Los Angeles real-estate developer Gil Peled has purchased majority ownership of the Des Moines Buccaneers. Peled, along with Des Moines Businessman Shawn Edwards who kept his interest in the team, will now look to make improvements to Buccaneers Arena (95KGGO Arena) in time for the 2009-2010 season.
Edwards, who has been a part of a group of individuals with interest in the Buccaneers since 2004, will continue to be the managing partner of the organization, but with new goals. Edwards says the sale of the team will allow him to have "more involvement in the future of the team and the arena." Edwards will now focus on what he has wanted to do for quite some time; making major upgrades to the arena and developing it into a multi-purpose facility. "I'm excited about what this will mean for the city of Urbandale, central Iowa, and Bucs fans." Edwards said, "A 4,500 seat multi-purpose facility here in Urbandale will certainly open the door for more quality events, more revenue being brought into the community, and a home for Buccaneers fans that they deserve".
Edwards went on to say that "Gil's attraction to the team was actually more of an attraction to the building and its potential, and his enthusiasm and devotion to the sport." A former pro soccer player himself, Peled has always had a passion for sports - hockey in particular - with his son currently playing in the North American Hockey League. Peled's success in real-estate, however, should give the community the most excitement.
One thing that Edwards and Peled agree on, however, is not to change the character of the arena which hockey fans have loved for nearly 50 years. Peled said there are some similarities between this arena and other older buildings such as Joe Louis Arena in Detroit and the old Boston Garden, saying "when you walk into those places and here (95KGGO Arena) you can feel history; and I don't want to lose that."
The sale of the team has been more than a year in the making with many plans already on the drawing board. Plans which are being considered include a new entrance, luxury sky-boxes, a new sound system, new locker rooms and restrooms, and a larger renovated Blackbeard's Lounge with a full-service sports bar. A start date for the construction has not yet been announced.
With this sale, I'll put a guarantee here that Ami Peled, Gil's son, will be a Buccaneer next season.
I like the part about new restrooms. DM has to have some of the worst bathrooms in the league.
30 comments:
Agreed. I think I got a concussion the last time I used the bathroom in Des Moines. I'm not too sure about making it a 4,500 seat venue though.
not only will you get renovations on the arena in Des Moines, you'll get Peled's son on the team whether he deserves to be or not.
I think they can do an expansion, adding 1,000 seats. There's not a lot of available land there, but I think there is enough.
Now, someone PLEASE tell them to move the press area to the side of the arena and out of the corner where it is now!
A New defenseman for the Urbandale Buc's next year from their "farm team" the Southern Minn Express.
http://www.pointstreak.com/prostats/playerpage.html?playerid=1447220&seasonid=2025
I hope they either cover those heating ducts some of their fans incessantly bang on (like cowbells) or move the press box to cover them up.
ETC
I'm sure they can do the expansion, it'll probably cost A LOT of money though. I just think it's a better idea to keep the supply more in line with demand. Fans aren't camping outside for USHL hockey like in the past. But the Bucs have done well this season. They could probably just bump ticket prices up a bit to increase revenue without making such a large investment.
Peled is a class act. I think he will do well for the Bucs. His son is also a great kid. It's just he's not good enough for the USHL. That might be the Bucs biggest issue next if Peled demands that he plays like he did in Southern Minnesota.
If you look at the plus minus for the Peled kid it is decieving. He changed number in December with a kid that was +9 when he left the team. He has improved from the beginning but he is now where close to ready.
I have heard from a good source that the Peled player is already on the Buc's team. We all know that is one part of the "deal". Regg will now be more of a "puppet" to Shawn then he already is.
I hear the S. Minn coaches are all tired of being "puppets" to Peled this season!
Why do you need a bigger arena? The capacity now is ok. Make some smaller renovations and call it a day. Des Moines has the Fargo Arena downtown...how much more do you need?!
Peled's son is on the team. I heard this direct from a NAHL coach. Good luck to the Buc's, another year in the cellar!
That could very well be true about Peled already on the team. Last the fall, the new owners of the Express came in and bumped out two spots for their boys. They are not good players and it has hurt the organization because these kids play over better players on the roster. Same thing will likely happen in Des Moines. Peled just keeps buying bigger playgrounds for his son.
Yes, a new farm team for the Buc's is indeed S. Minn (NAHL)! Now the Buc's have two master puppeteers in Edwards and Peled.
Look out Regg! Maybe he should call the current S. Minn coach and find out how "fun" this season has been!
Peled's kid is minus 14 for the year with So. Minny.
The so. mn coach came in with the new owners. He's no better and also not a very good coach. So. Mn was stacked with players this year and they are in the middle of the pack. They should be one of the top two teams in the league. Poor management and terrible coaching.
defensemen for the Bucs! Get ready to sit out behind the owner's kid.
here's a toast to the Bucs staying for a long time!
-gbpuckfan
Looking at the stats for the Bucs, the Peled kid should fit in just fine.
Having the Peled kid play is no worse then 2 local players on the Buc's! Look at the roster changes this season, they have "dumped" players with more points then the 2 locals. How many USHL teams have 2 locals playing? None! That is Edwards "work" and now Peled can help the cause.
Buc's cellar dwellars forever! :)
Yeah, I looked it up. Two locals for the Buc's for the past two years. I didn't see another team like that! Good luck to Regg, he will have Edwards on one side and Peled on the other. I think that is called the "sandwich" play! ;)
Yeah, good investigation on Shawn and his sons. They have a lot in common with Peled's son, which is not near enough talent to play in the USHL. It sounds like the changes in the old rink will be great, too bad the team won't be great!
Hey hey it's Sami Liimatainen all over again!
Great new toilets in bathrooms. It will match the new level of play. Peled doesn't sound like a class act period. What kind of dad doesn't show his kid that hard work and pradtice pay off? Oh yeah, the kind that just buys his kid.
-Bucs fan in S.Falls
What happened to Shawn Edwards hockey player sons link to look up their stats? I thought that was great Ryan! Well, enough said for all of that. Shawn and Peled will have alot in common to talk about and drink beer together. They both have $$, but neither one of them can buy their sons hockey talent with their money!(only teams!) Too bad, so sad! :( ;(
Des Moines' two local players certainly deserve their spots. Derek Elliott initially played for the team as an emergency fill-in in 2005-06, but he did okay and worked his way onto the team. Dewhurst is a fairly speedy player with good agility who also works hard and plays bigger than his size. Maybe one could complain about Dewhurst last year, but he appears to have been worth the investment. Plus, Dewhurst came out of Culver Academy to the Bucs. After all, Dewhurst has a D1 scholarship and so does Elliott. Sioux City had Kevin Lohry not too long ago. Now and again, a USHL team has a hometown player, but they generally prove to be worth it. The Bucs have a decent history of given talented local players a shot, like Mark and Brad Krueger, Chad Costello, and Roch Naert. Not all of those worked out with the Bucs, but none of them were poor players. Yeah, Naert was released early, and yeah Costello was let go after his one season (but regrouped well), and Brad Krueger only played the one season their, but he did pretty well the next season with the North Iowa Outlaws in the NAHL. Des Moines produce junior caliber players with some frequency, so...
Also, I didn't think Sami Liimitainen was a bad player.
One might complain of Goebel a bit in Ohio for reasons similar to Liimitainen, but the younger Goebel seems worthy of his spot, too.
As for renovations to Buc Arena, I'll be very interested in seeing how they can make all those necessary changes without almost having to entirely replace the building. I'm no architect, so I don't know precisely what interior walls are more weight-bearing than others, but... Buc Arena could certainly use nicer rest rooms and nicer locker rooms. What a project.
If they can actually make the renovations they say they will, then I will certainly tolerate having Ami Peled on the team. Who knows, maybe by the end he'll be of USHL caliber.
The rink is horrible and the team sucks, new ownership and an outstanding hockey player (seen Peled play) will only put the Bucs to an advantage.
Any positive comments on this site about Ami Peled's play is from his dad. When Gil bought the So. MN team he spoke highly of it, talked about the support of the community... Brought in a new GM, got rid of the coach, sound familiar? Then he moved the team. So get ready for the last year of Bucs hockey in Des Moines, because from what I read it's the same song. Ami has no business playing hockey at this level, Gil HAD to buy a team to have him play and he wrecked a perfectly good thing in MN, looks like he is doing the same thing here.
Hey mister I guess you dont know this but..... that is old news!!
Tell me, who freaking cares? We dont!
You are not a Buc Fan, cause there just aint no hockey like our Buc's hockey!
Sorry I upset you Gil.
Hey mister, my name is Bruce, and I live in Des Moines and I am a Buc's fan complete with the head gear and the jerseys to boot! :)
I know one thing for sure, if you are in the area, then I will be seeing you at the madhouse eh? Cause guys like you and me cannot keep away. You are completely obsessed, enthrolled and captivated. So see you later alligator! After while crocodile!
Go Buc's!
There aint no hockey like our Buc's hockey!
I must say i love this blog. I have been playing hockey in Des Moines since I was 3 and have had close ties with the Bucs since before then having had a family member that worked for them and being good friends with some of the players. This past weekend I took part in the Bucs Invite Camp and was pleased with the talent there compared to what i saw last weekend at the Indiana Ice invite. However, I would have to agree with those using the term "Puppet master" to describe Mr. Peled. He is a great guy, but he will pull the strings and wheel the coaches just like he did in Southern Minnesota. Pat Cullen resigned or was fired because he would not play Ami, this is the story (I have spoken with Pat he coached me for a few summers). This past weekend Ami was clearly out of his league, he did not stand out and definitely was not worthy of being in the all-star game. He will contribute nothing to the team this year other than taking up space, but the good news is I don't believe Mr. Peled can buy a college so i don't think we will see Ami continue his hockey career after the next 2 years. And yes after those 2 years Gil will probably sell the team...again.
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