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Storm: at least $700,000 lost

TAMPA -- The Storm recovered from a 1-5 start to make the Arena League playoffs, but it could not escape the economic repercussions of the worst season in franchise history.

Coach and general manager Tim Marcum estimated that the Storm lost $700,000-$800,000 this season, a number confirmed by owner Peter "Woody" Kern.

"We haven't ever had a year like this in Tampa," Kern said.

The amount was about twice what the Storm loses in a season and close to what many teams in the league lose, Marcum said.

The biggest factor was the lack of a home playoff game, a loss of about $400,000, Kern said.

Asked to assess the damage, Kern said, "It depends on one's definition of a bloodbath. It's not an economic opportunity to be a road playoff team in the Arena Football League."

Under its sales and marketing agreement with the Ice Palace, the Storm receives money for each home game, including playoff games. The deeper it goes in the playoffs and the more it plays at home, the more money it gets.

Because it does not pay signing bonuses, the Storm ranks near the bottom of the league in player salaries, Kern said. But that doesn't mean the Storm will be any less aggressive in pursuing free agents or signing its own.

"We're definitely going to be at the party," Kern said. "I think we've identified where we're going to strengthen ourselves."

Kern liked the late-season additions of offensive specialist Calvin Schexnayder, wide receiver/linebacker David Saunders and defensive specialist Antoine Toliver.

He hopes to retain those players while finding help in the secondary and the defensive line.

He wants the coach back, too.

Kern acknowledged that Marcum, who has two years remaining on his contract, should share responsibility for the team's 7-9 season. But he said Marcum, who has won two ArenaBowls in eight seasons with the Storm, can keep his job as long as he wants.

"I can't envision right now anything that would interrupt that," Kern said.

One possibility would be the sale of the team to Michigan businessman Dr. Thomas Hopper. But nearly five months after a news conference to announce the sale, Hopper has not come up with the $12.3-million needed to buy the team. The price increases to $15-million (Hopper has paid $900,000) on Sept. 1.

"I have nothing definitive that the closing is more imminent than it ever was," Kern said.

What he does know is the Storm cannot afford another season like this one.

"We fully intend to have a home playoff game next year," Kern said. "We're not going to do this again."

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