John Allen about to be canned?

[REDREAD]

I remember a quote from Cast where he said something like.. "the business people, John Allen's team, are responsible for getting the revenue so we can spend on the team and be competitive".

We know a major reason John Allen is around is because Lindner extended his contract before Lindner left. I think Allen has this year left on his deal.

Cast quickly moved Allen out of the baseball side. Attendence has declined while Allen has run the club (outside of the opening of the GAB year).
We all know Allen is a poor negotiator of media deals, and generally very uncreative.

Now the club is in first place, and the fans haven't exactly been beating down the gates buying tickets (due to apathy created by Allen).

I just wonder if Cast already sees Allen as a lame duck. I hope Allen's head is on the chopping block and Cast brings in someone much more competetent with a better vision. It looks as if Cast has no fear of breaking up Carl's old crony system. It makes sense to have Allen serve out the last year of his contract in a position where he can do little damage.

Anyhow, I say Allen is out after this year. What do you think?

[KronoRed]

I think he stays, every team needs a bean counter.

[Unassisted]

What's John Allen supposed to do... Go door-to-door across the tri-state and haul anyone who answers to the ballpark against their will? I'd imagine attendance at this time of year can be historically shown to be inelastic.

Effective marketing plans are not built and implemented in the 4 months time that this ownership group has had the reins. Half-baked ones are, though.

[GAC]

You really don't like this guy, do you RR?

[StillFunkyB]

I think he stays, every team needs a bean counter.

I have no problem with JA being the bean counter. So long as he stays on that side of things. It's when he starts dippin in the baseball koolaid that gets me riled up.

[DannyB]

I don`t have a problem with him in his current position,but i think he will be gone because he isnt Castellini`s guy.I bet the attendance fall-off is due more to FSN than anything else.

[REDREAD]

You really don't like this guy, do you RR?

It will be a happy day when he gets the boot.

As far as "what is John Allen supposed to do?" Well, John Allen's anti-marketing campain, poor leadership, lack of vision, and embarassing comments since 1997 has helped destroy the Reds. It's already been proven that he's worthless. I'm hoping the only reason he's still around is because he still has a contract.

Sure, every team needs a bean counter, but I bet we could "value engineer" Allen's function and get an accountant just as competent for much less. No need to keep a worthless, high paid executive like Allen around.

[MaineRed]

What on field improvements can we expect when John Allen is let go?

[StillFunkyB]

It will be a happy day when he gets the boot.

As far as "what is John Allen supposed to do?" Well, John Allen's anti-marketing campain, poor leadership, lack of vision, and embarassing comments since 1997 has helped destroy the Reds. It's already been proven that he's worthless. I'm hoping the only reason he's still around is because he still has a contract.

Sure, every team needs a bean counter, but I bet we could "value engineer" Allen's function and get an accountant just as competent for much less. No need to keep a worthless, high paid executive like Allen around.

I agree with the marketing aspect. It is rediculous how lame the Reds marketing department is. I honestly think the Reds have a fairly large market to take advantage of, but yet they sit on their hands.

[REDREAD]

What on field improvements can we expect when John Allen is let go?

Maybe the new guy in charge of the finances will actaully fund the draft better so we can get some talent. Maybe the new guy will get us a better TV deal. Maybe the new guy will be able to market the team better. Maybe the new guy will try to build a winning team, instead of slashing payroll to milk revenue sharing. Maybe the new guy will try something innovative, instead of just sitting in the corner, crying "small market".

John Allen and Carl Lindner did a lot of damage to this franchise. Worst farm system in baseball (or at least bottom 4). Poor media contracts. Fear of giving talented young players long term deals. Blocking trades that would've helped the team over relatively small amounts of money (I would've liked to see them add Rolen and some of the other players that Allen blocked).

There's no reason the Cincy Reds can't be as successful as St Louis. Cincy actually has a bigger potential regional fan base.

[westofyou]

Maybe the new guy in charge of the finances will actaully fund the draft better so we can get some talent. Maybe the new guy will get us a better TV deal. Maybe the new guy will be able to market the team better. Maybe the new guy will try to build a winning team, instead of slashing payroll to milk revenue sharing. Maybe the new guy will try something innovative, instead of just sitting in the corner, crying "small market".

John Allen doesn't manage any of that stuff anymore.

It would be nice if every now and then you'd recognize that Marge Schotts 12 years before Allen came aboard had tons to do with what ails you.

[savafan]

Doesn't the attendance usually pick up after school lets out for the summer?

What do other teams' TV contracts look like? It seems like a lot of teams go with FSN these days.