Gorman's Grab Bag

SMG is the winner

Mayor Jay Williams announced Friday that he is recommending that SMG manage the Chevy Centre for the city.

They certainly have the experience, with running over 200 arenas around the world. But none of those arenas are in Youngstown.

Eric Ryan and his management company, which has been running the building since Global Entertainment was booted out in October, will stay in place because Williams told City Council Friday that the city wants a local presence at the facility after the fiasco with Global, which was based in Arizona.

Williams and his finance director, Dave Bozanich, said leaving Ryan in place also saves money for SMG, because they do not have to devote the resources necessary to start a local network for the arena.

What I know of SMG is they used to own the Civic, now Mellon Arena, and were putting the screws to the Pittsburgh Penguins on the lease so bad that it almost drove them to bankruptcy. If memory serves me correctly, Mario Lemieux stepped in and saved the Pens, but I am not sure if SMG still runs the arena or not.

I am looking forward to their experience in running arenas in hockey cities and see if their marketing people can increase attendance and visibilty for the SteelHounds.