Rumors out if the Hawk camp this afternoon suggest the front office was let go. If true, it’s a dark day in Hawk history. This does not bode well for the future of the franchise, either in Portland or elsewhere. It’s time for the league to step in and take over.
Update: Well, it’s true. The two J’s have cleaned house and slashed their payroll down to next to zero. The question now is what did the league office know and when? And what does the league office do now? There’s an outside audit of the books due to be conducted in the next several days, the purpose of which is unclear. There remain, as of this morning, dozens of unpaid bills and many upset vendors. League president Ron Robison has cast his lot with the two J’s. He may be in for a shock over the next several days as the depth of the Hawks’ leadership and finance crises is discovered.
The organization has spent the last few seasons trading on the names and reputations of its employees. From it’s inception, the Winter Hawks have always been a mom-and-pop operation where deals were more likely done via handshake than by contract. You can thank Dean Vrooman for the majority of that goodwill. He’s gone. And now so is the rest of their goodwill crew. Like Vrooman, I expect those let go today will take the high road, at least publicly. Fans all know those were decent, hardworking employees that were let go this morning.
Without their human capital, it’s difficult to see how the organization can continue. Apparently there’s a deal in place to move the franchise to Salem by 2010. All that stands in the way is about $2 million in improvements to the Expo Center on the state fairgrounds. Will they be able to make it that long? Or will they simply fold-up the tents and try and reconstitute themselves in two years? I’m guessing they’ll do their best to limp along.
They’ll be doing it without me. I love hockey and I love the Winter Hawks, but the combination of today’s firings and the impending move to Salem has me at the end of my rope. I don’t see how I can pour my heart out for an organization this poorly managed, and one planning to rip my heart out by moving 50 miles away from my home.
4 responses so far ↓
1 anon // Mar 31, 2008 at 3:42 pm
It’s true. I’ve spoken with one of the laid of people. It’s ridiculous.
2 Mara // Mar 31, 2008 at 8:57 pm
You seem to be repeating a lot of rumors as fact, or something close to fact. Do you have any sources better than the peanut gallery on OL?
(I’m referring to the unpaid bills “as of this morning,” and the “deal in place” to move to Salem.)
3 Chris Snethen // Mar 31, 2008 at 9:15 pm
Do you have any sources better than the peanut gallery on OL?
Yes. I do.
You know all the same people I do, Mara. Pick up the phone and give one of them a call.
4 OldFan // Apr 1, 2008 at 5:08 am
Used to be an avid fan.. Due to life I haven’t followed the Hawks in about five years. For as long as I’ve known they were one of the best run organizations in the league with plenty of fan support. It appears that has changed significantly? Move to Salem? What benefit would that provide?
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