When it comes to all sports, some organizations are known for hiding the facts. Okay fine, every team does it in some form like inflating attendance numbers or puff pieces following tough losses, but some are just flat out tone deaf. The most recent obvious example is the Boston Bruins firing Claude Julien during the Patriots Super Bowl parade. We talked to The Creator about the importance of being open with his fan base. We didn’t ask him about the Bruins situation specifically, but we asked about fan communication.
We’re going to be fan friendly. We’re going to be careful about it. We’re going to be a community oriented team, that’s what we have to be. -The Creator
Fans aren’t dumb, they see through all the poppycock. It’s up to the owner to make sure fans aren’t fed nonsense.
Thus far there have been a few missteps when it comes to being forthcoming, such as the reasoning behind the team name and the trademark situation to point out a couple. But overall, and especially in terms of The Creator himself, the team has been incredibly open and honest to this point… maybe even to a fault.
That’s what the fan base wants. Actually, that’s what a fan base like Las Vegas needs. Covering up negative information gets unearthed in the amount of time it takes someone to type 140 characters, or however many characters are in Ken’s mean fingers at any given moment. But more importantly, those moments are the ones fans take with them.
Just look at Vegas, do you remember the missteps or do you remember when we were given information on the mascots, the preseason schedule, the AHL affiliate, the Winter Classic, merchandise sales, ticket sales, the head coach, the practice facility, or any of the countless other times they’ve been open and honest with not just anybody, but two jackasses running a hockey website they created out of thin air.
The Golden Knights can, and should, learn from Boston’s P.R. disaster.
“Well, sort of like the weather in New England, I did not necessarily pick this day to take away from the great accomplishment by the New England Patriots,” Sweeney said. “But I had taken a few days to assess where we were at, and came to my decision to make a change with regards to Claude.” – Don Sweeney, Boston Bruins
New to hockey or not, Golden Knight fans will easily read through that. Hopefully, Vegas fans won’t have to scope out the truth. The owner says he plans on being honest during good times and bad. Vegas fans can expect things to be more clear, but if it’s not, tweets like these are coming to a Vegas Twitter feed (and a website that rhymes with FinGin.begas) near you.
February 7th, 2017……the day the @NHLBruins became soft & thought their fans are stupid
— Scott Zolak (@scottzolak) February 7, 2017
@NHLBruins you're pathetic & disrespect Boston fans by thinking they're stupid
— Scott Zolak (@scottzolak) February 7, 2017
Bruins should never be forgiven for firing Claude on the morning on the Patriots parade. Beyond weak.
— Dan Shaughnessy (@Dan_Shaughnessy) February 7, 2017
A Claude ex-colleague on today's timing: "Gutless."
— Fluto Shinzawa (@GlobeFluto) February 7, 2017
The Bruins are run by a bunch of gutless cowards incapable of accountability. I wish I was overreacting.
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) February 7, 2017
I'm sure the Patriots' Super Bowl parade had nothing to do with the timing of the Claude Julien news.
— Amalie Benjamin (@AmalieBenjamin) February 7, 2017
Bruins fire Claude Julien, eh? Nice timing. Might make page 12 with the Patriots holding their parade today.
— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) February 7, 2017
PhiSig 150
Why Ken why? Opening up a can of worms on this one my friend. This definitely won’t help with the Sin Bin is too pro-ownership crowd.
Ken Boehlke
Ah damn. I forgot to change the author. Jason wrote this one. However, which part of this article is inaccurate?
PhiSig 150
Nothing inaccurate per se but I do feel the franchise has, while maybe not outright lied, mislead the fans at times. I do think we remember the missteps much more than the little tidbits about sales. That’s just human nature. Foley really hasn’t had much to cover up or many opportunities to lie yet. Let’s keep in mind the franchise is not even a year old. Jury is still out for me. I do like the overall message though. Don’t treat the Vegas (we prefer it without the Las right??) locals as idiots even thought many of us might be new to the sport. I do feel that Sin Bin will heap on a ton of praise when they do good but can be critical when it’s warranted (although maybe not as often as we would like sometimes). Let’s let him get through his first couple of trade deadlines and free agency periods (where most of the lying in sports seems to occur) before we judge how honest Foley is.
Jason Pothier
@Phisig We never said we 100% believe the owner will be honest. We’re simply reporting on how he planned on being open with the fans. Not sure where this “Sinbin is too pro ownership.” thing started but it’s far from the case.
Age of hires, press info disasters, lack of local hires, scripted documentaries are some of the complaints we’ve written about and have been brought up to us by the organization. They by no means think we are kiss asses. Look around and read the other coverage, you’ll see the Sinbin is very balanced when covering this team.
Phisig150
I’ve never called you guys kiss asses. I even defended Ken in that comment section.
Jason Pothier
@PhiSig We must’ve posted ours at the same time because I just saw your reply. I’m glad you see we will jump on them for good and bad. I think I just took alittle insult last week when someone wrote it’ll be tough to trust us. We’re doing this on our own instead of working for someone else so we can be honest. There’s been no reason yet to slam ownership on hockey operations. That’s what I’m really focused on, and I don’t think he was wrong last week for his comments on coach budget. It could be any owner launching a team and I would think not spending $4m is a responsible approach.
PhiSig 150
Media in general and especially sports media has become very negative and cynical (deadspin for example). You guys are unabashedly positive and optimistic. It took me, and I’m sure others, a while to get used to your tone and style. You have to also take into account that while many locals are new to hockey we’re not brand new to sports. Many of us are from other other cities and bring our sports baggage with us from our experiences with our hometown teams. Foley seems great on the surface but we’re all looking for the cracks. When he slips up we probably make a bigger deal out of it than we should but don’t you guys want us to be more like obnoxious East Coast fans anyway?? With Foley I hope for the best (the late great Dr. Jerry Buss) but I’m also prepared for the worst (a con artist like Frank McCourt).
I don’t see you guys as in the pockets of the ownership. I had my some worries that you might be a little too cozy with Foley but those were alleviated when Ken blasted him over the faked footage. I can kind of see why some people see you guys like that at times because sometimes Ken’s admiration for Foley is over the top. He calls him the Creator, he practically had a wet dream about the day Foley gets to bring home the cup in a bus solely for him and his greatness, him pondering if Foley regretted bringing a team to (Las) Vegas because we were so ungrateful and acted entitled over the name, etc. But that’s just who you guys are. You’re fans first but I think you guys can also be objective when needed. I don’t think you’ve been quite as balanced as you claim but I don’t take you for complete suck ups either. I’m sure one day we’ll all be in line to lap up the kool aid that Foley is passing out, you guys will just be closer to the front than some of us. A good litmus test for Sin Bin and Foley is the locker room. If those pics from a few months ago are accurate and he hasn’t vastly improved that space since then you guys need to rip the team a new one.
James
@PhiSig 150
‘If those pics from a few months ago are accurate and he hasn’t vastly improved that space since then you guys need to rip the team a new one.’
Not sure if worth burning bridges. The commenters can draw their own conclusions and rip the team a new one if warranted. The sports coverage in Las Vegas sucks, so the tidbits of information reported by sinbin.vegas is much appreciated. Sinbin.vegas has good access to the franchise for a fan blog. You wouldn’t see Hal Steinbrenner and the Yankees front office converse with bloggers. I got the impression that Carp felt out scooped by Jason/sinbin.vegas. Carp was testy on Brian Blessing’s show. The money quote was the most interesting thing Foley said at the Mandarin, despite what Carp says. I don’t really care about Capuano’s family.
Bill Foley has formed an allegiance with Steve Carp of the Las Vegas Review Journal. Carp never criticises Foley and in return is given exclusive interviews. Carp is a good source of information, but where were the scathing opinion pieces on the team name from the local media?
I felt that Ken got his feelings hurt during the airing of the Behind The Vegas Ice documentary after sinbin.vegas were left out of the loop, so he lashed out like a jaded lover. The team name was a bigger deal than the staged scene.
Bill Simmons and to a lesser extent Steve Dangle have proven you can make a name for yourself by being a homerish fan.
Phisig150
I agree that Sin Bin was pretty tone deaf when it came to the name but I Think for the most part we’ve on. I almost agree with them regarding giving Foley a pass on spending on a coach or in free agency the first few years. I can understand the logic at least. What I’ll have a problem with and feel Foley’s feet to the firs is if the fan experience isn’t too notch, his marketing department doesn’t gear up and blitz the Valley (the open house is great start but it’s just a start) and if the players don’t first class amenities. This is Lad Vegas we know how to treat out guests and we should treat our players likewise. We should be downright embarrased if that’s really the locker room and be worried about what other things they’re skimping on. For me getting a behind the scenes look at the arena is really going to give me an idea about what this franchise is going to be about and the man that owns the team.
James
@Phisig150
‘This is Lad Vegas we know how to treat out guests and we should treat our players likewise. We should be downright embarrased if that’s really the locker room and be worried about what other things they’re skimping on. For me getting a behind the scenes look at the arena is really going to give me an idea about what this franchise is going to be about and the man that owns the team.’
It’s hard for me to get bent out of shape about the locker rooms. They seem to be passable. Not sure if they will make a difference attracting free agents. Athletes are pampered, I would be more bent out of shape if the views were obstructed or the videotron wasn’t at center ice. The Barclays Center wasn’t built for hockey and incurs these problems.
PhiSig 150
It’s a brand new arena. I expect every facet of it to be top of the line. If it’s not then I have to wonder why. I expect attention to be spent to every detail. It’s like going to a nice expensive sit down restaurant and when go into the bathroom it’s disgusting. I’ve walked out on restaurants before even ordering solely based on the upkeep of the restroom. Well it be make or break for a pending free agent. No but if other areas are merely “passable” as well it may have an impact on players wanting to play here. Money, security, and winning talks but if all things are somewhat equal I’d go to the classier organization. I can almost guarantee you that if the locker room is still like that it’s just the tip of the iceberg of other future disappointments from this club. You don’t buy a million dollar house then use Big Lots to furnish it.
Phisig150
Feet to the fire. Top notch. Las. Sorry for the typos it’s early and I’m on my phone. Bill Simmons is a great comparison. Sin Bin should strive to be the Bill Simmons of Lad Vegas hockey. Not sure who reads the RJ anymore. Foley needs to reach out more to digital media. I think Sin Bin is friendly enough If that’s a concern.
James
@Phisig150
The franchise has given sinbin.vegas content to work with, but sinbin.vegas has helped spread the word about hockey. It’s a win win situation. I admire sinbin.vegas enthusiasm. There’s new content on the website on a daily basis.
PhiSig 150
Bill Simmons wasn’t meant as a slight. I read him for years and years before his writing became to infrequent. I love that this site has content everyday and I read every article, listen to every podcast, and participate in most of the comment sections. Sin Bin has done a 1000% more to make me love the Knights than the actual club has done itself. My point was Ken’s enthusiasm takes awhile to get used to especially in the current snarky pro sports media landscape. I enjoy it though. Sometimes I get on board with it other times you kind of have to take it with a grain of salt. They don’t seem afraid to bite the hand that feeds (not monetarily but certainly content wise) them at times. I would have gone ballistic more over the name debacle than the little watched Knights infomercial but I appreciate that he did. I’m not sure if the club has done enough for Sin Bin considering they are literally like one (the only one for me) of two or three places to get daily news on the Knights. I hope they get the same VIP treatment from the Knights that our garbage newspaper and crap local tv and radio does. Sin Bin has a lot going for it and I could see it one day evolving (devolving?) into something like a Barstool Sports.
James
‘I’m not sure if the club has done enough for Sin Bin considering they are literally like one (the only one for me) of two or three places to get daily news on the Knights. I hope they get the same VIP treatment from the Knights that our garbage newspaper and crap local tv and radio does. Sin Bin has a lot going for it and I could see it one day evolving (devolving?) into something like a Barstool Sports.’
Steve Carp’s information in the las vegas review journal online is a must read, but I would enjoy more opinion pieces. Brian Blessing’s radio interviews with team staff are must listen. Here’s hoping for a weekly radio show during the season with the coach, a prominent player, George McPhee or Bill Foley. I also hope Sin Bin gets the same treatment from the Knights that your newspaper, local tv and radio does. The Knights need to help spread the word. Sin Bin has done a good job so far.