Dear Mr. Foley,
I am most respectfully asking “Why?”
Why would your minor league hockey team, the Henderson Silver Knights ignore and disrespect the Age 50+ population?
Frankly, I’m not sure what’s worse; the Silver Knights intentionally making marketing and community relations plans that shun our readers or, that you are unaware of your employees’ course of action?
Let me explain.
The Vegas Voice is the largest and most-read senior publication in Nevada. Besides our monthly publication, we have a weekly AM/FM radio show on KSHP, featured podcasts (Listening to The Vegas Voice on all major podcast platforms) and TV/video segments (Watching The Vegas Voice) seen on our two websites, dedicated YouTube channel and the Golden Network TV/ROKU streaming service.
We also maintain a Vegas Voice blog, and weekly email blasts to our readers.
We enthusiastically wanted to work with the Silver Knights and thought it would be a perfect fit since your Director’s (no need to mention her name) job title is “Marketing & Community Relations.”
As we advised her, The Vegas Voice is mailed to over 25,000 homes around the valley. In particular, just within an eight-mile radius of Lee’s Family Forum, we mail our magazine to every residence in Sun City MacDonald Ranch, Sun City Anthem, Solera at Anthem, Terra Bella at Anthem, Vintage at Seven Hills and Carnegie Heights in Henderson.
That’s over 15,000 residences every month.
We happily offered to promote, feature and prominently place the Silver Knights, its players and all other relevant employees (even the mascot) in our magazine (starting with the front page) as well as produce weekly podcasts and videos features doing the same.
Our podcast/TV studio office is only a few minutes down the road, and if that was a concern, The Vegas Voice even offered to bring our audio/video equipment any place that would be good for the team
Now I know what any astute businessman would ask – How much?
Demonstrating why The Vegas Voice (and this publisher) is the best there is in not making any money, our offer did not require any money; not a penny.
We suggested a trade for tickets that The Vegas Voice would offer to readers. By the way, such trade did not require hockey games on weekends nor for any Silver Knights promotional or giveaway events.
And, we had no preference as to seat/section location.
I know your next question. Was this simply a ploy for yours truly to get free tickets to the game?
The answer was (and remains, no) For you see, along with our Executive Director (and my Bronx brother) Bill Caserta we already purchased seasons tickets to attend the hockey games.
I also know your last question – How many seats did you want?
Once again, showing off my business savvy, The Vegas Voice offered these services to your Director (and management) with your employee telling us how many seats we would get in return.
Considering that the arena is less than half-filled for Wednesday evening games, it seemed like your Silver Knights had nothing to lose.
With this mind, you can understand my surprise and disappointment when I was told our offer did not fit the Silver Knights’ “budget and strategy” and not to bother following up since the “marketing and community relations” plans were set for the fiscal year.
I cannot comprehend how such “community relations” does not include the surrounding “age-qualified” homeowners? Forgive me if The Vegas Voice feels that your Silver Knights management is simply giving our readers a huge “Bronx Cheer.”
How else should we feel? (And if your Generation X employees have no idea what a Bronx cheer is, they can always “Google it”).
I most gently request you review and rectify this perception. And while I hope I did not “burn a bridge” (although, sadly, that’s what I’m really good at) The Vegas Voice remains able, ready and willing to promote the Silver Knights to our over 100,000 readers and viewers.
**This publication was once again faced with harsh criticism from an apparent reader. Now, make no mistake, as the guy in charge, I’m more than used to angry and negative remarks (starting with my Rana).
And despite such (thankfully) occasional statement, our Vegas Voice policy of hearing from you (good or bad) is still welcomed.
I’m also the first person to tell the columnists to “just let it go; ignore the “schmuck” and go on with your lives” when such situation arises. But last month was different.
As elaborated in the articles by our This & That columnist Liz Breier and President Rana Goodman the bigoted email (more than) crossed the line.
While Liz and Rana toned down their responses, I recognized that these ladies have way too much class to roll in the mud with this low-life. Fortunately (or unfortunately) I do not.
And if this (or any other) racial, antisemitic SOB wants to engage in this type of communication, at least have the “cajónes” to allow The Vegas Voice to place his/her name in our magazine along with the hateful, despicable message.
