RIO RANCHO, NM – Local media in the Albuquerque area have found the New Mexico Scorpions. Just in time to detail the death throes of the franchise. Three years of playing on the ice were not enough to get the media out to Rio Rancho. But the craven lust for chronicling the agony of those still employed by the franchise is just too good to pass up.
Mid-May was to have been the timeline for Central Hockey League teams confirming their intent to participate in the 2009-2010 CHL season. That date was inexplicably extended to June 15th. Only recently did the CHL reveal their decision.
It was a “league imposed deadline for New Mexico, Rocky Mountain and Bossier-Shreveport to report their intention for the coming season,” said one New Mexico representative.
Newspaper and television reports have focused on the franchise’s ownership, Dave Ellett, and the efforts to secure a sale or investment in the club.
The economy has been the sword of Damocles over the head of the franchise. The slowing of the economy made the drive to Rio Rancho from the Albuquerque less attractive. That combined with lack of interest among the Rio Rancho population for the Santa Ana Star Center has made life difficult for those selling tickets to the Scorpions or any event at the Center.
Rumors bubbled to the surface as early as December 2008 about the financial health of the club and only a commitment from Ellett saved the season for the franchise and its fans. While players were paid the front office staff was trimmed to a meager number. The on ice product never really suffered but neither did it flourish and the team missed the playoffs in the last weekend of the regular season. For hockey fans, the final push was exciting and gave hope.
One glaring issue for the team and other tenants of the Center was the management of the building. Global Entertainment (owner of the CHL) managed the Center. Or at least that was the intent. Broken promises to luxury suite and premium seat holders, failure to attract touring acts, antagonism with local city officials, lack of advertising, and a general lack of talent in the arena management field contributed to the woes facing the Scorpions.
Global Spectrum (Comcast Cable) has assumed management of the property.
Add in a tier three indoor football league with no talent, no excitement and no fans and there was never any help from that area for the arena or the Scorpions.
The history of the Scorpions is checkered with good intentions (initially) turned bad. Owner after owner took over the franchise with a buy low, sell high mentality. But each successive ownership group put its stamp of failure and disinterest on the club. At the first sign of impending gloom each sold (or in one case closed) the franchise.
“A bad ownership deal will not do anything good for this team,” said the New Mexico representative. “Dave (Ellett) does not want to go through another season where come December there is doubt the team will finish the season.”
“This is why he needs an investor to assist him now. If he can get that one small investor the team will be able to play for many seasons. The growth has caught up to the arena. The organization knows the challenges and the expectations of this community in terms of support with ticket and corporate sales. The way the budget has been set up for the coming season shows with a slight increase this team can break even. It is just a matter of somebody stepping up to the plate to become part of what will be a very successful entertainment venture for the State of New Mexico.”
After going dark for the 2005-2006 CHL season, the club was purchased by a group from Phoenix (AZ) including former NHL’er Ellett. To his credit, Ellett has been committed to the franchise despite the mounting losses and increasingly gloomy outlook. For once the Scorpions have had an owner not running but fighting for survival. Tragedy struck the ownership group some weeks back which left the group in a pall.
“Dave’s (Ellett) goal is to have a hockey team in Rio Rancho for the coming season. If he is not able to secure an investor for that to happen, returning for the 2010-11 season is one option he will explore,” said the Scorpions representative.
If misery loves company then the Scorpions are in hog heaven. The CHL has other franchise issues in addition to the Scorpions including rumors of the Rocky Mountain Rage closing down and the Bossier-Shreveport MudBugs are for sale. The Rage have stewed in a competitive environment with the Colorado Eagles of the CHL and the Colorado Avalanche of the NHL. Throw in Global Entertainment as the building manager and the Rage have mountains to climb.
The landscape of minor professional hockey will undergo a major shake-up this off season as more franchises calculate potential losses as active operations and compare those numbers to the losses after going dark or ceasing operations altogether. The ECHL, Southern Pro league and the International league have seen major changes during the season and now at the conclusion of the year.
In the end, there are many who suffer. The fans pay the price for tickets, jerseys, hotdogs, and beverages. But more importantly, there are the employees of these doomed franchises. People. Families. Dreams. Careers. All suffer.
For his part, Dave Ellett was pointed in his comment, “The goal is to operate the Scorpions at Santa Ana Star Center for the 09/10 season,” he said. “As you know, the capital markets are tight. I have had numerous conversations with different groups with nothing to show. The team needs an investor or new owner by June 15th, or going dormant becomes an option.”
What is disappointing for Scorpions fans is that finally an owner cares enough to fight for the proverbial “next season”. Despite the travails, passion and desire are still there and Scorpions fans need to acknowledge that and recognize Ellet’s efforts.
Scorpions’ fans have another week to wait. And the franchise is on the clock. Ellett is trying to pull a rabbit out of a helmet to save the club. There is a great deal riding on his decision and the decision of potential owners or investors.
It’s about fans, players, ownership and staff.
Contact lou.lafrado@prohockeynews.com
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