CHL

Posted in: CHL, Lou Lafrado, COLUMNISTS, THE BUSINESS
Scorpions hire new general manager
By Lou Lafrado
May 22, 2008 - 3:39:55 PM

RIO RANCHO, NM – Eleven seasons into the New Mexico Scorpion franchise history and the latest owners seem to have gotten it right.  Last week the Scorpions introduced their newest general manager, Gary Gelinas, last at  British Columbia.

Adam Minnick, Scorpions media director, introduced Gelinas to the assembled press and gathering of fans and sponsors at a press conference at the Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Ranch. 

“The Scorpions are pleased to announce that Gary has accepted the

Gary Gelinas: Photo courtesy of the NM Scorpions

position of general manager and president of the club,” Minnick said.  “This is a real shift in how the Scorpions will do business and will improve the off-ice and on-ice product that the fans deserve.”

Gelinas is President of Vision Sports Group, LLP (VSP) and has direct hockey experience including being the owner, operator/governor in the British Columbia Hockey League since 2003.  Gelinas will remain in his position with VSP, but he will reportedly dedicate his time to addressing the Scorpions’ off-ice issues.

Gelinas was clearly excited about the new opportunity and made several statements that were aimed at fans, current sponsors and potential sponsors and fans.

“We cannot succeed without the support of our media partners, sponsors and fans,” Gelinas said.  “Our objective is putting buns in the seats and following the commitment of the Scorpions’ ownership to an ethical philosophy of running the team.”

The Scorpions have competed well their first two seasons back from hiatus.  In the two seasons the club won the conference title and competed for the title until the final week of the regular season. 

Where the club has not succeeded as well as hoped is at the gate.  The Santa Ana Star Center is located in Rio Rancho’s city center.  ‘A city center with no city around it’ as described by one PHN editor.

Fans have not warmed to the new facility and the club has seen a decrease in average attendance in year over year numbers.

”The fan experience is the most important thing we can address this coming season,” Gelinas said.  “We believe if we can get the seats filled with first time fans then they will return because  we will make it entertaining.” 

Gelinas’ first move was to reduce ticket prices for fans and corporate sponsorship programs.  His second was to reduce the number of available seats in the 6200 seat arena.  About 1000 seats will be taken away from the west end of the building behind the goal.  The reduction in seats will create a shift in the supply and demand equation.  Gelinas said that the objective was to make a night of 4000 fans seem like a full house.

In the area where those seats were located the club will create a kid friendly zone and relocate the Club32 (season ticket holder area) for security and game friendly reasons. 

For many years fans of the Scorpions have heard promise after promise on how the franchise would do more advertising, more community-based events and more entertainment in the building during games.  Gelinas was quick to address this issue during the press conference.

Fans and sponsors may be excused if they say they have heard this tune before.  After so many owners and general managers selling a perception there was a hint a refreshing air of reality in Gelinas’ remarks and interviews.

“We will not make promises we cannot meet during the season,” Gelinas said.  “If we over promise to our fans we will fail.”

Before ending his time at the podium, Gelinas took questions from fans and representatives of sponsors and partners in the audience.  Perhaps noting the disarming tone Gelinas took in his remarks the audience’s questions were remarkably on topic and were not seething with disappointment. 

The Scorpions face a myriad set of issues going forward.  The city of Rio Rancho seemingly has no patience and no plans for the city center.  The entire center is made up of the arena and City Hall surrounded by acres of scrub brush and street lights with no real purpose.  The area has produced one item over the past few months; dozens of “land for sale” signs.  Everyone seems to be waiting for someone else to be the first to take a chance on the city’s center. 

But after so many years of poor, absent and abusive ownership the Scorpions as a franchise may have finally been taken of by a group with a work ethic.  Owner Dave Ellett has stepped, and stepped down as president, to make room for Gelinas and his ideas.  Now it is time for the fans and those who wanted professional sports in the metropolitan area to step up and into the Santa Ana Star Center to support the Scorpions.

Contact the author at lou.lafrado@prohockeynews.com.