VENUWORKS MAKES PRESENTATION ABOUT THE THUNDERBOLTS BEFORE CITY COUNCIL

Schoenike stated that “purpose of the Thunderbolts was not to lose or make money, but to break even”

by Steve Ary

In Monday evening’s Council Meeting, the Evansville City Council was met with The Ford Center’s Scott Schoenike, Executive Director of VenuWorks, which is the organization in charge of managing operations and has legal control of the Southern Professional Hockey League Franchise, the Evansville Thunderbolts.

The Thunderbolts replaced the Evansville IceMen in 2016. The former owner, of the Evansville IceMen Ron Geary, wanted to speak at last nights Council meeting.  Last week his attorney was told by Council President Missy Mosby that he would be allowed to speak for only 3 minutes.  Mr. Geary’s attorney declined to accept Mosby’s offer.  Channel 25 News also reported that Council President Missy Mosby informed them that a representative of Mr. Geary that he would not be added to the agenda, but that he would be able to speak for 3 minutes during the “public comment” portion at the end of the meeting. We have been informed by Mr. Geary’s attorney that he plans to formally request that Mr. Geary be put on the next Council agenda to speak about his experiences at the Ford Center.

For clarity, in the “public comment” portion of any Council meeting, individuals are given only 3 minutes to speak, and may address the Council or ask questions, but there is no requirement for the Council to respond or even answer those questions. Most of the time the Council hears the passionate pleas of their constituents, but only responds with a “Thank you” before they move on to adjournment, as if to say, “Your voice doesn’t matter.”

Scott Schoenike, on the other hand was given  as much time as he needed.  Schoenike provided information to the Council touting accomplishments of the Thunderbolts hockey team, and mentioning that the organization aims to “break even.”  He went on to say, “We survive off sweets, beverages, sponsorships, and ticketing fees.” But what doesn’t look good is the revenue profit per event.

He stated that his purpose was not to lose or make money, but to break even, and to bring economic development to downtown Evansville. Schoenike stated, “If we can break even as a hockey team, the Ford Center is still doing well. But to break even is not what you are in business for, and that is not what most people understand. We are set up to break even in order to bring that economic development.”

Schoenike’s less-than-convincing presentation in light of the city’s massive financial struggles and budgeting difficulties during the Winnecke administration caused Council Vice President,  Justin Elpers to interrupt. Elpers asked what specific changes were being made to the hockey team, and what were the details therein. “I just want to have a meaningful discussion about these numbers and about the future,” said Elpers.

After several nervously repeated statements and a general description of a game plan which centered around bringing awareness of the hockey team to the people of Evansville.  Councilman Dr. Dan Adams asked another pointed question about VenuWorks’ financial losses; “Can you tell us how much money was lost?”  Schoenike skated around the answer, stating that the financials are Mike Hall’s personal business. Mike Hall owns 10% of the Evansville Thunderbolts. Adams asked Schoenike how much the city gets hit with the losses in revenue, to which Schoenike assured the Council that none of the losses hit the city, but rather hit Hall entirely.

One person watching Mr. Schoenike’s presentation commented, “How are we supposed to believe that one man who owns 10% is responsible for 100% of the financial losses?”   It shows in the Agreement between the City and VenuWorks For Professional Management Services and License For Usage of the Evansville Arena, that “all operating expenses of the Franchise shall be deemed an expense of the Facility”… What does this mean?  …it mean that the “Facility” is the City of Evansville.  It looks like the Evansville taxpayers shall be responsible for all the operating expenses and losses incurred in the 2016/2017 hockey season. It looks like Mr. Schoenike  must have mis-spoken or didn’t tell the truth in answering this question.

Next, Dr. Adams asked Schoenike what the hockey team’s record was. Schoenike was too embarrassed to answer, but the Evansville Thunderbolts had a losing season with only 13 wins and a whopping 43 losses. Schoenike said, “I try not to think about the last record. It’s about the experience.”

Justin Elpers asked another question, “Does VenuWorks have any prior management experience of a sports team.” Schoenike’s answer was, “No, but it’s really not about the bottom line. It’s really about helping The Ford Center. The hockey team does not help the bottom line. We are here to break even.  ”Elpers – “Scott, what is your plan to get more butts in the seats?”  Schoenike – “We’re going to have to promote more.”

Councilman Jonathan Weaver,  said snidely, “So all of the rumors of gloom and doom are false.”  Adams said, “What rumors? I haven’t heard any rumors.  ”Weaver continued, “It’s a good product and we need to go out and support the hockey team.” Weaver who has a voting history of backing every one of Winnecke’s agendas and “accomplishments” seemed to be “all in” despite the city’s shortfalls, debts, horrendous budget issues such as  unpaid city employees health insurance, and a $129 million municipal revenue bond borrowed to build the Ford Center.

In an interview after the meeting, Councilman Justin Elpers commented that it is “very concerning” that VenuWorks has “no prior management of a sports team” and that some on the Council are in full support of this hockey debacle without even considering the financials of VenuWorks and the Thunderbolts at The Ford Center.

It looks like Mayor Lloyd Winnecke and the Evansville City Council promises that Evansville Thunderbolts hockey team will be generating much needed capital to support the operations costs of the Ford Center have clearly fallen flat. The lack of funds generated by the hockey team and the millions spent on a hope and a dream have revealed that the hockey team itself is nothing short of a “money pit” for the City of Evansville and its taxpayers, and is not the revenue generator that was promised.

VenuWorks Addresses Evansville City Council

VenuWorks addresses the Evansville City Council on the ownership of the Thunderbolts. This comes days after Mike Hall gave up his 10 percent ownership of the hockey team. VenuWorks now owns 100 percent of the team. Councilman Justin Elpers…

Peer Support Groups

Peer support groups are a place where you can discuss day-to-day problems with other people who have been through trauma. Support groups have not been shown to reduce PTSD symptoms, but they can help you feel better in other ways. Because they can give you a sense of connection to other people, a peer support group could be a great addition to your treatment. Support groups can also help family members or friends who are caring for someone with PTSD.

Remember, if you are suffering from PTSD, is it important that you get treatment for PTSD as well. An evidence-based treatment provides the best chance of recovery from PTSD.

What Are Peer Support Groups Like?

Peer support groups are led by someone like you who has been through a trauma. Groups often meet in person, but many groups also provide online (Internet) support.

Sharing your story with others may help you feel more comfortable talking about your trauma. Or it may help to listen to other people talk about their experiences with a similar trauma. Peer support groups can help you cope with memories of the trauma or other parts of your life that you are having trouble dealing with as a result of the event. You may learn to deal with emotions such as anger, shame, guilt, and fear if you open up to others who understand.

When you connect with other people it can help you feel better. You can work together with others to get better at talking about your PTSD or learning how to ask for help when you need it. You might even share some of the materials from this website to help others.

What Are The Benefits Of Joining A Peer Support Group?

Joining a peer support group can help you to feel better in any number of ways, such as:

• Knowing that others are going through something similar
• Learning tips on how to handle day-to-day challenges
• Meeting new friends or connecting to others who understand you
• Learning how to talk about things that bother you or how to ask for help
• Learning to trust other people
• Hearing about helpful new perspectives from others

Peer support groups can be an important part of dealing with PTSD, but they are not a substitute for effective treatment for PTSD. If you have problems after a trauma that last more than a short time, you should get professional help.

How Can I Find A Peer Support Group?

Here are some ideas to help you find a peer support group that can help you deal with PTSD or a traumatic experience:

• Do an online search for “PTSD support groups” or for a group that relates to the specific trauma you experienced, like “disaster support groups.”
• Anxiety and Depression Association of America offers a list of support groups across the country for a number of different mental health conditions, including PTSD.
• Sidran Institute Help Desk Help Desk locates support groups for people who have experienced trauma. Sidran does not offer clinical care or counseling services, but can help you locate care or support.
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Information HelpLine provides support, referral and information on mental illness care. You may also find family support groups in a NAMI state or local affiliate online or by calling 1(800)950-NAMI (6264).
• We also have information on our Helping a Family Member Who Has PTSD (en Español) webpage for anyone providing care to a loved one with PTSD.

Are There Resources Specific To Veterans And Their Families?

If you are a Veteran, or are a caregiver or family member of a Veteran, there are resources to help you deal with specific concerns:

• If you feel that you or your Veteran is in crisis, contact the Veterans Crisis Line: 1-800-273-8255 and press “1.” You can also use the online chat, email, or texting service of the Veterans Crisis Line for immediate needs.
• Call the 24/7 Veteran Combat Call Center 1-877-WAR-VETS (1-877-927-8387) to talk to another combat Veteran, or visit the Vet Center homepage to ask about local support groups.
• The VA Caregiver Support Line provides services and support to family members who are taking care of a Veteran. Call 1-855-260-3274 or visit VA Caregiver Support.
• If you are a Veteran who wants to share your knowledge and experience with other Veterans dealing with mental health conditions, learn about VA’s Peer Specialist and Peer Support Apprentice positions.
• Defense Centers of Excellence (DCoE) Outreach Center provides 24/7 information on psychological health and traumatic brain injury. Consultants can help you locate community resources by phone (1-866-966-1020) or email.
• For children with parents who have deployed, the Department of Defense created MilitaryKidsConnect (MKC), an online resource for kids to find information and support.
• We also have a list of resources on our Help Your Veteran Get Needed Care (en Español).