The owners of the Grizzlies are at it again: "Subsidize us, City of Fresno, and we won't ask again." Recent letters to the Fresno Bee by Jerry Schemerhorn and former City Councilmember Garry Bredefeld have shown how the Grizzlies ownership group abruptly moved the Fresno Falcons ice hockey team from downtown Fresno to then more fashionable Save Mart Center. Only after losing money at the pricey Save Mart Center did they agree to return downtown if the City would upgrade, at taxpayer expense, Selland Arena. The City complied (full disclosure: even though I was hopping mad when they moved to the Save Mart Center, as a council member at that time, I supported the requested improvements to Selland). Falcons/Grizzlies Corporate Partner Chris Cummings then proceded to fold the Falcons leaving the taxpayers with the Selland property upgrades and no team.
And that wasn't all. Prior to the Falcons folding, the ownership group (which included the Grizzlies) committed themselves to developing a housing and commercial complex (The Legacy Project) on a large portion of the parking area behind Saroyan Theater. The City (to include its Redevelopment Agency) agreed to help support the Legacy only to see it eventually disappear in a chorus of excuses.
But it didn't stop there. The Grizzlies management (Falcons had long since disappeared) asked for a one dollar surcharge for every Grizzlies ticket purchased to offset their rent for the Stadium. Mayor Autry and the Council (of which I was a member) swallowed hard but eventually approved the deal.
And now they are at it again, asking for another reduction in the stadium rent! Their actions remind me of the guile used by Muhammad Ali in the famous 1974 bout in Zaire where he famously claimed that he was going to "dance" and use his speed to keep away from his opponent, George Foreman. Ali's tactic of leaning on the ropes, covering up and absorbing ineffective body shots was later to be termed "The Rope-A Dope."
Mayor Swearengin and the Council are again facing the Corporate Grizzlies Rope-A Dope. How many times do our elected leaders have to take the 10 count before they demand that the Grizzlies live up to their contract terms?
Coming Soon. . .
1). How much are we paying for "public relations?"
2). Will California compete in President Obama's "Academic Race to the Top?"
3). Mayor, Council and staff cave into developers on fees.
Your comments are welcome. Click on "Comments" below or e-mail abriancalhoun@gmail.com.
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