Whoopee's Future Studied by Franchise Owners Feburary 6, 2002

By Phillip Ramati
Telegraph Staff Writer

Representative: Owners would like to keep team in Macon

With the Macon Whoopee's future uncertain, a representative for the group that owns the franchise attended games during the weekend to study the future of pro hockey in the city.

Tim Mouser, president of the Utah Grizzlies in the American Hockey League, visited Macon on behalf of the Elmore-Tuttle Sports Group, which owns the franchise the Whoopee leases. Brother Stewart, the majority partner in Macon Sports Group, which leases the franchise and runs the Whoopee, hoped Mouser's visit to games Saturday and Sunday would lead to a more active partnership with Elmore-Tuttle in the future.

"They left us with a list of information to get for them," Stewart said. "They're going to try to see if this is a viable market for this franchise. Hopefully, (Mouser) can shed some light upon a possible opportunity, which we can avail ourselves."

Mouser said his input from the visit will play a large role in Elmore-Tuttle's plans for the franchise. He said Elmore-Tuttle would like to keep the team in Macon if possible.

"We'd like it to work in Macon," Mouser said. "Why doesn't it work (now)? That's part of my mission, to see if it has a chance. The lease (with the city) gives you a chance (to make hockey work). The question is, does Macon want hockey? Can you get people to make a three-year commitment on season tickets and corporate sponsorship?"

The visit was scheduled around Saturday's game with Columbus, which drew 4,401 fans, the second-best crowd of the season. The Whoopee averages 2,643, which ranks 27th among the 29-team East Coast Hockey League.

"I wanted to come on a Saturday night, to see them playing someone people wanted to see," Mouser said, referring to the intense Macon-Columbus rivalry. "There was no football, no basketball, very little going on. Why wouldn't (people) be here?"

Mouser said Tuesday he departed relatively optimistic about both the Whoopee and the market, though he hadn't had the opportunity to look at the team's finances since his visit. Stewart said there is no timetable on making a decision about the team's future.

Mouser said he had no definite plan on how Elmore-Tuttle could be involved with the Whoopee next season if he made a positive recommendation on further association. MSG could renew the lease for the franchise for another season, or could work out some sort of partnership with Elmore-Tuttle, he said.

While Elmore-Tuttle could relocate the franchise, Mouser said he likes the fact that the Whoopee is already established in Macon with its own ownership and a lease in place. Because MSG has the lease with the Centreplex, Elmore-Tuttle couldn't deal with another ownership group in town unless it bought out MSG.

"We don't want to run it ourselves," Mouser said. "We want to find someone like Brother. How can we help enhance the product? We want to be involved. I'm here to see what our relationship could be (with the Whoopee).

"Whether it's leasing or buying, we're open. We want to maintain our asset, which is the franchise. We have no agenda. We'd have to look long and hard to find another partner like Brother."

Stewart also is keeping his options open. He said he hopes Elmore-Tuttle will bring in investors, but that he's also in discussions with another league he wouldn't disclose. Stewart also said he's had contact with someone outside of Macon with an interest in buying the team and keeping it in town.

"I know Dave Elmore is in the market to talk to various individuals about investing in us," Stewart said. "I think the existing investors need other substantial investors to continue operating. ... All options are available at this time."

Said Mouser: "I think it's a process. We've still got to look at a lot of the economics. What it comes down to is what community involvement we'll get. If the community doesn't want it to happen, it doesn't matter. ...

"Obviously, the support is good. We haven't solicited season tickets for next year. Let's set up a plan, draw a line in the sand - let's have this number by this date. It needs to be able to support itself."

Mouser, who has more than a decade of experience in minor league hockey, describes himself as a problem-solver. He was the general manager for Toledo in the ECHL from 1991 through 1994, when the franchise won two championships. In 1994, he left to help Elmore-Tuttle start the Tallahassee Tiger Sharks, the franchise the Whoopee has leased for this season. From there, he moved to Utah.

"I'm a guy who goes to a market and tries to figure it out," Mouser said. "I was very impressed just driving up and seeing (the Coliseum). The town looks clean and nice; economically, it seems to be doing well. Other than that, does Macon want hockey? What else does the Whoopee have to do to attract sponsors and fans?"

Mouser spent most of the weekend talking to fans to try to gauge their attitude toward the team.

"I think people enjoyed themselves," Mouser said. "It was a good crowd that stayed until the end. The people I talked with were very enthusiastic."

Mouser came up with some suggestions to the team based on his observations at the arena.

"There were two or three quick ones we could implement immediately," Stewart said. "He had a lot of ideas, some of which had to do with the Centreplex."

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