Yes, you heard me right. The Columbus Blue Jackets are now on that ever growing list of teams in the NHL who are having some serious financial issues. Serious enough that there is growing speculation in the Columbus, Ohio area that the Blue Jackets may take Rick Nash and there odd but visually appealing uniforms someplace else.
The story from the Columbus Dispatch is RIGHT HERE
((Blue Jackets fans and arena//Photo Courtesy: Doral Chenowith III/Columbus Dispatch))
More from Columbus' Other Paper HERE, including a copy of the consultants report.
The NHL recently paid its teams a stipend from an Escrow fund started after the last strike. That alone won't solve their problems however. There are mulitiple teams in similar situations to the Blue Jackets, ranging from the obvious story in Phoenix to Atlanta to the New York Islanders and a host of other teams all of whom are hemorrhaging money right now. Some like Columbus draw fairly well, but in most cases the teams are unable to balance a lease agreement with other operating costs such as say...salaries in these tough economic times. It will be interesting to see if the Blue Jackets have a future in what is not considered a "Traditional" pro sports marketplace.
Here's a report from NBC4 in Columbus checking in with fans, local businesses, the Chamber of Commerce, and Jackets President Mike Priest...
Here are highlights from the Blue Jackets Inaugural game in October of 2000 vs. The Chicago Blackhawks. Courtesy of the You Tube:
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