jdub27

Absolutely false. The article specifically stated she reached out to the Herald and requested a sit down interview. And what friends does she have at the Herald? She made it clear she doesn't have ties here.

Probably because UND wasn't having huge budget issues so there was no need to revisit it and everyone just signed off. A new contract is supposed to be signed every year.

The Betty is being repaid exactly as it should, which is through the revenue share of UND and the REA plus operating profits from other events. The revenue share is supposed to be revisited every year. There is a decade plus old article out there with Jody Hodgson saying exactly that if you don't believe it.

It's almost like the revenue split contract is reviewed and then renewed every year....it just hasn't changed for a for a while and now it's being brought up. Oh wait, that's exactly what is happening.

Also should point out that the usage agreement is supposed to be updated yearly on the revenue split, however it has been approved as-is for a significant period of time with no changes (if not since inception). I guess Kennedy asking for an update to that is causing the issues.

I guess it depends on which entity you want to look at (probably the first one) but these are the most recent board members/officers listed. UND Arena Services, Inc - Managing and providing stewardship and oversight services with respect to the ownership, operation and maintenance of athletic facilities for the benefit of the Unviersity of North Dakota Athletic Department, and engaging in any other charitable, educations, or scientific activity as permitted by IRC Section 501 (C)(3) Jeff Cooper, President Aron Anderson, Vice President Kris McGarry, Secretary/Treasurer Earl Strinder, Director Greg Gerloff, Director Robert Peabody, Director Alice Brekke, Director Michael Bergeron, CFO UND Sports Facilities, Inc - To operate and maintain a multipurpose sports and entertainment arena in Grand Forks, ND, primarily used for University of North Dakota athletics and activities Earl Strinden, President Aron Anderson, Secretary/Treasurer Alice Brekke, Vice President Jody Hodgson, General Manager Michael Bergeron, CFO RE Arena Inc - To manage a sports arena for the benefit of UND Sports Facilities, Inc Jody Hodgson, President Kris McGarry, Vice President Jeffrey Cooper, Treasurer Aron Anderson, Director Earl Strinden, Secretary Michael Bergeron, CFO

Two main points to make: The sports that use (used) the REA (MIH, WIH, MBB, WBB, VB) all made sense to include in the ticket revenue split since that is what is considered "rent". Obviously MIH carries the majority of that weight and subsidize some of the other users of the facility, which is fine. However the loss of WIH had minimal impact to ticket revenue stream that was split and has provided the REA with 5-6 extra weekends per year to book other events they didn't have prior and cut down on staffing costs, which they were losing money on due to lack of attendance at those events. UND is using the facility less overall. Renegotiating the contract because of that change is very logical. I'm not sure why football ticket revenue was ever included in the agreement, particularly when UND is billed separately for ticket administration services provided by the REA. There's absolutely no arguing the REA has been a net positive for UND. The relationship is intentionally convoluted, mainly for tax purposes and allowing the REA to do some things UND would not be able to. That being said, re-looking at how things have been operating isn't a bad thing and there are some changes that likely should be made.

Alabama would be in the exact same spot today if their nickname was the Hawks, Eagles, Bulldogs or whatever. They built the identity and popularity through success, not because their nickname or logo was original. The argument that UND can't be special or unique because they lost one nickname (that no one else had) and replaced it with another (that other have similar variations of) is a complete fallacy.

Both were stated goals. It appears the current arrangement is leaning much more towards one than the other. Clarification, the 52% is considered the "rent" for the facility. The REA also charges UND for ticket handling/box office management on a separate line item, which makes the part about football ticket revenue being included all the more controversial. There is a legitimate argument that some funds are being funneled away from football because of this.

Alabama's logo is either a script A or a goofy looking elephant and their nickname came from the color of mud on white football jerseys a century ago. Neither of those are the reasons for their success or popularity.

I never said the logo/nickname wasn't unique, I said it didn't give the fans some special power of being different from all the other millions of college sports fans. The identity is in the college, some of the most popular schools in the nation have no problem being at the top with what people would consider an unoriginal or bland nickname, because it's the school that makes the nickname what it is, not the other way around.

You seem to ignore that UND hockey is where it is because it got $100 million in a "welfare" gift. Prior to the REA, it wasn't exactly bringing home the bacon. That gift was for the betterment of UND athletics, not just UND hockey, which is what it has slowly morphed into.

The Fargodome was paid for by city sales tax and NDSU just rents the facility, the agreement would be similar to what UND has with the Alerus Center. Doubtful there is a revenue split on tickets, though there might be something in terms of suites or concessions but it will still not be comparable to UND/REA

Kennedy is a successful businessman and politician, both of which require negotiating skills and the latter, significant fundraising. That makes me question some of the accusations thrown at him, however also leads me to believe the REA didn't take kindly to the request to renegotiate the contract between the two.

Sounds like they did, multiple years before Kennedy was hired, outside of anything that was pledged during to the Spirit campaign. On top of that, you take a look at the Foundation pulling their UNLV donation, you start to wonder what more there is to the story. Regardless of her personal feelings, the mission of the REA is to support UND and its athletics and she sits on that board, so she has a duty to carry out that mission.

Still doesn't explain why she's calling the Herald, unprompted, for a sit down interview. If she could not care less about UND, why take the time to start what she knew was going to be a giant mess and drag everyone through the mud? If she doesn't care what anyone thinks, the easy answer is to just ignore Kennedy and quit giving money. This was set off for a reason.

Here's the outline of the relationship and most recent year's financials. Not sure why the Herald doesn't bother to post it.

Revenues for the bar are taxable and they still pay real estate taxes.

So if a current contract isn't possibly being followed to the detriment of UND or there is legitimate reason to renegotiate it, he should just ignore that? No one knows what was actually said or discussed. What we know is one side called the local newspaper, flew into town to give their side of the story in person and make the whole thing public. Let's be honest, all this does is give those who already have some sort of grudge against Kennedy (including the Herald) a chance to pile on, when he's doing something he stated he would a few months back and look at renegotiating contracts with partners, including the REA.

Better question is why does a facility that is still a year or two away from being 15 years old have such a leaky roof? Seems like there is more to that than the Herald went into because it doesn't add up.

The Foundation made a pledge in 2011 and fulfilled that. They didn't give anything beyond that, which predates Kennedy by multiple years. Really wondering what the motive is here. Calling the Herald and flying in for a sit-down? She also seems to be making thinly veiled threats of her own: If Kennedy is right and there are some discrepancies in the the current arrangement which are negatively benefiting UND, then trying to right that is his job. Let's not forget the actual arrangement between UND and the REA as it sits today and remember UND is now using the facility less by dropping WIH (which both the REA and UND were losing money on): Here are the details on last year's financials between the two entities: You think the Herald would have bothered to put some of this out there considering it is the basis for the strained relationship.

How exactly do you propose they do that other than a messy legal battle that likely doesn't end in their favor? The contracts that turn it over were signed decades ago.

That article, which needs to be pointed out was requested by the Engelstad's, seems like a whole lot of nothing. They are unhappy UND wants to renegotiate the revenue split, which seems like a reasonable request given the change in usage.

I'm just quoting this in case you realize how dumb the whole thing is and delete it. AHL team? Mayville State? Your ignorance shines as bright as ever on this one. Has absolutely nothing to do with it, but keep trying to drive that wedge. Not everything involves your precious.

Keep your pants on, just 12 short years until UND takes over the REA.