Who made decision on Kelly firing?

[rezero]

Just curious was it Armstrong or someone else?

[a smell of green grass]

Yes, inquiring minds do want to know.

[Bubble4427]

Just curious was it Armstrong or someone else?

I believe it was bankrupt Fanduel Sports….

[sdaltons]

Why would the GM have any say over who is in the booth? Especially someone who wasn't employed by the Blues to begin with?

[rezero]

Why would the GM have any say over who is in the booth? Especially someone who wasn't employed by the Blues to begin with?

I thought the same thing until Bernie’s piece which he stated the “Blues brass” messed up. That would give me the inclination that Blues had a role in who announced their games. Here was the Blues response to the firing. If Zimmerman, “backed the decision” then it must have been someone under him.

The Blues announced on Thursday, July 10, that they won’t be renewing the contract of play-by-play broadcaster John Kelly. Instead, they will opt for a simulcast with Chris Kerber and Joey Vitale, ending Kelly’s prolonged association with the franchise.

Instant criticism followed, with many alleging that the move is a “cost-cutting” measure. Amid this discourse, Blues president and CEO Chris Zimmerman has backed the decision

[STL fan in MN]

FanDuel and the Blues made this decision jointly. But it wasn’t Army. He’s in charge of Hockey Operations. This was a business decision. Thus it would’ve been Chris Zimmerman and Steve Chapman that signed off on it.

[Big_G]

FanDuel and the Blues made this decision jointly. But it wasn’t Army. He’s in charge of Hockey Operations. This was a business decision. Thus it would’ve been Chris Zimmerman and Steve Chapman that signed off on it.

According to Miklasz, it was Zimmerman and Stillman signing off it to make FanDuel happy.

[STL fan in MN]

FanDuel and the Blues made this decision jointly. But it wasn’t Army. He’s in charge of Hockey Operations. This was a business decision. Thus it would’ve been Chris Zimmerman and Steve Chapman that signed off on it.

According to Miklasz, it was Zimmerman and Stillman signing off it to make FanDuel happy.

Yeah, Stillman would obviously have to sign off on something that consequential too.

[netboy65]

Just curious was it Armstrong or someone else?

Benjamin Franklin

[bluetunehead]

Just curious was it Armstrong or someone else?

Benjamin Franklin

This is the correct answer, in addition to what MN said. FanDuel wanted to cut costs. It’s the same reason Pang left.

[a smell of green grass]

So what is the Blues greatest need at this point?

- 2C
- RHD
- A Kelly
- Money

[11WSChamps]

So what is the Blues greatest need at this point?

- 2C
- RHD
- A Kelly
- Money

Some balls for a start.

[TAFKAP]

Let's also acknowledge that John Kelly was not "Fired". His contract was up, and not renewed, like Radek Faksa.

[bud white]

The Blues went two years without making the playoffs. This year they returned and landed 3 home games.

Should it be surprising that missing two years of playoff revenue has placed a strain on the organization? Couple that with the well documented Bally's / FanDuel situation, and some tough decisions have to be made.

Remember this when certain posters want this team to sell off players and tank for a season to draft Top Three draft talent.


While not privy to the backstory - my suspicion is that FanDuel made the decision to combine and follow other contemporary models. JK's contract was up and he was negotiating what is likely to be his final gig. FanDuel and the Blues went with the younger Kerber and Vitale - a very talented if not somewhat raw (only in the case of Vitale) team. Kerbs is a pro. An ambassador for the Blues and for St. Louis hockey. But they are also younger, and younger fans aren't as sentimental because they'll watch whatever they can get via streaming services. Often they are watching and listening to the opposing team's feed.

Let's face it. If Kerber is the one cut - he can land an NHL job anywhere in North America.

I really wish JK was still calling Blues games. But this is a business.

[blues2112]

Let's also acknowledge that John Kelly was not "Fired". His contract was up, and not renewed, like Radek Faksa.

Bingo.

Also, management has said the decision was not about the cost of Kelly's contract. (Fans can choose to believe that or disbelieve. IMO, if management were looking to save money, it wouldn't be increasing production costs.)

https://www.profootballnetwork.com/nhl/ ... ohn-kelly/

key quotes: According to the Blues’ CEO [Zimmerman], the move had much to do with keeping up with changing times and adapting to them.

“When you look at the scope of our business, what we’re investing in, how we’re investing in the business, how we invest in players, it’s just not the driver,” Zimmerman said. “We’re not going to save our way to success here.
“We’re going to win in a new media world based on how good the product is, how engaging and, oh yes, of course, a big part will also always be about the quality of the team and how entertaining they are.”

[seattleblue]

Oh please he was obviously fired. If you get lost defending it technically as not a firing you lack basic common sense. Play by play announcers who call games for multiple decades in a row are institutions. Hiding behind "not renewing their contract doesn't mean fired" is embarrassing to argue from a common sense standpoint.

The person ultimately responsible is Stillman. He has coasted and been treated with reverence thus far.