Identity. It’s a funny thing. Some people know exactly who they are from the time they are born, yet others search for it every day of their existence. The same can be said for organizations, businesses, and even sports franchises. The managing staff of the Tri-City Storm have recently made choices that significantly endanger the identity of their organization and team. The Storm has struggled with its identity from the time it arrived in Central Nebraska. A “one-sport” state. A fan base almost completely unexposed to live hockey. A distinctly rural setting. All significant factors that each by themselves would and should be a good enough reason to fold a franchise. Yet, years later, we still have hockey in the Heartland. Joel Wiens may own the Tri-City/Nebraska/Platte Valley/Fort Kearny/South Central/Buffalo County/ “insert local geographic indicator here” Storm. But what he doesn’t own is the equity we fans have invested onto that franchise before he acquired ownership. Most slogans are just slick marketing ploys but, “It’s your team,” was taken to heart by many fans. We know hockey cannot exist here without extra support and nurturing. We know how special it is to have the best up and coming players in the world battling before us. We know we love our hockey team exactly the way it is. We fans are facing challenges brought to us directly from people who are not central-Nebraskans. The new management along with the new ownership are not placing much significance or credence in what we fans have built here. For some reason our identity needs a makeover to cater to people far outside our local geographical area. Why sacrifice our local identity, “Tri-City,” for a broader, far more vague name? I am proud of where I live and people of the Tri-Cities deserve their identity on this nationally recognized Hockey team.
Jason Stubbs
Kearney
