Blues, FanDuel disrespect John Kelly, family legacy with ungracious ouster: Media Views

[TBone]

I don't know how many of you subscribe to the Post, but to say Dan Caesar is PO'd is an understatement.

I can't recall the last time I've seen him this opinionated vs. statements of facts and history. It's worth the read.

The portion I'm posting talks about the new broom at FanDuel, Norby Williamson.

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Blues, FanDuel disrespect John Kelly, family legacy with ungracious ouster: Media Views

MEDIA VIEWS
Dan Caesar
July 18, 2025

- clip -

The moves come under new management at Main Street Media, FanDuel’s parent company. It has TV rights to 13 NBA teams and eight each in MLB and the NHL, and longtime ESPN executive Norby Williamson was hired in January as FanDuel’s president of production and programming. FanDuel now has final say on its Blues broadcasters, which hasn’t always been the case.

Williamson would be expected to cut costs — after all, Main Street is what has emerged from its bankrupt predecessor and changes are necessary in an evolving broadcast environment. Main Street’s slicing included the firing this spring of executive producers at FanDuel regional outlets nationwide, including Larry Mago in St. Louis. That follows the retirement last September of Jack Donovan, who ran what now is FanDuel’s St. Louis operations for three decades out of offices located in the city. FanDuel’s local operations now are run from out of town.

- clip -

A FanDuel spokesperson said neither Williamson nor Jay Rothman, the man Williamson hired last spring to oversee FanDuel’s NHL broadcasts, would be available for an interview to comment beyond what was in the canned statement.

https://www.stltoday.com/sports/profess ... f3233.html

[a smell of green grass]

FanDuel’s local operations now are run from out of town.

Demand that your team be run like OTHER NHL TEAM in every way.

It was very evident that Kroenke/Rams were leaving town well before he actually left when you compared how the Rams were run compared to every other city.

Never forget. Kroenke is an NHL owner. What happens in football can easily happen in hockey.

[hotrivets]

I ran a business where I had to cut costs due to a change of ownership. We had a meeting with all the salespeople and told them we had to cut base pay but improved the commission plan so if they sold the right stuff they would make more money as would the company and almost all did and the company made it through a tough time.

If the on air salaries were really a significant issue and they need to make changes it seems like they could have retained JK even if they had to cut some ancillary staff and maybe even give him a pay cut. If he made the decision to leave then it is a different story.

Fox Sports overpaid for the broadcast rights way back when and as FanDuel makes more cuts they will probably lose more viewers. They keep shifting the games to alternate platforms to collect a few bucks and alienate the loyal viewers they are lucky to still have. The production quality has suffered.

There is a lot of money in pro sports but that does not mean there is pro quality management.

[Backesdraft]

I’m a big JK fan but the amount of anger and frustration over this is so weird to me. Does anyone have proof that JK felt slighted? Is there a quote from him somewhere talking about out how the blues did him wrong?

Again I’m a fan (loved him and Panger together especially) but Jesus people…everyone settle down.

[Old_Goat]

I’m a big JK fan but the amount of anger and frustration over this is so weird to me. Does anyone have proof that JK felt slighted? Is there a quote from him somewhere talking about out how the blues did him wrong?

Again I’m a fan (loved him and Panger together especially) but Jesus people…everyone settle down.

Indeed. Our roster evidently must be in great shape for those needing to have an appalled outlet.
I'm just want to make sure there are as many games on local broadcast as possible. I don't want to have to pay for more apps, etc. to see. Whomever the talking head is does not matter that much to me.

[a smell of green grass]

I’m a big JK fan but the amount of anger and frustration over this is so weird to me. Does anyone have proof that JK felt slighted? Is there a quote from him somewhere talking about out how the blues did him wrong?

Again I’m a fan (loved him and Panger together especially) but Jesus people…everyone settle down.

No way that JK would ever raise angst and bad feelings. However, that doesn't make it right.

Everyone can easily see the slight to not only JK but also to the fans. It would have been fine if they had announced this late last year, and had JK comment on it, and enable the Blues fans to show their love. The memory of the JK getting pushed out to pasture in the offseason will live on as long as Dan Kelly's jersey in the rafters.

[Backesdraft]

I’m a big JK fan but the amount of anger and frustration over this is so weird to me. Does anyone have proof that JK felt slighted? Is there a quote from him somewhere talking about out how the blues did him wrong?

Again I’m a fan (loved him and Panger together especially) but Jesus people…everyone settle down.

No way that JK would ever raise angst and bad feelings. However, that doesn't make it right.

Everyone can easily see the slight to not only JK but also to the fans. It would have been fine if they had announced this late last year, and had JK comment on it, and enable the Blues fans to show their love. The memory of the JK getting pushed out to pasture in the offseason will live on as long as Dan Kelly's jersey in the rafters.

Everyone CAN’T easily see the slight. Everyone is assuming. Unless you were all in the meeting with FanDuel leadership and Zimmerman then we’re all speculating.

Buy sure…gotta get our clicks and our likes by creating problems during a slow news week.

[wiscrev]

It could have been handled better than it was-----very shallow decision, period.

[callitwhatyouwant]

FanDuel’s local operations now are run from out of town.

Demand that your team be run like OTHER NHL TEAM in every way.

It was very evident that Kroenke/Rams were leaving town well before he actually left when you compared how the Rams were run compared to every other city.

Never forget. Kroenke is an NHL owner. What happens in football can easily happen in hockey.

did you just compare the St. Louis Blues to the Lambs and Stan Kroenke? You are really digging deep here into the troll farm and leads me to believe you came from Lambs talk and had to come up with a new name.

In other news....
This was a misstep by the ownership group who otherwise has a stellar record in regards to their handling of the Blues franchise. The Blues aren't going to retroactively "apologize" but there are other things they can do if JK doesn't become employed by another team. Whether JK would accept those options like getting a few game runway series to finish it off, or they use him as a home 3rd option or something, those could all go over to take some of the stink off this decision.

Kirbs and Vitale are going to be great, and probably be a better duo than Rivers and Kelly were. And Rivers was improving. This year the product will suffer, I would venture to guess by the end of the year or next year you will see them start hitting their "TV stride".

[netboy65]

FanDuel’s local operations now are run from out of town.

Demand that your team be run like OTHER NHL TEAM in every way.

It was very evident that Kroenke/Rams were leaving town well before he actually left when you compared how the Rams were run compared to every other city.

Never forget. Kroenke is an NHL owner. What happens in football can easily happen in hockey.

did you just compare the St. Louis Blues to the Lambs and Stan Kroenke? You are really digging deep here into the troll farm and leads me to believe you came from Lambs talk and had to come up with a new name.

In other news....
This was a misstep by the ownership group who otherwise has a stellar record in regards to their handling of the Blues franchise. The Blues aren't going to retroactively "apologize" but there are other things they can do if JK doesn't become employed by another team. Whether JK would accept those options like getting a few game runway series to finish it off, or they use him as a home 3rd option or something, those could all go over to take some of the stink off this decision.

Kirbs and Vitale are going to be great, and probably be a better duo than Rivers and Kelly were. And Rivers was improving. This year the product will suffer, I would venture to guess by the end of the year or next year you will see them start hitting their "TV stride".

It’s possible also they offered Kelly a one year deal as a sendoff and he turned it down. Maybe he wanted a multi-year or the freedom to move on. I have no idea, but it’s possible

[theograce]

Lots of players on the only cup team in franchise history were disrespected and talked about it…

Yet people lose their mind over this.

It’s kinda funny

[Backesdraft]

Lots of players on the only cup team in franchise history were disrespected and talked about it…

Yet people lose their mind over this.

It’s kinda funny

Is everyone talking about it?

Ya tool

[wiscrev]

Lots of players on the only cup team in franchise history were disrespected and talked about it…

Yet people lose their mind over this.

It’s kinda funny

Is everyone talking about it?

Ya tool

Well, that's Glow Stick for ya!

[TAFKAP]

Something i learned this week, Kerber's position in the communications dept. with the Blues was ended as well. He's strictly on air talent.

[2forDiving]

I ran a business where I had to cut costs due to a change of ownership. We had a meeting with all the salespeople and told them we had to cut base pay but improved the commission plan so if they sold the right stuff they would make more money as would the company and almost all did and the company made it through a tough time.

If the on air salaries were really a significant issue and they need to make changes it seems like they could have retained JK even if they had to cut some ancillary staff and maybe even give him a pay cut. If he made the decision to leave then it is a different story.

Fox Sports overpaid for the broadcast rights way back when and as FanDuel makes more cuts they will probably lose more viewers. They keep shifting the games to alternate platforms to collect a few bucks and alienate the loyal viewers they are lucky to still have. The production quality has suffered.

There is a lot of money in pro sports but that does not mean there is pro quality management.

I’m actually wondering how many regular season games Fan Duel actually ends up carrying this year? Between the national games, then the ESPN+ streaming exclusive games, and the KMOV/Matrix games for a full season this year, I wouldn't be surprised if it dips into the mid 50s range.

[theograce]

Lots of players on the only cup team in franchise history were disrespected and talked about it…

Yet people lose their mind over this.

It’s kinda funny

Is everyone talking about it?

Ya tool

If everyone includes Perron, Pietrangelo and Maroon … sure. You sound angry about it.