Bye bye Vipers?

[Dion]

Originally Posted by TopChed

So small marketing initiatives are enough to take advantage, but it's unnecessary to make transportation to the actual games easier for a large amount of Calgary's population? Fair enough.

Maybe you could tell me why it's the Dawgs responsibility to provide transportation to and from games? If you do it for Calgary then you have to do it for everyone else. Just imagine the costs involved.

[TopChed]

Originally Posted by Dion

Maybe you could tell me why it's the Dawgs responsibility to provide transportation to and from games? If you do it for Calgary then you have to do it for everyone else. Just imagine the costs involved.

I merely suggested adding a bus service to the end of the C-train line, in the event that the Vipers fold. A couple buses would then provide easier transport for anyone coming from most of Calgary. Doing that doesn't mean you "have to do it for everyone else." Why would it?

I've been to several events where buses were used to provide a link between mass public transit and the event's venue, when train stations weren't present nearby. I don't see why that's a bad idea.

Apparently you don't think that's necessary, but I'm sure there's more people like me, who would love to go to games if it were more convenient. It's not, and so I don't go. I never said it was their 'responsibility' to provide transport, but in my mind, it would help fill the stands and create a lot of new fans.

[Dion]

nm

[Resolute 14]

You can't ask a small operation like the Dawgs to foot the costs of adding such a bus service, especially since they are already packing the park. There is no benefit.

And Calgary Transit is already on record as saying they don't care about the suburbs, their mandate is the city only.

[Addick]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

You can't ask a small operation like the Dawgs to foot the costs of adding such a bus service, especially since they are already packing the park. There is no benefit.

Okay, that makes sense. However, if they could set up a close to 100% cost recovery coach service that might be alright.

[Mango]

Looks like this is it. The players didn't get paid. Every cheque bounced earlier this month and the website is gone.

[jtfrogger]

Linky: http://www.calgaryherald.com/Calgary...020/story.html

[Beerfest]

The Facebook page hasnt been updated since September 5th also.

[metallicat]

Wow that's brutal. Imagine going to work and having your pay cheques bounce. Unreal.

[fundmark19]

So does this mean we aren't getting a new retractable roof mini stadium?

[woodsy35]

I was an intern with the Vipers this summer. I got 1000.00 a month and I am still owed 500 for my last cheque. $500.00 may not mean a lot to them but to me it means paying my rent. No one will return my calls/ emails. I have even managed to find 4 members of the Gidney family's emails and they won't respond. Your welcome for all my hard work for below minimum wage

[Resolute 14]

And in what should be the least surprising announcement in baseball history, the Edmonton Capitals have also suspended operations. In fact, the entire NABL is pretty much dead.

And so dies professional baseball in Alberta... again.

[fundmark19]

wow I thought they just added some new teams this year and fort mac was getting one

[Resolute 14]

As soon as I saw the Fort McMurray thing, I knew the league was in trouble. No disrespect to Fort Mac, but their entry signaled that this league was going the route of the ABA: Put teams anywhere and hope they stick. Chico and Lake County already went under, and it seems the entire south-eastern division realized just how dumb the merger was in the first place. The NABL was basically down to Edmonton, Maui, Yuma and a new team in San Rafael, CA, in a ballpark that Wikipedia lists with a capacity of 800.

Edmonton was dead the moment Calgary went under. The two cities are a pair, and will pretty much always have to be. And looking at league maps, there really aren't many options. The Pioneer League to the south is affiliated, but a lower calibre brand than the Dawgs play. The Northwest League would be ideal - short season, affiliated even if just single-A, and already has a presence in Canada. But I'm not sure if either league is interested in relocating two markets. Especially given the distance from each league's home base.

The PCL is a pipe dream for both cities, especially since Calgary doesn't have anything close to an appropriate facility. And there are no other indy leagues nearby. The American Association won't have an interest given most teams there were part of the Northern League when the NL's idiotic management went out and ruined pro ball in Alberta along with the league itself.