Well not much time has passed since the end of the press-conference, so this thread might seem a bit early, but honestly, we don't have a lot of time. Within the next month or two, a local owner will need to step up otherwise Hunt will start looking elsewhere. This thread will probably be a familiar sight over the next few months, as it should be, because we need to do everything we can to preserve our passion. This thread will be dedicated to ideas, discussion, and hopefully... the eventual news that our team is staying. We aren't going to get a second chance. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- This space will be continually updated with the latest on what you can do to help the team.12/19 - The .com domains are up and the .org domains should be coming. Check out www.hoasoccer.com for the time being until it gets forwarded to the .org. Sign up for membership and also the mailing lists. Remember, meeting this Tuesday @ 7, RSVP with Greg. 12/12 - There will be a meeting to discuss what can be done to help the Wizards stay in town. It will be Wednesday 12/13/04 near Downtown KC. RSVP with Greg at savethewizards@yahoo.com & he will provide you with directions. 12/10 - A temporary wiki has been set up on my website at www.derekgathright.com/wiki/, check there for a collection of info and also help on in the process of adding to it as well. 12/09 - For the time being, the best thing you can do is take a look at this list of prominant businesses in the Kansas City area and write a letter or two to the CEO's. top 50 public companies in the region (U:stw/PW:wizards1) Also, Read this which you will also find later in this thread.
Re: Help Save the Wizards Campaign You beat me to it. Let's make something happen, people. I am willing to do absolutely everything in my power to keep this team here, and I know jsut about all of you feel the same. With that kind of dedication and motivation, I'm inclined to think anything is possible. That said...where do we even start?!
Re: Help Save the Wizards Campaign Unless you can write checks (that don't bounce) that contain at least seven zeros, there is nothing you can do.
Re: Help Save the Wizards Campaign It's time to quit procrastinating and get my season ticket order in.
Re: Help Save the Wizards Campaign Maybe true, but look at what the fans in San Jose did, Soccer Silicon Valley has proved to be somewhat of a success and maybe we can learn from what they did. A grassroots move is in order. Without our efforts our team is gone. Two things are necessary: 1. A local owner (or group of investors) with $10 million to spare 2. A location for a future SSS probably involving a local government like Lenexa, Lee's Summit or wherever.
Re: Help Save the Wizards Campaign We need to talk to the SJ people. Find out how they started organizing.
Re: Help Save the Wizards Campaign Bingo. All fans of MLS are in this together, but I wish the people who are going to be on the front lines of this thing the best.
Re: Help Save the Wizards Campaign Before we run out into the community with shirts, signs, bumper stickers, hitting the airwaves, and other acts of desperation, the obvious first step is to get a list of local people/businesses who could possibly buy the team. Unfortunately we aren't blessed with a ton of multi-millionaires, but there are definitely some from the city/region. We need to write letters explaining that this city is great for soccer, which is difficult to argue against, becuase it is. Once a SSS is built, there is no doubt that this city will thrive with soccer fans. They need to know that. The MLS isn't much of an attraction for corporations so throw the Fortune-500 companies out (i.e. Sprint, H&R Block, Hallmark, etc...) this pretty much has to be individuals. Some names that have been thrown around. Some I know a lot about, others I don't know much about, but lets just get a list. - Stanley Kroenke - Walmart heir, owner of many sports teams including the Rapids - The Halls? - Kempers? (Commerce Bank right?) That's a pretty sad start to a list, but I honestly can't think of any others. Hunt obviously doesn't want us anymore and Anschutz apparently only wants LA, so there's not much in terms of local ties. Frustrating.
Re: Help Save the Wizards Campaign I know a multi-millionaire, but he lives in Wisconsin, and you don't want to spend time in Wisconsin. In all seriousness, good luck guys. I hope you can make something happen.
Re: Help Save the Wizards Campaign The only local owner in KC is Don Kincaid of the Comets. The Chiefs, Royals, T-Bones, Kansas Speedway, and Outlaws are all owned by out of town people. So far the people with big $$'s have not stepped forward. I hope one will now. Someone mentioned Garmin Industries. The owners of that company are billionaires. An SSS as part of a large soccer stadium/retail complex has already been proposed in Lenexa. It was to be a mixture of private and public financing. The public side were to be Star Bonds, the same thing that was used on Kansas Speedway and is being proposed for the Olathe and Overland Park arenas. I hope a Ewing Kauffman type steps forward.
Re: Help Save the Wizards Campaign Is anyone who is a Wizards fan also a business owner, have experience in running a business or funding a business? Why not buy the club as a community/fan owned business. If 2000 fans put up $5000 (I have my $5000 ready to go right now) we could buy the Wizards. We then sell stock in the Wizards to others who do not have/wish to invest the $5000. Others could still buy the annual club membership. This way we, the fans own the wizards and they can't move us then.
Re: Help Save the Wizards Campaign Isn't Demdaco based out of KC? Not sure how much money they would have or if they would be interested.
Re: Help Save the Wizards Campaign And how will this group cover the leaguewide losses? That's why Horowitz got out in Miami. You need deep pockets over and above the entry price.
Re: Help Save the Wizards Campaign Thomas A. McDonnell President & Chief Executive Officer, DST Systems, Inc. Kansas City, Missouri R. Crosby Kemper, III Chairman & CEO, UMB Bank Kansas City, Missouri Morton I. Sosland Chairman, Sosland Publications Kansas City, Missouri Henry W. Bloch H & R Block, Inc. Kansas City, Missouri James B. Nutter, Jr. President & CEO, James B. Nutter & Company Kansas City, Missouri
Re: Help Save the Wizards Campaign There are lots of rich people who aren't well-known. Get the word out wherever you can--don't limit yourself to people with prominent names.
Re: Help Save the Wizards Campaign Top 50 businesses in the region according to the Star: http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascitystar/business/special_packages/star_50/8614151.htm
Re: Help Save the Wizards Campaign I have no clue how to cover the losses, that is why I asked if anyone had experience with running/funding a business. I was being very simplistic in my post. All I said was that we could buy the club. I never said we could run the club on that money. I am not a money man, nor a business man so I could not lead the way. Thanks for humoring me.
Re: Help Save the Wizards Campaign What about J.E. Dunn? Are they run by the Dunn family still? Do they even live in KC anymore? They could build the stadium for alot less considering they own the construction side of things.
Re: Help Save the Wizards Campaign I am surprised that no one has mentioned Bill Laurie. He has a yen for keeping up with his brother-in-law Kroenke, has about as much money as Croesus, lives in Columbia, Mo.... and you wouldn't have to worry about playing in the Paige Sports Arena.
Re: Help Save the Wizards Campaign As you all know, we have been dealing with this in San Jose for sometime now. Also, I'm sure a lot of you are aware of our efforts. My name is Tony Huston, and am one of the founding members of Soccer Silicon Valley. (www.soccersiliconvalley.com). Please contact us if you need any help. If anything, the lessons we have learned so far would be of great value to you. Please don't hesitate to ask us for help. -Tony Huston Founding Member Soccer Silicon Valley tony@soccersiliconvalley.com
Re: Help Save the Wizards Campaign Yes the Dunn's live in Kansas City. They have their hands full running a $2.5 billion construction business. I can't imagine they would be interested and I am very close to the situation. You are under the popular misconception that contractors make boatloads of money on a project. In todays market a fee of 3% to 4% is common. If the contractor did the job for "free" you would only save the fee. All of the other costs would still be there.
Re: Help Save the Wizards Campaign He'd probably take them to St.Louis. Though that would be better than Houston. David Glass, also of Walmart fame, owns the Royals. I don't know if he'd want to help a direct competitor to his baseball team.
Re: Help Save the Wizards Campaign HOK, or any of the other sports firms? Maybe a consortium? I'm really just throwing out the first set of names for people to shoot down.
Re: Help Save the Wizards Campaign took this from the announcement thread *edit - didn't see that it was already posted in this thread