Billings Outlaws Cease Operations.

[Billings_Griz]

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[Cledus]

So if I understand this correctly, the county is willing to let the Outlaws walk away over $142k?

Given the police department lawsuit, the sheriff lawsuit, and all the other city / county administration fk ups it seems only natural they'd find something else to completely fk up. Situation normal.

[kmax]

Wow, first the Bulls and now they do it to a team that probably brought more people to the Metra yearly with it's playoff runs than any other events? Dumb, stupid and incredibly sad.

Of course I can't say that it surprises me. Growing up in Billings I watched as many a minor league sports franchise came and went, more often than not because the Metra was too expensive to play in. I said when the Outlaws built their training complex they should have gotten together with Bulls owners and built a small 5,000 or so seat arena that both teams could have used for practice and games and then could have been used for 90% of the concerts and other events that are in Billings and can't fill the Metra. Too bad they couldn't have gotten the money/funding to be able to do something like that.

[rtb]

So I have an important question.....

Can their practice facility be purchased and moved onto MSU's campus?

[LTown Cat]

So I have an important question.....

Can their practice facility be purchased and moved onto MSU's campus?

It is a pre-manufactured building so it could be "un-bolted". Interesting question.

[Old Skool Cat]

So I have an important question.....

Can their practice facility be purchased and moved onto MSU's campus?

It is a pre-manufactured building so it could be "un-bolted". Interesting question.

It's a pretty nice facility:

[kmax]

Considering the playing surface is approximately half (in both length and width) a standard football field I'm not sure how useful that would be for a team of 80+ to practice on.

It is a very nice facility though, went and watched two of the playoff games this year including the championship game. The fact that they run kids football and soccer leagues in there makes me think that thing will continue to be put to use even if they aren't able to keep the Outlaws going.

[LTown Cat]

Considering the playing surface is approximately half (in both length and width) a standard football field I'm not sure how useful that would be for a team of 80+ to practice on. It is a very nice facility though, went and watched two of the playoff games this year including the championship game. The fact that they run kids football and soccer leagues in there makes me think that thing will continue to be put to use even if they aren't able to keep the Outlaws going.

Holy cow!!! Good point.

[Billings_Griz]

I won't be voting for any incumbent county commissioners.

F*ck 'em all.

[kmax]

I won't be voting for any incumbent county commissioners.

F*ck 'em all.

Not only that, gotta think any potential funding for fixing/improving the Metra that the county puts to a vote is going to be even harder to get passed considering moves like this.

[D-Wreck]

I won't be voting for any incumbent county commissioners.

F*ck 'em all.

Exactly. Reno, Kennedy, and Ostlund can kiss my arse. Have they ever made a decision that actually benefited the county? They were given a golden opportunity with the destruction of the Metra (or should I say Rimrock Auto Group Arena at Metra Park?) to build a facility that could actually serve the events that utilized it and they took a dump all over it. I know money is tight but construction costs are lower than they have been in years too. Jerks.

[Billings Cat]

I won't be voting for any incumbent county commissioners.

F*ck 'em all.

Exactly. Reno, Kennedy, and Ostlund can kiss my arse. Have they ever made a decision that actually benefited the county? They were given a golden opportunity with the destruction of the Metra (or should I say Rimrock Auto Group Arena at Metra Park?) to build a facility that could actually serve the events that utilized it and they took a dump all over it. I know money is tight but construction costs are lower than they have been in years too. Jerks.

Great point. There's been a ton of calls in the community to do something that will last for another 40 years and these guys have totally ignored any thing that ran counter to their way of thinking. They're afraid to even put it up to a public vote which tells you something. Nearly every poll has suggested something different than these clowns are proposing and they've also pretty much refused to fight with the insurance company over anything which is exactly what you need to do in these situations cuz the insurance companies are always going to try to limit everything and are guessing you won't fight them on it. It also goes to show you that politicians are worthless regardless of their party...Kennedy is a darn near socialist and Reno and Ostlund are dyed in wool Yellowstone County republicans.

[longhorn_22]

The SportsPlex will stay.
There is a party looking to buy the team, but there will be no Outlaws in 2011.
Had the pleasure of listening to Mr. Steadman tonight. Outstanding conversation and gentleman. I wish him the best in his future.

[Cat-theotherwhitemeat]

Not sure why this was the commissioners fault. I realize that having the Outlaws helps the community with added entertainment, economic benefit, etc. but I've yet to hear a reasonable explanation why they are to blame for the Outlaws ceasing operations.

longhorn, I hope you are correct and they can come back under different ownership. If there is a person or group of people looking to buy the team I hope they understand that it will most likely be a money loser and they have to do it for the enjoyment and tax write-off that it most likely is.

[D-Wreck]

Not sure why this was the commissioners fault. I realize that having the Outlaws helps the community with added entertainment, economic benefit, etc. but I've yet to hear a reasonable explanation why they are to blame for the Outlaws ceasing operations.

longhorn, I hope you are correct and they can come back under different ownership. If there is a person or group of people looking to buy the team I hope they understand that it will most likely be a money loser and they have to do it for the enjoyment and tax write-off that it most likely is.

Cliffnotes version: The commissioners and team owner had worked out some sort of deal with one of the ticket fees to allow the Outlaws to replace the turf and sideline pads that were destroyed by the tornado. There is an audio recording of this meeting on the Billings Outlaws website. When the owner went in to sign the agreement, the commissioners decided to change the deal previously made and it reduced the financial benefit by half.

[Cat-theotherwhitemeat]

Not sure why this was the commissioners fault. I realize that having the Outlaws helps the community with added entertainment, economic benefit, etc. but I've yet to hear a reasonable explanation why they are to blame for the Outlaws ceasing operations.

longhorn, I hope you are correct and they can come back under different ownership. If there is a person or group of people looking to buy the team I hope they understand that it will most likely be a money loser and they have to do it for the enjoyment and tax write-off that it most likely is.

Cliffnotes version: The commissioners and team owner had worked out some sort of deal with one of the ticket fees to allow the Outlaws to replace the turf and sideline pads that were destroyed by the tornado. There is an audio recording of this meeting on the Billings Outlaws website. When the owner went in to sign the agreement, the commissioners decided to change the deal previously made and it reduced the financial benefit by half.

Is that confirmed what happened or is that just one side of it? So many times these things get distorted by one side and no one really knows the truth. I also know that elected officials are easy targets and that sometimes can skew reality. I find it hard to believe that $21,000 is worth ceasing operations for one of the most successful teams in Indoor arena football. Both sides may have to share blame but the bottom line is I don't get to dive on the floor for anymore footballs when they come out of the playing field and that sucks.

[longhorn_22]

I think you have to understand that the Outlaws owners were only projected to turn a profit from the team next season. They haven't before. I believe Mr. Steadman when he says they agreed to come back next year before the tornado happened. This situation was likened to buying a house. If you have 300k, and only that, to spend but your realtor says that he can get you one for 350k but you just have to trust him to get you that 50k, would you? If you literally do not have the extra money (42k/21k in the case of the Outlaws) it's pretty hard to move forward. Now, the Outlaws have 4 owners I believe. One is a billionaire by some accounts and could easily write a check. But from my understanding, if he writes one the rest of them need to as well. There was a deal where the Metra or commissioners or whatever had found some extra money but would only cover 21k. That still does not solve the problem, and on the night in which the league was finalizing the schedule the Outlaws were waiting and waiting for them to get a deal done and they passed the deadline and the schedule was done without the Outlaws.

(I should add that the Outlaws were asking for a 21k "cover" which would essentially waive the 21k and would then be paid back during the season as it went on. Not a 21k check to be written immediately. The county and the Metra did this same thing for the NILE for 100k not too long ago)

[Cat-theotherwhitemeat]

I understand all that, but why didn't the Outlaws have insurance on all that equipment in the first place? That seems like a no-brainer.

[longhorn_22]

I understand all that, but why didn't the Outlaws have insurance on all that equipment in the first place? That seems like a no-brainer.

I don't know the exact answer to that. I don't know if they were under the Metra's insurance or what.

*Edit: Just listened to the audio on the Outlaws website. Regarding insurance, they said had it been on the SportsPlex site there would have been insurance coverage. They then went on to say, "We assumed you guys had it, and I'm sure you assumed we did." So they assumed the Metra had some sort of "content insurance." If an incident was a broken pipe, for example, the Metra would have been in charge of covering it. Sounds like both parties seem to be at fault in one way or another.

[Cat-theotherwhitemeat]

So, what are the chances of a girl like me and a guy like the Outlaws in Billings again. Just give it to me straight....