Polk County Rejects Chops' Proposal To Sell

**d4nim4l** · 06-26-2009, 12:14 PM

Polk County rejects proposal from Iowa Chops owners | DesMoinesRegister.com | The Des Moines Register

New update on this whole issue. Schlegel Sports proposed to sell the team, pay off all debts and let any remaining profit go back to Polk County. Only problem is they never really estimated what that would be.

Polk County rejected the proposal and has filed for an injunction to keep the team from moving and envoke a $12.5 million clause if they choose to break their lease.

**CYdTracked** · 06-26-2009, 12:16 PM

Good! I hope Polk County can take them to the bank and not let them head out of town with some cheap buyout offer.

**Broodwich** · 06-26-2009, 06:46 PM

I am glad that the Polk County supervisors were able to see all of the pieces on this chessboard, and know that they were getting hosed.

This situation has nothing to do with the popularity of hockey in Des Moines, it has to do with the Schlegels trying to weasel out of their contract to move the franchise to Cedar Park Texas. All of these purported losses didn't magically appear after April 11.

I believe now that the Schlegels had intended to move their AHL Franchise to Austin last year. Once you understand that everything makes complete sense. If Cedar Park wasn't in the market for an existing franchise, this would not be happening.

I have faced the fact that I will be without AHL hockey next season, but I am very satisfied that Polk County is fighting for the interests of central Iowans and I hope that they can get big time hockey back here for 2010.

**hursts** · 06-26-2009, 07:04 PM

Originally Posted by travman23

Good! I hope Polk County can take them to the bank and not let them head out of town with some cheap buyout offer.

The problem is that the company that wants to move the Chops is said to be close to broke already. It will be interesting to see how this all plays out.

**matmann22** · 06-26-2009, 07:28 PM

As a polk county taxpayer, I want that arena contract honored.

Personally, I think they were idiots to sign the contract with the arena in the first place. Why didn't they get a Michael Gartner Iowa Cubbies sweetheart deal ? They might have had a chance to make a few dollars.

However, there is only so much 'value' you can get out of an unaffialiated AHL franchise. If the bankruptcy value is less than the buyout of the arena lease, then it would make business sense for them to file bankruptcy.

Then what are you idot BOard of Supervisors going to do ? Take more money from Prairie to cover the arena ?

**capitalcityguy** · 06-28-2009, 12:30 AM

Glad to hear the Polk Cty supervisors standing up and ready to fight this.

**akclone** · 06-28-2009, 01:47 AM

so instead of 700K the county gets nothing.
Am I corect?

**akclone** · 06-28-2009, 01:50 AM

If the star tenneant of the events center was the chops then polk co gets what they deserve. lol

**CyBobby** · 06-28-2009, 06:06 AM

Polk Co needs a whole new set of Supervisors if the weasels er schlegels get out of town paying nothing....

Vote'em out of office boys and girls....Need a new group of politicians downtown des moines!!

**capitalcityguy** · 06-28-2009, 10:49 PM

Originally Posted by CyBobby

Polk Co needs a whole new set of Supervisors if the weasels er schlegels get out of town paying nothing....

Vote'em out of office boys and girls....Need a new group of politicians downtown des moines!!

???? It is POLK COUNTY Supervisors...not downtown Des Moines Supervisors and they are already taking them to court . What else do you expect at this time?

**bugs4cy** · 06-29-2009, 11:17 AM

It's just a bummer deal all around. Went to a handful of Chops games last winter and had fun - for some games the place was empty and others rock'n. Was (am?) seriously considering season tickets this year. Maybe my Chops cowbells and towels are now collectors items.

Hey - we'll support about any place that sells BOTH funnel cakes and Dipp'n Dots!

We wondered how the heck they were breaking even on those games where you could just about hear crickets chirping in the stands.

Maybe the big question is - can DSM really support two hockey teams? When is enough, enough?

**Cycofan1** · 06-29-2009, 11:23 AM

Originally Posted by bugs4cy

It's just a bummer deal all around. Went to a handful of Chops games last winter and had fun - for some games the place was empty and others rock'n. Was (am?) seriously considering season tickets this year. Maybe my Chops cowbells and towels are now collectors items.

Hey - we'll support about any place that sells BOTH funnel cakes and Dipp'n Dots!

We wondered how the heck they were breaking even on those games where you could just about hear crickets chirping in the stands.

Maybe the big question is - can DSM really support two hockey teams? When is enough, enough?

They have them both at the state fair.

**bugs4cy** · 06-29-2009, 11:25 AM

Originally Posted by Cycofan1

They have them both at the state fair.

Yeessss! And that's just two of the many reasons I LOVE THE FAIR!

**egami** · 06-29-2009, 11:36 AM

I think this is ends up being a lose-lose for Polk County either way.

**CYKID** · 06-29-2009, 11:41 AM

Originally Posted by egami

I think this is ends up being a lose-lose for Polk County either way.

I agree. we will get a reputation for being hard to work with and it will be used against us by other cities trying to compete with des moines for such ventures. I am glad they are sticking to their guns but I bet they back off before all is said and done.