Zoldan criticizes city’s study of Covelli Centre’s future
YOUNGSTOWN
The future of the Youngstown Phantoms remains anything but clear as the amateur hockey team heads into the homestretch of its fourth USHL season.
A recent study commissioned by Youngstown recommended the city stop providing the Covelli Centre for Phantoms’ home games.
Phantoms owner Bruce Zoldan criticized the study as “juvenile. My feeling is that the city wasted a lot of money on that report.”
Zoldan believes the eight-year-old arena needs a sports anchor.
“I want to be there next year and will make every effort to do so.”
However, Zoldan said it would be foolish to pay $75,000 to the city to ensure the team’s fifth season.
Comments
Somebody should tell Zoldan to go pound salt. He's the reason the Cavaliers minor league team isn't in Youngstown. That's a far, far better draw than his rinky dink glorified high school team. He held up that entire deal.
he's getting something for nothing and he doesn't want that to go away. too bad we'll never know what threats he's making privately.
This guy has had all kinds of breaks from all parts of our government. I'll bet none of his employees earn a living wage with good benefits.
It's time for Zolden to pay his fair share, give some back to the community which gave him all kinds of breaks...
Uh, Mr. Right, what breaks? Pay his fair share? Let's see...... EVERY YEAR:
-He gives seasonal jobs to hundreds of people every spring/summer.
-He gives fireworks shows for both the Covelli Centre and YSU.
-He receives numerous requests for donations of fireworks from non-profits and LOCAL GOVERNMENTS who can no longer budget for fireworks in their Fourth of July fesitivites.
You may question him or the way he does business, but don't question his lack of giving. As a former employee, who admittedly would not return to work for him if asked, the fireworks industry is quite unique and he does what he needs to do and does a pretty damn good job at it.
And did you miss the fact that his budget accounts for the fact that he's losing money with the Phantoms? It's about quality of life options for the people of the valley.
ailierdroit,
You sound more like a current employee/family member than ex-employee, as i've never heard a single good thing said about the working conditions there. The only "Juvenile" thing here is Mr. Zoldans ego. He forces his employees to work the hockey games, so that they can see where the raise money has gone, first hand, for the past 5-6 years. Yes no raises in YEARS because of "the bad economy", yet somehow he can afford to blow 200k+ a year on his rich boy toy.