http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=747826 Although this proposal didn't go through (the unreported detail is that the Wal-Mart was the issue, and that the surrounding neighborhood couldn't handle the Wal-Mart traffic), this article tells me that the Wave has no plans to go anywhere. ETA two additional links: http://www.cudahynow.com/story/index.aspx?id=747716 http://blogs.cudahynow.com/way_i_see_it/archive/2008/05/05/wal-mart-amp-wave-pushed-away.aspx
Last year Continental Properties called me and wanted to do an indoor field in Milwaukee. They told me that the Wave recommended me, Tozer as I recall. We talked and emailed a few times. I flew to Milwaukee and met with Continental. I showed them how I'd lay it out and saved them a whole bunch of land to use for another deal. We did the financials to make it work for both of us and they said they'd send me something as soon as they got it put together. A month later I haven't heard anything so I call them and ask them what's up. They say they decided to do the deal with the Wave because the Wave had good community relations and they would have an easier time getting it approved. I told them I had done it 15 or 20 times and was decent at it and they said that the Wave decision was final. I never said anything to anybody but I got to tell you I felt a little bit used. The Wave recommend me, then when I give it my approval, they do the deal instead. Or as the article states, maybe not. They may not even be aware I was there and so not sure what happen from who, but the bad taste will be there awhile.
Isn't this usually the way it works in this game? People talk a lot, but when it comes time to actually do the deal, they either bail and become suddenly unavailable, or, like this appears to be, they throw you under the bus.
Hi Kenn: Well the good news is it probably saved me a bunch of money and heartache later finding out now who, and what kind of folks they were. Could have done a deal with somebody and then had issues later after we're financially deep into it. The other part is that when you stay in one business as long as I've been doing this one, you generally bump into the same people again and they really need you. Whoops too bad. It works out here in the Canyonlands the same way. I'll be driving back from town in the jeep and see a couple bike riders heading out to Jacobs Ladder or the Amasa Back and I'll slow way down so as not to kick any more dust up on them than necessary and I'll look in the side view mirror and see one or more of them flip me off. About three or four hours later I'll look down by the gate and see the same bike riders struggling up to the lodge, lost, flat tire, out of water and as one on Saturday with a broken collarbone and nobody to deal with for 18 miles but me. Well maybe i'll get some comes around goes around on this deal someday.
Tom - that sounds right up the Wave's alley. This is exactly the sort of business ethics and acumen we've come to expect from these simple-simons. From rigged contests, to botched cover ups, to sending out emails to its season ticket holders loudly moaning that they are "stuck" selling "Mexico and Baltimore" in the championship game, to their fans coming on here claiming to be the smartest people on the board by posting their SAT scores, to the whole championship game tv starts in the 2nd quarter fiasco.............. its just never ending with these stumble-bums. I think you are better off without getting into business with these half-wits. They don't even know, that they don't know.
Shelts: I'm not putting the blame anywhere for sure. I don't know what happen. The Wave may not even know I was there, I didn't call them while in town. Continental Properties I would guess made the final decision and they probably knew they were going to get objection for a Wal-Mart, it's the thing to do. I don't remember discussing Wal Mart with them. I know they made some nice concessions to me to get an indoor facility there and I suspect now, that was why, figuring submitting my facility (for the kids they always say) and the Wal Mart at the same time, probably improved their odds, and adding the Wave they must have felt improved them more, but apparently not enough. I don't like the way the deal shook out, but I don't know who did what, and the fat lady hasn't sung yet so somewhere down the road, anything is possible. I'll just be real careful who I get in to bed with and at the least, wear protection.
