Lafayette Team?

[susyQ]

Does anyone have any information on a team in Lafayette, Louisiana?

[Minor League Man]

None yet...just Pensacola and Biloxi.

I do think the SPHL would do a good job there, because it certainly fits in the I-10 direction they're going (They might want to consider adding Baton Rouge, Mobile, Augusta, and possibly a return to Jacksonville and/or Macon with that direction)

[susyQ]

Our local news mentioned last week talks were under way to bring a team to Lafayette for the fall season. I have not seen or heard anything since then. Oh to have hockey back!!!!!! Talk is they may even keep the Ice Gator name. That was our ECHL team.

[zcientist]

Friday May 15th, 2pm
Wingate-Wyndham Hotel
Lafayette LA

The SPHL will hold a press conference about the apparent return of the IceGators(which will be the name, that won't change). Commissioner Jim Combs will be present. Even though it was reported on KLFY-TV tonight, the story is not on their website or the SPHL site at the time of this post.

It may be single "A", but I'm quite amped about the return of hockey here. The old I-10 rivalries with Pensacola, Mississippi, Jacksonville and possibly Mobile would be great.

The Cajundome apparently does not even have the ice surface any longer. So, knowing the unaffordability of Cajundome rent, chances are quite good that this team will play at Blackham Coliseum. I will clarify that nothing has been stated publicly on the venue where the team will play; that should present itself during Friday's press conference. I'm perfectly cool with old-school venues/hockey barns, so I'm all for playing at Blackham.

[Minor League Man]

Congratulations to Lafayette! Good to see the old I-10 rivalries coming back!

Now let's have teams in Macon, Augusta, Tallahassee, Jacksonville, Mobile, B'ham, BR, and NOLA again to complete the stretch!

[zcientist]

The Louisiana IceGators will be playing at Blackham Coliseum, thus no expensive arena rent. This could be the defining decision for this franchise.

Less overhead=Less attendance required to break even

[wellington]

This is like ECHL ver2.0 -- hopefully these teams can do better the 2nd time around. The smaller operational budgets should give them a fighting chance.

[Song]

You can get information at www.gatorforum.com. The oringial IG message board and still the original!

[hockeybub]

Yes SuzyQ, the Icegators are back. They will begin play in October 2009 at Blackham Coliseum in Lafayette, LA. Season tickets go on sale June 1, and will be available I think at the Coliseum, and according to Ron Handy, the head coach, there will be media announcements as to where else to purchase tickets. Supposedly, the level of play will be the same as the previous Gator team. Great news for the mourning hockey fans in Louisiana. You can probably get more info on www.sphl.com.

[wellington]

Great news for the mourning hockey fans in Louisiana. You can probably get more info on www.sphl.com.

Fixed your link: http://www.thesphl.com/

This is great news for SPHL and hockey in Louisiana. To be honest, I'm surprised that the SPHL will be adding all these new markets despite the bad economy. If these 'new' franchises prove to be successful this could be a major turning point for the league.

[adsco]

The Louisiana IceGators will be playing at Blackham Coliseum, thus no expensive arena rent. This could be the defining decision for this franchise.

Less overhead=Less attendance required to break even

There is more truth to that statement than you know. To be successful in the SPHL the rental threshold has to be in the $1,500 to $2,000 per game area (.50 cents a seat).

Which begs the question. Where are the areanas that have seating capacity in the area of 3000-3500 or less?

These locations are prospective locations for SPHL hockey.

[Geoff]

There just aren't that many arenas that size in the southeast that have ice capabilites. You're not going to find an arena like First Arena in Elmira, NY (3,784) in the southeast.

[hockeybub]

Despite the bad economy everywhere else, the economy in Lafayette is still fairly stable, and hockey interest is still strong here, so I do think it will do well. There certainly is a hockey buzz around the city. I only hope that the level of play is the same level that we experienced with the ECHL.

[Geoff]

Won't be, but it will be entertaining. The style should be close to what you remember because you were back before the time the league went more toe-pick. Physical, good number of fights but not a goon league, a good amount of skill despite being a "lower" level of league.

[zcientist]

There is more truth to that statement than you know. To be successful in the SPHL the rental threshold has to be in the $1,500 to $2,000 per game area (.50 cents a seat).

Which begs the question. Where are the areanas that have seating capacity in the area of 3000-3500 or less?

These locations are prospective locations for SPHL hockey.

This situation with the Shreveport Mudbugs (http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/20090505/SPORTS0303/905050319/1033) could mean the SPHL in 2010-11. The Hirsch Memorial Coliseum still has ice and that would be cheaper rent than CenturyTel Center. The capacity for basketball is 8500 and arena rent is 12% of ticket sales.
http://www.statefairoflouisiana.com/hirsch.aspx

The Monroe Civic Center actually was a great place to see hockey when the Moccasins were in the WPHL. The attendance was still in the mid 2k area toward the end. Concert capacity is 5600, which puts hockey seating capacity and rent in the neighborhood of the desired range of the SPHL.
http://www.monroela.us/docs/civic_center_rental_sheet.pdf

I mention both cities, because it would make better business sense to draft both teams into the SPHL rather than one or the other, due to natural geographic rivalry between the two. But not until 2010-11.

[Big Easy]

I'm excited to see the Ice Gators return to Lafayette. The original Ice Gators were my first hockey love. I traveled from NOLA to Lafayette many times for games....until NOLA got the Brass. Before things went south, Ice Gator games were off the hook in Lafayette!

[CootaKag73]

They better do come CPR or something to bring Lafayette back. Not only because he rocks, but hes got sit on ppl. You NEED those types to stay breathing.