St. Louis Blues sold for 50% more than 1999 market value.
I lived in St Louis during the "Cup years" long ago, during the "move down-the seats are open years" in the early eighties and the "How did you get tickets to Brett Hull's hat trick years?" in the early/middle nineties. I was a season ticket holder for over 8 years when they still played in the Checkerdome/Arena; a place made for old time hockey. You could scream yourself silly, abuse the air conditioning vents in the upper sections, throw stuff and actually hit the ice, and wait in line for 20 minutes to urinate. GOD, it was glorious... Then came the Savis Center, with it's sterile, almost quiet nature, steeped in estetics and modernism. Plenty of concessions, lavatories, great views, and security, just waiting to eject you. Still, however, the St Louis hockey fans came in droves. When I wasn't willing to accept a 195% increase in the price of my season tickets, I was sent a letter from a copier stating that my request for a partial season package was denied due to excessive demand for my seats. Gee, I wonder whose signature was at the bottom of the letter? Could it have been Mr Laurie's? If he lost money, I cannot accept it, regardless of TV revenues. That place is full 98% of the time. They have a local contract with both Fox Sports and a local WB affiliate (Channel 11) that shows over 30 games a year, mainly becasue the Blues know that there will that many sellouts in a 20,000 seat stadium EVERY year. If Bill is claiming a loss, he can live with it...he married the right woman.
St. Louis Blues sold for 50% more than 1999 market value.
I lived in St Louis during the "Cup years" long ago, during the "move down-the seats are open years" in the early eighties and the "How did you get tickets to Brett Hull's hat trick years?" in the early/middle nineties. I was a season ticket holder for over 8 years when they still played in the Checkerdome/Arena; a place made for old time hockey. You could scream yourself silly, abuse the air conditioning vents in the upper sections, throw stuff and actually hit the ice, and wait in line for 20 minutes to urinate. GOD, it was glorious... Then came the Savis Center, with it's sterile, almost quiet nature, steeped in estetics and modernism. Plenty of concessions, lavatories, great views, and security, just waiting to eject you. Still, however, the St Louis hockey fans came in droves. When I wasn't willing to accept a 195% increase in the price of my season tickets, I was sent a letter from a copier stating that my request for a partial season package was denied due to excessive demand for my seats. Gee, I wonder whose signature was at the bottom of the letter? Could it have been Mr Laurie's? If he lost money, I cannot accept it, regardless of TV revenues. That place is full 98% of the time. They have a local contract with both Fox Sports and a local WB affiliate (Channel 11) that shows over 30 games a year, mainly becasue the Blues know that there will that many sellouts in a 20,000 seat stadium EVERY year. If Bill is claiming a loss, he can live with it...he married the right woman.