http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/storie...04/daily10.html
Full Version: Jax leaving Portland
Well, I guess some of us won't be crashing at Jess's place in Portland next season.
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/storie...04/daily10.html
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/storie...04/daily10.html
So it begins. They've got to find markets where they will be able to maintain stability. There has been far too much movement in the league so far, and it's going to be the downfall of the league unless it stops. I wouldn't be surprised to see San Jose and their 4000 average attendance be next to relocate. 4000 fans per game just won't cut it.
I'm a little suprised about Portland, but I guess they had failed to draw fans. Their attendance was down about 800/g from last year. It did seem though that they were a fairly entrenched team. Guess not. It seems they might not move if they get additional investors though, so who knows.
I think San jose has at least one more year there though sicne they got new owners. I reall hope anyone buying a team would be commited for more than one year.
Really though looking at teams I think it comes down to how much the ownership really cares about the sport, not just about making money. I'm glad we have good commited owners who really do care about the sport.
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Ok, Editing this, I guess it really was a case of economy killing the team more than commitment. This other article really goes more into why it all happened: http://www.oregonlive.com/lumberjax/index....rtland_tea.html the interview with her seems to show she really cares, they just simply didn't see enough ssponsorship. Hopefully we're doing well in that department! I am suprised they turned down an offer for partial ownership from Paul Allen. Seems that could have been a good way to keep afloat. Hopefully everything works out, seems it's fairly sure thing that team will be back, just someplace they can get good sponsorship. Seattle was meentioned and might be a good fit, they don't have the Sonics so that area might welcome any team, even NLL.
I think San jose has at least one more year there though sicne they got new owners. I reall hope anyone buying a team would be commited for more than one year.
Really though looking at teams I think it comes down to how much the ownership really cares about the sport, not just about making money. I'm glad we have good commited owners who really do care about the sport.
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Ok, Editing this, I guess it really was a case of economy killing the team more than commitment. This other article really goes more into why it all happened: http://www.oregonlive.com/lumberjax/index....rtland_tea.html the interview with her seems to show she really cares, they just simply didn't see enough ssponsorship. Hopefully we're doing well in that department! I am suprised they turned down an offer for partial ownership from Paul Allen. Seems that could have been a good way to keep afloat. Hopefully everything works out, seems it's fairly sure thing that team will be back, just someplace they can get good sponsorship. Seattle was meentioned and might be a good fit, they don't have the Sonics so that area might welcome any team, even NLL.
The Sonics... they were terrible most of the time anyway. Except when Shawn Kemp was there.
Looking on the bright side, at least Portland is just moving and not shutting down their operations.
Well, that's the current plan, they still neeed to find a place that's actually economically viable. Who knows if taht will happen. I really hope they find someplace and really hope that someplace is closer to MN 
QUOTE (niknak @ May 7 2009, 08:29 AM) 
Well, that's the current plan, they still neeed to find a place that's actually economically viable. Who knows if taht will happen. I really hope they find someplace and really hope that someplace is closer to MN
I say they should move to North Dakota, near UND...college kids will love to have another place to go and drink...not to mention they are sport starved since they have no major sport...plus its a lot closer than Portland
that would be nice and close, though I don't think Fargo or anywhere else Dokotan would really have the revenue generation to make them successful. Are there really enough companies up there ot suppost $500,000+ in sponsorship? heh. Not to mention it proabyl doesn't have the lacrosse foundation they've used to build the Swarm around here. Still, never know!
St. Louis and Oklahoma have been mentioned as possible expansion areas. Those are possibilities but I heard someone mention that they should move to the east coast. Chicago has an open arena.
I am all about a team coming closer to Minnesota. The closer they are to Minnesota the more of us that will be going next year for sure. I see Colorado on my road trip for next year for sure.
I'll definitely go back to Denver again. Great town and the fans there were fun. Not sure about the road trip bit again. 14 hours was kinda crazy. St. Louis wwould be nice. I'm sure they'd be afriad of Chicago since the Shamrox couldn't make it work, then again who knows if they actually tried either.
Winnipeg. They need a sport ever since the Jets left.
QUOTE (niknak @ May 8 2009, 08:51 AM)
I'll definitely go back to Denver again. Great town and the fans there were fun. Not sure about the road trip bit again. 14 hours was kinda crazy. St. Louis wwould be nice. I'm sure they'd be afriad of Chicago since the Shamrox couldn't make it work, then again who knows if they actually tried either.
I don't know if I should go on any more of these roadtrips... I always get sick afterwards; and no it isn't from the BEER!
Here was the letter the Jax Season Ticket Holders got:
QUOTE
Dear LumberJax Family,
This is a hard letter for me to write, so I will get to the point.
The LumberJax will not continue to operate here in Portland. Our ownership group is faced with many different options at this point and we are doing our best to find the right one.
Over the past four years we have put our heart and soul into this team. Our mission was to bring affordable entertainment to Portland. We were prepared to lose money. In fact, we were prepared to lose a lot of money, especially in the first two years.
However, we have found ourselves losing just as much, if not more, year after year. With the economic climate the way it is, sponsorships are harder to sell, tickets are harder to sell and the overall cost of flying in players is increasing by the minute – from baggage fees to added fuel costs.
We believe in this sport, this league and this team. We are committed to doing everything we can to find an option that will allow us to stay in the Pacific Northwest.
You have been loyal and proud fans. We are truly grateful for your commitment to our team over the past four years.
Those of you who have put down deposits for the 2010 season will be contacted shortly about your refund.
There’s not a whole lot more that I can say right now as we are looking at many different avenues for the future of this franchise.
Thanks again for your support.
Angela Batinovich, Managing Partner
This is a hard letter for me to write, so I will get to the point.
The LumberJax will not continue to operate here in Portland. Our ownership group is faced with many different options at this point and we are doing our best to find the right one.
Over the past four years we have put our heart and soul into this team. Our mission was to bring affordable entertainment to Portland. We were prepared to lose money. In fact, we were prepared to lose a lot of money, especially in the first two years.
However, we have found ourselves losing just as much, if not more, year after year. With the economic climate the way it is, sponsorships are harder to sell, tickets are harder to sell and the overall cost of flying in players is increasing by the minute – from baggage fees to added fuel costs.
We believe in this sport, this league and this team. We are committed to doing everything we can to find an option that will allow us to stay in the Pacific Northwest.
You have been loyal and proud fans. We are truly grateful for your commitment to our team over the past four years.
Those of you who have put down deposits for the 2010 season will be contacted shortly about your refund.
There’s not a whole lot more that I can say right now as we are looking at many different avenues for the future of this franchise.
Thanks again for your support.
Angela Batinovich, Managing Partner
QUOTE (niknak @ May 8 2009, 11:02 AM)
Here was the letter the Jax Season Ticket Holders got:
That strikes me as somewhat unprofessional for some reason... also very "I'm throwing in the towel feel bad for me" Just not how I would've written that.
QUOTE (bigbeano @ May 8 2009, 03:43 PM)
That strikes me as somewhat unprofessional for some reason... also very "I'm throwing in the towel feel bad for me" Just not how I would've written that.
Well she is what, 28? And i guess is known for being fairly forward from what I read. Who knows.
QUOTE (niknak @ May 8 2009, 08:51 AM)
I'll definitely go back to Denver again. Great town and the fans there were fun. Not sure about the road trip bit again. 14 hours was kinda crazy. St. Louis wwould be nice. I'm sure they'd be afriad of Chicago since the Shamrox couldn't make it work, then again who knows if they actually tried either.
Ok maybe not road trip to Denver but at least make it to denver for the game for sure. Like hairy said Winnipeg would be fun too though.
QUOTE (chefswarmer @ May 8 2009, 09:19 PM)
Ok maybe not road trip to Denver but at least make it to denver for the game for sure. Like hairy said Winnipeg would be fun too though.
Winnipeg is a great town, it'd be nice to see them get a team in the future. My guess is there would be a fair amount of support too.
QUOTE (bigbeano @ May 9 2009, 10:10 AM)
Winnipeg is a great town, it'd be nice to see them get a team in the future. My guess is there would be a fair amount of support too.
Give Winnipeg a lax team so they can support it just like the support they gave the Jet, errrr, the Phoenix Coyotes? Isn't the Winnipeg market pretty tapped out between the Blue Bombers and Manitoba Moose anyway?
QUOTE (hockeyreflaxfan @ May 29 2009, 12:36 PM)
Give Winnipeg a lax team so they can support it just like the support they gave the Jet, errrr, the Phoenix Coyotes? Isn't the Winnipeg market pretty tapped out between the Blue Bombers and Manitoba Moose anyway?
I dunno... it is a plenty big as far as population is concerned though.
Corporal and I traveled to Winnipeg back in 2006 to see the Swarm play the Rock in a preseason game. There was about 3500 people at the game and I would say most of them were only there to see a fight. There was interest in bringing a team to Winnipeg but I don't know if the fan base is really there.
That might need to be discounted some as it wasn't a Winnipeg team and it was a preseason game. I'm sure if the Swarm had a preseason game in Madison or something like that it wouldn't draw a whole lot either... I don't think there's really a good way to tell other than just trying it out.
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