Deseret News | Reader comments: Utah Blaze lean on James

Reader comments
Utah Blaze lean on James

Great Hire | 7:15 a.m. July 10, 2008

As season ticket holders we have a great view from our seats as we are in the endzone closest to the team bench. There is no question that Ron James brings a lot of intensity to the players but yet seems very calm in pressure situations. Great hire Blaze!

No GM????? | 8:48 a.m. July 10, 2008

You would think that with the Blaze losing millions of $ each year, that Jones' "stregths in business administration" might not be the best fit for handling player evaluations...

They need to let football people run the football, and business people run the business...

E - Center | 11:20 a.m. July 10, 2008

The next thing the Garff's need to do is stop being greedy by hoping for crowds of 16,000 plus and move the team into the MUCH more AFL viewer friendly E-Center. Just like it did for hockey, the ESA STINKS for arena football.

By moving to that arena they would likely sell out EVERY game, it would be louder, much more intimate; just a better venue all around.

Go Blaze!

Comments continue below

Millions? | 12:46 p.m. July 10, 2008

If the Blaze are really losing millions each year then they should get rid of Jones. Its not like Larry Miller with the Jazz (who can lose money and still continue operations). I don't think that the John Garff can sustain those types of losses year after year. Maybe he should spell fun P-R-O-F-I-T.

But good for Ron James. In this world of little loyalty, its good to see an organization hire from within.

i want a gm hired | 3:32 p.m. July 10, 2008

I want the Blaze to stay in this market! Danny White was overpaid for the arena league and now so is Jones. we need a GM with some experience. go hire someone who understands the job.

Nice Hire | 4:45 p.m. July 10, 2008

Coach James will do great things for us and the Blaze org.
Move to the E Center are you kidding me? How would that make any kind of sense? They are making money from selling tickets not moving to an arena that they can sell less seats in. I liked the E Center when the Warriors played there but the Blaze need to fill more seats not less seats!!
Besides the AFL had them move to the bigger arena if I remember correctly.

GM | 9:05 p.m. July 10, 2008

How sophisticated can an arena league contract be? These guys make between 40K-150K with a few incentives on top. Losing millions has nothing to do with anything other than this is a mid major sport with no TV revenue. There is no league that is profitable except for the NFL which is 100% attributable to a very rich TV deal. The Blaze has been recognized as a league leader in attendance, ticket and sponsor revenue...seems like Jones is doing a great job given the circumstances of the league. Perhaps the problem prior to this on the team side is that the head coach has also been the GM. Not sure this creates the right checks and balances so perhaps the divide and conquer method is a good solution to a team trying to control expenses. Then again, not sure it really matters - it's arena football, enjoy it for what it is.

Good Hire, but... | 9:31 p.m. July 10, 2008

Ron James is the right person for the job. He will definitely bring the team to the next level of success...

But that doesn't cure the problem of the team losing money. If the team is a league leader in attendance and still loses millions, what else can you do? You only have so many years to use the "startup" excuse. I would say that if the team loses millions again, I would look at the top people in charge...that means Jones should be on the hot seat this year.

Anyway, congrats to Coach James! Hopefully the team will be around long enough for you to have many successful seasons.

RE: GM | 8:30 a.m. July 11, 2008

I know this is a hard concept to grasp, but some minor league teams make money, even without a "lucrative TV deal." If they didn't, then there are thousands of dopes out there that own minor league franchises who are flushing money down the toilet.

I know that some AFL teams do turn a profit. And since the Blaze WERE, and I stress were, among the leaders in ticket and sponsor revenue, that means they did it bringing in less revenue than the Blaze. So where does the blame for losing money go? Just like every business, it should go to the person at the top.

When the Blaze came to town, they had a goal of breaking even in year 3. That didn't happen, so just like a coach who doesn't win in his first 3 years, the leader of the front office should be on the hot seat in year 4 if they don't break even.

Now that the sizzle is gone from the steak, the revenues will go down. The Blaze answer? Raise ticket prices after a 6-10 season. Way to go Jones, that "strength" is working like a charm...

Anonymous | 9:47 a.m. July 11, 2008

if the contracts arent that sophisticated and the tv contracts are virtually non existent then why pay Jones over 200k a year? no other AFL teams pay their president even close to 200k unless they are a football figure. If the President was Steve Young or a national figure then it would be justified MAYBE but if it isnt complicated then bring in someone for half the price or make jones take a paycut. most important thing is for the blaze to turn a profit. if that means pay cuts in the front office then so be it

RE: GM...Sports 101 | 12:14 p.m. July 11, 2008

Some minor league teams do indeed make money but not with a salary cap in excess of $2M paid by the team and certainly not with the ancillary revenue streams that come from tv or owning the building (parking, concessions, merchandise, suites, etc.)Bottom line, the team may be losing money but the AFL economic model is not set up for profitability since there are no ratings and nobody owns the buildings. It is clearly a flawed model that is lucky to have survived 22 years. BTW, which team(s) in the AFL is profitable? If there is one it must surely be owned by Enron. Also, how do we know that the Garffs are losing millions? Are these numbers as well as comp figures made public? Seems to me like this is a tax writeoff and a marketing expense for the Garffs.

Sports 101... | 1:24 p.m. July 11, 2008

I know that the Garff's are losing millions the same way that you know that much about the economic model of the AFL, and that the Blaze are leaders in sponsorship revenue. Are those numbers published????

BTW, the AFL model hasn't survived 22 years, the current structure began about 6 years ago when the NFLPA struck a deal on the behalf of the AFLPA to get them the outragous salaries. Its only been lucky for 6 years...

There are a few teams that are profitable in the AFL due to the fact that they keep their operational costs (advertising, staff and coaching salaries, etc.) in control. They are smart enought to leverage their parent companies business partners into sales for their teams, not a "marketing expense" that gives tickets to high school kids. And I'm pretty sure the owners aren't running the team themselves, they have a competent leader running them.

If it is such a flawed system, then I'm going to call the Garffs and try to sell them my dime for $1, because they bought into it hook line and sinker... Either way, sports teams as a "marketing expense" don't last forever, they leave after 5-6 years.

Wow | 10:48 a.m. July 12, 2008

I wouldn't think that hiring a new coach would spark such a discussion. It sounds like the Blaze have a lot of issues. I hope they stick around, I haved enjoyed a couple of their games and I got the tickets for free! I think its a good alternative to RSL, Jazz and the Bees. I would hate to see a failed sports team here in SLC because it hurts our chances of getting another professional team. I hope that Jones and John Garff get it figured out.

Fedor's Buddy | 5:18 p.m. July 14, 2008

Where's Fedor when you need him?! You know, he's the guy that is so excited about the Blaze that he refers to evertything as BLAZE-TASTIC! I'm a casual Blaze/Utah sports fan and I'm so sick of the incessant complaints. I also had no idea about all these numbers and stats. It seems to me most fans aren't privy to that kind of info. Which leads me to think that some of these comments are more than just die-hards trying to make a point, but perhaps people with ties to the Blaze with personal vendettas against the GM.

If I'm wrong, and you are just die-hards, please disregard this entire post. But if you are trying to pick a bone with someone, get a freaking life! Let's get more of Fedor's BLAZE-TASTIC attitude!

Destiny | 9:50 p.m. July 15, 2008

Back to the subject at hand. GO COACH JAMES. Congrats for you and your family you deserve it, and The Carter Family will be rooting for your success.

the mayor | 11:54 a.m. July 16, 2008

Coach James will bring more than just a GREAT head coach to the BLAZE!! He will bring An AGGRESSIVE/Tenacious mentality to the entire organization!! I played for him and have the UTMOST respect for him as a coach,but more importantly as a MAN! He has and always will be a huge part of my family. Just ask anybody who has played/worked with him and these sentiments will be echoed!! Good luck coach and the entire BLAZE organization!! You all are first-class in every aspect of life!! GO BLAZE!!!

Fedor | 11:15 a.m. July 30, 2008

This is sad day for Fedor. Been back in the motherland and come back to this? Disgraceful. You people need to get on the bus. Danny White was a great NFL quarterback, but didn't bring much success to our high flying action at ESA. Coach James has the kind of passion that will bring us to our full potential and glory in the AFL. With Coach James, Bongiovani's team will just be, "Livin' on a Prayer." Now let's get behind this team. Their players are committed, their staff is committed, now you, great people of Utah, you need to be committed. The action is Blaze-tastic.....the players are blazing with passion, and Coach James is going to Blaze a new trail in AFL history. I'm counting down the days until the AFL season is back!!!! Go Blaze!!!!

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Keith Johnson, Deseret News

Ron James was hired Wednesday to take over as head coach of the Utah Blaze. James replaces Danny White, who stepped down at the season which saw the Blaze go 6-11.