By Chris Kuc
Blackhawks president John McDonough was rewarded Monday for his role in turning around the franchise with a long-term contract extension.
McDonough is in the third year of a five-year contract, and the extension runs through 2016.
"It's something Rocky (Wirtz) and I had talked about for a while over the last few months and came to an agreement a few weeks ago," McDonough told the Tribune. "Hopefully good days are ahead for the Blackhawks. That's our plan.
"I'm very excited. I'm proud to be a Chicago Blackhawk, I'm proud of our team, I'm proud of our front office and I'm proud of our fans and I feel this is a privilege to be a part of."
In a memo Monday to executives of Wirtz Corp., which owns the Blackhawks, Wirtz said,
"(McDonough's) commitment, insight and guidance have led the organization to record attendance, unprecedented season ticket sales, new sponsorships and partnerships with WGN Radio and WGN-TV."
Blackhawks president John McDonough was rewarded Monday for his role in turning around the franchise with a long-term contract extension.
McDonough is in the third year of a five-year contract, and the extension runs through 2016.
"It's something Rocky (Wirtz) and I had talked about for a while over the last few months and came to an agreement a few weeks ago," McDonough told the Tribune. "Hopefully good days are ahead for the Blackhawks. That's our plan.
"I'm very excited. I'm proud to be a Chicago Blackhawk, I'm proud of our team, I'm proud of our front office and I'm proud of our fans and I feel this is a privilege to be a part of."
In a memo Monday to executives of Wirtz Corp., which owns the Blackhawks, Wirtz said,
"(McDonough's) commitment, insight and guidance have led the organization to record attendance, unprecedented season ticket sales, new sponsorships and partnerships with WGN Radio and WGN-TV."
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John Congratulations ,you have done the impossible after 49 years ! Anyone that knows you is proud to say that they do! Business is what wins hockey games!Can you run for governor ?
Just stay out of the way of Hockey Operations and Coaching...plan the beanie babies, bobbleheads, get tight with Bettman (probably the job you really want), and next summer make sure your Operations people (little Bowman at the time) get the free agents mailings out on time...the oversight caused on your watch last summer almost cost this team some good players but definitely caused the Hawks to dole out more money than they would have had the mailings gone out on time. Frankly, at any other Company you and yours would have been terminated---and you know yourself, you would have cleared your own house for a mistake like that...
I'm sorry I dont credit Pope John Paul McDonough with the Hawks success---a monkey could have gone in there and done the right things after so many years of wrong doing...given the purse he got from Rocky you or I knew the changes needed and could have done the majority of them.
Not happy about the rise in ticket prices either---15 to 35 bucks for the cheap seats? 7 bucks for a beer, 10 bucks for a turkey sandwich? 95 bucks for a jacket at Fandomonium I got online for 39? Puh-leeze, thats nothing but price gouging Pope John.
We're not all North Shore Bulls Fans going to the games...but given your Cub background, price gouging has never been a problem for the Pope.
Of course I'm happy for the results we've gotten---but when a team wins, the fans will come...no hero worship for Pope John please...worshiping anyone in Sports or Sports Management is a horrible idea---see Tiger Woods and Steve Phillips for examples.
Congrats John, now it time to concentrate on the team THEY NEED A STRONG GOALIE AND CONSISTENCY IN THE NET. I am hungry for the cup for the young team.. so LETS GO HAWKS.
Say what you will...but I think that "monkey face" McDonough turned that entire franchise around.
He singlehandedly saved it from years of neglect under "Dollar Bill"
The job he has done is just fantasic!! Hope the other teams in Chicago learn something.
Outstanding job John! This is well deserved. GO BLACKHAWKS!!!
Thank you John McDonough. You have rejuvenated a team and fan base in such a short period of time. Great work. Let's Go BLACKHAWKS!!!