Post Modern Design in Utah County under $250,000

Some background:

I own 164 lots around a golf course called The Lakes At Sleepy Ridge. It is a beautiful course with a new clubhouse that rivals any in the State. Several years ago we were selling the lots at around $225/lot for .25-.30 of an acre. Then came the worst real estate collapse in the past 30 years.

We have lowered the prices of the lots and have put several under contract but the banks are pulling the financing for lot loans before our buyers can close. So the strategy has to change.

The Concept:

Create a ultra modern starter home with a green influence that can be priced at or around $250,000. Hope that the masses will pay the same amount for high style and green design as they will for a medicore starter home. So here is what we have done: These units are 2000 finished sq/feet with four bedrooms and two and a half baths. There is also a 1000 sq/ft unfinished basement. They are priced at $250,000. It will be the Ikea of homes. All furnished with cool Ikea interiors.

Love it or Hate it? As always be brutaly honest and let me know. Will this work in Utah? Will people ebrace the design in large numbers? Do you believe the style will bring people in? In this price range is the reality that no one cares and they just want the best bang for the dollar? Would you buy this home on the golf course at Sleepy Ridge? Post and let me know.

Flash are here to stay.

I am happy to announce that the Flash have signed a 4 year extension with UVU. Thanks to all of those who called and emailed. This is one situation where your letters really went a long way towards influencing those making the decisions. Please understand there was never any desire to leave. Come on you think I want to drive to SLC for every game. The team belongs here and thankfully we all compromised and were able to reach an agreement. Thanks to the McKay Event Center board for working towards a solution.

We have been making a few changes with the Flash over the past few weeks. We have been taking steps to ensure that the team will be a viable business and not just my personal hobby. I have never seen anything amusing about losing money, and it is even more painful with the economy in flux. There is no business that is more enjoyable than this business but I believe there is a way to attain a break even. So I am spending some off season time with the Flash (off season time means: everything non basketball). All of those tedious things you do to make a business work but never thought would be part of owning a sports franchise.

I can't think of any business where I could spend more time for less money and enjoy it as much. I guess I have been drinking from the NBA Kool-Aid.

Brandt Andersen

Are the Flash moving to SLC?

Many of you have called in about this article by Neil Warner in the Daily Herald. One of the top reasons for the success or failure inside of a sports franchise is the team's arena deal.

The success of that deal is measured by various metrics, but at the top of the list would be the size, number of suites, access to the arena, visibility and cost to the team.

With the economy still locked in lingo we are trying to do everything we can to add revenue and cut costs. We add revenue when we sign new sponsors or new season ticket holders, and we cut costs by looking at our current operation and identifying inefficiencies. If we do things the way we should our customers will not recognize any difference in presentation.

As we have sorted through where we stack up in the league, we found that we are at the very top tier of what teams are paying for arena rent. So, yesterday in an attempt to ensure the team will remain here in Utah County we met with the McKay Events Center board to discuss a reduction in our rent.

The McKay Board consists of the 3 Utah County Commissioners, President Holland of UVU, Val Peterson of UVU, a member of the Orem City Council and the operator of the building. In an effort to help the board understand our position we showed them a number of figures from our first two years.

First, the County collects tax from hotels and tourism. This goes directly to the County and is used by them for whatever purpose they deem relevant. Over the past two years we have rented a total of 2,905 hotel room nights in Utah County. I don't know any other organization other than BYU that might even come close. We have pumped more than $1m dollars into the community for marketing. We have made over $200k in charitable donations and provided several thousand donated man hours through the Flash Family Foundation. We have visited over 70 schools and taught life lessons to more than 100,000 students, with the goal of learning to read and staying in school.

Through the NBA we were able to completely remodel the Rippy Center for Learning in Lehi. If you haven't been down there it is worth the trip.

We have provided unprecedented national exposure that has specifically named Utah County, UVU, and the City of Orem. This list includes special pieces done on TNT, NBA TV, USA Today, the Washington Post and Sports Illustrated.

So we have asked for a reduction in our rent. Most teams in the D League that have been around for a long time pay less than half of what we pay. Many receive additional benefits such as offices and greater concession sales revenue. Most of those arenas sell beer so their concession revenue is substantially higher. We have asked the board to move us to the high end of the lower spectrum. They have said they will try.

Are the Flash moving to SLC? We have spoken with the arenas in SLC and they have made very compelling offers to us. We have until June 30th to give an answer to the McKay Events Center and County letting them know if we are staying or going.

I would encourage any season ticket holder to give a call or email the Commissioner's office and encourage them to get involved. No one wants to leave Utah County.


Brandt Andersen

Larry Ellertson
Commission Chair
larrye@utah.gov
801-851-8133

Gary J. Anderson
Commission
garya@utah.gov
801-851-8135

Steve White
Commission
stevew@utah.gov
801-851-8136

Iran

I received a call today from Henry Abbott at TrueHoop asking about what was going on with our trip to Iran. It seems Iran is on the minds of many of us right now. With all of the unrest over the recent elections there are plenty of reasons for concern.

Last summer when the NBA called to ask if we would host the Iranian National Team we jumped at the opportunity. It was a pleasure getting to know the guys and the coaching staff. What ended up being seen as a great opportunity to reach out was initially met with ridicule. When the story first broke one of the local radio stations took the time to put together a lengthy piece that highlighted the intolerance that has been common between our two Nations.

In the end I believe all agreed it was a great experience.

I have always believed that sports can help to soften differences. At the age of 11 I moved to Bordeaux, France. I did not speak French, which made getting to know people and making friends very difficult. That all changed when I started playing basketball in a French league. I was no superstar, but as an American who played basketball I quickly made friends. My luck continued at school when I joined school teams. There was no political agenda on the court or on the field. I ended up making friends with kids from all over the world. This happened when I lived in France, it happened when I moved to Switzerland and in the US. In almost all cases these forged friendships started with a mutual love for sports.

Struggle often brings improvement. I hope that the struggle in Iran is one of those studies. For now the Flash will have to wait on our trip to Iran. Postponed but not cancelled.

A GREAT SEASON!!!

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A Difficult Start

Well, tonight was tough. We were down 25 points and fought our way back but just didn't have it at the end.

The game wasn't lost in OT, it was lost in the first quarter. We can blame the officiating in the first two quarters-we can blame a lot of things but in the end it is on us. We put ourselves in a tough spot and didn't get ourselves out of it.

The upside is that we were the best road team in the league. If anyone could pull it off it would be our guys. It won't be easy but we still have some fight in us.

Win or go home!!!

Brandt Andersen

The Big Show

There is huge drama brewing for the first game of the D League Finals tonight between The Flash and the Colorado 14ers.

First of all we put a beating on them when we won two in a row in our doubleheader just over a week ago. Those wins started a mad sprint to the end of the season for us that resulted in the #2 playoff spot.

This was particularly painful after their head coach told several people during the showcase that "the Flash are cheaters" and "we will easily win again". That's right Bob-your comments were circulated.

Now that we have both made it to the finals there is some tension. Our guys saw the way he acted and for that and many other reasons they want a win. They want a championship.

So Bob if you are reading, try to control your emotions tonight-our fans are kids and families and they expect a certain level of professionalism.

Just know that we will not go down without a fight.

Brandt Andersen