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Isles "Chalk Talk" Meeting - April 16 2008 - Nassau Coliseum
In attendance from NYI
* Owner - Charles Wang
* SVP and Chief Marketing Officer - Mr. Chris Dey
* GM - Garth Snow
* Coach Ted Nolan
* Isles radio play by play guy - Steve Mears
Non Speaking Roles:
* Mike Bossy
* VP Communications - Chris Botta
* VP Game Operations - Tim Beach
* 4 Ice Girls
* Sparky the Dragon
* Isles Executives and Employees
* RexCorp CEO - Scott Rechler
Give Outs -
* Isles bumper sticker
* "I am an Islander" key chain
* 10$ off coupon to Borelli's Restaurant
* Isles Newspaper
Other attractions:
* Hockey shoot the puck contests - Jumping room for the kids
and other similar event driven corporate games and blow up jumpers
* Tour of NYI locker room
* Sales and marketing opportunities for discounted Isles
merchandise
* Sales and marketing opportunities for Isles season tix and
other packages
* Raffles for signed Isles paraphernalia
Attendance - estimated at between 700 to 1,000 fans
Note: I attended with my daughter and friends so I did not take
notes - this is from memory..... will report what I heard and what
other stuff is rumored...
Session One - Chris Dey
Dey went over the sales and marketing aspect of the team. He used
some terms that were sales and marketing driven - but very corporate
as well. He called those in attendance as "stakeholders" and other
terms that I am very used to hearing in my job....
He ran it like a shareholder meeting. He even alluded to that as
well - and either this guy is a great sales guy - or - just another
suit who uses $ 50.00 words and is slick. Or perhaps a bit of
both.....I will give him benefit of doubt.
He spent most of his time telling us about how he plans to get the
team to a 10,000 season ticket holder base NEXT season....He talked
about the team's past - but was more focused on the future - and then
started selling the Hub concept.. Which is interesting - since
everyone who would venture to this thing is likely already on board.
Then Mr. Wang came up and spent a good deal of his time discussing
the Lighthouse/Hub project. Talked about how in July 2009 the first
shovel hits ground and how they would rebuild the actual Coliseum.
Talked a bit about the political process and then asked for support.
He took some questions from Steve Mears ( who said the questions were
from NYI.com readers) and before leaving the stage area he said he was
not happy with the result of last year - we better learn from it - and then
left.
Garth and Ted came up next.
Garth outlined his plan
1) Build via draft - make terrific picks
2) Develop Players
3) Sign good UFA's - ones like Hillen are examples of other ways to
go. He was asked about college player signings and said that not
al Free Agents come along at July 1st.
What he looks for in a player
1) Character
2) Talent
3) Speed
Ted spoke about how injuries hurt the team - how certain things went
bad this year with the PP and that he has to change the way we play
it. He said that he never has seen in his coaching career the decimation
started days before the trade deadline with all the injuries
Some good questions on " How come Tambellini can't score at this
level" - Ted had a long winded answer - bet it will be on NYI. com
tomorrow - so I don't want to mis-remember this.
This was exactly the type of event I have always been asking for.
Somehow - this was lacking something. I hate to think of this within
a "glass half empty" mindset - but others in the crowd felt it too.
Garth said Ted would be back next year.
However - I just get the feeling that Ted is a goner after this
year.....and I base it on the body language tonight of both the GM
and Coach and what others told me.
There is a guy who my company does business with who has 4 primo
seats in the 100's and the team kisses his butt all the time to
renew --- said that there is so much truth to the Snow/Nolan issue.
He cited Snow as his source. I believe him....this guy would not lie
to me.
That said - on face value - I was happy the event took place. The
team did try to seek us out and tell us what the plan was. For this -
I am thankful....and hope that I am wrong about the bad "vibes" I am
hearing.
They showed a video of top draft picks too....and Snow discussed them.
My daughter was upset that no current players were there.
We ran into Mike Bossy upon arriving in the parking lot and he was
very nice to us.
Lastly - we took the locker room tour. Our local high school on
Long Island has a better gym and dressing room than does the Isles.
Its rather pathetic. I have been to the one in Chicago and San Jose
(customer events) and those are real nice.
May have more data later - but not now.
Roger/Ray/Bob/Eric and Dave O were there as was Larry. The guys were
out there soliciting petition signatures....
end of report.
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