Faced with a challenge for the Las Vegas territory he had protected from the very beginning of Roller Hockey International and with competiton from the new Triple A Salt Lake Buzz baseball team, Salt Lake RollerBees' owner Dan Kotler says he is forced to move the team from Salt Lake City to Las Vegas.
"I hate doing it, but it's a matter of economics," says Kotler, a Salt Laker who asked RHI initially for right of first refusal on Vegas and then had to either refuse or take it when Dr. Richard Commentucci, team orthopedist of the NHL New Jersey Devils, inquired about putting a team in Las Vegas.RHI would not allow Kotler to operate two teams, so the RollerBees, who averaged about 1,850 fans and lost "a tad" over $200,000 in their only season have become the Las Vegas Flash.
Commentucci bought 48 percent interest in the team from Kotler, who says Commentucci, veteran Devils' defenseman Viacheslav Fetisov and a Russian businessman plan to import the Russian elite team to become the Flash. Team colors will change from black/gold to a more marketable purple/teal/black/gold. A "big-name" coach will guide the team, Kotler said.
Kotler is president of Utah-based Sport Court International, which makes flooring for backyards as well as large indoor sports such as roller hockey and volleyball. Kotler says Sport Court will also make roller hockey dasherboards, and ex-Bee coach Brent Meeke was hired full-time to head up that division.
RHI plans to expand to 24 teams next season and has a contract with ESPN to televise games each Monday night.
Kotler says he's tried to help others start a team in Salt Lake City, but the financing is not there now. "I'll do everything in my power," he says, to help any potential Salt Lake ownership.