Johnstown moving to Greenville, SC?

[wellington]

http://www.greenvilleonline.com/article/20100222/OPINION/2220303/Greenville-News-editorial--Hockey-team-deserves-support

I don't know if this has been mentioned in other threads, but it seems likely that hockey will be returning to Greenville (SC). There's definitely interest for hockey in the Upstate of SC, I'm just not sure if it can sustain an ECHL club. To be honest, I think Greenville would be a better fit for the SPHL.

[Minor League Man]

^You're a bit late aboard the train:

http://echl.com/cgi-bin/mpublic.cgi?action=show_news&id=21388

And to answer your question, BI-LO Center is waaaay too big for the SPHL. Which is also why Greensboro's still vacant and Charleston prays the Stingrays don't go belly up.

[wellington]

And to answer your question, BI-LO Center is waaaay too big for the SPHL.
And to solve your problem... a simple solution. Just close off the upper level -- problem solved. It's basically what the Grrrowl did in their latter seasons before folding. I just think a $2 million ECHL budget will not work in Greenville -- there's just not going to be enough fan support to sustain that; however, a $800K to $1M budget with around 3,000 per game could work in the SPHL.

[HockeyRulez]

Honestly, this league outgrew Johnstown almost a decade ago. But I worry about Greenville going "belly-up" again

[wellington]

Honestly, this league outgrew Johnstown almost a decade ago. But I worry about Greenville going "belly-up" again
Greenville definitely has the population to support a team, but college sports are king in the Upstate of South Carolina. Fans spend a lot of money on Clemson/Carolina -- there's not much left. The minor league baseball team the Drive does well, but I think it is more about the social scene at Fluor Field than the actual baseball. Like I said above there will be support for the team -- however, will it be enough?

[wellington]

...Charleston prays the Stingrays don't go belly up.

With the number of teams shrinking in the Southeast, it makes it tougher than ever for the Stingrays with increased travel costs. Ideally, the Stingrays should build their own 4-5,000 seat facility. There was talk of this about a decade ago.

[HockeyRulez]

Greenville definitely has the population to support a team, but college sports are king in the Upstate of South Carolina. Fans spend a lot of money on Clemson/Carolina -- there's not much left. The minor league baseball team the Drive does well, but I think it is more about the social scene at Fluor Field than the actual baseball. Like I said above there will be support for the team -- however, will it be enough?

Haha I don't know why, I cant think of the last time Clemson/South Carolina were National Title Contenders in Basketball/Football. To me I think, the reason why Hockey struggles in the South is lifestyle. I mean they don't have winters, therefore they aren't used to ice/snow. who wants to go to a Hockey arena when you could go to something like the beach?

[HockeyRulez]

With the number of teams shrinking in the Southeast, it makes it tougher than ever for the Stingrays with increased travel costs. Ideally, the Stingrays should build their own 4-5,000 seat facility. There was talk of this about a decade ago.

You know, i've proposed it before and i'll do it again. With Charlotte going to the AHL and Gwinnett and Florida being AA Affiliates of near by Southern Franchises....Bump them up to the A. They have the arenas for it. Then with South Carolina, try something new. Affiliation with like Tampa Bay?

[wellington]

Haha I don't know why, I cant think of the last time Clemson/South Carolina were National Title Contenders in Basketball/Football.
People in these parts bleed either Orange or Garnet. Regardless of how their respective teams are doing that's all people really care about.

To me I think, the reason why Hockey struggles in the South is lifestyle. I mean they don't have winters, therefore they aren't used to ice/snow. who wants to go to a Hockey arena when you could go to something like the beach?
True. Unlike colder climates, hockey is just not part of the Southern culture. Hockey did well initially, but after the novelty wore off there wasn't enough support to sustain it. Even the NHL has struggled in the South. I believe there is a niche for hockey in the South, but if the new Greenville team needs 5,000 every night to make it -- I think they are going to be very disappointed.

[HockeyRulez]

People in these parts bleed either Orange or Garnet. Regardless of how their respective teams are doing that's all people really care about.


True. Unlike colder climates, hockey is just not part of the Southern culture. Hockey did well initially, but after the novelty wore off there wasn't enough support to sustain it. Even the NHL has struggled in the South. I believe there is a niche for hockey in the South, but if the new Greenville team needs 5,000 every night to make it -- I think they are going to be very disappointed.

To me one team has beaten the odds. The Carolina Hurricanes seem to do very well, I don't know if its because North Carolina is a hot bed of a state for us Northerners or what. But of course making the Finals twice doesn't hurt.

[HockeyRulez]

Geeze, an announced crowd last night in Johnstown of 1,294. I'm sure the actual crowd was well under 1,000. In a way I feel bad for Johnstown. I saw on Facebook they were trying to get a buzz about an FPHL League, or maybe even the IHL. It would have been nice to see them get another team to some degree, but the fans show I guess they don't want it. They started some kinda dumb petition to make it like Green bay packers ownership, I don't think they get it, if people aren't buying that $15 ticket why would they spend 50 to own a share? Why do people wait til very late in the 11th hour or until it is completly to late to react?

[preeths]

Once you announce your intentions to move, that's going to kill your crowds.

[chdahs]

You know, i've proposed it before and i'll do it again. With Charlotte going to the AHL and Gwinnett and Florida being AA Affiliates of near by Southern Franchises....Bump them up to the A. They have the arenas for it. Then with South Carolina, try something new. Affiliation with like Tampa Bay?

NO ROOM at the AHL Level, spambot Rulez, YOU HAVE TO HAVE an NHL Team as your affiliate and involved as Charlotte & Norfolk do---uh, NOR is affiliated w/ TB

[HockeyRulez]

NO ROOM at the AHL Level, spambot Rulez, YOU HAVE TO HAVE an NHL Team as your affiliate and involved as Charlotte & Norfolk do---uh, NOR is affiliated w/ TB

No need to be a chode. Gwinnett has an NHL Affiliation with Atlanta, problem solved. Move Chicago with the Blackhawks. Florida is the AA Affiliate of the Panthers. The only problem here is South Carolina.

[Minor League Man]

No need to be a chode. Gwinnett has an NHL Affiliation with Atlanta, problem solved. Move Chicago with the Blackhawks. Florida is the AA Affiliate of the Panthers. The only problem here is South Carolina.

Technically this could work, but...

1. The Blackhawks and Wolves are more like competition...I still remember when the Wolves used to outdraw the Hawks back in the late '90s and early '00s (when the Hawks stunk on ice and the Wolves found any non-Cup season a disappointment-which I guess is still the case). Plus, what would happen to the Rockford Icehogs? (my guess could be that Gwinnett would buy them and the Hogs would go back to the "I")
2. To do the Everblades-Panthers teamup, you'd have the death of one of the AHL's most storied franchises (Rochester Americans) on your hands. Are you prepared to accept such responsibility?
3. I still wonder why Charleston can't just get a team in the SPHL...

[chdahs]

No need to be a chode. Gwinnett has an NHL Affiliation with Atlanta, problem solved. Move Chicago with the Blackhawks. Florida is the AA Affiliate of the Panthers. The only problem here is South Carolina.

hello, bot

Karmanos owns the Everblades and Carolina Hurricanes, the parent club of the Albany River Rats/Charlotte Checkers, South Carolina is a Washington affiliate, has been since Hershey replaced Portland in 2005 after the collapse of Richmond when Norfolk was promoted as Charlotte will to the AHL AS THE Blackhawks affiliation (Rockford, btw, is the Anaheim franchise that started in Baltimore as the Bandits before moving to Cincinnati until 2005).

[nksports]

This is all on the hush-hush, but a group of snowbirds is looking to buy the team and move it to Florida near a large retirement communi.... sorry, it was already done.

[chdahs]

team was named Road Warriors and 1st coach is former Capitals prospect D Dean Stork