Asheville Aces Return?

[caniac1026]

I was talking to a sports marketing guy this morning. I made an allusion to the Aces and this was his reply...

"I just spoke with Jeff Brubaker yesterday... He said they were coming back next year with investors from Canada."

I find this hard to believe, given the problems with the arena authority when the Aces wanted to update their lease. Maybe there's something to the Ghostriders (indoor football team coming in March) that made it sensible for the Aces to return?
I didn't think the CC was big enough for arena football, it's not even big enough for hockey!

[#1 Guard Fan]

I would really like to see the AA back next year. We need to add more teams to the SPHL next year. Hopefully we can add at least 2-3 teams next year plus keep the teams that we have now.

[SignGuyDino]

I checked with my "reliable sources" and they don't know for sure but they have heard rumors.

Isn't this the same Brubaker who called the Civic Center a "packed house" on the radio when the official attendance was 1,495 (about a third of capacity)?

The same team who tried to get the management rights to the Civic Center while in violation of lease for nonpayment of rent, and a plethera of other violations?

And there's PLENTY more. Just remember what they promised Asheville and then didn't deliver.

The City should hold off on any new teams until the building is addressed, then bring in credible, trustworthy groups. They have a lot more important things to do than waste time with folks like Brubaker.

And I'm saying upfront I don't care how many more threats and slander I get on message boards and the radio for saying it. I was 100% right three years ago and I'm 100% right now.

[#1 Guard Fan]

I have no clue of the whole deal but maybe things can be made right. Sure would be nice if things were worked out and had more NC teams in the SPHL or whatever the league name is next year. Please keep any updates posted

[BCRantzilla]

Talked to WNCSport.com, who is in Asheville and he says he hasn't heard anything and he hears about everything in the SPHL. That really leads me to believe it's a rumour. Unless Asheville realizes that no level of minor league hockey can afford their rental costs, I don't see the game returning anytime soon.

[caniac1026]

What I don't understand is the lease per-game for the Ghost Riders is substantially less than what the Aces paid. From the ACT:

"Rent will be $2,500 per game for the Ghostriders, according to Civic Center director David Pisha. That's considerably less than the average of $8,000 per game the Asheville Aces hockey team paid for 28 home dates during their one season (2004-05) in Asheville."

Sure there's ice up-keep, but it can't possibly cost $5,500 per game to maintain ice in that small of an arena...the ice was never that good anyway...

I have no reason to doubt my source, unless he was just trying to brag about an his account prowess or something. Believing Brubaker, now that's a different bowl of schnozberries altogether.

But I agree, Dino, they do need to address the building before they bring in any more sports... I guess it's just their nature to expect owners to want to come to an antiquated building (with a REALLY carpy lower bowl).

Off topic, has anyone ever been to a Knoxville game? I was out that way for their home opener this season. Their ice level seats look pretty carpy, but it's decent for as old as it is and it was PACKED with UT students.

[BCRantzilla]

I can't believe that an arena football team would get such a sweet deal compared to what the Aces had to pay! Then again Waronker screwed this market big time during the SPHL/WHA2 turf war when he drove the price of the rink so high that an entire season of sellouts wouldn't have saved that team. (Especially the way he runs his teams.)

At this point, Asheville will likley acheive pariah status with minor pro hockey leagues in the forseeable future unless the arena is extensively renovated and/or the rental costs are drastically marked down.

[#1 Guard Fan]

Oh well I had a small amount of hope but maybe they want be back next year. I wonder if the league has looked at place like Greensboro?

[preeths]

I'm sure they have, but most of the talk coming out of Greensboro this week has been in relation to the ECHL.

[#1 Guard Fan]

Go figure. I am not sure what other areas the SPHL could look into. I guess I could wish big for Fayetteville to go back to the ECHL next year.

[mitchg73]

SPHL league meetings jan 29th in jacksonville....i;ve heard mention of 4 echl teams having reps there ..also ownerships groups for birmingham and tallahasse...so alot should come out after the 29th...yes the knoxville building is old almost 50 years old....but we still are 2nd in league attendace..ashevilles building is bad yes...but le dump (knoxville colisium) isnt the ritz either..but we still yet pack the house...anyways good luck to asheville and its hockey fans hopefully something can get worked out

[SignGuyDino]

The main reason the rent is "only" $2,500 a game is there's no competition and no changeover costs.

Putting in hockey after putting in indoor football will have serious changeover issues and would cause higher rent.

Before the last team left, I believe the offer for year two from the City was $2,500-$3,000 rent a game since the Altitude left. Still too high in the eyes of the hockey team.

It would make no sense to even consider bringing in a hockey team until the Task Force decides what to do with the arena, and then the state legislature has to support whatever room or restaurant tax increase is required. The state hasn't been helpful so far. That should be resolved by June. Either they'll do nothing, do a so-so renovation (which makes hockey impossible while it's done), build a new arena and convert the current arena to a performing arts center (in which one group wants, hockey can't happen while they do that), or the preferred option, a new arena, a separate performing arts center, and then sell the Civic Center after those are built. I'd argue it's cheaper to do that then try to do a very expensive renovation. Then it doesn't matter if hockey or anything else is there for a while.

I don't know which of the four will happen yet. There are groups pushing each option.

Also, the parking rate is now $7 a car, way too high the city of Asheville's size for indoor sports. Why pay $7 a car when you can pay zero for parking for Asheville Tourists, high school football, etc. I have argued seek a joint increase of the car tax and use that to pay off the parking garage bonds, then you can afford having flexible rates so parking won't be so damn expensive downtown. Paying $7 parking while paying $5 for a gun show is stupid.

I think the City has bigger things to worry about then placating a hockey league that didn't deliver on promises last time.

[mitchg73]

knoxville's lease is $2000 a game . plus a few perks.....not bad for a building that seats 4800 for hockey and is averaging 3500

[adsco]

The economic feasibility of the SPHL, and it's franchises, is based on an econimic model that is quite different than the ECHL, UHL, or Cent., as I understand it - most teams pay in the area of .50 cents per seat - based on seating capacity.

As far as Jeff Brubaker is concerned: I wouln't count him out of anything. There are lots of investors, in his circles that are looking for investments, and the SPHL is a far superior investment than the ECHL. Plus there are a lot of people that remember the way he played - and if he is as committed to running a franchise as he was to his spirited play - he'll be back with a force!

Maybe he made a few mistakes; but so what, every one has to learn!

[#1 Guard Fan]

Well I don't know the guy but I sure would like to see Ashville get a team back. I am just want the SPHL to grow and get stronger with each year. Looks like this could be a good off season for the league.

[KLM Line]

I visited Knoxville this year and that barn is a great place to watch a game. The seats (with the exception of the endzones) are great and have good sightlines. They are close to the ice, the fans can DEFINATELY be heard. It might be old, the seats are wooden, but you feel like a hockey fan in there.

In addition the 5000 seats (my guess) are just about right for an SPHL franchise as those of you who have been to the bigger arenas will attest.

I don't know about the infrastructure, locker rooms or things along that line, but I can't see any obvious reasons that Knoxville couldn't use that barn for another 10 years or more. Longer with some basic updates.

[#1 Guard Fan]

Wooden seats thats so cool. Nice to know that places like that can still draw a croud. I bet Fayetteville wish they would have stuck with what they had before they built the new place years back

[mitchg73]

This should tell you that the ice bears front office are doing their job..2nd in attendance in the oldest building in the league.I like the building myself and the city has given us new sound sytem,a new zamboni last season,yes its old and has wooden seats but its a great hockey barn.fyi it was built in 1960.

[#1 Guard Fan]

You are so right by saying that the front office is doing a good job. I think our front office is getting better than they have been.