Goodbye Quad-City Flames ...

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TSN Website -
http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=259452&lid=sublink02&lpos=headlines_nhl

REPORT: FLAMES' AHL AFFILIATE MOVING TO ABBOTSFORD, B.C.

TSN.CA Staff

12/12/2008

The city of Abbotsford is very close to landing an American Hockey League team.

According to CKNW 980AM in Vancouver, the cities new 7,500 seat facility TRADEX would be the new home of the Quad City Flames, the AHL affiliate of the Calgary Flames, for the 2009-10 season.

Abbotsford has been looking at four AHL clubs that have been on the brink.

According to sources, the city of Abbotsford is ready to offer travel subsidies and underwrite a portion of losses, if there are any at all.

The WHL's Chilliwack Bruins would be most effected by the move. However, when contacted by CKNW, Bruins Governor Darrell Porter said the club had been preparing for either an ECHL team or an AHL team in Abbotsford for months and was certain the Western League brand of hockey, along with the price of tickets would keep the Bruins competitive in the marketplace.

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CKNW-AM980 Website -
http://www.cknw.com/Channels/Reg/SportsLocal/Story.aspx?ID=1046396

BREAKING NEWS: AHL team destined for Abbotsford?

Jim Mullin-VANCOUVER/CKNW AM 980

12/12/2008

CKNW has learned that the City of Abbotsford is very close to landing a an American Hockey League team as a tenant for their new 7,500 seat facility for the 2009-10 season.

The team believed to be destined for the Valley are the Quad City Flames, the AHL affiliate of the Calgary Flames.

Abbotsford has been looking at four AHL clubs that have been on the brink. The Moline, Illinois-based Flames would fit the bill.

The Flames are drawing 2,719 per game; only Lowell draws less at 1,583 per game.

The club recently laid off three of their top sales and marketing staff and haven't been in a hurry to fill the positions.

According to sources, the City of Abbotsford is ready to offer travel subsidies and underwrite a portion of losses, if there are any at all.

No one from the city was available for comment.

The WHL's Chilliwack Bruins would be most effected by the move. however, when contacted by CKNW, Bruins Governor Darrell Porter said the club had been preparing for either an ECHL team or an AHL team in Abbotsford for months and was certain the Western League brand of hockey, along with the price of tickets would keep the Bruins competitive in the marketplace.

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Quad-City Times Website -
http://www.qctimes.com/articles/2008/12/12/sports/hockey/doc49432955b2136904457421.txt?sPos=2

Flames Deny AHL Team Is Moving To Canada

By Craig DeVrieze | Friday, December 12, 2008 |

A Canadian radio report to the contrary, Calgary Flames Chief Financial Officer Michael Holditch Friday said the National Hockey League team has made no agreement to move its American Hockey League affiliate from the Quad-Cities to Abbotsford, B.C.

“I heard it was on a radio station in Vancouver,’’ Holditch said of the reported move. “But we’re not.’’

Holditch, however, wouldn’t rule out possible future Calgary interest in such a move.

“We are under contract with the Quad-Cities until (2011),’’ he said. “Is there an interest (in Abbotsford)? Well, no. Not until we know it’s not going to work there (in the Quad-Cities).’’

Kevin Murphy, one of four members of the Quad-City Flames ownership group, Quad-Cities Sports Ventures, Inc., said he has been given no indication Calgary is considering a move.

“They have done nothing to pursue anything and we have done nothing to sell anything,’’ Murphy said.

Murphy also pointed to a five-year deal between QCSV and Calgary.

“It is a two-way contract,’’ Murphy said. “They can’t just pick up and dump us. There is a substantial cost for them.’’

The reported move comes as the local AHL team continues to struggle at the gate in its second AHL season.

The Flames rank 28th in the 29-team AHL, with an average attendance of 2,718 fans per game through 14 of this season’s 40 home games.

That’s a decline of almost 22 percent from an opening year that saw the Flames finish 27th in AHL attendance with an average of 3,523 fans per night.

Both Holditch and Murphy said significant growth at the gate is needed.

“It would be stupid if I told you we didn’t think that’s bad,’’ Holditch said of the Q-C club’s attendance ranking. “Yeah, it’s a concern. (But) I spent six days there (last month) trying to help and obviously if I am investing that time and we are investing that time, it is so they can be successful, not so we can pull out.’’

Murphy said he and his partners — Dennis Voss, Dr. and Mrs. Kerry Panozzo, Dave Arnold and Robert Byrd — have invested twice as much as they projected when they brought the AHL to the Quad-Cities in May of 2007.

But, Murphy stressed, they are “very, very committed to making it work and we still believe strongly we can make it work.’’

According to TSN.CA, a Canadian sports news wire, Vancouver radio station CKNW 980AM reported that Abbotsford’s newly opened TRADEX arena would be the home of the Flames AHL team in 2009-2010.

Abbotsford is located south of Vancouver, near the Washington border, which is about a 24-hour drive from the nearest AHL city, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

TSN said unidentified sources said the city of Abbotsford would offer travel subsidies and also underwrite financial losses.

Holditch said representatives of the Canadian city did make a presentation at an AHL meeting last summer and confirmed the city is seeking an AHL affiliate.

“I think they have approached a couple of teams, but we don’t have a deal with them,’’ he said. “I couldn’t say we’re in the ‘if’ zone. I won’t answer that question. That’s not constructive. But, no, we don’t have a deal.’’

[Minor League Man]

All they need to do to perk up gate attendance is

BRING BACK THE QUAD CITY MALLARDS NAME & LOGO ALREADY!

Fans recognize that name...once it's back, the fans will come back too.

[preeths]

BRING BACK THE QUAD CITY MALLARDS NAME & LOGO ALREADY!

I agree, it was a mistake the use the Flames name.

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BRING BACK THE QUAD CITY MALLARDS NAME & LOGO ...
Fans recognize that name...
This is the reason why the Chicago Blackhawks agreed to keep the Rockford IceHogs team name when they switched from UHL to AHL.

[events]

Ok,as much as I would like to see a team in Abbotsford.I think this idea will not come to reality.
Has anybody really looked at a map lately?Whats the closest AHL team to Abbotsford?......Perhaps Winipeg?And if the team were to subsidize travel costs for other teams.Why would they want to burdern themselves with that type of debt?How long could they last under such circumstances.....2 seasons perhaps?
It just doesnt seem realistic withouth a west coast AHL division?
And all that is before you consider the economic melt down?
Perhaps a ECHL team would be more realistic.At least they have teams in the same time zone as Abbotsford.

[Minor League Man]

Ok,as much as I would like to see a team in Abbotsford.I think this idea will not come to reality.
Has anybody really looked at a map lately?Whats the closest AHL team to Abbotsford?......Perhaps Winipeg?And if the team were to subsidize travel costs for other teams.Why would they want to burdern themselves with that type of debt?How long could they last under such circumstances.....2 seasons perhaps?
It just doesnt seem realistic withouth a west coast AHL division?
And all that is before you consider the economic melt down?
Perhaps a ECHL team would be more realistic.At least they have teams in the same time zone as Abbotsford.
I agree with you there.

I'm all for an Abbostford rivalry with the Salmon Kings...now THAT will be good to see!

[events]

There is also numerous reports that the Calgary Flames are officially denying any intentions of moving the affiliate to Abbotsford.
A pesky little problem with having signed a 5 year agreement in Quad City?And they are only in their second year of it?Now if they were to try to buy there way out of that,would pay for it?The Abbotsford group?

Seems to me like somebody jumped the gun on talking to the media.And the realistic chances of success with bringing the AHL to town seem remote?

The ECHL is as close I can see happening.No possibility of a WHL franchise,as they are stuck in both Chilliwack and Vancouver's territory.
Also a Junior A team would not be able to afford the A.E.S.C.

Any insightS?

[events]

How about this for a more realistic idea.I just read that the ECHL Fresno franschise is folding.Perhaps it could be picked up by the Abbotsford ownership group and moved to Abbotsford?
The team is in the same time zone so would assist the league with scheduling come 2009-10 season?
Any comments?

[nksports]

It's not unheard of. In the late 1970s, the Columbus Owls moved twice in one season -- Dayton just before the start of the season and Grand Rapids mid-season.

You'd have to find an owner. You'd probably have to buy out the lease in Fresno (since it sounds like the city is thinking of suing the team, but also held an option to buy it). It might take some time since there might be a bankruptcy proceeding in a court somewhere. You might have to pay off the team's old debts (unless you bought it out of a bankruptcy hearing). The next question (which might need a lawyer who deals in international business to answer), can a bankrupt company in the U.S. be moved to Canada, or would a new company (or franchise) have to be formed? Can all of this be done in time to salvage this season, or would you have to wait until next year before actually playing?

[events]

Good points,I am unsure of the cross-border legalities etc.It couldnt be pulled offf for the remainder of this season as the arena will not be finisehd till April 1st at the earliest.
Do you really think minior-pro hockey will arrive in Abbotsford the 2009-10 season?