I was talking to someone at my work today that used to work for the Landrys group and said something that didnt sit well... I know alittle more about Tilman than I care to and after this person told me he and his company were part owners of the Rockets I almost lost it... I know they play a large roll in sponsors, but OWNERS?? Tell me Les isnt doing business with this guy... Sorry to start a new thread for just for this
He used to be a minority sharholder in the rockets but I don't think he is anymore. He is, however, a minority shareholder in the Texans.
Fertita has been a minority shareholder in the Rockets and a part-time financial advisor for years. He is listed in the media guide every season.
sabirk is correct. Never thought I would say this, but Jeff is wrong this time. Yes, Tilman is listed in the media guide as an advisor, but that is a result of the deal he cut when he sold his minority shares. He has some remaining ties to the team, but they are basically like a corporate sponsor deal not ownership.
A lot of business people around town aren't too fond of Fertita's tactics. I'm probably screwed for posting this. Seriously, though...it is true, though I have no specifics to back it up. Just what I've heard.
Fertida came and talked to our school a couple of weeks ago. He didnt seem all that friendly, for some reason. I mean he acted like he was too good for us and got mad at some of our questions. And yes he said he was part owner of the rockets and that he would like to completely own a team. I cant remember what team he said but he said one in houston. I think he wanted to own the Texans or the Astros. Hope that never happens. P.S.- I live in Galveston, and go to school at BALL HIGH.
I used to work for Fertita (Willie G's on Post Oak) and he isn't very pleasant. He definitely acts like he is above most others, or IOW, he acts like just about every really rich person I have ever known. I work at the college a couple of blocks away from Ball.
Yah, he is an annoying character that's for sure... He spoke at my graduation from UH, and was plugging his businesses like crazy, urging the parents/kids to go and eat at one of his chain stores. The funniest moment was a few hecklers telling him to "shut up" during the speech he was giving (it was slightly long). He doesn't seem like a "nice guy" per se, you just get a bad vibe from the guy. I hope he never owns a Houston franchise, but I am sure he eventually will (money will buy him something sooner or later). I am guessing the Astros will be his in a few years down the line. I wouldn't worry about it though, you couldn't get much worse than Drayton. My only wish is for the Rockets to be sold (one day) to a Mark Cuban-type who would lavishly spend on the team to acquire talent (not Knicks-like, more Dallas-like). I like Les, but eventually he will take the bait and sell the team as its value is soaring (can't resist money). He said on SR610 interview that he would rather spend money and win than make profits and lose (his exact words were "money or winning, it is not even close"). Then a minute later he was saying that the profits he is making from the TC and the team are below his expectations (apparently a 53% jump in revenues from last season, and a 33% jump in team value in just one season is not going to do it for Les ). With that being said though, I love the old-fashioned mindset/approach he has as an owner, showing loyalty to his employees in a time when the turnover among coaches/GMs is beyond rediculous.
He has minority ownership in all three teams...Astros, Texans, and Rockets. He also has quite a few reserved seats and suites at all three stadiums. I used to date a girl who manages the corporate payroll for Landry's. He is an aggressive businessman and has built considerable wealth in the restaraunt business beginning with the purchase of the original Landry's Seafood in Katy. I do think that we should be careful about making slanderous comments about people on the board though....
Interesting. Thanks for the clarification. Fertita is like a trailer park rich guy. He likes everything gawdy and obnoxious. He actually said that the theatre district in downtown needed a giant neon ferris wheel because it would help add "class" to the area - something he thought it was lacking. He's lobbied hard for a second convention center in Galveston while trying to take money away from the Moody Convention Center which benefits, in no small part, the Moody Foundation which has donated MILLIONS to local charities. He fought with the city to get a helipad on the roof of the Aquarium downtown so it would be easier for him to get back and forth from Galveston. The city objected as did the FAA and FTA because it was so close to the Pierce Elevated. He actually tried to get them to change the law just so he could get his helipad. Most disgustingly, he managed to get political friends to pull some strings and get the aquarium certified as a "zoo" so he could put rare tigers in an enclosure considered too small for them by most zoological societies including the one here in Houston. Now, he owns (or is buying) a Vegas casino because he couldn't get the law changed to build one in Galveston. Plenty of reasons to not particularly like the guy.
