Having worked as the radio voice of the Aces this last season I'll tell you from
experience why local ownership is so important to the future of the Aces and The
WhiteWings - both are losing money quicker than Arthur Anderson and the league
will no longer fit the bill.

As far as ownership history goes the WhiteWings were league owned their entire
ten years. The Aces were league owned all but the last two. Carl Bell owned the
Aces in 2002 and the in 2003 the team was owned by Steve Spielman. Horn Chen,
who now owns the Central League, took over from the previous league in 2001. So
in effect the Aces had four different owners in four years.

The league was willing to continue with both teams as long as there was local
ownership for at least one - i.e., they don't lose all their profits because of
paying the bills for both teams. Running just one they could manage for at least
another season.

There is a possibility the WhiteWings could come back with local ownership after
a season off, but the Central League is done in Alexandria. The SEL will try to
move in their but the league management is so inept (having previously worked
for them as well) that they'll probably screw it up. Plus, Alexandria will not
take to another drop in the level of pro ball it has.

Damon Sunde