Quote:
Originally Posted by Rutuu
The way he "meddles" is the constraints on the organization. It's nobody move, nobody gets hurt.
Edwards mandate as I see it is break even on operations while spending to the cap. Everything else flows from this.
1. Field a strong enough team to keep the building full for "the playoff push"
2. Be a low cost operator in every other facet
3. Make everyone else pay for the big expenses so you don't have too.
My evidence of 1 - 3.
1. The last 30yrs of hockey operations and all of our "just get in" campaigns (Edwards joined as co-owner in 1994)
2. This is CNRL's mantra, and it works in resources where your product is fungible and short/medium term inelastic. Unfortunately low cost entertainment where the business demands top dollar for services, but spends little on constantly improving their own product are not the top of people's list to support. The fan experience at the Dome has seen very little change in 10yrs+.
3. The Flames didn't have to let their hockey facilities sink to the worst in the league. They could have built a campus or a practice facility like many other teams do. The fact they don't even have their own office space away from the Saddledome blows me away. Zero capital expenditure as a strategy is hard to argue against.
How does this type of meddling hurt the team, while spending to the cap. Well the draft in North American sports asymmetrically rewards the worst teams. The CBA rewards tax havens and has capped financial reward offers, so other factors have begun to be the incentive. Even being a fan and capturing more of a fans wallet, requires a different approach to what was employed 10yrs ago, and engagement.
Our business and operating model is not taking advantage of any of the currently overpowered strategies to win.
Unless the owner can move the team, the fans generally win in a fight with ownership. Other options are to wait it out and hope the roulette wheel of sport comes up Flames eventually. I'm personally younger and in better health than the guy, so I've got a chance.
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I believe you're spot on with your analysis of Edwards M.O.
RCR operates the exact same way.
Behind the curtains of the CSEC corporate, it operates the same way.
They run a lean tight ship. Any decently sized decision has to run all the way up.