Hungry Like The Wolves

I've been instructed to focus more of this blog's angle on the Chicago Wolves and the wonderful village of Rosemont. The town has a population of around 4,000, considering itself "a top meeting/convention/tradeshow and entertainment center" that hosts an average 50,000 visitors a day. Only 2.5 square miles, Rosemont is 75% commercial/industrial and 25% residential.

Of course, Rosemont has been bogged down by allegations related to criminal activity in the village, but according to a release from the village website on November 2, 2004, a detailed investigation in regard to the state of Illinois' 10th casino license cleared the city and its mayor, Donald E. Stephens, of any connection to organized crime. The investigation was conducted by a former FBI agent and two former U.S. attorneys. The report "conclusively refutes" Attorney General Lisa Madigan's contention that Stephens influenced the sale of Emerald Casino stock.

The FEC contribution search provided some interesting results. Wolves Chairman of the Board/Governor, Donald R. Levin, and Vice Chairman, William "Buddy" Meyers, both seem to favor Democratic contributions. Levin contributed $2,000 to Obama for Illinois and Meyers gave $1,000 to John Kerry for President Inc. The results were confirmed by their business ties - Levin founded D.R.L. Enterprises and Meyers is the principal in the law firm of Meyers, Alexander, & Kosner.

Now, back to that mayor of Rosemont. He seems to be a generous guy. Over the past five years, Stephens has contributed $29,660 for everybody from Black America's Political Action Committee to Bush for President Inc.

In searching around on Lexis Nexis, I was able to dig up a couple stories about the Wolves' hopes to capitalize on the NHL lockout.

Crain's Chicago Business reported on September 27, 2004 about the Wolves using a season ticket promotion to try and attract broken-hearted fans of the Blackhawks. The Wolves marketing offered fans a chance to reseve season tickets for a deposit of $11 per seat. The deposit would be fully refundable if the Hawks played this season, but seeing as the NHL All-Star Game has been officially scrapped, I wouldn't get my hopes too high.

The article notes that most upper-deck Wolves tickets cost $13, while the Hawks charge from $25 to $40. The money is an issue to fans, as a January 14, 2001 article from the Chicago Sun-Times points out. Without a playoff appearance since 1997, many Blackhawk fans became upset with ticket prices that rose but a hockey team who's victories did not. The article cites one fan who had been a season ticket holder for the Blackhawks for six years when his mezzanine-level seats that had cost $17 six years earlier now cost $75. He claimed to be a Wolves' season ticket holder ever since.

The same article noted that the average ticket to a Hawks game cost $46 whereas the average price of a Wolves' ticket was only $14. Another interesting point from the articel was that the Wolves draw over 2,000 more than their league average, while the Blackhawks are 2,000 less than the league average.

Finally, there are no words to eat this week because I've got other stuff that I'm still choking on. I hope the next four years are not as long as the last four. *sigh*