Huntsville Tornado Hockey Whirl'd -
[Cached Version]
Published on: 6/24/2001
Last Visited: 1/16/2002
"I think the major concerns for us are that we've proven ourselves since 1993 in this market, and in this arena and in this community," said Matthew Klidjian, Stingrays president and CEO."We've shown that professional sports can and will work in this town.The lease that the coliseum has put together with the NBA is significantly unfair to us.
"The underlying theme is that we feel like we're not being treated with as much respect as we deserve."
The Stingrays have raised four key issues:
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Otherwise, the team will consider moving out of the coliseum, Klidjian says.
One option the Stingrays have discussed is the proposed arena for the College of Charleston in downtown Charleston.
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"Our long-term future is a little bit cloudy," Klidjian said."Right now we're committed to our agreement with North Charleston.However, there are other options presenting themselves to us that we would be foolish not to entertain in the future."
The Stingrays circulated a survey at their final two regular-season home games asking fans if they would support a team that played in downtown Charleston or on Daniel Island.
The answer, according to Klidjian, was a resounding yes.
"The response was even more positive than we anticipated," Klidjian said."Our fans are committed to us no matter where we play our home games in the greater Charleston area.If we're unable to renegotiate our contract we've got to look at other options.
"We don't want to move.We want to play at the North Charleston Coliseum.The coliseum has been great to us, but we're also a business and we need to look at what is in our best interest."
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But it's more than attendance, says Klidjian. ''It's the fundamental differences in the contracts.They are significant,'' he said."The bottom line for us is that we pay more for use of the facility than the NBDL will on a per-game basis."
Though both sides seem far apart at this time, there are signs that a compromise can be reached.
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Said Klidjian: "The coliseum and its staff have been great.We love the building and the staff.We don't have a problem with the North Charleston Coliseum.This is a business deal.Our problem is with this lease.''