AlphaDog
07-12-2007, 06:40 PM
Dan Dakin
Sports - Wednesday, July 11, 2007 @ 02:00
Perhaps it's my journalism background that makes me cynical by nature.
So when I got an e-mail from the Niagara IceDogs last week announcing that the team would hold its 'official kickoff' in St. Catharines, the first thought that went through my mind was 'What do they really want?' I knew this couldn't be just about introducing Niagara to its newest Ontario Hockey League franchise.
Said 'kickoff' was Tuesday in St. Catharines and, not surprisingly, this wasn't exactly a media or fan-focused event.
The first evidence of this came when my name, along with the name of one of my colleagues, didn't even make the list of guests, despite the fact we both RSVP'ed to the team's PR staff.
The second dead giveaway came when I walked into the ballroom at the Quality Hotel Parkway Convention Centre Tuesday and way, way in the back I saw one little table with a sign reading 'Working Media Table.
'
It was the furthest table from the door.
The only saving grace was the fact we were the closest table to the food - clearly these 'Dogs know the quickest way to get ink is through a journalist's stomach.
There were 15 or so tables for the St. Catharines business community and one for the media. It didn't take long for us to put two and two together.
No, this little shindig wasn't about meeting the players or introducing the team. This was all about money - which the IceDogs hoped would come from the deep pockets of the invited guests (media table excluded).
The two-hour event was essentially a sales pitch for the team's Founders Club, a program in which businesses cough up $15,000 and get a boatload of advertising and marketing opportunities in return - not to mention IceDogs tickets and swag.
"We need your support. We reach out to you. We need you to keep this viable," team owner Bill Burke said.
Even if us media types weren't particularly impressed, clearly the message got through. When Burke said anyone who signed up during Tuesday's get-together would get a free autographed jersey worn in the Sept. 21 inaugural game, at least two people put their hands up and said they wanted in.
That's in addition to an already growing roster of businesses that had previously signed up, not to mention the sale of more than 800 season tickets.
Does that guarantee the team success this season or in the future? Certainly not, but it's a step in the right direction.
I must admit, my cynical nature had me doubting the IceDogs from the beginning.
But after listening to Burke's sale pitch, delivered through the mouths of various politicians and IceDogs staffers, you can't help but want to pull for these guys.
They bring a certain amount of enthusiasm the sports community in Niagara hasn't seen for a while. Sure, other groups have wanted to put a team like this in the region, but I'm convinced no one has been willing to work as hard as Bill Burke and his team.
There has been no shortage of complaints - most of which have focused on a lack of parking and uncomfortable seating at Jack Gatecliff Arena - but Burke has developed a thick skin.
"I just ignore it. I just love the league so much and I know the excitement this will bring," he said.
It's no coincidence that Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" was the background music played during a video presentation on the team Tuesday.
That could be Burke's theme song.
ddakin@nfreview.com
Sports - Wednesday, July 11, 2007 @ 02:00
Perhaps it's my journalism background that makes me cynical by nature.
So when I got an e-mail from the Niagara IceDogs last week announcing that the team would hold its 'official kickoff' in St. Catharines, the first thought that went through my mind was 'What do they really want?' I knew this couldn't be just about introducing Niagara to its newest Ontario Hockey League franchise.
Said 'kickoff' was Tuesday in St. Catharines and, not surprisingly, this wasn't exactly a media or fan-focused event.
The first evidence of this came when my name, along with the name of one of my colleagues, didn't even make the list of guests, despite the fact we both RSVP'ed to the team's PR staff.
The second dead giveaway came when I walked into the ballroom at the Quality Hotel Parkway Convention Centre Tuesday and way, way in the back I saw one little table with a sign reading 'Working Media Table.
'
It was the furthest table from the door.
The only saving grace was the fact we were the closest table to the food - clearly these 'Dogs know the quickest way to get ink is through a journalist's stomach.
There were 15 or so tables for the St. Catharines business community and one for the media. It didn't take long for us to put two and two together.
No, this little shindig wasn't about meeting the players or introducing the team. This was all about money - which the IceDogs hoped would come from the deep pockets of the invited guests (media table excluded).
The two-hour event was essentially a sales pitch for the team's Founders Club, a program in which businesses cough up $15,000 and get a boatload of advertising and marketing opportunities in return - not to mention IceDogs tickets and swag.
"We need your support. We reach out to you. We need you to keep this viable," team owner Bill Burke said.
Even if us media types weren't particularly impressed, clearly the message got through. When Burke said anyone who signed up during Tuesday's get-together would get a free autographed jersey worn in the Sept. 21 inaugural game, at least two people put their hands up and said they wanted in.
That's in addition to an already growing roster of businesses that had previously signed up, not to mention the sale of more than 800 season tickets.
Does that guarantee the team success this season or in the future? Certainly not, but it's a step in the right direction.
I must admit, my cynical nature had me doubting the IceDogs from the beginning.
But after listening to Burke's sale pitch, delivered through the mouths of various politicians and IceDogs staffers, you can't help but want to pull for these guys.
They bring a certain amount of enthusiasm the sports community in Niagara hasn't seen for a while. Sure, other groups have wanted to put a team like this in the region, but I'm convinced no one has been willing to work as hard as Bill Burke and his team.
There has been no shortage of complaints - most of which have focused on a lack of parking and uncomfortable seating at Jack Gatecliff Arena - but Burke has developed a thick skin.
"I just ignore it. I just love the league so much and I know the excitement this will bring," he said.
It's no coincidence that Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" was the background music played during a video presentation on the team Tuesday.
That could be Burke's theme song.
ddakin@nfreview.com