In addition to his two hockey teams, Denver (Utah?) Grizzlies' boss David Elmore is an owner in five minor-league baseball franchises, so he understands these things. "We're not done yet, but you've got to get a hit before you get a chance to score," he said before leaving for the weekend.
He'll be back Monday to work on the final two hurdles in the attempt to move the International Hockey League-champion Grizzlies to West Valley City's proposed $26-million, 10,000-seat arena at I-215 and 35th South.Much of Elmore's focus come Monday will be on obtaining a temporary lease in the Delta Center that would allow the Grizzlies - forced out of Denver by relocation of the NHL Quebec Nordiques - to immediately transplant to Utah while awaiting completion of West Valley's anticipated facility.
West Valley Friday submitted a proposal to the Salt Lake Olympic Organizing Committee that asks for a promise of only $7 million of a budgeted $15-17 million in Olympic funds to help build an arena for the Grizzlies and 29 hockey and short-track speedskating events in the 2002 Olympics. The SLOOC was to make that fund-allocation decision months or even years from now, but the Grizz must move within weeks and will go elsewhere if the SLOOC stalls. Elsewhere is San Antonio or San Diego. They need to market and sign players, and the IHL needs to produce its 1995-96 schedule soon. Elmore and West Valley hope the low $7 million figure will get the SLOOC to commit its funds now.
West Valley Mayor Gearld Wright said, though the city can build with only $7 million from the SLOOC, he's not sure it could build without it. "It would be very questionable. Possibly not," he said. He vowed no tax increases.
Elmore wants a two-year lease with the Delta Center, which wants five. Elmore said he'll accept nothing longer than two, nor will he pay exorbitant rent. "If they want to insist on something that's not economically feasible, it's fatal," he said.
"All we want to do is have enough time for (West Valley) to build the building," he said, adding that if the West Valley arena is built, it can't be left without its intended tenant for years because of a long Delta Center lease or its debt couldn't begin to be serviced.
Elmore said Delta Center cooperation would perform a civic service, returning pro hockey to Utah and allowing early construction of a building that could by 1998 host Olympic-related events such as international hockey tournaments that prefer larger ice surfaces than the Delta Center's 200 x 85-foot rink.
"It is my understanding Larry (Delta Center owner Larry H. Miller) is supportive of hockey and would help bring it back," Elmore said, recalling Miller's statements of 14 months ago to the IHL following his sale of the IHL Golden Eagles to Detroit.
"(They) have given us indications that they might sit down and negotiate with us," Elmore said. "We do need the cooperation of Larry Miller. It's a chance for him to help. I was told by the mayor (S.L. mayor Deedee Corradini) that he wants to help bring it back."
Delta Center general manager Scott Williams was out of his office Friday but Thursday said he expected to stick to the five-year offer he considers reasonable because he must purchase new equipment like plexiglass. That was sold once the Eagles were gone.
Also, Williams defended his position by saying his studies show that 12,000-seat arenas with hockey teams average $21/4 to $21/2-million in extra costs per year for utilities, lighting and labor while he said the average IHL team turns back only $400,000-$485,000.
Some reports say Williams is asking $685,000 a year rent.
Elmore would live with paying what he says is an average IHL rent of about $350,000 a year ($8,500 per game).
While costs in the IHL are rapidly escalating and the Grizzlies drew an average of 12,100 fans in McNichols Arena last season, more than 14,000 in the playoffs, Elmore said West Valley's plan for 10,000 seats suits him. "Some nights you'd like to have more," he said, "but you'd like to have the reputation of having a sold-out arena, too. There are a lot of hockey arenas being built for 10,000. It works well." To increase beyond 10,000, an expensive upper bowl would have to be built.