.
I choose to believe he intends to keep the team here. Either way, I don't see the future of the franchise hanging over Maloney's moves anymore. Take it for whatever you think its worth....