My Miami Manatees Story
(I regret to inform you that David Waronker, the team owner was and still is scum and screwed his season-ticket holders. That story is here, but I leave this here unedited so you can see my enthusiasm at the time. Information in the below story may no longer be accurate.)

4 March 2003
By Eric A. Seiden
©2003, All Rights Reserved. All duplication prohibited.

Today was an exciting day. The Atlantic Coast Hockey League (ACHL) formally announced their Miami team today. Let us flash back in time for the entire story.

A member of my Florida Panthers Affiliates list (Wolfie) was kind enough to e-mail me in early January 2003 that the owner of the Orlando Seals (ACHL) had acquired the rights to an expansion team in Miami. As you know, I am a huge hockey fanatic, and this excited me to no end. I immediately went to the Orlando Seals web-site and found out that a Mr. David Waronker owned the team. I did a Google search on Mr. Waronker and quickly located CBD Development group, of which he is the president. A call to information got me the phone number for CBD.

The next morning I called CBD and tried to get in touch with Mr. Waronker, but he wasn't in. I left a message on his voice-mail, saying who I was and explaining I wanted to be his very first season ticket holder. Two days later, Mr. Peter Young called me at my office and said they'd be delighted and he'd like me to speak to them further once things were settled in, probably in February.

There were, as you may know, a number of snags and the team was not announced in February as planned. I was very disappointed because it very much looked like the team was not going to happen. I received interim e-mails from Mr. Waronker and I had also sent him a lengthy list of suggestions and offers of assistance with the new team.

I heard, finally, that team's lease was approved. I then received an e-mail from Mr. Waronker on Sunday 3-2 inviting me to attend the press conference. I was delighted, but there was a missing detail: the time and location of the press conference. Fortunately, Monday (3-3) night, at the last minute, -- well after 10pm -- I got an e-mail with the information I needed from both Mr. Waronker and Mr. Young. I confirmed my attendance by return e-mail.

The conference was today, Tuesday, 3-4, at 1pm (it was also my Mother's Birthday -- hi Mom.) I arrived earlier than expected, because there was almost no traffic. I was met at the door by Mr. Young, who introduced me to Jim Riggs (ACHL Commissioner) and Jocelyn Guevremont (Legendary Stanley Cup player), Tom, and a few other people. I spoke for about 40 minutes with them all -- they asked my input on a number of things (specifically what they should and shouldn't do to make the team work). I won't bore you with the details of the conversation but they clearly liked my ideas.

We adjourned to the depths of the arena for the press conference, and there was a nice buffet (for afterwards), jerseys from the current teams in the ACHL decorating the walls, and the new cheerleading squad. Yes, this team has some cheerleaders! At the risk of sounding a bit sexist, they certainly put a smile on my face.

The additional guests arrived over the next few minutes: the Waronkers, the Mayor of Miami, various members of MESA, and more. I was asked to sit in the front row. I was betweenNHLers Duguay and Guevremont. There were several speeches and wishes and hopes of prosperity for the new team.

The last speaker was David Waronker, the team owner, who talked about me and how I tracked him down. He surprised me by calling me up to the podium and presenting me with the team's very first practice jersey -- very cool considering the team is so new that there are no players or anything. I was congratulated and thanked by everyone on the dais.

After that, the official part of the conference was over. I was asked to stay and talk to the media. I was interviewed on camera by Channel 4 (local CBS affiliate), the Miami Herald (Greg Cote), DowntownMiami.COM (official City of Miami Internet site), and another reporter but I forget with which paper he was. During this time, many of the MESA people came over and thanked me. After that, Mr. and Mrs. Waronker expressed their appreciation to me as did Mr. Young. I had a interesting talk with Zac Boyer who had a very nice Turner Cup ring (from his IHL Houston Aeros days) which he let me examine and try. I didn't want to give it back, let me tell you.

After that, the team passed out press releases, and, I am happy to report, my name is in the very first Official Team Press Release. With the permission of the ACHL Commissioner and the permission of the Waronkers, I created a temporary Manatee home page that very night -- as I write this, the team is quite a ways off on the internet yet.

Below is a photo of me taken by the City of Miami's photographer (downtownmiami.com) at the press conference. If you go to their site, you will find a series of over a dozen photos from the conference.

(Please note that on 4-11-03 the Manatees and three other teams withdrew from the ACHL to form the inaugural season of the WHA2 league.)