Roughnecks on verge of folding - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Resolute 14 · 02-22-2011, 06:00 PM

It was obvious Bannister was in trouble when he announced at the start of the year he had to sell the team, but I don't think many people thought he was in this deep!

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Lacrosse/2.../17371946.html

The two month road trip sure isn't helping... well done with that one, NLL.

Da_Chief · 02-22-2011, 06:18 PM

Well thats too bad. Fun while it lasted.

GGG · 02-22-2011, 06:22 PM

I really liked the roughnecks. Hopefully they can play out the season and then fold.

Cheese · 02-22-2011, 06:23 PM

disaster...too bad he couldnt find another investor. The team must have lost money every year.

MrSector9 · 02-22-2011, 06:23 PM

hopefully someone steps up.

I agree on the 2 month road trip, pathetic planning for sure

JustAnotherGuy · 02-22-2011, 06:37 PM

Some players from the Roughnecks visited my daughter's school about 3 years ago. They were such jerks to the kids. They were firing the ball really hard at them and hurt a couple of the kids. If anything the lost some potential fans that day.

My daughter was pretty interested that they were coming to the school but then she didn't want to do anything with them after that day.

Dion · 02-22-2011, 06:37 PM

It would be a very sad day for sports fans if this team were to fold.

Hopefully Banisters message gets the corporate community to take charge and help save this team. The team has made great contributions to the comunity and it's absense will be missed.

rubecube · 02-22-2011, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JustAnotherGuy

Some players from the Roughnecks visited my daughter's school about 3 years ago. They were such jerks to the kids. They were firing the ball really hard at them and hurt a couple of the kids. If anything the lost some potential fans that day.

My daughter was pretty interested that they were coming to the school but then she didn't want to do anything with them after that day.

Really? What a bunch of asshats. Mind you, I've met a few "professional" lacrosse players and most of them were meatheads.

flames_1987 · 02-22-2011, 06:50 PM

I can echo the fact that a few of the players are complete ###### bags, had them come to the bar I bar tend at and they were complete a-holes and try hard alpha males to the staff and girls, which was quickly turned into humor when a few of the Flames showed up and we didn't hear a word from the Roughnecks for the rest of the night.

valo403 · 02-22-2011, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rubecube

Really? What a bunch of asshats. Mind you, I've met a few "professional" lacrosse players and most of them were meatheads.

Yep, same experience here. The good news is that when one of them acted like a tough guy with a doorman buddy of mine after being asked to leave for grabbing food and drinks off other peoples tables he wound up with a broken jaw and missed the rest of the season. The way these guys carried themselves single handedly kept me from attending a game.

Golden Jet · 02-22-2011, 09:03 PM

Would anybody really care if the Roughnecks folded or moved? Would the Flames buy the team?

Golden Jet · 02-22-2011, 09:04 PM

Personally, I'd love to see Arena football here rather than lacrosse but that will never happen.

OzSome · 02-22-2011, 09:14 PM

I am surprised Roughnecks and even the league is still alive though. Yes it's an entertaining game but I don't think the Roughnecks and league draws a lot of people though.

browna · 02-22-2011, 11:29 PM

Bannister always struck me as the complaining type, even when things were good. He desperately wanted to dump the team on the Flames and scolded them for not picking them up over and over.

The Flames saw the same thing he did though, an unstable, part time league, that had franchises folding and moving yearly, and never going to turn a profit.

He got his 15 minutes when a Roughnecks game messed up the scheduling for a Flames playoff game and everyone wondered why the Flames game was a different night. But he again used that time to complain that he wasn't getting enough fans or support and that his calls to the Flames were falling on deaf ears.

Should've taken a page out of the classy Russ Parker's book in regards to the Cannons...he made his single plea to the city about needing a bigger stadium, knowing the answer before he went in. The business had run its course in Calgary, and the Cannons had to move on to greener pastures...but Parker wasn't running around trying to get another team to buy the Cannons or talk about the fact that x less number of peanuts were going to be sold in the city when the team left.

For Bannister to draw comparisons to the history of the Stamps and Flames, and to try and put the Roughnecks anywhere near the same relevance of those two teams is ridiculous. Too bad to see the team fail, but its a business and that's the way it goes in a niche sport, and league, such as the NLL.

Resolute 14 · 02-23-2011, 10:51 AM

Agreed entirely.

Still, the Roughnecks are a fun night out, and it would be a shame if they left. You would know Edmonton wouldn't be much farther behind if it happened too.

Superflyer · 02-23-2011, 12:16 PM

I really like watching the Roughnecks play but really they brought this on themselves. For the crowds they get they can easily play in a different arena and cut their costs. Also on that topic their ticket prices are to high for a niche market like they have. Lacrosse is not a popular sport but when the average price for a ticket is $40 for a family of 4 that is $160 plus parking and food. They need to come down to hitmen type prices then they will draw in a bigger crowd.

Also I think it was two years ago they offered up free tickets to a game and did not compensate season ticket holders. This really ticked a lot of people off and I know of 4 people myself that did not renew based on this as well as increasing the price the next year.

fundmark19 · 02-23-2011, 01:26 PM

What arena in calgary can hold 10k and provide a positive fan experience?

BOSSY · 02-23-2011, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by browna

Bannister always struck me as the complaining type, even when things were good. He desperately wanted to dump the team on the Flames and scolded them for not picking them up over and over.

The Flames saw the same thing he did though, an unstable, part time league, that had franchises folding and moving yearly, and never going to turn a profit.

He got his 15 minutes when a Roughnecks game messed up the scheduling for a Flames playoff game and everyone wondered why the Flames game was a different night. But he again used that time to complain that he wasn't getting enough fans or support and that his calls to the Flames were falling on deaf ears.

Should've taken a page out of the classy Russ Parker's book in regards to the Cannons...he made his single plea to the city about needing a bigger stadium, knowing the answer before he went in. The business had run its course in Calgary, and the Cannons had to move on to greener pastures...but Parker wasn't running around trying to get another team to buy the Cannons or talk about the fact that x less number of peanuts were going to be sold in the city when the team left.

For Bannister to draw comparisons to the history of the Stamps and Flames, and to try and put the Roughnecks anywhere near the same relevance of those two teams is ridiculous. Too bad to see the team fail, but its a business and that's the way it goes in a niche sport, and league, such as the NLL.

Great post -bang on

tete · 02-23-2011, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Superflyer

I really like watching the Roughnecks play but really they brought this on themselves. For the crowds they get they can easily play in a different arena and cut their costs. Also on that topic their ticket prices are to high for a niche market like they have. Lacrosse is not a popular sport but when the average price for a ticket is $40 for a family of 4 that is $160 plus parking and food. They need to come down to hitmen type prices then they will draw in a bigger crowd.

Also I think it was two years ago they offered up free tickets to a game and did not compensate season ticket holders. This really ticked a lot of people off and I know of 4 people myself that did not renew based on this as well as increasing the price the next year.

They lost us as STH with that fiasco. It's too bad, I like the sport, but they did nothing to keep STH. So we pick up the odd ticket every year when it's dirt cheap or free and then go.

I don't think the Saddledome is the right venue for the Roughnecks - it's too bad there isn't an 8000 seat or so arena for them to play in (the Corral is much smaller than 8000 seats, right?).

Resolute 14 · 02-23-2011, 02:10 PM

The Corral seats 7500 or so, and yes, would easily fit the number of fans the Roughnecks actually draw. I would still go, as I love the Corral, but it is a dingy rink.

From what I understand, Bannister has a remarkably cheap lease with the Flames, so while his revenue streams are limited in the Dome, so to are his costs.