New "News" From The Erie Freeze!

[scooter]

Without arena deal, Freeze appear finished in Erie
Indoor football team, booted from league, loses lease at Tullio

BY RON LEONARDI
[e-mail] [more details]



Published: November 30. 2007 6:00AM


The Erie Freeze's lease agreement for Tullio Arena has been terminated, and Freeze owner Dave Hodas can't say if the indoor football team will return.

In an official letter to Hodas dated Nov. 6, Erie County Convention Center Authority executive director Casey Wells wrote that the team is in default of a one-year lease set to expire today.

According to the terms of the agreement, the Convention Center Authority could terminate its lease with the Freeze if the team no longer was a member of the American Indoor Football Association.

In early October, the AIFA declined the Freeze as a league member. AIFA officials stipulated that significant changes in the Freeze's ownership structure would be required for the Freeze to rejoin the AIFA.

Hodas, 27, who has described himself as a real estate investor, attempted to sell the franchise this past summer before a deal fell through.


"Our plans over the last couple of months focused on an attempt to get a buyer and carry on with the organization, but that didn't happen," Hodas said Thursday. "Our chances of playing next season without a buyer were very slim. It's disappointing. It's a business decision I hated to see. After last season, we made some hard decisions. If we couldn't find some people to step up and buy the team, it didn't seem like a smart move on my part to go ahead."

Wells said he sent Hodas a lease agreement renewal package for evaluation in October and requested that Hodas respond within 14 days. Wells said he did not hear from Hodas, and as late as Thursday has been unable to contact the Freeze owner.

"I wanted to give him some time to patch up their problems with their existing league and see what he could bring to the table for next season," Wells said.

Wells said he and Hodas were scheduled to meet more than a month ago, but Hodas canceled and never rescheduled.

In October, after the AIFA declined Erie's membership renewal, Hodas said he would consider trying to align with the 14-team Continental Indoor Football League, or taking a season off and trying to rejoin the AIFA in 2009.


"There is still some possibility of a team for 2008 in another league, but if not in 2008, I'll put all of my interest in putting together something for 2009," Hodas said Thursday. "If the Continental League has gone to schedule for next season, the likelihood of having a team next season are slim. There are other options, but the Continental League might be the best viable option."

It won't be an option for 2008. The Continental League released its schedule Nov. 20.

The Convention Center Authority leased office space to the Freeze at 110 E. Eighth St. Wells, in his letter to Hodas, said the organization has until the close of business Dec. 6 to remove its office belongings. If the Freeze do not comply, Wells said the Authority would seize the property and sell it at auction.

"We've moved roughly half of it and we should have the rest of that stuff out of there by that date," Hodas said. "It's some office stuff and football stuff. If we can't get it all out (by Dec. 6), we may be able to file an extension (with the Authority)."

After reaching the AIFL championship game as a charter member of the then-Atlantic Indoor Football Association in 2005, and following with a successful 2006 season, the Freeze slumped to 1-13 this past season.


"We had a good relationship with the Freeze during the time they were in operation," Wells said.

RON LEONARDI can be reached at 870-1680 or by e-mail.

[scooter]

This was in the Erie Times News this morning.
I don't know how to even start to respond to this article.

[Canton Cougar Fan]

This is very sad. At one time the Freeze were the class of the league.

I hope they get a team back there. Good people there who love their team.

[picman]

I will miss standing with the chillars while taking my pictures during the game

[Free Agent Fan]

scooter said:

This was in the Erie Times News this morning.
I don't know how to even start to respond to this article.

I saw this at 4 am at work. Union shop, get to read paper and drink coffee for awhile. As for responding to this, I have a few things to say. The trying to sell the team part: I personally had two different potential buyers. And forwarded all the info to DH. Nothing ever came of it, reason being, the asking price was astronomical.(and not enough assets to even come close to that figure). I do know that a private company was also trying to help sell the team. The CIFL part: It had nothing to do with the release of the schedule. The Freeze were denied admission into their league. Pretty sad, because that would be a step down and we still couldn't do it. Not that I would support that league, because that sure in the hell isn't happening. The couldn't get in contact part and not rescheduling part: Imagine that! There were bigger issues this past year then going 1-13. And it was all about the money.(won't go into those details, don't want to get a defamation lawsuit). All efforts into getting a team back in 2009 part: I do see this happening, but........not with current ownership, and not being called the Freeze.

the AIFA declined the Freeze as a league member. AIFA officials stipulated that significant changes in the Freeze's ownership structure would be required for the Freeze to rejoin the AIFA.

[TNmike]

"There is still some possibility of a team for 2008 in another league, but if not in 2008, I'll put all of my interest in putting together something for 2009," Hodas said Thursday. "If the Continental League has gone to schedule for next season, the likelihood of having a team next season are slim. There are other options, but the Continental League might be the best viable option."

Reading this, it sounds like Hodas still plan on running the team. Has I said in a previous post, if Hodas still owns the team and they some how play again, I don't plan on attending any games because I refuse to give him any of my money.

[Canton Cougar Fan]

Hey, we've all got free tickets to the Canton at Erie game this year!

Oh, nevermind.

[Free Agent Fan]

Busy day today. Did a road trip to Monroeville for a toy show with Star Wars Actors, Lost in Space Actors, and old Playboy models. Then returned to attend the Erie Otter game(they won in a shoot out 5-4). But a few interesting things happened during all of this. First, while in Pittsburgh. I received a phone call about someone from J'town interested in ownership of a team in Erie.(Not the group of local people that are also interested). Then at the Otter game, I noticed the Erie Freeze memorial cubicle disappeared.(probably find that on E-Bay soon). Most of the people that I know or know me at the game had questions. One, they want a team back bigtime. The fans that attended those games are begging for the return of football. I told them for next year, go see the Riverrats, thats where alot of our players and associates are going to be at. Secondly, the people that work the Civic Center are also begging. Without football they just lost money from not working at those games. After every period while smoking outside. I fielded as many questions as I could. Hopefully in 2009 football will return to Erie.

..........And Ron, I don't see the free game happening, unless new ownership would honor those broken promises.

[TNmike]

Hold on there a minute Joe, the Otters won a game??

[Canton Cougar Fan]

shimadajoe said:

Busy day today. Did a road trip to Monroeville for a toy show with Star Wars Actors, Lost in Space Actors, and old Playboy models.

Only Joe could combine Chewbacca, Dr. Smith and Playgrandpa models.

Unreal.