Memorabilia
Framed 7 Pin Mobile Truck Set
This is a continuation of my story of being hired by Sportsnet from Dome Production back in 2001. At that time Dome Productions was just taken over by CTV previously owned by Netstar and earlier Labatt’s. I worked on the 1988 Winter Olympics with former Producer Doug B. and he became President of Rogers Sportsnet around 1999. At that time CTV already owned TSN through Netstar and was asked by the CRTC to give up one of the 2 Sports Network it owned (TSN and Sportsnet). After much fighting as they tried to claim one was National and one was Regional so they should be able to keep both. They were not successful so they decided to keep TSN as it was more mature by around 14 years (1984 vs 1998)
As a result, all management that Sportsnet shared with CTV needed to immediately be vacated. So Sportsnet was without IT management, Human Resources and Accounting and Financial Planning and Administration. Sportsnet was put into Trust until it could find a buyer.
As Dome Audio Video and Effects(division of Dome Productions at the time) was not a favorite of CTV at the time, I was asked to assist in the sale and then they offered me the opportunity to remain at the new smaller Dome Productions Company or take a package.
As I had an opportunity to work with the upcoming Salt Lake City Olympics in 2002, I figured I would step aside and take the package. Before completing my term at Dome, I got the call from The President of Sportsnet (Doug B.) if I would like to take on the role of Vice President of Finance and Admin including overseeing Human Resources and IT. I thought it would be a very short term role as whoever eventually purchased Sportsnet would put in their own VP. Because I knew so many of the players (Management) at Sportsnet through my 12 years at Dome and 4 years at CTV earlier during the 1988 Olympics, I decided I would take on the challenge and assist with the future sale which eventually became Rogers Communication around 2002. My longevity lasted around 8 years because of having a minority shareholder in Fox and the fact we shared space with our competition TSN at the same location at 9 Channel 9 Court. Because of this, the Board felt it was important to not centralize a CFO at that time from Rogers Corporate. Ted tried many times to move us to York Mills and Leslie, Brampton, SkyDome, Jarvis and Bloor but each time we just couldn’t do it in a cost-efficient manner.
What does this have to do with the Dome Truck Framed Pin set? Earlier in a previous write up on the MLG Large Stadium, I explained Ted Rogers wanting to purchase 50% of Dome Production. Once Ted got an idea, he didn’t waste any time in looking down the road of the long-term benefits to Rogers. Not only in the cash flow it would bring but Rogers priority in the usage of the vehicles. The thought was to put me on the Board Of Directors as I had intimate knowledge of the business and Tony V.(President of Rogers Media) asked me if I would take over as one of the 2 Rogers Board Members. Most new board members got a nice gift like a good bottle but I received a beautifully framed set of the 7 Trucks that I assisted in the purchase or build over my 12 Years at Dome. I believe they have close to 20 trucks today. (note for those taking notes, Enterprise Truck never came in fruition)
The reason for the sentimentality with these trucks was the work going into acquiring them from the trips to Vancouver to purchase the Truck from Aurora Broadcasting to the trips to Montreal acquiring the 4 Trucks from CFCF. The long days and late nights to close these deals was worth it as I got to work with one of the greatest Presidents (the late Bob B.) and one of the greatest Lawyers(Bart Y.) and the best productions operations executive Mary Ellen who would ensure these trucks were fully utilized and making a profit.