[News] Oilers Press Conference at 10:30am. Tambellini Fired

[nik-]

Katz is probably too busy trying to extort the city of Edmonton to pay attention to how his team is playing.

[getbak]

Nick Cotsonika ‏@cotsonika
The Oilers have two kinds of fans: those who bought Lowe's apology and those who just watched it on video.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by MoneyGuy

Honestly, I wasn't offended by Lowe's comment about the two tiers of fans. It's a fact. However, a lot of fans took it differently and he's apologized, so good for him. Lowe is an emotional guy and went a bit far, which is what made him a really good player (not a star but a key cog in the Oilers' glory teams).

I also don't care if he has a Rangers photo in his office. It's a personal memento. Who cares?

I was far more concerned and offended by his comment about his rings indicating he knows what he's doing. I inferred from that: "I have six cup rings and you don't so **** off because you don't know what you're talking about."

Two things:

First of all you dont split your fanbase into 'Important and Unimportant.'

Thats just stupid. Really? The fans that watch on TV and listen on Radio are unimportant? Okay, cancel the Oilers' TV and Radio deals and see how well that goes.

Money from advertising on TV and Radio is probably almost as important as ticket sales. In most leagues its actually more important, but the NHL is primarily a gate-driven league.

And secondly, mentioning championship rings is stupid. If that had any relevance at all then the Oilers should hire Micheal Jordan, hes got 6 rings too but hes also won every major award in the NBA. Thats just as relevant as Lowe's cup rings from 20 years ago.

[MoneyGuy]

Originally Posted by Mongo

And to think our two teams used to battle it out for league supremecy every year.

We still are. Just for the best draft choices.

[PeteMoss]

Note to self: Befriend a rich guy who owns a hockey team.

[FanningTheFlames]

Originally Posted by MoneyGuy

Honestly, I wasn't offended by Lowe's comment about the two tiers of fans. It's a fact. However, a lot of fans took it differently and he's apologized, so good for him. Lowe is an emotional guy and went a bit far, which is what made him a really good player (not a star but a key cog in the Oilers' glory teams).

I also don't care if he has a Rangers photo in his office. It's a personal memento. Who cares?

I was far more concerned and offended by his comment about his rings indicating he knows what he's doing. I inferred from that: "I have six cup rings and you don't so **** off because you don't know what you're talking about."

1) One thing hasn't been mentioned yet, but the way he said "talking to fans" gave me the impression that it was a one-sided conversation.
2) A personal memento from a rival company should not be prominently displayed on the president's office wall, especially not in an apology to loyal customers, but be kept at home. Unless it's fueling unproductive nostalgic thinking leading to ruin and embarrassment of the whole group - In which case, I have no problem with it either.
3) That was the best part. Oiler fans (and hopefully a few Flames fans) now get how pathetic bringing up past cup accomplishments are and how irrelevant they are to today. Lowe did us all a great favour.

[nik-]

It's not even the fan comment that makes this thing so hilarious. It's the fact that he feels it's a legitimate strategy to deflect criticism on his management, which is awful, because he won a bunch of cups as a player, and a passenger at that. THAT is where the hilarity is.

[taco.vidal]

I still cant believe how he hiring was handled. Did the loss to the Flames really make such a difference to what you intended to do in the off season that you needed a new GM to get started right now?
The bigger issue was why was only one individual interviewed for the job? I wonder if it was an actual interview or a talk amongst old friends and a job offer?

[Locke]

Originally Posted by taco.vidal

I still cant believe how he hiring was handled. Did the loss to the Flames really make such a difference to what you intended to do in the off season that you needed a new GM to get started right now?
The bigger issue was why was only one individual interviewed for the job? I wonder if it was an actual interview or a talk amongst old friends and a job offer?

They made it pretty clear that MacT wasnt even interviewed, it was just his job. There was no interview, there was no process, it was just MacT's job.

I doubt they even asked if he wanted it.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by MoneyGuy

Honestly, I wasn't offended by Lowe's comment about the two tiers of fans. It's a fact. However, a lot of fans took it differently and he's apologized, so good for him. Lowe is an emotional guy and went a bit far, which is what made him a really good player (not a star but a key cog in the Oilers' glory teams).

There is certainly truth in the argument that the paying customer is any business' bread and butter, and that a team - especially in the position Edmonton is in - needs to be mindful of the people willing to hand loonies over for their product.

But the fans in Edmonton have every right to be offended, because no matter how much truth exists in the statement, it is on the big list of Things You Don't Say In Public. If Lowe's emotions are such that he will make statements that can only harm his team's fanbase - potentially affecting revenue - then he needs to be removed from his job post haste.

Fortunately for us, Katz is not interested in putting an end to this clown show.

[Stay Golden]

Katz's boy hood crush on the old Oilers he has brought back together is gold just keep up the comedy act in your Oil country Katz its working it really is.

I want to see him at the draft in sandals wearing a shiny Bright Blue Oiler suit, and the Frodo hair.

[flambers]

Kevin Lowe issues an Apology

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=420998


"Edmonton Oilers President of Hockey Operations Kevin Lowe issued some clarification and an apology on the team's website on Wednesday for remarks he made regarding their fanbase in Monday's news conference introducing Craig MacTavish as general manager."

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

There is certainly truth in the argument that the paying customer is any business' bread and butter, and that a team - especially in the position Edmonton is in - needs to be mindful of the people willing to hand loonies over for their product.

But the fans in Edmonton have every right to be offended, because no matter how much truth exists in the statement, it is on the big list of Things You Don't Say In Public. If Lowe's emotions are such that he will make statements that can only harm his team's fanbase - potentially affecting revenue - then he needs to be removed from his job post haste.

Fortunately for us, Katz is not interested in putting an end to this clown show.

All true but I think what makes his statement so ridiculous is that those that "only watch the games" matter greatly in regards to revenue as well. For as much as the NHL is a gate driven league, they also rely heavily on TV contracts, particularly in Canada and local/regional deals. Hell, even local radio deals matter.

No eyes/ears on those games? No revenue. Basic business understanding of which Lowe seemingly has no grasp on.

[The Yen Man]

Originally Posted by transplant99

All true but I think what makes his statement so ridiculous is that those that "only watch the games" matter greatly in regards to revenue as well. For as much as the NHL is a gate driven league, they also rely heavily on TV contracts, particularly in Canada and local/regional deals. Hell, even local radio deals matter.

No eyes/ears on those games? No revenue. Basic business understanding of which Lowe seemingly has no grasp on.

I guess he's now got MacT with his super shiny business masters degree to teach him how basic businesses are supposed to work.

[FanningTheFlames]

Lowe said he was the conduit between Katz and management. Problem is his ego acts as the gate-keeper. Even when announcing a new GM he can't stop himself from putting the spotlight on himself.

[Itse]

Edmonton Sun has a poll about should Kevin Lowe resign. (Note that they are not bold enough to suggest that he should be fired.) Just had to vote on that one.

Time for a CP Jihad?

(It's at the very bottom of this article at least, after the comments.)

http://www.edmontonsun.com/2013/04/1...the-team-needs

[Table 5]

One thing to keep in mind is that a person doesn't just choose to be a certain type of fan, and stays that way for life. Financial situations, locations, and team circumstances can fluctuate, leading one to change their financial contribution to a team fairly quickly. The guy who Lowe thinks of as Steerage-class today could become a 1st-class fan next year. And vice versa. Insult one type of fan and chances are you're insulting everyone at some point. Seems like a pretty short-sighted way of doing business.

With the Oilers though, whether you're 1st class or Steerage-class.....at the end of the day, you're still both hapless passengers on the Titanic, with Captain Kangaroo at the helm.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by transplant99

All true but I think what makes his statement so ridiculous is that those that "only watch the games" matter greatly in regards to revenue as well. For as much as the NHL is a gate driven league, they also rely heavily on TV contracts, particularly in Canada and local/regional deals. Hell, even local radio deals matter.

No eyes/ears on those games? No revenue. Basic business understanding of which Lowe seemingly has no grasp on.

I agree, and that was one of the points my second paragraph was intended to (and evidently failed) to convey.

[FanningTheFlames]

Originally Posted by Itse

Edmonton Sun has a poll about should Kevin Lowe resign. (Note that they are not bold enough to suggest that he should be fired.) Just had to vote on that one.

Time for a CP Jihad?

(It's at the very bottom of this article at least, after the comments.)

http://www.edmontonsun.com/2013/04/1...the-team-needs

Well, if we're going to Jihad this, we should definitely Jihad NO

[Table 5]

Kevin Lowe should be locked in as Oilers President for life.