As someone who previously worked fairly closely with the Vipers Organization (through sponsorship) I will say that Peter Young is the biggest idiot out there. Everyone I came into contact with from Vipers employees to other sponsors absolutely hated the guy. I hate to throw the whole organization under the bus, as there are alot of people at Foothills who absolutely bust their butts...but Young is a moron. Unfortunately the way he treats his employees has lead to alot of employee turnover.
It's no coincidence that the Vipers have seemed to switch radio partners year after year. It's no coincidence that they flip flop between the herald and the sun as their sponsor seemingly every year. Why is Big Rock not a sponsor? Where did Spolumbos go? Look at this list of sponsors...
http://www.calgaryvipers.com/sponsors.html
that list gets shorter and shorter every year, no beer sponsor? Do you have any idea how easy it is to get a beer maker to sponsor a sports team? Cardel Homes who was one if their earlier and biggest ($) supporters is gone.
I truly believe Gidney is into this business for the long haul, but why he's allowed someone like Peter Young to stick around with the team boggles my mind.
It doesn't take a brain surgeon to realize that baseball in Alberta doesn't sell. The experience does. Cold beers on a warm night, well put together distractions from the game, a cheap night out, good reasonable priced food. The Vipers have always advertised themselves as "BASEBALL!" they are yet to realize that baseball doesn't sell in Calgary except to a small few...a fun night at the ballpark is widespread.
As an example, and I hate to glorify anything from Edmonton...but the Edmonton Capitals (formerly Cracker-Cats) were purchased from the Oilers this year, immediately attendance has spiked dramatically. The game experience has been improved and is more professional, concession prices were lowered, there is a promotional schedule on the website (something the Vipers are ######ed for not having), they have cheap food nights midweek, bigger events on the weekend like movies on the outfield wall and fireworks, celebrity hitting competitions...etc. Again, they aren't selling baseball, they're selling a night out.
http://www.capsbaseball.ca/web/guest...ional-schedule
A team in the golden league with it's low overhead should be a huge success for any owner in Calgary or Edmonton...you just need to have the right people in there to market the team. I think Edmonton has got those right people as of this year with the Oilers as owners...Ken King...care to step up to the plate?