UHL Expansion and Relocation

[HockeyFan70]

I'm a resident of Louisville, Ky and have been spending the better part of 2 years e-mailing information to leagues and teams about Louisville. If I get a reply at all it usually is generic. Does anyone know the secret to getting the UHL to even look at a city that has everything needed for hockey? We had a very good ECHL team (Icehawks) but Mr. Chin (now in the CHL) took them out of town. Then we had the RIVERFROGS (ECHL) and you couldn't get that ticket. That team was sold to make way for the AHL Panthers. This team was owned by the AFR family and there are a lot of businesses that still want to get paid what is owed them. Louisville can support hockey in a big way!

[#1 Guard Fan]

SPHL all the way. We added Richmond this year and look for Roanke to join the league next year. COme on in the ICE is just great in the league:D

[Motownboy]

Chief:

If you want a team to relocate from a struggling area, try the Motor City Mechanics of the United League. They really are not making it for a number of reasons. One, there is too much compeitition. Besides the Wings, there is junior, college and high school and youth hockey are big there. Last year when the Wings were not playing, they drew well. But this year they are lucky to get 1,000 game. Part of the problem is they play in the largest rink in a city rec arena that is not made to handle crownds.

In terms of talent, I think you want the ECHL and perhaps the southern league the one guy was talking about. Both those teams get young prospects from NHL teams that have a chance to move to higher leagues, perhaps the NHl someday. They have working agreements with NHL teams. The United League is different. I went to some games last year and a few this year.

Prospects don't really come to this league. For most of the guys in the United League, this is as good as its ever going to get. They are either too old, too slow, not skilled enough for higher leagues. Its not exactly "Slap Shot", but you get the idea. They make an average of $400-$500 a week.

Hope this helps
Tom

[nksports]

I'm a resident of Louisville, Ky and have been spending the better part of 2 years e-mailing information to leagues and teams about Louisville. If I get a reply at all it usually is generic. Does anyone know the secret to getting the UHL to even look at a city that has everything needed for hockey? We had a very good ECHL team (Icehawks) but Mr. Chin (Horn Chen?) (now in the CHL) took them out of town. Then we had the RIVERFROGS (ECHL) and you couldn't get that ticket. That team was sold to make way for the AHL Panthers. This team was owned by the AFR family and there are a lot of businesses that still want to get paid what is owed them. Louisville can support hockey in a big way!

The best way to get a league to notice is to have several million lying around you can afford to risk and a few million more in the bank to qualify financially for a franchise.
Barring that, have a well-financed, local ownership group up front. Have a well thought out business plan. Get a marketing survey done where you have a realistic idea of what you can expect in terms of attendance. If you have a sports commission in your town, talk to them. If the previous teams in town had booster clubs, look up some of the officers and see if you can get them on board.
Once a franchise is landed, I have three words — promote, promote, promote.
With the UHL, you'd have Fort Wayne, St. Charles, Mo., the Michigan teams and the new suburban Chicago team all within four to eight hours away, so you're not too far away.
With the ECHL, you'd have Cincy coming back, Dayton, Toledo and Wheeling all within two to eight hours, but you'd have travel obligations to the southeast, the west coast and Alaska.
Frankly, Louisville and Indianapolis are two markets ripe for the picking in minor league hockey. I'm surprised they don't have teams there already.
Good luck