Post by title1parent on Dec 5, 2009 8:13:17 GMT -5
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/news/1921481,aurora-Payton-estate-out-roundhouse-au120409.article
Payton estate pulls name from Roundhouse
December 5, 2009
By ANDRE SALLES asalles@scn1.com
The estate of Walter Payton has decided not to renew a deal with Walter Payton's Roundhouse on Broadway in Aurora.
As of Jan. 1, the name of the restaurant will change to America's Historic Roundhouse. The Payton estate has already reclaimed much of the memorabilia that had been on display in the Walter Payton Museum in the Roundhouse, according to owner Scott Ascher. Ascher's deal with the estate expires at the end of this year.
The original deal was signed by Ascher and Payton 15 years ago, and included a royalty payment to Payton in exchange for the use of his name and regular appearances to promote the restaurant. But when Payton died in November of 1999, Ascher said, the Roundhouse stopped making those payments.
"When Walter was here, he was a draw," Ascher said. "The estate can't expect the same return Walter was getting. This went back and forth for 10 years, and was never resolved."
But Matt Suhey, Payton's former teammate and executor of his estate, said those payments were still expected. He said the estate tried to come up with alternate arrangements, and they believe even though Payton could not promote the restaurant in person, his name and legacy still have value.
"I've tried to be patient, to be a good partner, a willing partner," Suhey said. "It's not personal, we just have a big (total) that needs to be paid back."
Suhey would not say just how much the Payton estate believes they are owed, but said, "it's up there."
One of the main considerations, Suhey said, was the other requests and deals for Payton's name and likeness rights, many of which have and would deliver more to the estate than the Roundhouse deal. He said the decision was not an easy one, and added the City of Aurora has been "great to work with." And he didn't rule out working with Ascher again.
"I'm open to anything, but we need to have payment for the use of (Payton's) name," he said.
Ascher said he has been planning for the end of the deal with the Payton estate for some time, and has already laid the groundwork to turn the museum into a rotating exhibit of Chicago legends. The slumping economy has affected the Roundhouse, he said – profits from 2009 are $1.1 million below those of 2008 – but Ascher said the loss of the Payton name wouldn't affect his business much.
"The real blow was losing Walter 10 years ago," Ascher said. "What's gone on since has been trying to keep his name in good standing, and make sure the place reflected him."
Payton estate pulls name from Roundhouse
December 5, 2009
By ANDRE SALLES asalles@scn1.com
The estate of Walter Payton has decided not to renew a deal with Walter Payton's Roundhouse on Broadway in Aurora.
As of Jan. 1, the name of the restaurant will change to America's Historic Roundhouse. The Payton estate has already reclaimed much of the memorabilia that had been on display in the Walter Payton Museum in the Roundhouse, according to owner Scott Ascher. Ascher's deal with the estate expires at the end of this year.
The original deal was signed by Ascher and Payton 15 years ago, and included a royalty payment to Payton in exchange for the use of his name and regular appearances to promote the restaurant. But when Payton died in November of 1999, Ascher said, the Roundhouse stopped making those payments.
"When Walter was here, he was a draw," Ascher said. "The estate can't expect the same return Walter was getting. This went back and forth for 10 years, and was never resolved."
But Matt Suhey, Payton's former teammate and executor of his estate, said those payments were still expected. He said the estate tried to come up with alternate arrangements, and they believe even though Payton could not promote the restaurant in person, his name and legacy still have value.
"I've tried to be patient, to be a good partner, a willing partner," Suhey said. "It's not personal, we just have a big (total) that needs to be paid back."
Suhey would not say just how much the Payton estate believes they are owed, but said, "it's up there."
One of the main considerations, Suhey said, was the other requests and deals for Payton's name and likeness rights, many of which have and would deliver more to the estate than the Roundhouse deal. He said the decision was not an easy one, and added the City of Aurora has been "great to work with." And he didn't rule out working with Ascher again.
"I'm open to anything, but we need to have payment for the use of (Payton's) name," he said.
Ascher said he has been planning for the end of the deal with the Payton estate for some time, and has already laid the groundwork to turn the museum into a rotating exhibit of Chicago legends. The slumping economy has affected the Roundhouse, he said – profits from 2009 are $1.1 million below those of 2008 – but Ascher said the loss of the Payton name wouldn't affect his business much.
"The real blow was losing Walter 10 years ago," Ascher said. "What's gone on since has been trying to keep his name in good standing, and make sure the place reflected him."