City Refutes Battalion's Claims as Team Skates into Sunset
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The Berkshire Battalion's owner claims the city was throwing up hurdles to the team's return. |
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The city administrator on Wednesday elaborated on some of the circumstances surrounding last week's abrupt departure of a semi-pro hockey team.
On Friday, the owner of the Federal Hockey League's Berkshire Battalion changed course and announced that he was moving the team from North Adams' Peter W. Foote Vietnam Veterans Memorial Rink after one season.
This week, Bill Dadds used the team's Facebook page to accuse the city of "changing the game" during discussions about a lease for the 2015-16 season.
"[City Administrator Michael Canales] and the Mayor were not giving [the lease] to me until all debts were paid," Dadds wrote. "My hands were tied.
"I would have paid debts off but my gut feeling was Canalas [sic] would have made new demands. I needed to move on."
Canales said Wednesday that the city's administration had high hopes for the Battalion but was not in a position to subsidize the team.
"The city was simply hoping that no local vendor or the city would lose money," Canales wrote in an email seeking comment. "The mayor wanted the Battalion to be our 'winter SteepleCats,' bringing a high level of sporting activity and excitement to the rink."
Dadds, who bought the team at the end of last season, acquired a franchise with a number of debts that continue to go unpaid. The debts the city knows about include more than $2,000 to North Adams Ambulance Service for an EMT at the rink during games and $4,725.50 to the City of North Adams for police details at the games.
A local dentist also has an outstanding bill of between $300 and $400, Canales said.
"The city had 'requested' payment from Mr. Dadds months ago when he took ownership of the team," Canales said. "Past due debts were regular topics of conversation and we were 'assured' payment.
"The mayor did tell Mr. Dadds on several occasions that a new contract with the Battalion would not be signed until local vendors/bills were taken care of."
On another front, Dadds' Monday morning Facebook post accused the city of attempting to keep the team from rehiring last year's coach, Darin Lane. In the spring, Lane lost his job as rink manager after he admitted taking money from the operation.
"They also lied about Darin," Dadds wrote, referring to city officials. "They said he was able to come back. But as of today he still not able to enter building [sic]."
Canales said that Lane was told a month ago that he was allowed back in rink and that Dadds was informed of that fact.
"The city would no more tell the Battalion that Mr. Lane could not be general manager/coach than we would tell the Youth Hockey League who could be their president," Canales wrote. "The city provides a venue -- the rink. All we ask is that agreements are respected and bills get paid."
Canales said that the FHL's reputation did not affect the Battalion's ability to make a deal with North Adams.
In the last two years alone:
♦ The Williamsport Outlaws' owner was sued by the city of Williamsport, N.Y., in 2014 for failure to pay bills.
♦ Last September, when it was unclear whether the Battalion would receive approval from the Department of Conservation and Recreation to use the state-owned Peter W. Foote rink, an FHL official told iBerkshires.com that the league would never sell tickets or merchandise until a lease was secured ... and then the league started selling tickets and merchandise before the lease was finalized.
♦ The Battalion's previous owners fired head coach Dan Farrell 19 games into the season with no explanation and the team (9-10 at the time) firmly in playoff contention. The popular Lane was elevated from player/coach status to head coach to take his place.
♦ The owner of the Steel City Warriors skipped town without paying the players last winter.
♦ The city of Danbury, Conn., evicted the FHL's Whalers last spring over nonpayment of rent.
"Early in the venture, the city was warned about the FHL as to their mode of operation," Canales said. "That said, conversations were had to mitigate any issues. Despite that, some entities were left 'holding the bag.' "
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