Hockey Team Owner Takes Lease Negotiations Public

The Ford Center is the home of the Evansville Thunderbolts.

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Evansville Mayor Lloyd Winnecke has responded to an open letter written by Evansville IceMen owner Ron Geary about the lease agreement with the city to play in the Ford Center. Winnecke says the hockey team’s proposal would "create an additional financial hardship to the city." Geary asserts the team has lost millions because of what he says is the ECHL’s most expensive lease.

Geary also says the team "operates at a financial deficit" because of the agreement.

Winnecke calls the IceMen a "good tenant" and says the city will continue negotiations. He says the city is "working on a counter-proposal that will be financially viable" for both parties. Winnecke adds he "remains optimistic" about the future of the IceMen in Evansville.

Geary says he is "cautiously optimistic" a deal would be reached within two weeks, which he says is the deadline teams must submit schedules of available home game dates to the league. "Unless we can obtain a lease and deliver game dates for the 2016-2017 season to the league by December 1, the team will not make the 2016-2017 season." Geary also also claims the city changed the terms of the initial 2011 lease he had "discussed for months" prior to signing it. He says "I had to sign or lose the team." In the letter to fans, Geary adds the team brings $1.2 million in annual revenue to the Ford Center.