Cincinnati Cyclones Are Back Baby

[jackball333]

Great To Have Hockey Back In Cincinnati....see All You Guys During Next Years Season.

[MarshalsFAN80]

It looks as though there are very few people that really care:(

I know that I will be attending as many games as possible (living in CBUS during the season) :(

Weekend games with the Family will be a good time for me!

[zoofan]

I am happy to see hockey back in Cincinnati... just so you all know there is a Bootland game worn Cyclones jersey on EBAY

[preeths]

Interest will pick up as hockey season approaches. Not much to talk about, yet.

[MarshalsFAN80]

Interest will pick up as hockey season approaches. Not much to talk about, yet.


This is the Cyclones 3rd attempt at generating some interest. I don't think that the ECHL can survive here in Cincinnati...unfortunatly. :(

I'd love to see them sell at least half of US BANK arena at least once this season! *low expectations I know*

[MarshalsFAN80]

Is anyone else concerned about the lack of signings from the Clones?

Now that they have the "PARENT CLUB" (which is GREAT) I thought that we would be hearing a little more about players being signed. Hopefully that is to come soon.

[Geoff]

Sounds like thwe Ice Pilots. Training Camp invitees ... Training Camp invitees ... Training Camp invitees ... SINGINGS SINGINGS Start of season ... barely make playoffs. The annoucements from the Pilots have gotten better with the Mario Forgione.

[MarshalsFAN80]

Sounds like thwe Ice Pilots. Training Camp invitees ... Training Camp invitees ... Training Camp invitees ... SINGINGS SINGINGS Start of season ... barely make playoffs. The annoucements from the Pilots have gotten better with the Mario Forgione.

Training camp???? are you sure there is such a thing HEHE....I'm hopeful. I am calling to order my 'half season' tickets today...that is if i can get a package that doesn't include weekday games. I'm living in Columbus during the week...going to school coming home on the weekends.

[Raptorov]

Well, I'M pumped!
After getting the shaft from the Railraiders, I was so relieved to hear of the Cyclones return. I have the yard sign and the season tickets to prove it.
I hope for many evenings of pre-game Hofbrauhaus, and hockey action downtown.
I must admit, I prefer the Cincinnati Gardens as it is much more convienient than getting downtown, but I got my Cyclone jersey primed and ready!

[nksports]

They need to tear US Bank Arena down and rebuild it. It's just an ugly old box. While the Gardens are hard to get to (then again with traffic on I-75 and I-71 ...) and is in a bad part of town, that building has character (not to mention history, eh Big O).
The only fond memory I have of what was once Riverfront Coliseum, besides something about a Who concert when I was in high school (I wasn't there), was a hockey game between the old Cincy Stingers getting the crud beat out of them by a Soviet team back in the 70s (I think it was Moscow Dynamo). That and they signed a Dayton Owls (the team that played for part of a year when the Gems were on hiatus when all the auto plants and all the other plants were laying off) player after he was banned from the IHL for life for hitting a player over the head with a stick. They made a commercial of him hitting a slow bag

[Raptorov]

Well, double good news, because Hudepohl's back too!
Christian Moerlein bought the brands from Snyder Brewing and has started up with Hudy Delight again. Apparently they cant keep up with demand.

Now if they would only not charge 7.50 for it at the games...

[nksports]

Talk about coming full circle. When Snyder went into bankruptcy, they sold off Christian Moerlein to try and raise cash. (It was all they could do to hold onto Little Kings. At the time CM and LK were the only ones making money.)

For $7.50, I think you could buy a 12-pack of Burger. We'll see what happens with hockey.

[Raptorov]

Does it seem like the Cyclones website is a bit behind?
I saw that Dayton and Cinci are playing a home and home preseason set, but there is no mention of it on the Clone site.
Strange that the Cyclones home is at the Arena, but the Dayton home is at Kettering Rec Center. How does that work?

I also am distressed by the lack of radio for the upcoming season. I know the webcasts are all the rage, but that doesnt help in the car, or on my back deck.

[Geoff]

Cinci better get ready ofr a beatdown on opening night. PILOT PRIDE!

[Raptorov]

Are you coming up for the game?
If so there are some great places right across the river from the Arena to hang out.

But after a year of having no team at all here after the AHL Ducks left, I am just quite glad there's a team to cheer for. A win is the bonus!

Now, by the end of the season, my tune may change....

[Geoff]

Wish I could. I'm from Louisville, origionally and I miss Cinci chili and white castles. I just don't have the $$$ to make the trip.

[Raptorov]

Well, then I will yell for you too. Cant say I will cheer for the Ice Pilots, but since I dont know any of the Cyclones either, I guess it will be even.
But rest assured I will boo the refs (whether they deserve it or not) enough for the both of us.

[CincinnatiHockeyFan1]

Is it October 20 yet? LETS GO CYCLONES!

[Raptorov]

October 11th is the only home preseason game.
Thats the beginning of the new Cyclones
Only 3 weeks away!

[MarshalsFAN80]

Well, training camp opens soon and from what I keep reading it looks like there are VERY FEW season ticket holders. Anyone out there hearing any differently?

I'm hoping that they make it this time...this could be bad for Cincinnati Hockey if they don't survive.

[Raptorov]

I have not heard anything. Maybe I am way out of the loop, but where did you read about the ticket numbers? I know from a couple of friends who had tickets up until the bitter end that the attendance was very thin, but with the only hockey in town, I would think it would be better. Maybe people are in a "wait and see" mode.

Maybe they all got Bengal season seats. That would wipe out a budget. Remember in the haylcon days of the Cyclones, when the Gardens was packed and sold-out, both the Bengals and the Reds were not good.

[HockeyFan70]

I just saw on the death-pool that cincy is amoung the lowest in attendance this season. Sometimes information isn't properly recorded or passed on. If some cyclones fans could share a little insight I would appreciate it. I really thought the team would thrive. thanks

[Raptorov]

Yes, attendance has been disappointing, but the people there are loud and crazy. We never believe the posted attendance numbers on the box scores. We have all thought there were more fans there. I have gone to games in other cities and never think the crowds are much higher than Cinci's but they always report crowds in the 4000's.
But you have to remember that there was no season ticket campaign, or pre-season hype before the season started. They announced they were back in May, and started play in September. They went from zero to a coach, affiliation and players very fast. They have had billboards and some TV/radio ads, but the media and newspapers totally ignore them. I had heard they put over one million dollars in resurrecting the team this year, so we will see. Now that the Bengals season has ingloriously ended, maybe the crowds will increase. There are some big promotional nights coming up.
The Cyclones also have a huge number of weeknight games. That cant help either.

[ChampionOfSteel]

Great To Have Hockey Back In Cincinnati....see All You Guys During Next Years Season.

Good to see the ECHL has the balls to suspend teams that don't have enough funding to make thru an entire year, and the balls to bring them back when they are ready.

Now if we could only get the UHL (and NIFL in football) to do the same....

[Dilbert]

I have mentioned this plenty of times on various sites. The Cyclones may be playing well, but they have been playing in front of crowds below 1000. Even though they are in a lower league than the AHL team we were used to, I think they could draw more people if they move the team back to the Gardens. The only problem is that the Cyclones are owned by the same people who own their current home US Bank Arena, so we know that they wont move back to the Gardens unless the team is sold.

Maybe if they sell the team to the Robinsons, the owner of the Gardens and a dormant AHL team, they could buy the Cyclones and move them to the Gardens and up a league to the AHL. It could be succesful

[Raptorov]

Except that there were TWO teams in Cinci at the time. The ECHL team couldnt compete with the AHL team, but with the AHL affiliation shaky, when it was pulled, the opportunity for the ECHL was golden.
Also with rivals such as Dayton, Toledo, and Wheeling within close driving distance, it makes for good supporting roadtrips, as we have seen this season.

[Dilbert]

Except that there were TWO teams in Cinci at the time. The ECHL team couldnt compete with the AHL team, but with the AHL affiliation shaky, when it was pulled, the opportunity for the ECHL was golden.
Also with rivals such as Dayton, Toledo, and Wheeling within close driving distance, it makes for good supporting roadtrips, as we have seen this season.

Im aware of the short drives to Dayton, Toledo and Wheeling, but let me remind you that Cleveland joins the AHL next year and the drive to Chicago,Peoria Milwaukee and Grand Rapids arent that bad either. Rockford could work out to if they join the AHL.

[rams80]

I have mentioned this plenty of times on various sites. The Cyclones may be playing well, but they have been playing in front of crowds below 1000. Even though they are in a lower league than the AHL team we were used to, I think they could draw more people if they move the team back to the Gardens. The only problem is that the Cyclones are owned by the same people who own their current home US Bank Arena, so we know that they wont move back to the Gardens unless the team is sold.

Maybe if they sell the team to the Robinsons, the owner of the Gardens and a dormant AHL team, they could buy the Cyclones and move them to the Gardens and up a league to the AHL. It could be succesful

Up until the tragic point where they need a NHL parent to play and can't find one...

[Pounder]

Cincinnati hockey= instability fatigue.

Any prospective owner is better off sitting on its hands for five years to let the local fans fire back up.

[ECHLfan]

It is great to have a team back in Cincinnati, but with the attendance as it is how long can they survive?
The building holds what about 10,000 and they have played games with crowds in triple digits - can't be making any money there.
Have the people in Cincy, given up on hockey? What happened to all of the fans during the WHA Stingers?
Hope they come back for next season, but don't know how.

[rams80]

It is great to have a team back in Cincinnati, but with the attendance as it is how long can they survive?
The building holds what about 10,000 and they have played games with crowds in triple digits - can't be making any money there.
Have the people in Cincy, given up on hockey? What happened to all of the fans during the WHA Stingers?
Hope they come back for next season, but don't know how.

If you will recall, the WHA folded in 1979. The amount of franchise instability and infighting Cincy has gone through since then has probably significantly degraded the market's joy for the game.

[indy legend]

I've been somewhat surprised at the lack of support the clones have gotten,espesially after the demise of the Ducks. There was a time when Cincy had great support for the Cyclones and even did well early on when you had two teams in town. At least you folks have people in town willing to give you another shot at pro hockey. It seems there is always some one willing to try it again. I wish we had people like that in Indy. We were drawing close to 5000 a game in the CHL when Horn Chen decided to up and move the team to Topeka. That worked out well for him(folded after drawing around 1200 per game for one year). We stll draw around 4500 a game for junior hockey now but I see little chance we will get a pro team here anytime soon. I go to the Ice games occasionaly but also make trips to Cincy and Ft.Wayne for games too. I hope things pick up at the gate for the Clones and that they will return next year, and that someday Cincy and Indy are in a league together.

[Dilbert]

If you will recall, the WHA folded in 1979. The amount of franchise instability and infighting Cincy has gone through since then has probably significantly degraded the market's joy for the game.

Wrong, The Stingers demise didnt start the downhill slide of hockey here in Cincy. When the Stingers left the WHA in 79 they joined the CHL and folded midseason due to bad attendance at Riverfront Coliseum (US Bank Arena today) The Tigers played a full season at the Coliseum in the CHL in 1981-82. Hockey didnt come back to Cincinnati until 1990 When the Cyclones joined the ECHL at the Gardens, they played two seasons then joined the IHL in 1992. The Cyclones would draw near capacity crowds at the Gardens. When the Cyclones moved to US Bank Arena in 1997, the AHL relocated the Baltimore Bandits franchise to the Gardens and the city opperated with two AAA hockey clubs. A lot of the Cyclones fans stayed at the Gardens because you didnt have to go through downtown to get there and it was cheaper than the Cyclones at USBA. This was the start of what was called the Cincinnati hockey wars. When the IHL folded in 2001 they went down from AAA to AA in the ECHL a lot of fans thought this lower league wasnt as hard hitting or professional enough for the city so they went back to the Gardens to the AAA Mighty Ducks. When the Cyclones folded in 2004. Many of the fans went back to the Gardens with the Ducks. But the diehard Cyclones fans didnt go back. To them its Cyclones or nothing. When the Ducks folded in 2005, it left the city without hockey for the first time since 1989-90 hockey season. Things seemed to have died down durring that time without hockey, durring this time the Rail Raiders came into play trying to get people from both fan bases (Ducks and Clones) they fell just short because the diehard Cyclone fans wouldnt buy the tickets. When the Rail Raiders failed the Cyclones came back to USBA and the ECHL, since then the diehards (about 700 or so) have returned but no one else did. Even players on the Cyclones have complained saying "It's horrible here, nobody comes to the games." People here except for the diehard Cyclones fans want to see the return of AAA hockey to the Gardens. This is why the Cyclones are doing horrible at attendance.Really the hockey war is still going on but it has died down since there is only one team.

I support the Cyclones and wish them the best but I dont go to the games as US Bank Arena is too expensive. I always went to the Gardens and hope a AAA team returns there soon

[MarshalsFAN80]

I had to hop on here tonight and talk about this for a minute because I'm coming back to Cincinnati on Thursday for the Cyclones game against the Storm.

As someone who attended 36 Cyclones games in their previous season (last season before this year...I believe 2004). I attended the first home game this season but I haven't been back. I moved to Columbus, which explains why I haven't been to a game, but I'm not surprised that people haven't been coming back.

The first game this season was not fun for me. It just didn't seem like that HARDCORE/ROUGH Cyclones hockey that I grew up with, and enjoyed. Unlike most people, I was disappointed to see Wildman Walker no longer the PA announcer. While I was happy to see that he was still involved with the team, I just didn't feel that it was the same.

I'm going to Cincinnati on Thursday night for the playoff game because it's important to me to go and see what could be the last playoff series played in Cincinnati for a long time to come. If the Bluejackets were in the NHL playoffs, I would be at their games but, I'm not going to hold my breath for that.

As a hockey fan, I think that even the minor league game was affected by the past NHL lockout especially in Cincinnati. For the most part, Cincinnati is a MAJOR LEAGUE TOWN, the Reds and the Bengals take up the majority of time on the Sports Radio in Cincy.

One problem with Hockey in the past has been the lack of coverage that the teams receive in the "birdcage liner". It's usually a one liner in the 'Sports Digest' section of the sports page. They get some press because they make the playoffs but, I just don't feel that the Enquirer cares about the Cyclones organization or the hockey fans in Cincinnati. (barely any NHL coverage either- but it gets more than the Clones do)

This Cyclones DIE HARD attended Ducks games when the Cyclones were not in town, during the hockey wars because I enjoyed seeing the AHL. I'm hoping that this Thursday's game is the Cyclones making their way to the 2nd round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs because I don't want to have to go to the game on Friday night too:) LOL

The other big problem that most people have about the clones is that the prices are "TOO HIGH". AHL/Ducks tickets were cheaper than the current Cyclones ticket.

I'm looking forward to Thursday's game against the Storm but I'm afraid this could be the last series that both of these teams play against one another.