Third in a series
Re “What Might Have Been at Rink with Takahashis in Charge”
“It’s really pretty simple,” said landlord Michael Karagozian in discussing the recent past, the clouded present and the misty future of the temporarily out-of-business Culver City Ice Arena.
“The only thing people ever wanted was a reasonable basis, a reasonable return on the property. The problem is…and I really suspect this…I am almost sure of it…the thing got out of hand because of AEG,” shadowy corporate owner of the Los Angeles Kings, long reported to be the Arena’s dominant suitor.
“When you look back, when you look back, come on,” said the 69-year-old Mr. Karagozian. “It didn’t matter what we did. Let’s say we gouged them, which we didn’t do. They couldn’t pay it?
“Then somebody like AEG, with the Kings and all that…
“The problem is, as I understand it, the Kings have Brad Berman’s outfit that runs the (El Segundo) rink. The Kings don’t run their own rink. I don’t know why the Kings would put somebody in there and let somebody run it. Who needs this Brad Berman?
Karagozian Vows Not to Forget
“This guy doesn’t sound too good to me, if you understand what I mean. This guy (Mr. Berman) was over there at the Ice Arena when (City Manager John) Nachbar was there. I’m not forgetting none of that.
“Leaving aside that this was supposed to be our retirement, and now we are not getting it, what these people don’t realize is, unless these people get reasonable, I will let that (blank) building sit. Understand what I just said?
“The problems here are cooperation and communication,” Mr. Karagozian said. “The thing is, I know what happened. The city never came to me and said, ‘Hey, let’s do this about the problems because of that AEG.’ A woman from the city attorney’s office and the fire marshal called me up and were dictating to me, and that was through AEG. Understand what I am saying?
“The city never sat down and said, ‘Let’s do something reasonable. Let’s get this thing going, and let’s everybody be reasonable. We’ll help you guys. We’ll help you with whatever you want to do with this property.’
“That is what a city normally would do,” Mr. Karagozian said.
“Why would the city want to be my adversary when I am willing to do something that is reasonable all the way around?
“Had the Takahashis (the decades-long employees of the arena who had a six-month lease with Mr. Karagozian, kicking in three weeks ago) been able to run it, for who knows how long, the deal I had worked out with them was basically a little over half of the rent you should get from that place.
“I give a deal like that to the Takahashis, and then the city yellow tags the building. I mean, c’mon.”
(To be continued)
