BREAKING NEWS: WE ARE GETTING A HOCKEY TEAM!!!

**Saulbadguy** · 02-24-2007, 11:11 PM

OMG!

http://www.santaferoadrunners.com/team/0223072.php

Friday February 23rd, 2007
Santa Fe hockey team will move to Topeka

A troubled relationship between the city of Santa Fe and its North American Hockey League team will come to a close at the end of this season.

The NAHL announced Thursday that the Santa Fe RoadRunners will relocate to Topeka, Kan., for the 2007-08 season. The announcement comes less than a week after RoadRunners owner Mary Magdalene Lorang was notified that RoadRunner Hockey LLC was in violation of its Facility Rental Agreement with the city of Santa Fe to use the Genoveva Chavez Community Center for practices and games.

A letter obtained by The New Mexican, dated Feb. 16 from the city of Santa Fe to Lorang and her attorney, Richard Hughes, stated the city will cancel RoadRunner Hockey LLC's agreement "at the close of business, March 7, 2007, if all fees owed are not paid."

The letter did not disclose the sum owed by Lorang's operation, but Lorang said Thursday it was approximately $8,000. Lorang said she made initial payments of $10,000 and $5,000, and said she would make the final payment today.
The team plays tonight and again Saturday at 7:05 p.m. the Chavez Center

City spokesperson Laura Banish confirmed Thursday a partial payment to the city has been made. The city did not know of the RoadRunners' relocation plans until contacted by The New Mexican on Thursday.

"The City of Santa Fe would like to work with the RoadRunners so they can complete their season at the GCCC and to ensure the city is fairly compensated for the use of this community facility," Banish said.

Lorang said the RoadRunners have been unwelcome at the GCCC, and the past season has been riddled with facility problems. Mold in her office, a lack of office space, and poor ice conditions -- a hole in the playing surface was present at the start of the season from a leak in the ceiling -- have soured the relationship between the RoadRunners and the GCCC, Lorang said.

"It's not as though I don't have the funds," Lorang said. "The principle of the matter is they're the ones who have given us the runaround with office space. They're saying I'm a deadbeat and not paying my bills? Let's get serious. It's over half a million dollars to run a Junior A (hockey) team. You do the math."

Landon Arena, housed at the Kansas Expocentre in Topeka, should help boost attendance and profits for the ailing Santa Fe RoadRunners, which are in their third season in the City Different. Lorang said the organization will receive a profit of concession sales, which includes beer. Lorang unsuccessfully tried to lobby the City Council to approve beer sales in the GCCC in October 2006.

At the time, GCCC Director Elizabeth Roybal spoke against alcohol sales in a memo that was sent to the City Council.

"Staff is of the opinion that allowing alcohol in the facility would not be representative of a family community center and not in the best interest of the city government, which is funded by taxpayers," Roybal wrote.

"I was making no revenue off that," Lorang says. "It was Santa Fe Brewing Company that would make all the money off that. I just wanted people to come."

The RoadRunners are averaging 411 fans per home game this season, which is second lowest in the NAHL. The figures could rise in Topeka, a city that has been hockey-deprived since the Central Hockey League's Tarantulas departed following the 2004-05 season.

"We had a pretty good fan base the last time we had hockey," said H.R. Cook, general manager of the Kansas Expocentre. Cook said attendance ranged from 1,800 to 3,500 per game.

Cook also said that discussions to move the RoadRunners to Topeka began about a month and a half ago.

"We've had a couple of hockey fans here in town that have kept their ear to the ground," Cook said. When he heard reports that the RoadRunners were looking for a new home -- in mid-November junior hockey blogs were rampant with rumors of a RoadRunners departure -- Cook had some people look into the Santa Fe organization on his behalf.

With the approval from the Board of Governors, Topeka can expect Lorang to move the operation as soon as the 2006-07 season comes to a close.

Cook is ready for the RoadRunners' arrival.

"We're a county-owned facility. ... We're pretty well set here. It's a very minimal expense to us," Cook said.

The RoadRunners will keep their coaching and front-office staff intact, Lorang said. They also will keep the mascot and logo, with only the words "Santa Fe" changing to "Topeka" in the image.

The RoadRunners were originally brought to Santa Fe days before the 2004-05 season began. Erick Carlgren, a local resident, and a group with NHL ties that included Glen Murray, Nelson Emerson, Rob Blake and Andy Murray -- current head coach of the St. Louis Blues -- transplanted the team from Fort Worth, Texas, where it competed as the Lone Star Cavalry.

But the group kept ownership for only one season, and the team underwent a facelift when a group of area residents -- including Gil Frith, Andy Spingler and Patrick Quinn -- bought the team and operated it as a nonprofit organization under the name Northern New Mexico Education-Sports Alliance, Inc.

The NNMESAI added Lorang as an investor to the team in January 2006. Citing financial woes, the group let Lorang buy the franchise and take over full ownership two months later.

Contact Priscilla Gomez at 986-3045 or pgomez@sfnewmexican.com.

**Reaper16** · 02-24-2007, 11:12 PM

Meep-Meep!

SPchief · 02-24-2007, 11:14 PM

Nuthooks

StcChief · 02-24-2007, 11:15 PM

Roadrunners....

Quote:

The RoadRunners are averaging 411 fans per home game this season, which is second lowest in the NAHL. The figures could rise in Topeka, a city that has been hockey-deprived since the Central Hockey League's Tarantulas departed following the 2004-05 season.

Better off staying Hockey Deprived.

Thig Lyfe · 02-24-2007, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPchief

Nuthooks

Seconded

chiefqueen · 02-24-2007, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SportsRacer

Seconded

Thirded.

VonneMarie · 02-24-2007, 11:56 PM

**Bowser** · 02-25-2007, 12:11 AM

ChiefsCountry · 02-25-2007, 12:33 AM

Bring back the Scarecrows, lol.

supercoupe91 · 02-25-2007, 12:45 AM

Nuthook the crap outta this jarboe.

Word.

**007** · 02-25-2007, 07:45 AM

Yet another semi-pro team that Topeka will run out of town due to poor attendance and shitty ownership.

Oh, and Topeka won't be smart enough to keep the RR name either. We will rename it something OZ related like the Topeka Flying Monkeys.

**Skip Towne** · 02-25-2007, 07:59 AM

I'm still too broken up over the Tarantula's departure to embrace another team. Sorry.

**007** · 02-25-2007, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skip Towne

I'm still too broken up over the Tarantula's departure to embrace another team. Sorry.

A good friend of my family is the one that actually won the naming contest for that team. Won all that gear and they were gone in a year.

Oucho Cinco · 02-25-2007, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guru

Yet another semi-pro team that Topeka will run out of town due to poor attendance and shitty ownership.

Oh, and Topeka won't be smart enough to keep the RR name either. We will rename it something OZ related like the Topeka Flying Monkeys.

I like the Flying Monkeys, I hate hockey. I won't be going to any games.

Halfcan · 02-25-2007, 03:04 PM

Any news on the Pens????

02-24-2007, 11:11 PM
Saulbadguy When a nightmare becomes real Join Date: Nov 2003 Casino cash: $2346966	BREAKING NEWS: WE ARE GETTING A HOCKEY TEAM!!! OMG! http://www.santaferoadrunners.com/team/0223072.php Friday February 23rd, 2007 Santa Fe hockey team will move to Topeka A troubled relationship between the city of Santa Fe and its North American Hockey League team will come to a close at the end of this season. The NAHL announced Thursday that the Santa Fe RoadRunners will relocate to Topeka, Kan., for the 2007-08 season. The announcement comes less than a week after RoadRunners owner Mary Magdalene Lorang was notified that RoadRunner Hockey LLC was in violation of its Facility Rental Agreement with the city of Santa Fe to use the Genoveva Chavez Community Center for practices and games. A letter obtained by The New Mexican, dated Feb. 16 from the city of Santa Fe to Lorang and her attorney, Richard Hughes, stated the city will cancel RoadRunner Hockey LLC's agreement "at the close of business, March 7, 2007, if all fees owed are not paid." The letter did not disclose the sum owed by Lorang's operation, but Lorang said Thursday it was approximately $8,000. Lorang said she made initial payments of $10,000 and $5,000, and said she would make the final payment today. The team plays tonight and again Saturday at 7:05 p.m. the Chavez Center City spokesperson Laura Banish confirmed Thursday a partial payment to the city has been made. The city did not know of the RoadRunners' relocation plans until contacted by The New Mexican on Thursday. "The City of Santa Fe would like to work with the RoadRunners so they can complete their season at the GCCC and to ensure the city is fairly compensated for the use of this community facility," Banish said. Lorang said the RoadRunners have been unwelcome at the GCCC, and the past season has been riddled with facility problems. Mold in her office, a lack of office space, and poor ice conditions -- a hole in the playing surface was present at the start of the season from a leak in the ceiling -- have soured the relationship between the RoadRunners and the GCCC, Lorang said. "It's not as though I don't have the funds," Lorang said. "The principle of the matter is they're the ones who have given us the runaround with office space. They're saying I'm a deadbeat and not paying my bills? Let's get serious. It's over half a million dollars to run a Junior A (hockey) team. You do the math." Landon Arena, housed at the Kansas Expocentre in Topeka, should help boost attendance and profits for the ailing Santa Fe RoadRunners, which are in their third season in the City Different. Lorang said the organization will receive a profit of concession sales, which includes beer. Lorang unsuccessfully tried to lobby the City Council to approve beer sales in the GCCC in October 2006. At the time, GCCC Director Elizabeth Roybal spoke against alcohol sales in a memo that was sent to the City Council. "Staff is of the opinion that allowing alcohol in the facility would not be representative of a family community center and not in the best interest of the city government, which is funded by taxpayers," Roybal wrote. "I was making no revenue off that," Lorang says. "It was Santa Fe Brewing Company that would make all the money off that. I just wanted people to come." The RoadRunners are averaging 411 fans per home game this season, which is second lowest in the NAHL. The figures could rise in Topeka, a city that has been hockey-deprived since the Central Hockey League's Tarantulas departed following the 2004-05 season. "We had a pretty good fan base the last time we had hockey," said H.R. Cook, general manager of the Kansas Expocentre. Cook said attendance ranged from 1,800 to 3,500 per game. Cook also said that discussions to move the RoadRunners to Topeka began about a month and a half ago. "We've had a couple of hockey fans here in town that have kept their ear to the ground," Cook said. When he heard reports that the RoadRunners were looking for a new home -- in mid-November junior hockey blogs were rampant with rumors of a RoadRunners departure -- Cook had some people look into the Santa Fe organization on his behalf. With the approval from the Board of Governors, Topeka can expect Lorang to move the operation as soon as the 2006-07 season comes to a close. Cook is ready for the RoadRunners' arrival. "We're a county-owned facility. ... We're pretty well set here. It's a very minimal expense to us," Cook said. The RoadRunners will keep their coaching and front-office staff intact, Lorang said. They also will keep the mascot and logo, with only the words "Santa Fe" changing to "Topeka" in the image. The RoadRunners were originally brought to Santa Fe days before the 2004-05 season began. Erick Carlgren, a local resident, and a group with NHL ties that included Glen Murray, Nelson Emerson, Rob Blake and Andy Murray -- current head coach of the St. Louis Blues -- transplanted the team from Fort Worth, Texas, where it competed as the Lone Star Cavalry. But the group kept ownership for only one season, and the team underwent a facelift when a group of area residents -- including Gil Frith, Andy Spingler and Patrick Quinn -- bought the team and operated it as a nonprofit organization under the name Northern New Mexico Education-Sports Alliance, Inc. The NNMESAI added Lorang as an investor to the team in January 2006. Citing financial woes, the group let Lorang buy the franchise and take over full ownership two months later. Contact Priscilla Gomez at 986-3045 or pgomez@sfnewmexican.com.
Posts: 46,969

02-24-2007, 11:14 PM	#3
SPchief In Search of a Life Join Date: Feb 2004 Casino cash: $1582905	Nuthooks __________________ http://give.somo.org/site/TR/Plunge/...nal&fr_id=1244 ^^^^^^^^^^ Click here to help with a special cause. Please help me out
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02-24-2007, 11:56 PM	#7
VonneMarie Don't look over here Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Kansas City, MO Casino cash: $10008987	Punk
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02-25-2007, 12:11 AM	#8
Bowser sorta mod-ish Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: KC North Casino cash: $3181616	Hock
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02-25-2007, 12:33 AM	#9
ChiefsCountry The Insider Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Lake of the Ozarks Casino cash: $2028752	Bring back the Scarecrows, lol.
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02-25-2007, 12:45 AM	#10
supercoupe91 Starter Join Date: Nov 2006 Casino cash: $10004900	Nuthook the crap outta this jarboe. Word.
Posts: 401

02-25-2007, 07:45 AM	#11
007 Shaken. Not stirred. Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: London Casino cash: $13940126 VARSITY	Yet another semi-pro team that Topeka will run out of town due to poor attendance and shitty ownership. Oh, and Topeka won't be smart enough to keep the RR name either. We will rename it something OZ related like the Topeka Flying Monkeys. __________________ My dear girl, there are some things that just aren’t done. Such as, drinking Dom Perignon ’53 above the temperature of 38 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s just as bad as listening to the Beatles without earmuffs.
Posts: 65,557

02-25-2007, 07:59 AM	#12
Skip Towne Supporter Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: T-Town Casino cash: $10004900	I'm still too broken up over the Tarantula's departure to embrace another team. Sorry.
Posts: 69,689

02-25-2007, 03:04 PM	#15
Halfcan In Search of a Life Join Date: Aug 2005 Casino cash: $7327995	Any news on the Pens????
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