Uncertain Future Clouds Whoopee's Offseason Feburary 11, 2002

By Phillip Ramati
Telegraph Staff Writer

Now that the Macon Whoopee's season is over, the annual question as always is: Will there be another one?

The annual answer, as always: Who knows?

It really wouldn't be a Whoopee offseason if it didn't involve reports of the team's imminent demise, changing leagues or some other such stuff that creates a flurry of rumors over the Internet.

It doesn't help the fact that there have been few definitive answers over the team's future.

Macon Sports Group majority partner Brother Stewart, who has been leasing the Whoopee's ECHL franchise from the Elmore-Tuttle Sports in Utah, has yet to find out what Elmore-Tuttle's plans for the team are for next season.

Repeated phone calls to Utah Grizzlies president Tim Mouser, who examined Macon's situation for Elmore-Tuttle several weeks ago, have not been returned.

Despite being competitive for most of its first season in the ECHL - Macon was battling for a playoff spot until its final month - the Whoopee drew just 100,480 for the season, an average of 2,791 tickets sold per 36 home games, 26th out of the 29-team league. According to Centreplex officials, when the drop was taken into account, the average actual attendance (fans through the turnstiles) was about 1,100 less.

To further cloud the team's future, a new minor league called the Atlantic Coast Hockey League, aimed at younger, college-level players, is hoping to launch in October. Rumors across the Internet have said that Macon will move into the ACHL next year. In truth, ACHL founder Bill Coffey only had preliminary conversations with Stewart months ago.

"We have ongoing negotiations with several cities," said Coffey, who previously owned the Fayetteville Force in the Central Hockey League. "I don't know if Brother Stewart has any interest in it at all.

"I don't know what the status is of the league they're in. It's been a while since we talked. The Internet is probably the worst thing in the world for rumors."

"What it boils down to is if you look at the ACHL and ECHL, I don't see any change from where we were four months ago," Stewart said.

The ACHL plans to announce five franchises next week. Fayetteville is expected to be one, while newspaper reports to be from among Tallahassee, Jacksonville, Orlando, Winston-Salem and Knoxville.

The uncertainty of the future has frustrated both fans and members of the team alike.

The Whoopee, which is temporarily relocating its offices this week because of renovations at the Coliseum, hasn't been able to start selling season tickets or corporate sponsorship for next season because it doesn't know what the team's status will be.

"We're going about business as usual when it comes to dealing with some accounts," said Whoopee sales director Darren Roberts. "We will deal with other issues such as season tickets and corporate sponsorship when we have a better grasp of next season. Once we know where we stand, we'll contact our corporate partners and season ticket holders immediately."

The uncertainty also may affect how the Whoopee's on-ice product next season, assuming there is one.

"The uncertainty was a little difficult for everyone this year," said Whoopee captain Milt Mastad. "It was a bit of a distraction when we were talking to fans and having them ask us what was going to happen. We didn't have any more answers. We've embraced this city. If there is no team next year, a lot of guys will be upset if we don't come back."

The situation is especially tough for Whoopee coach Gord Dineen, who will have a more difficult time recruiting players if he doesn't know the status of the team. In addition, Dineen has to decide his own future. Greensboro has shown some interest in interviewing Dineen for its coaching job.

"I've spoken to Gord, and I've spoken to Brother Stewart about talking to Gord," said Generals owner Rocco Scarfone. "We've had some conversations, but we wanted to wait until after the season to talk. There is uncertainty about our coaching job. I'm not saying we won't stay with our interim coach (Alex Godynyuk, who replaced former Whoopee coach Graeme Townshend late in the season). I feel highly about Gord. He brings a lot to the table. I anticipate after this week we'll touch base. We want to make a decision real quick so we can start building the team."

For his part, Dineen is hoping there will be ECHL hockey in Macon next season.

"I think the situation (over the Whoopee's future) will be resolved fairly quickly," Dineen said. "I'm going to be watching playoff games this spring and evaluating guys.

"It won't hurt me one way or the other. I'd be crazy if I didn't consider other opportunities. The job market is shrinking. I'd never not listen to offers. But my allegiance is to Macon; my loyalty is here."

Stewart said he wouldn't stand in the way if Dineen received another offer.

"If anyone can improve themselves, I'm all for it," he said. "I'd hate to lose him, though."

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