Keep on Trucking, Or Go BK? Despite Rumors, Hobby Lobby Still Clovis
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www.thebusinessjournal.com UPDATED DAILY AUGUST 16, 2019 thebusinessjournal.com the FOCUS | 8 Hospitality New tech tickles the fancy the EXECUTIVE PROFILE | 9 Keep on trucking, or go BK? Fleet operators hit perfect storm, leading some to bankruptcy Cassidy Jakovickas President and CEO MBS Accountancy Corp. the LIST | 10 River Island Country Club tops the Golf Courses list This Week Online 6 People on the Move 11 The Leads 13-14 Public Notices 15-21 Frank Lopez – STAFF WRITER for the trucking industry. compared to the year prior. Motor Freight; which lost 1,472 Opinion 22 According to DAT, a database This year has seen closures of truck drivers after it filed for The trucking industry has for freight and truckload capac- several large and small truck- bankruptcy and shut down op- seen better roads than the ones ity, freight rates have dropped ing companies locally and erations. being paved in 2019, and there year over year for six months across the country, including In July, Ceres-based Starlite are no signs of a smoother path straight, and loads on the spot Ohio-based Falcon Transport, Trucking announced that it ahead. market —when manufacturers which employed more than would be closing down after 40 Regulation, fuel prices, tariffs buy trucking capacity as need- 550 drivers; Minnesota’s LME, years in business. and a driver shortage are some ed, instead of through a con- which employed more than | of the factors spelling trouble tract —dropped 62.6% in May 400 drivers; and New England Trucks 5 Foxes face triple threat Despite rumors, Hobby Lobby still Clovis-bound EDWARD SMITH | The Fresno Foxes practice before their recent match against the Las Vegas Lights at Chukchansi Park. Despite attendance, from doing so, the Fresno Foxes PHOTO BY DAVID CASTELLON | A sign in front of Marketplace shopping center in Clovis have lost only three matches in announces that Hobby Lobby plans to take over the space that had been a Toys R Us store. ailiation and stadium 22 league games, putting them Oicials with Hobby Lobby say the new store is scheduled to open some time next year. in third place for the Western David Castellon - STAFF WRITER troubles, soccer team Conference and eligible for hard by the loss of what essen- tially was the anchor store. keeps winning home field advantage during The June 2018 closure of the playoffs come October. Particularly hard hit was W Toys R Us in Clovis — along with Furniture, said General Man- Edward Smith – STAFF WRITER Despite the team’s perfor- the entire national toy store mance in only its sophomore ager Katrina Schuber. chain — didn’t adversely affect “Even though Toys R Us Hot off a win in Oklahoma, year, stagnant attendance, the just its employees and building loss of affiliation with Major wasn’t the biggest or the most Fresno’s first professional soccer owner. visited store, even before they League Soccer’s Vancouver team has won seven of its last Other businesses in the closed, [it brought] people into eight matches. Able to not only Marketplace shopping center score, but also keep other clubs Foxes | on Shaw Avenue also were hit Hobby Lobby | 2 7 SENSITIVE TIME PRIORITY HANDLING PERIODICAL: FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2019 ISSUE # 325583 $1.25 PER COPY USPS 145-100 2 www.thebusinessjournal.com FRIDAY, AUGUST , Foxes | from 1 they have been giving away very few free would translate into a boom- tickets, Beshoff said, meaning most of the ing franchise. Whitecaps FC and the need for a stadium tickets are now paid for. FRESNO FC FOXES BY THE NUMBERS ahead of a deadline from the United Soc- “Financially, we’re going to lose less In search of a home cer League have pitted the Foxes into a money this year than last year, so we’re In other parts of the coun- race to find a home. trending correctly,” he said. try, soccer is thriving. The 33 “We’ve got the sponsorship. We’ve got With the lively “Fire Squad” fan group professional teams in the USL the team. We’ve got the management. kicking off home games with drum lines played host to 2.75 million We’ve got the staffing,” said Ray Beshoff, and smoke bombs, Beshoff said people fans in 2018, according to a 3,500 have a terrific time at the games. But he report from the league. Since owner of the Fresno FC. “We’re missing the fans.” wonders if people’s preconceptions about at least 2015, attendance has Average attendance per game. Downtown Fresno keep them from com- increased at least 30% year- Break-even point ing. over-year. And the Foxes Since the team’s debut last year, at- Beshoff brought the Foxes to Fresno in are not alone among teams Ray Besho says they need to be tendance has stayed around the same, 2018 out of his own love for the beauti- seeking to capture the grow- averaging 5,000 to break even averaging 3,500 a game, Beshoff said. ful game. Considering the 1 million-plus ing market. Seven new teams They need to be averaging 5,000 a game population in Fresno County, and the entered the USL Champion- to break even. On the plus side, however, large Hispanic population, he thought ship League in 2019, with six the shared love for the sport he grew up teams entering in the 2018 season. Twenty-two cities of the 36 Championship franchises al- ready have stadiums for their own teams, according to the USL report. And with three more under construction and Share your luck another three clubs with pro- posals, the number of teams with someone without “soccer-specific sta- diums” continues to shrink. When the league debuted in 2010, the 10-year strategy struggling with was to have all teams in a sta- dium of their own by 2020, said USL President Jake Ed- wards in an Aug. 8 interview hunger with The Athletic. But with the influx of new teams and an uptick in demand, that timeline was extended to 2026, to coincide with the World Cup being hosted by North American Match 2019 countries. “Ultimately, what we want as a league on the rise is for fans to have a home and a place that they know they can on Friday, September 13 go root for their club,” said Court Jeskee, executive vice president for the USL. 9am - 6pm at The Market Trouble with sharing Playing in baseball stadi- ums means coordinating with hosts for field-time. The goal is often to schedule two matches while the baseball team plays away games. “Your coaching staff has two games in a three-or-four $13 provides up to 150 meals to families in need day period, which sometimes On Friday the 13th, change the luck of 100,000 children struggling with hunger right here can put a strain on the soccer in the Central Valley by donating today. When you donate $13, GAR will side of the business,” Jeskee said. match to make it $20! Additionally, fields have to be adapted for play between the two games. It can cost $15,000 a match to remove the mound and adjust the pitch — what footballers call 800-696-6108 “The Market” the field. Put it on your GAR account 7088 N. West Ave. Fresno, CA At this point, Beshoff has All Day Sept 13th left most of the operations to Frank Yallop, general man- www.ccfoodbank.org/GAR Central California ager for the Foxes, while he Food Bank searches for a stadium. He’s 4010 E. Amendola Drive, Fresno, CA 93725 tried Fresno State, but he said Write “GAR Match” on check concerns about field condi- tion kept that deal from mov- ing forward. Representatives from Fresno State did not re- ply to requests for comment. While Jeskee said cit- ies across the country are looking to install stadiums capable of seating crowds Farm Credit West | Golden State Farm Credit Fresno Madera Farm Credit | CoBank Foxes | 3 FRIDAY, AUGUST , www.thebusinessjournal.com 3 Memory Care Specialists of Fresno Koelsch Communities, family owned and operated since 1958. Providing excellent personalized care. Our Fresno management team has over 45 years of combined experience in the senior care industry. Come for a tour and meet our memory care specialists for yourself. • Long-term assisted living • Educational events • Respite stays • Complete medication service • Day stays • Diabetic management • Support groups and injections 24 Hour On-Site Licensed Nursing EDWARD SMITH | Fresno FC currently stands at No. 3 in the Western Conference. They have been studying their opponents and a win would get them closer to the playos. 1425 E. Nees Ave. Fresno, CA (559) 412-2299 cedarbrookfresno.com “Financially, we’re going to lose less money this year than last year, so we’re trending correctly,” - Ray Besho Why Salespeople Fail... And What You Can Do About It Foxes | from 2 more control. “The negative is the financial im- plications because we have to pay for between 12,000-15,000, the Foxes say every player, and they gave us help they are looking in the range of 4,000- with coach’s salaries as well — that’s the GET YOUR FREE 8,000. Beshoff estimates a stadium negative implication,” Smith said. “The would cost $10 million. positive implication is I get to choose REPORT. Other cities have begun breaking who I want.” ground on their own stadiums. Taxpay- And the active recruiting the team ers footed a $14 million bill in Hartford, has done has lead to players coming in Connecticut to rehabilitate a stadium from Brazil, Argentina, England, Scot- there for their soccer club, according land and Mexico.