Mr. Checketts, An Update Please?

Allow me to preface the blog below. For those out to bust me on grammar, leave it out today. This is a free form, open letter, quasi monologue for my thoughts on the Blues current ownership situation. It’s me talking to Dave. Just keep that in mind.

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I am a season ticket holder. A 10-game pack owner I may be, but I am a STH none the less. I am part of the largest, by volume, and most important investor in the St. Louis Blues Hockey Club. I don’t have a direct phone line to Dave Checketts like TowerBrook surely does, but I voice my opinions on this blog as well as by putting my hard earned dollars in to tickets, concessions and merchandise.

Let me head you off. No, I am not going on some mindless rant about not renewing season tickets to show displeasure over the outcome of the season. That is just not my style because I don’t believe in that scenario yielding positive results. I digress…

What I am getting at is that myself and the thousands upon thousands of fans who are ultimately the most critical contributor to keeping the Blues afloat need an update on the ownership situation.

I think I can speak for many of my blue bleeding brethren by stating we understand its been a topsy-turvy season. We understand injuries to numerous key contributors stifled the progress shown in the historic first 12 games of the season. We know progress isn’t linear and patience is a virtue.

Patience is starting to run thin as three key organization created estimates, time lines and deadlines are all coming to pass.

- The “5-year plan” was well marketed and orchestrated. This is year five. Aside from one slight bump in late 2009, the Blues have greatly stagnated in what matters most. The standings. Pacing for another bottom 10 finish.

- The kids we were told to come grow with and had finally grown up really haven’t. Maybe expectations were too high for the young padawans? For there haven’t been many Jedi to support them along their journey.

- A delightful announcement came at the “Welcome to St. Louis” event for Jaroslav Halak. The Blues, who had lost primary investor TowerBrook Capital Partners 4 months or so earlier, would have a replacement (or multiple replacements) around the end of 2010. That date passed as we were informed that around the All Star Break / early February a resolution may be coming. No news came at the Board of Governors meeting. The date is now March 3rd. Soft ownership resolution deadlines have come and gone.

Evaluations are being made, conclusions being drawn. Understand however how frustrated we are though. No, we’re not to the Tyler Durden revolution point, yet. Though some may have rusty knives and rubber bands ready.

We need you, Mr. Checketts, to step up and be the transparent, straight forward owner you’ve generally been. The franchise can no longer hide behind it’s “darling” status in the media. National writers and media personalities are starting to take notice and wonder “what happened to the Checketts and Davidson plan”. Albert Pujols snagged much attention at the beginning of February. Diverting blogs, columns and radio segments away from the Blues struggles. Albert didn’t sign and now local media is chiming in as they refocus on sports life outside the birds on the bat.

The fans want to see a confident and aggressive owner who can take charge of the situation and set the record straight.Tell us like it is. Just like Mr. Pegula in Buffalo. His assertions and blue print for improving the quality of play of a middling lineup has Buffaslugs on high. Amid the Injury Epidemic and Great Payroll Purge of 2011, fans need that type of confidence boost.

The new man in charge deserves credit. Doug Armstrong has been as honest and direct as the whole organization typically is. However, all of us spending the money to make Blues hockey exist are seeing many potential gaps and few answers. We’re craving some clarity and we aren’t getting it.

We don’t need to know names and financial figures if any deal isn’t close to closing. Just tell us that it’s not resolved and why. Then lay out the plan going forward. My $600 some odd dollar purchase may seem like a drop in the bucket to your revenue in the grand scheme of things, but it’s a substantial sum on my end. At least give all fans enough information to make an educated decision if they want to further invest in the product.

Many of us want to believe that an ownership group with you at the helm can still deliver on the promises and expectations presented back in 2006. Many believe that Armstrong can be the guy to get the needed personnel gathered to fully complete the transformation from re-builder to contender. We just don’t know if he has access to all the tools to do the job.

Which leads some down the “maybe Checketts needs to move on” road. Sorry to say it, but it’s true. There is a legitimate level of appreciation for stepping in and keeping the Blues in St. Louis. For a time, that wasn’t a definite conclusion to draw after the Lauries wanted out. As investors we have to take your ability to deliver the goods as part of our decision making. Given the circumstances, it appears your involvement is best suited as a gap filler. Much like Andy Murray was behind the bench, you too could be a placeholder till a stronger option is found.

Are we now coming down that road? One conclusion to draw from the lack of conclusion is that investors simply aren’t lining up to hand over their money and allow you to do with it as you wish. If they are, perhaps the interest rates are too high? Has someone stepped up and offered to buy the whole package? That could be the best deal for yourself, the team and the fans. That is unless someone wants to relocate. Then again, with no information coming out, we don’t know that, do we? Not even in generalizations.

For now I am apprehensive about continuing my investment. The economy is recovering, but my money is still my money. I want to give it to you, but in return for a better product that can reach its advertised potential. We’re still counting on you to do the right thing, but I think we’re all tired of being in the dark.

Mr Checketts, an update please.