Indy Returning to IHL?

[Primis]

Blake Sebring of the Fort Wayne News-Sentinel has stated he has received an email regarding putting an IHL franchise back into Indianapolis:

http://fwnextweb1.fortwayne.com/ns/sports/tailingthekomets/?p=1930

Rumors of the IHL trying to get back into Indy have been around for some time, but this is the first legit-sounding thing we've seen.

Dayton (since losing the Bombers) and Quad Cities (losing the Flames) are also possibilities, and both have been in talks with the league apparently.

[Minor League Man]

If any team comes to Conseco, it'll HAVE to be an AHL team.

Pepsi Coliseum could work out for the lower-levels, though...Heard Hara Arena was interested in trying again...

Seriously, all the AHL Flames had to do was buy the rights and change their name to the MALLARDS so fans would recognize them...Why is that so friggin' hard?

[Primis]

I've heard they're having problems maintaining the ice at the Pepsi. There seem to be some concerns about that.

I'd love to see a return of the Ice but I don't know how possible it is. I'd be very happy if they could go form 6 to 8 teams and then stabilize again. 6 teams is just too few. However, they HAVE to get some franchise stability going first...

[mrsummitcitypigskin]

The problem is not with the Pepsi Coliseum in Indy.
The problem is with our Governor not wanting an IHL
team in there. Something about Gov. Daniels knowing
the owners of the Jr. league team that plays there now
and he would like to see them stay. Mike Franke w/ Ft.W
says thats been the sticking point all along. Here in
Ft.Wayne we've heard Quad City's coming back, Madison,
Wi. and the Youngstown, Oh. team. An Indy IHL franchise
could not afford a lease w/ Conseco, so the Pepsi Coliseum
@ the fairgrounds or the Pan-Am Center downtown, could
be the only option.

[Primis]

The problem is not with the Pepsi Coliseum in Indy.
The problem is with our Governor not wanting an IHL
team in there. Something about Gov. Daniels knowing
the owners of the Jr. league team that plays there now
and he would like to see them stay. Mike Franke w/ Ft.W
says thats been the sticking point all along. Here in
Ft.Wayne we've heard Quad City's coming back, Madison,
Wi. and the Youngstown, Oh. team. An Indy IHL franchise
could not afford a lease w/ Conseco, so the Pepsi Coliseum
@ the fairgrounds or the Pan-Am Center downtown, could
be the only option.

So then is there any reason the Jr. team couldn't stay? I don't see any conceivable reason why a junior team couldn't simply share an arena with a minor pro one...

And I've heard all the rumors too. Add Cincinnati and Dayton to your list, and possibly Peoria if the Blues decide to move their AHL affiliate like they have expressed interest in doing.

The one thing Indy has going for it though is proximity. The other cities are a much longer trip, for the most part. And the IHL badly wants to stay a bus league similar to the old "I" of the 1980's.

[mrsummitcitypigskin]

So then is there any reason the Jr. team couldn't stay? I don't see any conceivable reason why a junior team couldn't simply share an arena with a minor pro one...

And I've heard all the rumors too. Add Cincinnati and Dayton to your list, and possibly Peoria if the Blues decide to move their AHL affiliate like they have expressed interest in doing.

The one thing Indy has going for it though is proximity. The other cities are a much longer trip, for the most part. And the IHL badly wants to stay a bus league similar to the old "I" of the 1980's.

We have heard the Peoria, Dayton and Cincy, rumors too. Indy would
be a great addition. I hope someone can get it done. Bottom line is
the IHL needs more then 6 teams. Gets boring seeing the same teams
night in and night out. They can add 2 or 3 in 2009-10 and maybe a
few more in 10-11. I know the economy is really the tell all right now.
But yes, I think the IHL and for that matter, the indoor football CIFL
have the same idea, as far as a bus league....

[zcientist]

So then is there any reason the Jr. team couldn't stay? I don't see any conceivable reason why a junior team couldn't simply share an arena with a minor pro one...

And I've heard all the rumors too. Add Cincinnati and Dayton to your list, and possibly Peoria if the Blues decide to move their AHL affiliate like they have expressed interest in doing.

The one thing Indy has going for it though is proximity. The other cities are a much longer trip, for the most part. And the IHL badly wants to stay a bus league similar to the old "I" of the 1980's.

All the more reason I want Toledo to dump out of the ECHL and join the "I". It's been three years since a Toledo team has hit the ice and there aren't as many potential rivalries in the ECHL league map for them as before.

[chdahs]

If any team comes to Conseco, it'll HAVE to be an AHL team.

Pepsi Coliseum could work out for the lower-levels, though...Heard Hara Arena was interested in trying again...

Seriously, all the AHL Flames had to do was buy the rights and change their name to the MALLARDS so fans would recognize them...Why is that so friggin' hard?

Because Calgary has owned 1/2 of their AHL affiliate since 1993, no matter where they've been, Knights was tried in Omaha, wasn't it, MLM, THE Mallards were on their last breath anyway...

Indianapolis would also need an NHL partner to even be considered for an AHL Franchise(in the bylaws, otherwise not considered)....

[Primis]

Indianapolis would also need an NHL partner to even be considered for an AHL Franchise(in the bylaws, otherwise not considered)....

Or more-accurately, they'd need one of the current 30 AHL franchises to sell to them. The AHL does not allow more than 30 franchises at a time (though they granted Austin a one-year exception... which should be interesting because if they can't somehow buy, say, Iowa or Edmonton's franchises the league won't allow Austin to exist any longer. They're counting heavily on one of those franchises selling to them. Dallas took a huge gamble here... and with Anaheim cutting ties with the Chops it now sets them up in an even tougher position. No affiliate, and maybe no hope of one even...

[chdahs]

Or more-accurately, they'd need one of the current 30 AHL franchises to sell to them. The AHL does not allow more than 30 franchises at a time (though they granted Austin a pone-year exception... which should be interesting because if they can't somehow buy, say, Iowa or Edmonton's franchises the league won't allow Austin to exist any longer. They're counting heavily on one of those franchises selling to them. Dallas took a huge gamble here... and with Anaheim cutting ties with the Chops it now sets them up in an even tougher position. No affiliate, and maybe no hope of one even...

no, but everyone in our league gave the Schlegels the benefit when the Austin/CP/Texas franchise was originally brought up, Primis, they made the decision to boot DAL, and now this w/ ANA, doesn't help their credibility w/ Polk County ready to collect on the franchise, essentially making it homeless, in addition to no NHL Affiliation....

I hope to see a new bylaw, that limits the # of years any franchise goes dormant, even if there's no chance of that occurring, or as Edmonton has shown, affiliating w/ an active while holding an inactive one at the same time. Dallas likely from all indications will be leasing the Oilers' dormant but the AHL Has INDICATED THEY'RE NOT SATISFIED w/ that charging HSG W/ SECURING THE FRANCHISE PAST NEXT SEASON.

[braddaman1]

Well when the Flames came to the Quad Cities, my under standing is that the Mallards suspened operations. Does that mean that they still have a IHL affiliation on paper, but just no team owner?
QC should have never joined the AHL. I would also like someone to explain to me how Rockford and Peoria are surviving in the AHL since none of these teams averaged 4000 fans. When the Flames came to the QC the owership group stated they needed atleast 4000 fans, but strong corperate support just to stay in the black. Catapiller is a major corperate sponsor of Peoria, but they have laid off 1000's so I would be willing to bet they won't be a major sponsor of the Rivermen this year.

[braddaman1]

Think keeping the Mallards name would have helped a lot. That really upset a lot of fans.

[chdahs]

Well when the Flames came to the Quad Cities, my under standing is that the Mallards suspened operations. Does that mean that they still have a IHL affiliation on paper, but just no team owner?
QC should have never joined the AHL. I would also like someone to explain to me how Rockford and Peoria are surviving in the AHL since none of these teams averaged 4000 fans. When the Flames came to the QC the owership group stated they needed atleast 4000 fans, but strong corperate support just to stay in the black. Catapiller is a major corperate sponsor of Peoria, but they have laid off 1000's so I would be willing to bet they won't be a major sponsor of the Rivermen this year.

no, they don't, Rockford has the backing of Chicago----Peoria has the Blues.......

[braddaman1]

no, they don't, Rockford has the backing of Chicago----Peoria has the Blues.......

Thanks for the reply.
I understand that.
Quad City had the backing of the Calgary Flames. That proved to be worthless.

With less than 4000 fans per game average, how can Peoria or Rockford be profitable?

What I am asking is what happened to the Quad City Mallards UHL/IHL franchise agreement?

[mrsummitcitypigskin]

According to league Board of Governors Mike Franke (from Ft.Wayne)
the expansion of the league in 2009-10 does NOT include Indianapolis.
Dayton, Oh. has filed paperwork. Moline, Ill. and Madison, Wi. are in
negotiations with the league. Kalamazoo has asked to be withdrawn
from the league. But, the IHL bylaws state a team has to wait 3 years
to amicably withdraw. No comment yet from K-Wing mangement. Many
with the league think this is sour grapes after Pickard (Wings president)
was asked to step down from league commissioner's seat.

[chdahs]

Thanks for the reply.
I understand that.
Quad City had the backing of the Calgary Flames. That proved to be worthless.

With less than 4000 fans per game average, how can Peoria or Rockford be profitable?

What I am asking is what happened to the Quad City Mallards UHL/IHL franchise agreement?

no, Calgary's deal in QC wasn't worthless----the Mallards wouldn't have lasted much longer even if the AHL hadn't come to Moline when they did----they faced too much competition in Omaha, this was the 4th relocation of the franchise including dormancy of the AHL Franchise, braddaman, due to financial constraints by local owners both in Saint John, NB , then Omaha, then w/ QCSV.

The Mallards were terminated just as Rockford's was when their ownership bought an AHL franchise, and Peoria is successful as the Blues affiliate even when the Rivermen were in the ECHL, ATTENDANCE isn't a priority as it's claimed to be. QC was done when the Flames arrived in Moline, as a result the Mallards ceased operations after the arrival of the QC Flames (Abbotsford Heat) in '07.

[braddaman1]

Worthless = Quad City market too small to support the over head associated with any AHL team. The last few seasons of the Mallards saw declining attendance, but the team spoiled fans the first few years with 3 Colonial Cup victories.

The AHL ownership group also owned the Mallards for their last season as the Mallards. This ownership group upset a lot of fans by changing the team name, and poorly marketing the team.

I think QC should join the CHL, as that would be a good fit for an area the size of the QC. However I would like to see the IHL return to the creditable AA league it used to be.

[chdahs]

Worthless = Quad City market too small to support the over head associated with any AHL team. The last few seasons of the Mallards saw declining attendance, but the team spoiled fans the first few years with 3 Colonial Cup victories.

The AHL ownership group also owned the Mallards for their last season as the Mallards. This ownership group upset a lot of fans by changing the team name, and poorly marketing the team.

I think QC should join the CHL, as that would be a good fit for an area the size of the QC. However I would like to see the IHL return to the creditable AA league it used to be.
how is it worthless if you have a higher league essentially take over, that's why the Mallards collapsed, the expectations were too high----

no, QCSV was asked to run the Flames for CGY, just as the Ak-Sar-Ben did when the team was in Omaha, and the Saint John ownership did in that market which was why CGY left in 2003, when the finances started sliding in NB

[Primis]

FYI for everyone... the guys that wanted to go into Indy are the exact same guys that are now in Dayton. Indy rumors died when fairly-publicly they moved on to Dayton...

[chdahs]

FYI for everyone... the guys that wanted to go into Indy are the exact same guys that are now in Dayton. Indy rumors died when fairly-publicly they moved on to Dayton...

those owners better start spending big $ TO upgrade Hara, fwiu, otherwise they'll be in the same spot as why the Bombers are in a holding pattern.

[puck]

i think they shoulda paid something else before they bought the Gems

[mrsummitcitypigskin]

Care to elaborate?? Mr. Puck..

[puck]

not going to say much...but like what happen to flint last season

[puck]

ok, since the word that rent hasnt been paid for the 2 buddy pizzia places in ft. wayne.
they had a 3rd location in albion, i dont know if the rent been paid or not but when they closed the one in albion, they paid their workers paychecks for two weeks of work. well one of my friends daughter worked for them, and guess what their checks bounced. i havent talked to him since he told me that.

[mrsummitcitypigskin]

Do you really think the IHL's board of governors would have given
these guys the green light for Dayton, if there was any questions?
I think not. I'm sure everything was researched to the fullest.

[puck]

quad city is in



http://qctimes.com/news/local/article_24ad1164-64f1-11de-89ba-001cc4c03286.html

[zcientist]

quad city is in



http://qctimes.com/news/local/article_24ad1164-64f1-11de-89ba-001cc4c03286.html

It's definitely set in stone that here in the SPHL region, that we will have an odd number of teams(seven) for this fall.

With QC being the I's number seven at the moment, I keep my fingers crossed for a rabbit out of the hat that there will be an eighth team in the "I" for the fall. But October is now basically three months away...

[Minor League Man]

And they will be...the MALLARDS! (woot)

Long may they skate! (I still think the AHL team made a BIG mistake not being the Mallards, but now that the name is back, it's all good now)

[mrsummitcitypigskin]

It's definitely set in stone that here in the SPHL region, that we will have an odd number of teams(seven) for this fall.

With QC being the I's number seven at the moment, I keep my fingers crossed for a rabbit out of the hat that there will be an eighth team in the "I" for the fall. But October is now basically three months away...

The IHL may have a surprise up their sleeve yet, for 2009-10. I think
thats why the schedule is delayed. Maybe someone coming in from
a another league or maybe Evansville thinks they can go this year
in the smaller, older arena w/ a small seating expansion. We'll know
more soon.

[Geoff]

Or the league is still trying to figure out the Flint situation.

[mrsummitcitypigskin]

The Flint situation was settled at mid-season this past year.
They just need some cheeks in the seats.

[HockeyRulez]

The Flint situation was settled at mid-season this past year.
They just need some cheeks in the seats.

Flint needs more then that, with that nice little power outage during that game last season in the last minute, lol