Michael Picker New President In Bridgeport

#isles #bst SOUND TIGERS NAME MICHAEL PICKER TEAM PRESIDENT https://t.co/g7eb8NTwpn

— NYI Fan Central (@nyifancentral) October 27, 2015

#isles #bst Wang comments on Picker going to Bridgeport do not reflect a team relocating to Nassau County to play at a renovated Coliseum.

— NYI Fan Central (@nyifancentral) October 27, 2015

 “Michael has done an incredible job running the front office for the Islanders,” Islanders Owner Charles Wang said.  “I have worked closely with Michael for almost 33 years and know he will do a great job with the Bridgeport operation.  Michael was involved with the purchase of the Sound Tigers and, through his work with the Islanders, is quite familiar with the operation and the employees in Bridgeport.  I look forward to a vibrant and active Arena.” 

NYIFC Comments:
This was reported back when Howard Saffan left.

Mr Picker will also run arena for Mr Wang under lease until 2021. 

2/16/11 Bridgeport City Council Documents: "Professional Hockey League" Not AHL/Better

Howard Saffan knows 1000x better than myself.

He did all the negotiations for six months in 2010-11 leading to Charles Wang becoming manager of Webster Bank Arena that hosts Bridgeport Sound Tigers hockey.

I'm aware of Mr Saffan's comments to the Ct Post in February 2015 as to how he reads the lease that it's AHL or better, and beatwriter Michael Fornabaio's views/articles on this subject.

However the document changes unanimously approved by the Bridgeport City Council on 2/16/2011 only say "Professional Hockey League."

Because I had a mailing list everything is documented back to Roe Boe's agreement with Bridgeport from day one so there is a lot to digest over the years but not impossible to follow.

Going Back To Roy Boe/2001...........The Short Version: 
Let's go all the way back to Roy Boe in 2001 so everyone understands the original agreement from 2001-2021 has never been a lease for any hockey team with the city of Bridgeport.

As everyone knows the ballpark came first, Bridgeport wanted the AHL, in stepped the late Roy Boe.

Centerplate was re-branded from a company called Volume Services Of America or (VSA) at that time from Boe's original agreement, kind of what Smg has been for the Nassau Coliseum.

They managed  the new arena, provided food services, booked events, and this 2021 date people are calling the Sound Tigers lease is simply this from 2001.

Roe Boe's Sound Tigers lease was only with VSA/Centerplate. 

The Sound Tigers lease was with VSA/Centerplate.
We all know the history, the Islanders signed a five year affiliation agreement to provide prospects  for Roy Boe's new AHL team at the new building called Harbor Yard managed by VSA/Centerplate.

Boe ran out of money by 2004, the Islanders sued the Sound Tigers, Wang bought Boe out becoming Sound Tigers owner, and having VSA/Centerplate as his Smg-like landlord in Bridgeport.

Wang moved a Sound Tigers game to the Coliseum for free admission in March 2005. 

Never found a thing on a Sound Tiger lease extension with VSA/Centerplate to take us to 2011.  

Remember the Sound Tigers playoff games shifted to the Coliseum in 2009? Saffan ripped a VSA/Centerplate employee, showed Fornabaio the lease  and made clear they can have Sesame Street 365 days if they want?

Saffan later apologized, Fornabaio blamed the Sound Tigers because they knew months earlier. 

If you want go back to March 30th 2009 for peripheral backstory. 

How Did Wang Get Rights To Newly Branded Webster Bank Arena In 2011?
On 1/6/2011 a naming rights deal for 3.5 million was announced which changed the arena name from Harbor Yard to Webster Bank Arena to 2021.

VSA/Centerplate by 2010-11 was losing big money, wanted out of fully managing the facility until 2021, Bridgeport City Council/Mayor was worried about the arena going dark like past teams who left, the city council did not want the workers currently at the building to lose their jobs.

Howard Saffan, Mayor Bill Finch worked well on many things around Bridgeport, and were in negotiations for months. I'm well aware of the 2012 Webster Bank Marquee issues, but wish to stay on point.

2/16/11 Bridgeport City Council Meeting/Minutes (five pages)   

DOCUMENTS DO NOT LIE:  "PROFESSIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE"
Wang/Saffan stepped in to take over from VSA/Centerplate but wanted changes in the agreement in red:


Approval came at the same meeting on 2/16/2011.

Then What Happened?
There were later meetings with approval from Mayor Finch, but mostly a formality, the above discussions asked for some renovating to the facility which was done since several times. (Howard Saffan joked about it at the 2011 press conference)

 Ct Post 4/29/11 & Sound Tigers website had earlier announcement and this is where things have been since despite Ratner's 2013 comments.

VSA/Centerplate stayed in a reduced role, but Wang took over the 2001-2021 agreement all the way back to Roy Boe that was signed from 2001. (above)

VSA/Centerplate under Wang was re-branded again to Harbor Yard Sports and Entertainment in 2011.

I left that out because it makes things more confusing but that's the name since.

Unless verbal promises & handshake agreements were made not in those documents the Bridgeport Sound Tigers do not have a lease until 2021, and never had one with the city of Bridgeport since their inception.

In fact the only lease the Sound Tigers have ever had was with VSA/Centerplate which Wang took over in 2011 (now called  Harbor Yard Sports and Entertainment) which today only has the words "Professional Hockey League" where American Hockey League or AHL used to appear in VSA/Centerplate's 2001 agreement with the city of Bridgeport.

That's what was changed in those 2011 documents.

Sound Tigers lease? AHL team?

The way the amended agreement reads it could be any professional hockey league.

My knowledge of the Sound Tigers since day one remembers the teams, and leagues in that area that folded or moved.

My reading of those documents by the council clearly acknowledge that history.

Bridgeport city council  wanted any kind of professional hockey to be played, not a dark building which by 2011 already needed some renovating.  

Like I wrote Howard Saffan knows 1000x better than myself, he said AHL or better, however he is out.

Michael Picker who was in Bridgeport when Wang bought out Roy Boe is in at Bridgeport.

6/8/15 Ct Post presents a WalletHub survey that Sound Tigers hockey is not even ranked in terms of being a hockey hotbed. 

Somehow the Hartford Wolfpack are ranked, despite a lower attendance than the Sound Tigers, and who's Ranger branding had been rejected by the Whale fans since day one in 1997.

As written here many times, a Wolfpack playoff game was moved to Webster Bank Arena under Wang's control, some playoff games this year were moved again.

Weeknight playoff games in Hartford produced announced crowds between 2-3,000.

---

Updated: Howard Saffan Out (Michael Picker In) As Sound Tigers President & Running Webster Bank Arena/Jared Gomes Signed

Updated 6/3 5:19pm:

#isles #bst Ct Post: Isles Senior VP Michael Picker takes over for Howard Saffan in Bridgeport: http://t.co/FAJl8o15xV

— NYI Fan Central (@nyifancentral) June 3, 2015

6/3/15: Ct Post: Howard Saffan is out as Sound Tigers' team president, and at running Webster Bank Arena, which is managed by Charles Wang.

Ct Post blog: Mr Fornabaio said Howard Saffan also went to a meeting with the Islanders after the season, no comment was given from the organization.

NYIFC Comments: Big loss for the New York Islanders, and the Bridgeport Sound Tigers organizations. Mr Saffan did an outstanding job despite the on-ice results which is about Garth Snow, and the hockey staff who sign the players. Saffan is also not a person who pulls his punches, if there were issues, he would flat out say it.

#isles Islanders to Play Blue & White Scrimmage at Barclays Center http://t.co/nIExXIvTwk

— NYI Fan Central (@nyifancentral) June 3, 2015

#isles #bst SOUND TIGERS SIGN GOMES TO AHL CONTRACT http://t.co/9AqFCPUvBB

— NYI Fan Central (@nyifancentral) June 3, 2015

New York's Plan For Free Agency on 7/1/12

On Thursday, the New York Islander prospects played a game on ITV at Iceworks.

It's almost fair to ask are the players developing here a better choice than who will make up a very weak UFA market again that opens at noon on Sunday?

But let's take an outsiders look at how the New York Islanders likely will operate when the market opens.

Coliseum Asbestos Issues Could Be A Problem--Or Nothing

Updated Saturday PM:
Nbc New York: Released a video on New York State, and Federal Investigators doing an investigation of asbestos issues at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

"The Islanders expect that the building owner, Nassau county and the building facility manager, SMG will review the allegations and take any and all appropriate action. The safety of our fans, players and employees is paramount."

-Islanders senior vice-president, Michael Picker.

NYIFC Comments:
Interesting, however this likely means absolutely nothing.

If events/hockey games are cancelled there is a problem.

Just to refresh folks memory Msg had to cancel a game last season because of asbestos related issues here.

What's also mildly interesting here are the Islanders, (the primary tenant), commented before Nassau County, (owner), who are responsible for capital repairs to the Coliseum with possible lawsuits, (not Smg), who manage the facility and are only responsible for minor repairs.

Some will recall on 7/10/2011 the Nassau legislature approved four million dollars in repairs/upgrades.

It would be presumptuous/speculation at best connecting Smg announcing they were bringing in a new general manager for the Coliseum to book events a few weeks ago here as a sign the Isles want out of their sublease based upon this.

Bottom Line:
The New York Islanders can opt of their sublease without an asbestos issue, we all know Mr Wang's comments on honoring his lease. The team has given no indication they want out of their sublease.

If that were to happen, the Isles could move immediately only if Nassau County approved such a request. Smg would receive it's money through 2015.

Recently this blog did an entry with links to the sublease agreement.

The Islanders letter to ticket holders also give the impression once again they are ready to upgrade Nassau County's facility at their own expense, teams wanting out of a sublease don't spend money for their landlord.

In the event the Coliseum were closed for an extended period due to this issue it does Charles Wang's Marriott hotel harm financially.

If this becomes a major issue it forces Nassau/Mangano to perhaps put this back in the taxpayers laps without referendum, done behind closed doors as all other local teams received.

Islander News Articles 2/28

Newsday: Greg Logan in the Islanders Newsday blog has the transcript of Islanders owner Charles Wang's interview who invited Newsday sports editor Hank Winnicki, news side reporter Eden Laikin, Jim Baumbach, Mark Herrmann and himself to discuss the Lighthouse Project in a wide-ranging interview earlier Friday. According to Mr Logan in attendance were Michael Picker, president of the Lighthouse Development Group, Lighthouse public relations head Paul Lancey and Islanders general manager Garth Snow.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Transcript is too long but this is the version with Mr Wang's direct comments.

Whatever articles with writer opinion beyond this I will post below it but the transcript really is the entire ballgame where Wang-Picker answered anything I could think about the team, this process and the Lighthouse project.

You can essentially bookmark this as the blueprint for whatever happens ahead, seems Mr Wang was completely transparent in every area and did an excellent job.

If I read things correctly the Smg lease will be bought out at some point in the future if the project does move forward.

Newsday: Mr Logan's interpretation of Charles Wang comments.

Newsday: Mr Logan's other article is mostly a repeat of his blog entry on Brendan Witt's suspension with general manager Garth Snow's comments. Nothing from Witt about being suspended at this time, just mostly last night's comments from the NY Post.

NY Post: Dan Martin's Saturday article has Witt's comments from the postgame and added Witt will not appeal the decision with Garth Snow's statement.

Globe & Mail/CP: Report goaltender Rick DiPietro and Andy Sutton of the Islanders will be part of the committee to name a replace for Eric Lindros as NHLPA Ombudsmen this summer as Buzz Hargrove was named to the spot on an interim basis Friday according to Tsn.ca.

Buffalo News: Has coverage from Bucky Gleason & Jerry Sullivan of the Buffalo Sabres coming off their shootout loss to Carolina Thursday, they are without goaltender Ryan Miller after being injured last weekend.

Sporting News: Ray Slover has a few words on Bill Guerin waiving his NTC and trade deadline speculation on the Islanders.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Mr Slover needed to do a better job here and point out what Mr Botta/Tsn included which was he would agree " under the right circumstances " which was left out of his commentary.

These things have to be including because it's simply misleading otherwise.

Sportsnet did an even sloppier job Friday without including that part and went a step further writing Guerin would only accept a trade to an Eastern Conference team here with a nice picture of Doug Weight next to the article which Guerin, Snow or the club did not have a single quote about.

This is how people read information and by the time it reaches outsides sources it is so out of context it's essentially worthless.

Vancouver Sun: Brad Ziemer reports with Vancouver claiming defenseman Ossi Vaananen from the Philadelphia Flyers, the Canuscks now have eight defenders and one coming off injured reserve with depth in the AHL.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Going to be interesting to see what Garth Snow does with his defense. Not making a move to claim Vaananen leads me to believe Brendan Witt is in his future plans unless a trade brings back a defender, no one is talking about Radek Martinek's status for Saturday.

Windsor Star: Reports former Windsor Spitfire Josh Bailey is among 28 players from 25 different National Hockey League teams who will be participating in the Donation For Minutes Weekend to raise funds for the international humanitarian organization Right To Play, which provides facilities, equipment and training for coaches in 23 countries across Africa, Asia, the Middle East and South America.

Each participant is donating funds based on minutes played and honouring a coach or role model that impacted their life as part of the weekend celebration.

Bailey, who will donate based on the minutes he plays in Saturday’s game against the Buffalo Sabres, has designated former Spitfires captain Mickey Renaud, who died last year, as his role model.

Windsor Star: Jim Parker has Spitfire gm Bob Boughner's comments there is zero chance Josh Bailey will be sent to Windsor to play in their upcoming playoffs before Wednesday's deadline and has had no recent contact with the Islanders. The article notes even a long playoff run for Windsor would not go very far beyond the end of the Islanders season for Bailey who is not AHL eligible for Bridgeport's playoffs.

The article also note The New York Islanders appear ready to give Barrie Colts enforcer Peter Stevens a pro chance and have asked the six-foot-three, 219-pound Stevens to join the East Coast Hockey League's Utah Grizzlies once Barrie's season is done which the Times-Herald Record confirmed with his comments a few day ago
here.

Barrie Examiner has a profile article on Stevens earlier this month here.

AHL.com: Recaps what is likely Bridgeport's final visit to Philadelphia in a 4-1 Sound Tiger win in Peter Mannino's return in goal.

1. BRI Joensuu, (16) (Iggulden, Colliton), 7:49
2. BRI Bentivoglio, (7) (Wotton, Fraser), 5:22
2. PHI Laliberte, (17) (Matsumoto, Curry), 7:50 (PP)
2. BRI Haley, (2) (Bentivoglio, Haskins), 9:05
3. BRI Walter, (15) (Joensuu), 15:29

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio's game coverage with comments from head coach Jack Capuano and Michael Haley's line that keyed the win with Saturday's preview report no one at this time has been recalled for Brendan Witt (and maybe Radek Martinek) who left Thursday's game with blog entries on the win here.

Philadelphia Inq/Daily News: Combined Phantoms page with game coverage.

Islander News Articles 1/16: Lighthouse Related

I may be the only one but the big news Thurday was Billy Jaffe telling everyone (or making a big mistake on air) training camp will not be in Eastern Canada when it's announced in a few months.

That means goodbye Moncton which means camp could be anywhere, hopefully it means New York at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
******************************************************
The rest of this is a lot of noise to stir up the masses.

By the reaction you would think Mr Wang said he's selling or moving vs one exhibition game next September. I guess that's the idea as the focus goes in so many directions no one can think or remember anything with all the screaming.

Get the earmuffs ready and not just because it's cold outside.
*******************************************************
Newsday: Eden Laiken reports that representatives for team owner Charles Wang said yesterday there's no plan to move the team, which reportedly loses more than $20 million a year as history of the project was done with Lighthouse spokesman Paul Lancey's comments when you're building the next generation of suburbia, it's extensive.

Kate Murray had this which Mr Logan apparent missed:

"We met with the [Lighthouse group] as recently as last week," Hempstead supervisor Kate Murray said yesterday, and "they've expressed no interest in relocating.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
If Mr Wang or the people with him wanted to issue a threat here they apparently did not attempt to by their comments to this point. The comments speak for themselves from the key players.

Newsday: Greg Logan interviews Town of Hempstead supervisor Kate Murray who is not not particularly perturbed or concerned by an announcement of a game in Kansas City and says from the mouth of Mr. Wang that he isn't anywhere close to moving the team as she dismisses comparisons to these circumstances vs Pittsburgh a few years ago because of the scale of this project.

Ms Murray repeats a lot of what she told Newsday in November about offering to expedite a Coliseum renovation as a stand alone project and does not want the Islanders to leave but that will be a business decision by Mr. Wang and his associates that he makes for his own well-being. Lighthouse Development Group president Mike Picker explains their position and what has been done to expedite issues for the Town of Hempstead and is still hopeful of a July 2009 ground-breaking as he gave out some specifics.

General manager Garth Snow for his part described playing in KC as a "hockey operations decision," but it wouldn't happen without Mr Wang's approval and is
encouraged as part of his job to find ways to expand the fan base and describes this as consistent in the way he has scheduled preseason games in the past.

Newsday: Mark Herrmann on this day goes all over the place about how the Islanders should stay in Nassau County, what they mean to the community and what they have done for the Rangers? He does a lot of yelling about the politicians and what they should do about the Coliseum if they do not approve the Lighthouse to keep it viable for someone if Mr Wang does not wish to continue as owner while talking about this season being a poor one (he does not talk about injuries but that no Islanders are youngstars?) and that they cannot afford poor seasons like this as he goes through the litany of past decisions that did not work.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
I guess Mr Herrmann wants the Islanders to sell off the kids via Mike Milbury to get the team winning/mediocre now instead of sticking to the on-ice plan? Who knew the young stars was the barometer for how well a youth movement is going on a team with two hundred sixty man games lost to injury?

That's a lot of ranting by Mr Herrman that goes basically nowhere but in a circle but that's the idea I guess.

Newsday: Katie Strang got a ton of fan reaction for the paper with some more noise that tells no one anything but keeps folks stirred up.

Kansas City Star: Randy Kovitz reports on the game in KC with fan reaction and notes the previous Kings-Blues game from last season and how that was setup.

Newsday: Anthony Rieber has an article
about KC reaction from officials and general reaction.

Daily News: Mr Botte has general manager Garth Snow's comments that he is not worried about perception of a game on KC and maintained the last few years, and even before he became GM, the team always played preseason games in different markets.

Mr Botte includes one person involved with what the Lighthouse project also contends that any potential power play by Mr Wang's business decision to get a nice appearance fee by playing the Los Angeles Kings in Kansas City next in September are not connected.

NY Post: Dan Martin's game coverage is mostly about the Lighthouse and includes most of what Garth Snow told Newsday and the Daily News that a KC game is only about playing a game in another market.

Point Blank: Mr Botta has his take on all this with his game recap.