Ice Dog practices.

[bulldog]

I have posted on here before that the Icedog practices are open to the public. I have attended several practices this year and never had a problem. Today however I was approached by two gentlemen and asked how I got in the facility. I told them through the front door and up the stairs, same as on a game day. I was told that I must leave as the meridian centre is a "closed facility" When I objected he said you can't just walk into the ACC in Toronto. I said this isn't the ACC and my tax $s are paying for this place. All my arguing was to no avail and I was escorted to the door by these two gentlemen. I was all over my displeasure with how the Meridian was being managed but this just might be the straw that broke my back. Will give myself a cooling down period before I make a decision. Anyway the reason for this rant is to save anyone else who read my open practice post the embarrassment of being escorted from OUR building.Great job Noakes.

[RobDog]

Have you gone the horses "Head", and addressed this with Wade?

I would be curious to what the Primary Tennant feels on how their "investors" are being treated.

Simple things that come to mind...

"Sorry Sir for the confusion, but in the future IceDog practices are closed to the public"

Or even,

" Oh you have been coming to the practices all along??? Lets go down to the Ice Dog office and clear this up"

Simple.

[bulldog]

As it happens we passed Wade on my way out. I said to him hey Wade I am being kicked out, since when is this a closed building.His response was, sorry it is not open yet. I assume they(Icedogs) are working on it. I must say I was a little disappointed in Wade. He was with someone going to the store but thought he virtually showed no interest in what was going on. I have e-mailed the dogs office and suggested that they e-mail all STH and inform them that the practices are NOT open tho the public.

[three dog night]

I guess you have not seen these men before when you attended past practices. I always assumed the practices were close to the public unless other wise advertized. It cannot be a completely closed facility the box office must be open to the public along with the Ice dogs office.

[Maverick]

I suspect the reason given was a "cookie cutter reason". Not unlike the initial reason for no reentry being a liquor license issue. If it is a closed facility how is it that they rent the ice to individual groups who in turn can have spectators show up and watch. Is there a difference whether you are a tenant for an hour or a year ?

This is not an Icedog issue unless they have instituted a closed practice rule (did the "escorters" work for SMG or were they Icedogs staff). More likely an SMG rule which until the public voice is heard in council, SMG will continue on their merry way.

[fishfan51]

Meridian is a community oriented company. I wonder how they would feel about the way SMG employees speak to members of the community that they paid millions to have their name put on?

The security guard was right... you can't just walk into the ACC. But, the ACC isn't owned by the city. The ACC is owned by MLSE.

This is the city's fault though, they hired SMG. They should of asked season ticked holders in Kingston what they thought of SMG... my guess is the city would have run away very fast.

[the octopus]

I think the city employees should be running the facility.

[joecanadian]

Originally Posted by the octopus

I think the city employees should be running the facility.

Sorry but it would have been a huge mistake to let the city employees run the new arena.

[the octopus]

Originally Posted by joecanadian

Sorry but it would have been a huge mistake to let the city employees run the new arena.

Why? The only things I noticed from the previous seasons at the Jack was that they didn't know what they were doing. You just have to hire someone that knows how to drive a Zamboni and someone else that can operate a screwdriver every now and then. It was nice being able to come and go as you please.

The only reason they are getting away with all the rules is because the facility is so nice. If it wasn't as nice as it was people wouldn't go to the games.

[three dog night]

Originally Posted by the octopus

Why? The only things I noticed from the previous seasons at the Jack was that they didn't know what they were doing. You just have to hire someone that knows how to drive a Zamboni and someone else that can operate a screwdriver every now and then. It was nice being able to come and go as you please.

The only reason they are getting away with all the rules is because the facility is so nice. If it wasn't as nice as it was people wouldn't go to the games.

A city run facility will not get the acts coming to the Meridian Centre. And I am sure there are rules at the Jack about letting in people all the time. The Meridan Cente is regarged has a major facility so there are new rules in place just like any other arena in the OHL.