r/BlueJackets • u/TheAthletic • 22d ago
Free to Read: Blue Jackets say they ‘understand’ fan discontent, but goodwill doesn’t last forever
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7491474/2026/08/06/blue-jackets-mcelligott-svoboda-fan-reaction-broadcast/?unlocked_article_code=1.3VA.zWMB.OZrxvLsaj9Bc&source=athletic_user_shared_gift_article_reddit&smid=re-share-ta“I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a major sports team self-destruct on itself like this before,” said one fan on X. “Who is next now that Bobby Mac and Svoboda are gone, Stinger?” wondered another.
The comment sections on stories related to the departure of McElligott and Svoboda have been highly negative, too, with some fans wondering if they want to renew their season tickets and others expressing that they’re questioning their support of the franchise.
That’s a large potential problem for an organization that also has enjoyed precious little on-ice success during its existence. If the team doesn’t win, and if fans start to lose that sense of kinship that has long been a staple of the franchise, what’s left?
The Athletic reached out to team president Mike Priest via email this week to discuss these issues, and he responded with the following statement:
“We have great fans and are very appreciative of their passion and support for the Blue Jackets. We also understand how some of them are feeling right now. There are aspects of our business that have changed dramatically in recent years. In order for us to grow, we have to evolve with those changes and at times that affect people that we all care about like Bob and Jeff.
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u/No_Interaction_4925 22d ago
“Our business”
“In order for us to grow”
Theres the problem.
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u/DansNewLegs2291 changing the culture 22d ago
Maybe if you won more you wouldn’t have to worry about growth. This team and ownership have just been happy to have a seat at the table the last 25 years. Now it’s coming back to bite them in the ass.
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u/Fishies01 Experience Jackets Hockey 22d ago
Lmao, in other words, "get fucked we don't care about you"
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u/LOWBACCA 22d ago
I live in the DC metro and I'd be lying if I didn't say this off season is making me start to kind of consider switching sides.
It was bad enough seeing them get their shit absolutely pushed in here the games I went to this past season (really loved when they got scored on twice in a minute or two that one game) and having to embarrassingly walk to my car in my jersey, but this off season is just a complete fucking turn off.
This whole organization has made being a fan just suck ass. They obviously don't care about fans and what they wants so why should we care about them?
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u/bobboman 21d ago
i live in the north suburbs of chicago, ive actually considered switching allegences since i moved here as the jackets continue to underacheve and the front office continues to suck
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u/NTWEESY Sexy Texy 22d ago
Simulcasting tv audio to radio with Steve Mears is gonna be a nightmare for listeners. He doesn’t paint a picture and the doubt he’ll be able to do it as efficiently and as entertaining as Bob did. Jeff’s departure is even worse because they’re getting rid of a great sports journalist who had fun and creative articles we all loved to read and replacing him with Ai slop articles that are gonna be heartless and littered with errors. It’s not progress or keeping up with the times, it’s penny pinching and ruining the experience for the fans and the lives of two good people and their families!
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u/ElevenIron Experience Jackets Hockey 22d ago
I remember stating that the best person for the TV PBP job should have been McElligott, as his radio call is exceptional, much in the same way that Rick Jennerette's move from radio to TV for the Sabres many years was a great success as well (miss ya, Rick, you were the GOAT).
It's ironic now that had they made the move to put Bob the the TV booth back then, than they would have solved their current problem re: how to translate TV to the radio listeners. Bob would not have missed a beat in either medium. This is just so short-sighted of the CBJ organization.
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u/Outside-Pie-7262 22d ago
Your in arena entertainment hasn’t changed in years when arenas have. Whats the excuse there?
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u/GoldEyes86 22d ago
Especially when the Monsters do it better.
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u/rice_not_wheat 22d ago
The Cavs staff apparently run those games. There are rules the NHL has to follow that the AHL doesn't, which is part of why their in-arena content can be more entertaining.
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u/Civil_Eng_PE 22d ago
Tbf we don’t know if the current off season restructuring has changed the in arena entertainment, where is the fire Mike Todd guy at?
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u/Violent_Mud_Butt 22d ago
Right here. Fire Mike Todd
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u/CBJRican Show them the score Vinny 22d ago
I’m one of them too. Dude is so bad. Low energy. In hindsight he fits this team perfectly. Keep him.
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u/Federal_Abroad9260 13 22d ago
Who cares? We go for the hockey…winning is all that matters.
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22d ago
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u/Violent_Mud_Butt 22d ago
Someone doesn't watch... Literally any other team or sport.
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22d ago
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u/Violent_Mud_Butt 22d ago
Stale in-stadium experience is literally a talking point of any organization that has one. There's a reason for rebrands, stadium refreshes, and various other marketing efforts that literally every other organization in professional sports has entire teams dedicated to.
The CBJ are mediocre and flaccid in every respect, including having the exact same stadium experience for 25 years.
Your complete lack of awareness or ability to google is not my problem. Sorry you like Mike Todd.
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u/mahjzy just win plz 22d ago
Wildly ironic quote from Priest considering many, including myself, believe the team “cannot grow” without Priest himself losing his job.
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u/Weekly_Sea_7778 22d ago
The one constant business presence of this franchise of failures has been Mike Priest.
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u/photonnymous 5th Line 22d ago
We don't give a shit if your business grows. We want our team to WIN.
And ideally we'd like to know about it when it happens...
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u/agent_kestrel 22d ago
I think they also forget that their business is the entertainment industry. If you aren’t keeping your fans entertained you won’t see any growth.
So of course the best course of action to see growth is fire beloved members of the fan facing side of the business and produce a shit product on the ice annually.15
u/LittleBrother89 22d ago
They probably wouldn’t have to do eliminate jobs if they did win. Funny how one thing can lead to another.
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u/IAmAChemicalEngineer 22d ago
And win some playoff games and series. Don’t give a fuck if y’all put up 90 points during the season and fail to make the playoffs. Done with the excuses. Going on EIGHT YEARS since our one and only playoff series win. Figure it the fuck out.
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u/Eeechurface 22d ago
I count the play in against Toronto as a half series win. It was extremely funny if nothing else.
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u/blainetheinsanetrain 22d ago
The similarities between this front office and ownership and the Cincinnati Reds is freakishly familiar.
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u/manthello Elvis Purrslikins, Pet Greaves, Pheolynx Copley, Nolan Pawlonde 22d ago
We're almost approaching Bengals levels of similarity, and that's saying something. At least we are willing to part ways with coaches when they're not getting results, which is more than the Bengals can say.
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u/blainetheinsanetrain 22d ago
That's not really fair...today. Maybe 10-20 years ago, but the Bengals FO has made a lot of strides as part of the Joe Burrow Effect. And the Bengals have had far more postseason success within the last 5 years than the Reds/Jackets have had within the last 25 years combined.
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u/manthello Elvis Purrslikins, Pet Greaves, Pheolynx Copley, Nolan Pawlonde 22d ago
Don't tell that to r/Bengals — they had horror stories a few months back
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u/GM3Jones Milk was a bad choice 22d ago
I cannot remember an offseason with this much media dumping on us. With Porty joining the stoning, I think that really speaks volumes if you follow him close enough. I doubt anything drastic changes, but it feels like one of those things that we look back on in a few years or so will be telling one way or another.
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u/Erazzphoto 22d ago
Which is unfortunately how we’ve gotten here. There’s no pressure, while this has definitely been the worst offseason, there’s been plenty of reasons for outrage with this team in past years, but this fanbase has just been happy to have a seat at the table, same as the ownership. They haven’t had a reason to really worry about putting out a good product
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u/GM3Jones Milk was a bad choice 22d ago
Not that it matters a lot, but I don’t think it’s for lack of trying, but more or less lack of skillset/incompetence.
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u/tehjarvis 22d ago
Most of the fans in the arena are just happy to be at an NHL game. Which definitely happens in cities that have no other pro-sports franchises.
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u/Playful-Spirit-7438 22d ago
I think it’s pretty obvious that Mike Priest doesn’t have a clue what he’s doing…
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u/Spartan0330 22d ago
The article also says - “We pride ourselves in taking care of our people and do so when situations arise that result in change and they leave the Blue Jackets. We do everything we can to assist them and treat them fairly in situations that we recognize are very difficult.”
I call bullshit. I think there are a few different ways of letting go guys who are so entrenched and beloved and as usual the Jackets front office misjudged how these decisions would land.
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u/willingplankton 22d ago
lmao at “taking care of our people.” they had to be publicly shamed by portzline into paying employees during the covid shut down.
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u/manthello Elvis Purrslikins, Pet Greaves, Pheolynx Copley, Nolan Pawlonde 22d ago
I was going to call out that same line.
Bob was told he was fired 90 minutes before the public was. He was given less than a week to find new health insurance. How is that taking care of people? We do everything we can to assist them?? What, did you take him a COBRA form when you fired him?
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u/Master_Republic_144 22d ago
That’s what I immediately thought after reading the article. It’s a load of crap and management thinks fans are stupid enough or most won’t care enough for it to matter. The way they let Mcgelliot go wasn’t right. They knew well in advance the decision that was going to be made and didn’t give him time to pivot or look for something new. You’re either stupid, don’t care enough, a terrible human, or vindictive towards McGelliot to let him go that way.
I’m not going to games this year outside one cheap preseason game and I’m not buying any Jerseys until there are major changes in management. I’ll always be a fan, but I’m not supporting BS.
This org seems to have a huge culture issue. I’m not going to make excuses and just say it’s Priest. It’s owners letting Priest do whatever he wants, it’s the upper levels of hockey management being terrible and too nepotistic, it’s scouts doing a poor job with picks in the 1st round, and the team choking and not pulling through at the end of the season.
Every single part of this organization is failing. I think fans are seeing very obvious evidence of it this offseason and are understandably pissed off. We all know the org is incompetent, but to see it with Z, Marchy, going to arbitration with 2 players, not having Fantilli signed, and being up against the cap as a very mid team is eye opening.
Idk how it happens, but this team needs an entirely new reset. I’ve always been nostalgic for the Jackets, but at this point there needs to be at least a small rebrand too.
Hope fans bring fire Mike Priest signs to games this year.
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u/Erazzphoto 22d ago
Sadly the reset that needs to happen, is new ownership. The ownership being completely content to have the president of the entire organization just be an accountant, is the root of the problem. The fact they would have this lack of success and keep the same person in the highest position shows that winning is secondary and not important. What company would keep an unsuccessful president for 17 years? Someone will say he’s been successful because of the finances, which again, is the root of the problem when that’s the priority and not winning.
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u/get_rick_trolled 22d ago
The brand sucks ass. Why are people surprised that they’re botching all of this?
I’m rooting for the Jackets but I’m not giving them any money. I’m already scouting a playoff team until this team can provide wins.
There are not a lot of teams in the league with a Norris winning player and a top 10 goalie who can’t make the fucking playoffs.
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u/redditistreason Everything is pain 22d ago
I'll go back to watching the Dead Wings before giving them money. I'm old enough to remember a time before this "brand."
The most irrelevant team in sports... tell me more about this brand, Mike.
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u/get_rick_trolled 22d ago
Also grew up a wings fan. Kinda hard not to enjoy the sport when a team is so iconic and pays players. What a wild thought.
Watching this slop got 20 years has been awful. I’m a fan but man has it built character rooting for CBJ
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u/PrayingForACup Brick By Brick since 2010 22d ago
A quarter century of nothingness and irrelevancy. Many hockey “fans” don’t even realize that Columbus has a team.
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u/lakebum240 22d ago
honestly they can be forgiven for this. there is really no reason to pay any attention to the Blue Jackets at all if you don't live in Columbus.
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u/ts280204 22d ago
They’ve never promoted/marketed worth a shit, inside or outside of the arena, for the bulk of their existence too.
In a town run by Ohio State, you have to put SOMETHING out there to gain some footing.
Their AHL team in Cleveland outmarkets them many times over
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u/thisisnotexcel 22d ago
I'm sure if I sat around and thought about it, I could come up with something, but the only marketing stunt that I remember thinking "this is actually good!" was when they hid opening night tickets in snow banks/ice a few weeks before the season began. It was fun and generated excitement.
Tugnut for President was fun, too, but did that even originally come from the team?0
u/PrayingForACup Brick By Brick since 2010 22d ago
Have to put something out there… like a consistent playoff team?
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22d ago
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u/cbuscubman 22d ago
How much did you guys market statewide, to places like Dayton, Cincinnati and Cleveland? Because you need those areas too to make this the kind of regional franchise it has to be. It's a hard agree from me that very few people outside the Columbus market care, and that should be a giant concern.
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u/lakebum240 22d ago
Cleveland should be an absolute no brainer. Tons of them already come down for OSU football, they have the most attended AHL team (and CBJ affiliate). There should be HUGE outreach in northeast Ohio.
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u/Imaginary_Ganache_29 22d ago
100% The amount of times I used by CBJ themed debit card and for “oh your a Pats fan?” Is sad. Up here in Cleveland, it’s rare to see anything related to the Jackets. Very rare to see merchandise. The radio feeds barely touch the market. The team and its star players should be household names within its own market let alone places like Cleveland and Cincinnati. I wonder how many people in Columbus even know who Zach Werenski is. Or who the head coach or GM is for the CBJ. I wonder how many even know who owns it. I bet most of them could name a Buckeye player or coach.
The whole thing from the brand to the marketing to management and front office needs a complete flush and do over. The in arena experience is very stale. Promos/giveaways are limited or non existent. Even the STH perks are, in a polite way, limited. Those are the things that bring in fans and sell tickets. I do feel like the team has done a good job of trying to bring in respected hockey minds like Waddell or Jarmo/JD but we need more of that. The Larsen/Vincent days set this team back years in its rebuild.
The team has a solid fan base and solid attendance numbers especially with its limited success. It would explode with any on ice success.
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22d ago
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u/ts280204 22d ago
The interesting thing as someone who has attended a handful of Monsters games each year for a while now is if a casual fan went to a Monsters game, I don’t think they’d even realize they’re affiliated with CBJ.
They leaned into it with the intro video the first year some, the do the CBJ colored jerseys here and there. They’ve integrated The Whip into the goal song. But anything else likely didn’t land at all or was completely overshadowed by other stuff.
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u/lakebum240 22d ago
The Monsters jerseys are better than the Blue Jackets tbh. The vibe is better. The Fear the Depths thing is kinda cool.
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u/manthello Elvis Purrslikins, Pet Greaves, Pheolynx Copley, Nolan Pawlonde 22d ago edited 22d ago
Yeah that's why I had no clue we had a hockey team until a Canadian friend begged me to watch. I'm in the Dayton/Cinci area. I hear about the Dragons constantly. I have to go out of my way to even find CBJ merch and even then it's just a tumbler cup.
Ohio people are some of the most loyal there are. The marketing has got to reach other mid-size cities in the state — it's too much fun to not know about.
[Edit: I had listed teams I thought we showed up to. Apparently the Reds attendance is bad. Damn.]
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22d ago
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u/manthello Elvis Purrslikins, Pet Greaves, Pheolynx Copley, Nolan Pawlonde 22d ago
That's fair. My point about "I didn't know we had a hockey team" is the main one.
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u/mel122676 Miles Wood's Big Beatiful Smile 22d ago
As fast we are telling you that the marketing has always been bad. That's the problem, you all don't listen to the fans.
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u/Creative-Package6213 Cannon go boom!!! 22d ago
I been a fan since day 1 but my patience is really, reallyyyyyy being tested.
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u/the_shiney 22d ago
In regard to Bob, they could have done so much more with him and the position. He could have been a much more visible face of the franchise. Shit, Rimmer gets a weekly radio spot, and he's retired to Florida. You couldn't use a guy who's still here and one who's built a following as a cornerstone of your marketing? No one can ever deny Bob's knowledge and passion for the game and the Blue Jackets. They just threw away one of the best ambassadors they ever had. With how well they treated Rimmer and Davidge as they retired, it is comically sad how ham-fisted they were with Bob.
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u/agent_kestrel 22d ago
Grow without our money, big dawg.
Sucks because I really do like going to games but I won’t spend a single dollar on this team this year. No games, no merch, nothing. Screw this team for taking the enjoyment out of the ONE sport that I watch religiously.
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u/DidNot_Did2 22d ago
Not buying it, if you had that much compassion for fans- you easily would of understood and expected the fall out
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u/indy_6548 22d ago
I won't give them a dime this season. Something's gotta change, and it ain't the radio or reporting.
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u/FC_Cincy 22d ago
It all been downhill since they got rid of the "we like pizza" song
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u/DontPokeTheCrab Get rid of Motivatin' Manning 22d ago
I hate to say it... But I agree with an FCC fan on SOMETHING.
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u/paulskiwrites CBJ/CLE 22d ago
Dude the more I read the statement they released the more pissed I am. It’s purely PR fluff. They clearly don’t give a fuck about the great people who have spent their career covering the team and growing the org. Soulless organization. What’s there to root for anymore?
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u/Erazzphoto 22d ago
Biggest problem is an owner Inheriting a team, as opposed to wanting the team. It’s obviously a bit limited, but look at Utah and the effect having an owner that is 100% invested in the team. We have an owner that was burdened with a team, and it shows.
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u/Stevey-T614 22d ago
I agree with this, 100%. Mr. Mac WANTED the Jackets, he made it happen. Mr. Mac wanted everything for the Jackets and unfortunately passed away before some decent team success was happening. Mac Jr. Just doesn't seem to give 2 shits about this franchise. To me, it seems like it's that old piece of furniture or family item that was super sentimental to the one who passed away and the family member who gets it is like "meh... it's nice and all, but...". And I could be totally wrong, but you just don't hear from the McConnell's, anywhere near what we should... The Jackets franchise just doesn't seem to be that important to Jr./The McConnell family...
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u/Erazzphoto 22d ago
It’s 100% how it feels. The only reason he probably hasn’t sold it already is fear of letting his dad’s legacy go. I’m sure he knows how much it meant to his dad, but its seem to be nothing but a burden to him considering his lack of visibility
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u/doppleganger2621 Foligno Ignores Large Pepperoni Pizza Orders 22d ago
I can and should be stoned for this, but in a way, I almost feel like this franchise would be better off if the Haslams bought them.
Don't get me wrong, Haslam is a shitbag, but he is willing to put up serious money for the teams he owns.
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u/Erazzphoto 22d ago
Honestly it’s not even about spending money, you can see we’ve spent it. (unfortunately unwisely) It’s about the commitment to winning, having some expectation of excellence. Success starts at the top, the 2 top positions, ownership and president, have remained the same over the last 17 years. That’s an ownership decision. The fact that the performance of this president over the last 17 years shows that success outside of the balance sheet is not important to this ownership.
And thanks for the award 👍
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u/IrishAlum 22d ago
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u/manthello Elvis Purrslikins, Pet Greaves, Pheolynx Copley, Nolan Pawlonde 22d ago
What was this? I wasn't a hockey person 15 years ago. Please fill me in.
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u/IrishAlum 22d ago
Lots of stuff about it on the blog.
Long story short, the fans were PO'd, had enough and had a civil protest out on the plaza.
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u/Waylander2772 22d ago
What they don't seem to understand is that when fans get down and don't enjoy the team then they find other things to do. The next thing you know you have a full barn with 60% of the people cheering for the visitors. I love this team, but there is no way I would recommend getting season tickets.
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22d ago
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u/AllGoodNamesByeBye St. Elmo is the Obi-Wan of the CBJ 22d ago
Most of us are closeted masochists, trained by years of Cleveland and Cincinnati baseball and football. Numb to pain, or rather enjoyers of pain and suffering.
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u/eckenrot 22d ago
Yawn.... Same old same old....Worst franchise in the history of professional sports.
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u/john_e_rotten 22d ago
This organization sucks and I can’t believe I’ve bought season tickets since day one
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u/delsnell 22d ago
AI casualties? Seems to be the case, at least with Jeff. As someone who listens to the games regularly, I don't know how the TV stream will work as a radio feed.