Driller's to fold

[snappyk]

I heard it on the radio this morning that the Drillers are already done. They say that there is a story in the Calgary Sun this morning about the whole deal. Too bad I didn't get a chance to get to a game.

[transplant99]

"The owner of the franchise has given me instructions to shut the franchise down," Howell announced, adding he is also attempting, against all odds, to find new owners.

"I don't agree with that decision and I'm taking today to see if I can replace him with local ownership. The chances of that happening are relatively slim but that's what I'm attempting to do. I'm not optimistic."

Howell said the team missed its payroll on Jan. 31 proximately $14,000 -- and no one has received a cheque since Jan. 15.

"Nobody is being paid -- it's over," said Howell, who was planning to meet last night and again today with prospective new owners.

Hailey said even if Straub abandons the franchise, he and Richman will continue fighting to find another $150,000 to $200,000 to finish the 36-game season.

"Me and Ruby aren't going to let this thing die -- we've worked too hard for too long to let that happen," Hailey insisted.



http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/CalgarySun/S...917603-sun.html

Sounds like this league is a disater.

[Resolute 14]

You have no idea.

A nice chronology of the ABA from late december in this thread at oursportscentral:
http://www.oursportscentral.com/messageboa...opic.php?t=1193

It scares the hell out of me that Al Howell is trying to gain ownership of our Northern League baseball club.

[albertGQ]

Not to mention Al Howell is one of the owners in the new WHA starting next fall

[transplant99]

ANY league that expands from 7 to 35 teams in ONE year is looking for nothing short of a complete disater.

Thats almost hard to believe and if it didnt happen i would of never believed anyone would even try.

[fredr123]

The ABA dude on the Fan right now said he only heard about The Drillers throwing in the towel through the media. He just called the owners a couple of carpet baggers who did their thing and left. Apparently efforts are going on to try and save the team.

He likened the situation to that NFL team that packed up in the night and left. He sounds absolutely p*ssed that the ownership would do this.

I went to a couple Drillers games and was nothing short of impressed. It was incredibly entertaining. Granted it was no NBA but it was a great time nonetheless.

And these guys were going to buy the local baseball team too? What a bunch of shysters!

[Resolute 14]

The funny part Transplant is that they have already announced 25 more new teams for next year, and hope to have as many as 40 new teams.

Right now, the ABA looks like one of the biggest cons of all time. How many idiots can you fleece out of $10,000?

The sad thing is, the people actually running the Drillers did put on a very good show. Put a coherent ownership group in a legitimate league (ie: the CBA), and offer that kind of game presentation, and I think you could do very well in this city.

[Golden Jet]

Anyone associated with the Drillers & the ABA are a joke. Let's face it, no advertising, no marketing, no nothing. The owners did didley squat in the community to promote the Drillers & $100 court side seats??? No wonder they folded.

[Golden Jet]

No promoting, no advertising & no marketing of the Drillers. They're in the ABA, then they're out, they're in, they're out. Oh, they are back in.
They have investors, they don't have investors. Off the schedule, on the schedule, 13 straight road games & no coverage in the media, no radio, no tv & virtually no newspaper coverage.
They're in the Saddledome, no wait, now they're in the Corral. No basketball floor, then they have one. Home game dates changed, rescheduled & cancelled.
The Drillers were a joke off the court. Mickey Mouse. No wonder they folded.

[nik-]

The lack of coverage is one major factor, but the ticket prices I think are what doomed this team. They were so out of whack with the rest of the ABA it wasn't even funny. When you have $11 for the cheapest seats what are people in a hockey town gonna go watch? ... the ABA or the WHL for a few dollars more? ...

[fredr123]

Advertised ticket prices were insane. However, for the two games my wife and I went to they weren't that bad. Near the end we were able to take advantage of 2 for 1 or half price deals. We tried to sit in the same spot (half court, row three, south side) which turned out to be damn fine seats. The courtside seats, for however much they cost, always seemed to be full.

I wrote before that I think the ABA could work in Calgary. I still believe that but it would take a committed effort by an ownership group willing to take a loss on their investment for the first couple years while putting forth a strong marketing effort. The players and team needed to get out into the community and sell the product. Pulling the plug after, what, 20 games is ignorant and insulting to the city/league/fans/players/etc.

[moon]

Too bad. I was hoping to get to a game before it went under to see what the league was like.

It seemed that the league and team has/is run day-to-day by the seat of their pants. They don't seem to have any forsight or plan for the future. It was obvious that this would be tough to sell at first and to see them drop it so quickly makes me believe they had no idea of what they were getting involved with.

[Resolute 14]

Believe it or not, some idiots picked up the team.

They will apparently finish the season.

All in the next episode of as the basketball turns...

[fredr123]

If that's the case, get out and see them before they fold for good. It's a decent show. Lot's of people have been expressing remorse in not getting out to any games. Now you have a second chance.

[moon]

Well although I am surprised by the fact that someone decided to take a chance with the Drillers, I do believe that there is a chance for this frnachise to be a success if as Snakeeye said they are willing to wait for a few years and if they promote the heck out of it.

Like many sports that aren't initially popular, ie Lacross or hockey in the States, once you get out a see the game live you will want to return. Thats what they need, fans in the seats.

[V]

Well it would help if the league wasn't such a joke. With the Drillers starting later than everyone else, and not knowing where they were going to play the next day. I don't know, I don't really feel like supporting a league like the ABA when I can go watch some Dino ball.

[Golden Jet]

Originally posted by Snakeeye@Feb 3 2005, 09:29 AM
Believe it or not, some idiots picked up the team.

They will apparently finish the season.

All in the next episode of as the basketball turns...

If that's the case, someone forgot to tell the players. They've apparently all checked out of their team hotel & have gone home.
As usual, the way the Drillers handled this just emphatically PROVES the ABA is a joke. And just who is this basketball god, this Canadian icon I keep hearing about, Drillers GM Ruby Richmond, anyway??? Richmond sure helped his team in the clutch, didn't he?

[calgaryred]

The team was doomed as soon as they called them the Drillers

[snappyk]

I was just on the ABA site and they s are saying that the Drillers are playing this Friday at home, is there any truth to any of this?

[moon]

Originally posted by snappyk@Feb 8 2005, 05:54 PM
I was just on the ABA site and they s are saying that the Drillers are playing this Friday at home, is there any truth to any of this?

Considering how wrong the website has been about the schedule in the past, combined with the news that the owners dropped out and the team has left, I would say no it probably isn't right.