Casino Connection Atlantic City

Hello & Goodbye

April showers a variety of sports themes

by Dave Bontempo

April marks a bizarre revolving door on the Atlantic City sports scene. Franchise relocation, unique events and the return of tradition encompass a potpourri from hockey to baseball to mixed martial arts. In the theme of the Beatles' "Hello-Goodbye," let's examine the scene. YOU SAY YES: An excellent mixed martial arts competition comes to Boardwalk Hall April 2 via Reality Fighting VIII. Everything from kickboxing to Brazilian jiu-jitsu unfolds in this most frenzied assemblage of contact sports. Submissions can be instantaneous. Grappling, stand-up striking, mounts, guards, side-controls and explosive attacks mark this athletic smorgasbord. Fighters seek to nudge the style of the bout to their strengths. Ground fighters don't want to be hit. Hard punchers and kickers try to avoid the mat. Submission experts look for one hold to decide the match. This is fast, furious, instant-gratification entertainment. I SAY NO: A sad farewell to the Bullies, who scrapped valiantly to entice fans but fell short in their four-year history, despite numerous playoff appearances and a 2003 Kelly Cup. Owner George Shinn lost approximately $5 million during the Bullies' tenure. The Bullies conclude their regular season in early April. When the club announced intentions to move to Stockton, California next year, it was embroiled in a five-way fight for four playoff berths. While the playoffs would represent an encore, local fans have just a short time to view an excellent product. YOU SAY STOP: To consider future tactics. Hockey does remain bright according to Greg Tesone, assistant general manager for Boardwalk Hall. Though its largest tenant disappears with 36 dates, Tesone believes another team will arrive here next year or the season after. A North Jersey purchasing group was lined up to purchase any ECHL team looking to relocate. Paperwork needed to be finished by April 1 to allow a team to operate here in 2005. Through the winter, hockey was a 50-50 bet for this October and a 75-25 probability for 2006. But can new owners defeat an old marketing problem? "I still think hockey has the best chance to succeed here," Tesone says. "Basketball already has a minor league with the college level, so a minor-league team here is not an easy proposition. The Card Sharks (indoor football), I believe, rushed their product to the market. If they could have done it again, they would have spent a year marketing it. Baseball is not easy just because of the number of games. But hockey can still do well enough here. "No hockey team is guaranteed to be a huge success, because of the size of this market and the competition in this market. But a team can still operate here and be profitable." Tesone's tips to the next hockey operator: aggressively pursue support from street-hockey associations and the schools. He also considers areas like Ocean County fertile enough to be tapped. Potential hockey owners observe a double-edged reality in Atlantic City. The Hall is a state-of-the-art facility, one of the best in the entire ECHL. The downside remains limited income streams. Parking produces no money, while concessions and merchandising thrive only with increased attendance. "I think the Bullies management and staff did a tremendous job trying to increase ticket sales and revenues," Tesone says. "There was only so much they could do. It would help the next owner to be visible, not be several states away (Shinn was based in North Carolina). It's nice for the owner to sit in the stands, mingle with the people. Outside of Atlantic City, there are not enough people who know there is a team here." AND I SAY GO, GO, GO: Welcome back to the Surf, Atlantic City's granddaddy of professional sports teams. The Surf inaugurates its eighth season April 28 against the Newark Bears at 6:35 p.m. Two nights later, the first Fireworks Night appears. The Surf plays its first six games at home and has 15 dates at the Sandcastle before the end of May. Special appreciation engulfs them this year because they have survived the South Jersey marketing jinx that dismantled numerous minor-league entities. Administrators cringe over the number of home dates prior to the warm summer months, but early-season games offer excellent opportunities for ticket holders. Brave some windy weather, plunk less than $10 and you've beaten the masses. Throughout the years, the Surf has produced personalities like Ruben Sierra, who later returned to the major leagues, starring with the Yankees. The Surf captured the first-half title last year and tied a club record with 71 wins. More Beatles. In a perfect world, the area sports teams will not endure "A Hard Day's Night." April packs a well-stocked sports menu. For area fans and casino employees, it's quite a ‘Ticket to Ride." Enjoy it.

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