Can fans make amends with Sarver?

[chickenhead]

I'm fine with skipping past Joe Johnson, Kurt Thomas, selling draft picks, and D'Antoni etc. since we've been through it a million times. But mostly because the Suns went to the WCF in 2010 with Gentry coaching. I feel like we tend to dismiss that team, but D'Antoni's Suns made the conference finals only twice. And combined this a full third of the WCF the Suns have made all-time. In my opinion the team was close then, and Sarver had the chance to make up for a lot of the mistakes and near-misses.

Instead we've seen a revolving door of players, and we're now giving him credit for signing Dragic, a player the Suns traded after that WCF for Brooks. I'm not saying we shouldn't applaud the signing: we were obviously excited when Nash was signed after being traded away himself. But it's not exactly a franchise highlight.

However, when it comes to making amends, it's not all about the on-court for all fans. The fact that Sarver tore down historic buildings for parking matters to me. The fact that we'll probably see some sort of Halloween uniform unveiled that bears no relation to the uniform I grew up with matters to me. The fact that as soon as they get a little better, Sarver's probably going to start demanding a new arena matters to me.

 

[Gaddabout]

The fact that as soon as they get a little better, Sarver's probably going to start demanding a new arena matters to me.

No, but he'd be smart to pursue a renegotiation of the lease agreement. AIRC, it was backloaded to make the Suns profitable out of the gate. Maybe extend another 10 years to get better terms and some upgrades (though I think it's still an excellent venue).

 

[Phrazbit]

I doubt he will pursue a new arena for another 10 years.

The building is in a prime location, the facilities are still considered to be excellent (because of recent re-modellings), they have plenty of luxury boxes and an ideal amount of seating. Over the past 8 years the Suns have been among the most profitable franchises in the league. Other than parking issues and maybe a new scoreboard I cant really think of what he could demand in a new arena and not screw himself with a more expensive lease in the process.

 

[chickenhead]

Both of you are more in the know so I'm sure you're right. Speaking of arenas, has their ever been a preseason game played at the Madhouse, kind of like Portland did at the Coliseum in 2009? I'd love to see a game there with throwback uniforms. With Hornacek on the sideline and McCoy on the air.

 

[Mainstreet]

Both of you are more in the know so I'm sure you're right. Speaking of arenas, has their ever been a preseason game played at the Madhouse, kind of like Portland did at the Coliseum in 2009? I'd love to see a game there with throwback uniforms. With Hornacek on the sideline and McCoy on the air.

I haven't been down to the former Madhouse for years and years so I don't know what it is like anymore, whether it would be doable. If a preseason game could be played there with throwback uniforms for the sake of nostalgia, it would be awesome.

 

[BC867]

I haven't been down to the former Madhouse for years and years so I don't know what it is like anymore, whether it would be doable. If a preseason game could be played there with throwback uniforms for the sake of nostalgia, it would be awesome.

The best way to find a good parking spot was to come in off 19th Ave, adjacent to the Madhouse. Quick entry and a quick exit while almost everyone else waited in line to the north exit at Encanto Blvd.

 

[chickenhead]

I think my last game at the Madhouse was in the Suns' final season there. Against Charlotte, and Larry Johnson was a ROOKIE. Now he's as old as Grandmama. I'd fly home for a throwback game qt the coliseum.

 

[cly2tw]

Sarver has never been cheap, but always wrong with his costs/benefit analysis, partially due to bad or inexperienced managers he employed.
In hindsight, you'd wish Amare wasn't so grateful to do the sign and trade, cos with the trade exception Sarver made the blunder of signing what's their names. Sigh.