I haven't been on CP for a long time – was going to delete my account, but that isn't actually a thing I can do. Today's news made me come back for one last post.
Quote:
Originally Posted by IamNotKenKing
He is my uncle. I love him and will miss him dearly.
|
My condolences to you and to all his family.
Quote:
Originally Posted by stone hands
I cancelled my season tickets with the flames 2 seasons ago, and when they asked why I wrote back a pretty scathing email about how I was not a fan of how they were handling the arena situation, and specifically KK's public statements on the matter. I thought that would be the end of it and didnt really think anything of it
About a week later I am sitting at my desk and my phone rings, and it's Ken King calling. He spent about 45 minutes on the phone with me, a former nosebleed STH, talking about a whole bunch of topics I never thought I would with the CEO of the Flames.
|
My experience was somewhat similar. I cancelled my tickets in 2002, when all the small-market teams were bleeding money and the Flames were running their whole operation in skinflint mode. I sent Ken King an email – not scathing exactly, but detailing all my frustrations with the team and the experience of being a season-ticket holder at such a time. He replied and invited me to meet him in person, and we talked very frankly about the state of the franchise and the league for about half an hour. He paid me a compliment I have always treasured, saying that my email was the best summary of the team's problems he had read.
After our meeting, he invited me to follow him down to an STH meeting where he was due to preside. He was not obliged to do any of this, but he was just that passionate about his work and could not bear to let a customer get away dissatisfied. I still had to cancel my tickets for economic reasons, but I never bore the organization any ill will after that.
And yes, I too was a recipient of The Handshake. He squeezed my hand like a tube of toothpaste, and all the bones squirted up the inside of my arm and lodged in the back of my throat and I almost choked to death. At least, that's what it felt like.
Thank you, Mr. King, for taking such care of the Flames for so many years; and my condolences to all who knew him.