Post by 50yardfan on Sept 11, 2011 10:58:58 GMT -5
lacrossetribune.com/news/local/article_407e6506-d389-11e0-b257-001cc4c002e0.html
The La Crosse Spartans' two-year run is over.
Chris Kokalis, the team's owner/general manager during its stay in La Crosse, was in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Tuesday afternoon announcing that he is bringing a team to that city called the Cedar Rapids Titans. Kokalis will serve as GM/part owner of the Titans.
The Cedar Rapids team is a new franchise, Kokalis said, not the La Crosse team. Kokalis said he, along with Bob Sullivan and Ken Moninski, retain ownership rights to the Spartans but have ceased operations in La Crosse.
Those rights, Kokalis said, are for sale.
A decision was reached late last week to fold the Spartans, making it the third indoor football league team that tried - and failed - to succeed in La Crosse.
"We needed to find some local ownership," Kokalis said. "It didn't happen. I don't blame the people of La Crosse. We did everything we possibly could, but from a dollars and cents standpoint and profitability, it just did not work.
"We lost more than $100,000 in two years. Yes, this is a football team; it also is a business, and it has to be profitable."
Kokalis said he met with La Crosse Center director Art Fahey several times over the past two months, letting him know it was going to be difficult for a 2012 season to take place.
"Does it shock me? No. Am I surprised? No," Fahey said. "I know the attendance was not where they wanted it to be."
The La Crosse River Rats (2000) and La Crosse Night Train (2002-2003) also played in the La Crosse Center before ceasing operations.
"I knew he (Kokalis) really wanted to stay. Everyone liked the area," said Ryan Maiuri, who shared quarterback duties with Buddy Rivera last season. "The fan support was pretty good. I think it came down to a money thing.
"We all knew something was going to have to give. Either bring in some more sponsors, or move."
The Spartans finished the 2011 season at 5-9, the most wins in franchise history.
Fahey said the team did not have a contract for 2012, nor had they entered into any negotiations with La Crosse Center management. The team had met its financial obligation to the center each of his two seasons in which it was a tenant.
The La Crosse Spartans' two-year run is over.
Chris Kokalis, the team's owner/general manager during its stay in La Crosse, was in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Tuesday afternoon announcing that he is bringing a team to that city called the Cedar Rapids Titans. Kokalis will serve as GM/part owner of the Titans.
The Cedar Rapids team is a new franchise, Kokalis said, not the La Crosse team. Kokalis said he, along with Bob Sullivan and Ken Moninski, retain ownership rights to the Spartans but have ceased operations in La Crosse.
Those rights, Kokalis said, are for sale.
A decision was reached late last week to fold the Spartans, making it the third indoor football league team that tried - and failed - to succeed in La Crosse.
"We needed to find some local ownership," Kokalis said. "It didn't happen. I don't blame the people of La Crosse. We did everything we possibly could, but from a dollars and cents standpoint and profitability, it just did not work.
"We lost more than $100,000 in two years. Yes, this is a football team; it also is a business, and it has to be profitable."
Kokalis said he met with La Crosse Center director Art Fahey several times over the past two months, letting him know it was going to be difficult for a 2012 season to take place.
"Does it shock me? No. Am I surprised? No," Fahey said. "I know the attendance was not where they wanted it to be."
The La Crosse River Rats (2000) and La Crosse Night Train (2002-2003) also played in the La Crosse Center before ceasing operations.
"I knew he (Kokalis) really wanted to stay. Everyone liked the area," said Ryan Maiuri, who shared quarterback duties with Buddy Rivera last season. "The fan support was pretty good. I think it came down to a money thing.
"We all knew something was going to have to give. Either bring in some more sponsors, or move."
The Spartans finished the 2011 season at 5-9, the most wins in franchise history.
Fahey said the team did not have a contract for 2012, nor had they entered into any negotiations with La Crosse Center management. The team had met its financial obligation to the center each of his two seasons in which it was a tenant.