Future CHL Cities...

[LandRoverUT60]

I've heard that Yuma, AZ, is a possible location of a new CHL team. Are there any other possible cities for a CHL team?

[phydeaux72]

I believe that Yuma is in for 07-08. It also looks like Rapid City is leaning toward the CHL for 08-09.

[Minor League Man]

I believe that Yuma is in for 07-08. It also looks like Rapid City is leaning toward the CHL for 08-09.
No, Yuma's 08-09.

But Rapid City could join that year as well.

[nksports]

Belton, Mo. (KC suburb)
Springfield, Mo. (although a possible AHL candidate, John Hammond is behind a new arena project there and he has serious bucks)

[rams80]

No, Yuma's 08-09.

But Rapid City could join that year as well.

I'll believe Rapid City when I see the press release.

[MissionHead]

I sure wish San Antonio could fall back to the CHL. I like the AHL but the Spurs/Panthers/Coyotes haven't iced a succesful team since the Rampage have been here. We made the playoffs only once and got swept.

I think the Spurs (since Spurs/Coyotes contract ended) should really look into the CHL again for the Rampage before talking with the yotes again or any other NHL team. :cool:

The CHL was a fun and entertaining hockey league. :rolleyes:


CHL in SA!!! :D

[Shootmaster_44]

I wonder if the CHL has designs on moving into Canada? If Rapid City comes on board, I wonder if they will start to hit North Dakota/Montana and look at some Canadian cities for teams? In a few years, Saskatoon will have a new 5,000 seat arena on the University Campus that would likely need more than simply the Huskies to sustain it. I wonder if someone would put a CHL team in that? I know I'd be behind professional hockey here in the city.

Then again I'm the same guy who gets behind every professional team that rolls through here. I end up disappointed in the end, as I always end up being the only person who cares about these clubs.

[jjbballfan]

Rapid City will get a hockey team when there new arena is finished it just depends on wether its USHL or CHL.

I am from Spearfish which is 45 miles down the road and have family in Rapid and am wondering what league is better. I have watched Sioux City play and was awazed with talent and community support. The USHL is junior hockey meaning that the majority of the kids are high school age playing for a scholarship. The CHL is from what I understand AA hockey mainly low prospects and has beens. I am supporting the USHL as of right now because I have heard that there is a good chance that the NHL will in some way or another affiliate themselves with the league.

Honestly which league would be better for R.C. a community of 60,000 with a new 5,000 seat hockey arena?

[903]

I would think that the demographics would support either a CHL and ECHL franchise. Both are minor league, but both have some great players and provide for great hockey entertainment. The USHL is good too, but it may not bring in the secondary financial support, i.e. ticket sales, advertising dollars, etc., needed to operate an arena of that size.

[nksports]

I sure wish San Antonio could fall back to the CHL. I like the AHL but the Spurs/Panthers/Coyotes haven't iced a succesful team since the Rampage have been here. We made the playoffs only once and got swept.

I think the Spurs (since Spurs/Coyotes contract ended) should really look into the CHL again for the Rampage before talking with the yotes again or any other NHL team. :cool:

The CHL was a fun and entertaining hockey league. :rolleyes:


CHL in SA!!! :D

Bring back the Iguanas

[nksports]

I am supporting the USHL as of right now because I have heard that there is a good chance that the NHL will in some way or another affiliate themselves with the league.

Not if they want to keep their players eligible for NCAA teams. The NHL is probably pretty comfortable with its relationship with the Canadian major junior leagues (whose players are not considered eligible for NCAA). I don't see any US league being viable under that model. For one thing, I don't see enough talent for a league like that unless it was about six to eight teams at the absolute most. There are hundreds of thousands of prep football and basketball players. There is probably less than 10 percent of players that age playing hockey. Of those players, less than 5 percent are legit NHL prospects.

[jjbballfan]

Rapid City announced that they will begin contract negotiations with the CHL local ownership group....

As far as the NHL and USHL, accouple of months ago they had the SF Stampede GM and a USHL rep on a radio show and they said that the USHL and NHL were talking and if anything went through NCAA elgibility would be kept and it was more with just marketing and league overview that they wanated.

[Pounder]

I wonder if "affiliation" is either the proper term or the applicable term here.

MLS worked with the NCAA to devise a system that allows MLS to "sign" players to agreements (probably a non-paid position) that allows each MLS team to protect players from the draft and gives them summer training with the pros while keeping their college eligibility. Somehow, I sense something similar.

Mind you, I would prefer that MLS and NHL blast the NCAA a new one and go their own way. Maybe the NHL is going to back up the USHL the way they do for Canadian Major Junior?

[jjbballfan]

I honestly don't know I was listening and the radio host commented saying that NHL support or backing is the one thing missing and asked if there is a way to do that while saving elgibilty and the USHL rep said that they have been talking to the NHL and that if they did agree upon somthing that elgiblity would stay the same.

[Geoff]

What happened with all the talk over the last few years about CHL in Monterrey?

[Ellis05]

Looks like Rapid City, SD will be the next CHL city.

UPDATE: Civic center board ices USHL, chooses CHL
Discussion about which league to pick turns contentious
By Scott Aust, Journal staff

RAPID CITY — Late next year, a new Rapid City professional hockey team will face off against the likes of the Mudbugs, Jackalopes and SteelHounds of the Central Hockey League.

On Thursday, the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center board voted to begin negotiating a contract with the CHL instead of the United States Hockey League to put a franchise here after the new multipurpose civic center addition is built.

Both leagues had shown an interest in putting a team in Rapid City, and board members said each is high quality. But in the end, the CHL was chosen because its local ownership group, with local investors Scott Mueller and Donnie Ward, is ready to go.

“They’ve got their plan in place,” civic center board member Eddie Rypkema said. “They both made great presentations. They shared the facts; we all know the facts. I don’t think we can make a wrong decision.”

Both leagues made presentations to the board last month. The CHL is an 18-team, mid-level professional hockey league headquartered in Phoenix.

The USHL is a 12-team junior league based in Grand Forks, N.D., that develops players for the college and professional levels.

Dave Davis, a former board member who listened to both league’s presentations last month, told the board both leagues are strong and would be a benefit.

“I think there’s opportunity for each league to be very successful in Rapid City. Whichever team goes on the ice, the city of Rapid City is going to have a level of hockey we don’t have right now, and they’re going to get excited about it and support it,” he said.

But there is a difference in the type of play, Davis said. The USHL is much younger and has players who may have more energy and enthusiasm. However, the CHL has more mature, professional players who are physically and emotionally at a different level of hockey.

But the fact that the CHL has an ownership group ready and the USHL doesn’t tilted his choice toward the CHL, Davis said.

“If I was asked to vote, I would vote for the CHL because there’s a program in place and the USHL may have as strong a program, but they’re behind the 8-ball,” he said.

Mayor Jim Shaw strongly advocated for the CHL because of its professional caliber compared with the USHL, which he called “high school” hockey.

“I think the USHL is a fine program. ... I don’t mean this disparagingly, but high school hockey is high school hockey. They may be super players, but it’s still high school players attempting to move on to a Division I university system and then perhaps work their way up to the CHL or NHL.”

Shaw, who was part of the ownership group of the Rapid City Thrillers basketball franchise, said the CHL is comparable to the old Continental Basketball Association.

“It’s a couple of steps below the NHL, but it’s a couple of steps above the USHL,” Shaw said.

Matt Fitting, a local citizen, said referring to the USHL as a high school league is not entirely accurate. He said it is an amateur league that includes players who are also young college-age students.

“The quality of hockey is definitely not two steps below the CHL. The USHL is a phenomenal group of hockey players, and it’s exciting, fast-paced hockey,” Fitting said. “We’ve had pro teams in the past and none are still here. Some made it for awhile, some left for different reasons, but we haven’t had one that stayed for the long term. An amateur team might do better.”

Dan Petereit, a local physician, said he also preferred the USHL because he felt it would have a better chance of sustainability with players on their way up. However, he said he would support either league.

“I don’t think the CHL is a bad choice. I just think USHL would be a better choice when it comes to overall impact on this community and sustainability,” he said.

As discussion continued, Shaw argued with the USHL supporters, calling some of their points about the benefits of rivalries with nearby franchises and the support the community shows other youth sports like Post 22 baseball “silly” and “absurd.”

The discussion grew so intense that board chair Mike Diedrich finally stopped the debate.

Steve Nolan, a local attorney, said a local ownership group was being put together for the USHL but got started late after mistakenly assuming the USHL already had an ownership group in place. Nolan hoped the board would delay its decision for a couple weeks so the group could make a presentation but said either league would provide good hockey.

“We’re not here against the CHL. If that’s the decision made, we will be season ticket holders of the CHL. They will be involved in the community, too. I didn’t expect to come here today and get into a debate or an argument,” Nolan said.

Board members indicated putting off the decision could cause a much longer delay than two weeks because the USHL would have to approve the ownership group, and it was unclear how long that process might take.

Adding a sheet of ice to attract a professional hockey team was one reason cited for building the civic center addition, which will seat about 5,000 people for hockey games, 5,700 for basketball games and nearly 7,000 for concerts or other stage events.

Construction of the facility started in April and is anticipated to be completed in late 2008.

Officials hope it wouldn’t cause scheduling problems for the 2008-09 hockey season.

http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/articles/2007/05/24/news/top/doc4655d2c6c60ef619490730.txt

http://juniorhockey.blogspot.com/

[jjbballfan]

It was clear that the Rapid mayor wanted the CHL he made a comment saying that there was already a CHL and USHL ownership asking him to build the arena and then appears there was only a CHL ownership... Thats why the Mayor will be on his way out of town as the election nears. The USHL is the top high schoolers in the world playing hockey not for money but for the chance of money... its my opinion that the USHL would of been alot better fit in Rapid but I could be very wrong. In rapid I think 70% favored the USHL over the CHL.. Rapid and Sioux falls are alot alike its just Rapid can't keep any minor leaue teams in town and SF's become the best on the field, and off the field while leading the leagues in attendence in the UIF and Dleague and I know they had good attendences in the USHL (not shure if they led)

[radiodavel]

It may look like a funny list, but hear the reasoning is there for this to happen, anyone hear anything from the CHL

Top 10 Reasons The UHL And CHL Should Merge
http://blog.mlive.com/flintjournal/savagethoughts/2007/05/top_10_reasons_the_uhl_and_chl_should_merge.html

[aardvark]

According to Wikipedia, San Diego is to get a franchise in the CHL starting in the 2008-09 season. Anyone have any more details?

[Hockey]

Yes, I have more details on the CHL in San Diego. Not going to happen.

Wikipedia should only be used to look up details about comic books.

On the ECHL page they talk about some Ontario team that operated for a few years and then failed because of lack of support. Perhaps, the problem was they had no Arena or a team.

[OneBetter]

Tucson just approved a new downtown arena:

http://www.azstarnet.com/metro/176981

They are targeting a minor league hockey franchise as one of the tenets. Do you think they'll go CHL or ECHL?




Also, where did the San Diego rumors start? They were one of the better drawing teams in the ECHL. It's a good hockey market. I'd like to see them get a team again.

[Hockey]

Tucson's planning group involved input from the ECHL. I would imagine that would remain their intentions.

The more I think about it, the San Diego rumor is probably a byproduct of another SD acronym getting a team. South Dakota.

[aardvark]

I don't give a ratsass about comic books--but when you are a hockey fan and your city has no team (you would think a city the size of SD would have one), you want to get other person's ideas as to whether the rumor is legit or not. I know Wikipedia is not too factual at times (at times?!); there hasn't been a hint that a team would start up again here locally in our local fish-wrap...just had to see if anyone out there knew anything. I didn't even see that part of the article in Wikipedia that said the Ontario team had struggled. As you said, that is quite interesting since they didn't have a team OR arena. Oh well, minor technicalities!!

[aardvark]

Didn't think about that either--guess it's back to FSN West and watch LA Kings games again.

[kekemortson]

I miss the days that the Macon Whoopee were in the CHL...

I miss hockey and dream of a return of the Macon Whoopee....or any hockey team to Macon....

:(

[903]

The official announcements have been made. There will be new arenas and CHL teams in Rapid City, Independence, MO., and Yuma in the next couple of years or so.

[S.Sox]

How about Reno?? There was some talk in the local newspaper about a battle between the CHL and ECHL rearding a team in Reno.
Thanks
S.Sox

[phydeaux72]

Here is a link to the newspaper article:

http://news.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070726/SPORTS/707260348/1018

Go CHL!

[WacoTitan]

Maybe Waco....someday....maybe...not ever

[nksports]

Maybe Waco....someday....maybe...not ever

If you'd stop killing every minor-league franchise that ever came to town. :) ;)

[WacoTitan]

If you'd stop killing every minor-league franchise that ever came to town. :) ;)

Maybe if every minor-league team that came to Waco would advertise we wouldn't have the problem :)

[djchuckc]

I agree the CHL and the IHL (UHL) should merge. I miss the Iguanas as well, I used to be one of their employees until the old IHL came to town and the Dragons ran them out of business. I moved away from San Antonio after that. I heard the Iggy's came back but I don't know how they did then. With the Ohio franchise having to travel quite aways to play anyone, bringing the 6 IHL teams into the CHL makes sense.

I'm anxiously awaiting the completion of the Independence, MO arena so I have a team to follow again. I didn't know about the Springfield, MO arena possibility, that is great news. A KC/ Springfield rivalry would be great. With the AHL looking to go into Austin I wonder what would happen to the Ice Bats? As for moving to Waco, didn't you have a CHL team at one time? Wasn't there a short lived franchise in Belton, Texas?

[killer kaminski]

I'm anxiously awaiting the completion of the Independence, MO arena so I have a team to follow again. I didn't know about the Springfield, MO arena possibility, that is great news. A KC/ Springfield rivalry would be great.
With Independence and Springfield coming in, the Family Arena in St. Charles, MO would be a perfect fit. The CHL would be great here, it sure beats the possibility of getting hooked up with the IHL/UHL again.

[nksports]

Here's the latest on Independence (okay its a little more than two weeks old):

http://examiner.net/stories/020708/new_244775619.shtml

[djchuckc]

When I was with San Antonio I know that the CHL was looking really hard at that arena when it got completed. Of course, I don't know why the CHL didn't go in there but it would have been a good fit I think.

I found this surfing the IHL thread. This is from last summer. Perhaps the CHL will be absorbing the IHL next season.

"The U will play as the IHL next season operating under the guidance of the CHL. 6 teams involved in several year plan to merge into one league."

[killer kaminski]

When I was with San Antonio I know that the CHL was looking really hard at that arena when it got completed. Of course, I don't know why the CHL didn't go in there but it would have been a good fit I think.
Yes the CHL was the original choice here, but the UHL won out. The shoe will be on the other foot next time.

[djchuckc]

If any of you guys like to read about hockey, there is a really good book out called "When Falcons Fly". It is about the Winnipeg Falcons who won the very first Olympic Gold medal. One of the players end up playing for one of the first versions of my hometown team the Tulsa Oilers. His name was Harold "Slim" Halderson. There is talk about making this book into a movie. I have a hockey stick from the 1936-37 season that he autographed. I found it cleaning out an attic when I was a little kid and have had it ever since. The book is geared more for teenagers, but it is still a good story.

[djchuckc]

I was informed in another thread that Youngstown plans on pulling out of the CHL after this season? Anyone here have any info on this?

[Minor League Man]

I was informed in another thread that Youngstown plans on pulling out of the CHL after this season? Anyone here have any info on this?
My guess is they'll be "trading leagues" with the Texas Wildcatters...The 'Catters will change their "locale name," my guess is the Southeast Texas Wildcatters.

[djchuckc]

That makes pretty good sense actually. Be interesting to see if it happens. Thanks for the info.

[Minor League Man]

No problem!

The Wildcatters would be a perfect fit in the SteelHounds' old division-right by the Brahmas, Mudbugs, and RiverKings...As for the Hounds, they'd form a strong Ohio connection with Dayton, Cincy (if they stay around), and Toledo (for '09-'10).

Can't wait for the offseason!

[rams80]

My guess is they'll be "trading leagues" with the Texas Wildcatters...The 'Catters will change their "locale name," my guess is the Southeast Texas Wildcatters.

The CHL may move into Beaumont, but it won't be the Wildcatters organization.

[nksports]

I was informed in another thread that Youngstown plans on pulling out of the CHL after this season? Anyone here have any info on this?

Would ICC-Global allow a non-CHL team into one of their barns?

[djchuckc]

If Youngstown were to sever all ties with Global itself, which may be the case, then that could happen I guess. There seems to be very bad blood developing between the two. I don't know enough about the situation to state any certainties, but corporate relations don't seem to be going well between the two organizations.

Springfield, MO would be a great place for a team. There is room for an arena at the fairgrounds there, with extensive work they might be able to squeeze one into the current indoor rodeo arena. When the CHL was the CHL (before the merger) they would go into places like Springfield and install ice. That's how it was done for the Iguanas, they went into Freeman Arena and just installed ice. Poof, hockey team.

[Geoff]

The CHL may move into Beaumont, but it won't be the Wildcatters organization.

Wrong. The ECHL Wildcatters have transferred membership to Ontario, CA but before that was done, a deal was struck to sell the team to a local owner and she is currently looking at the CHL or the SPHL.

Would ICC-Global allow a non-CHL team into one of their barns?

It's no longer a Global barn as their contract expired and was not renewed.

[rams80]

Wrong. The ECHL Wildcatters have transferred membership to Ontario, CA but before that was done, a deal was struck to sell the team to a local owner and she is currently looking at the CHL or the SPHL.



I think a new owner would indicate that it's a different organization n'est-ce pas?

[djchuckc]

Would be nice if they went into the CHL. More opportunity, more teams to play against.

[Geoff]

I think a new owner would indicate that it's a different organization n'est-ce pas?

Ownership can change with out the organization changing. Bauer Hockey was Bauer Hockey when it was Bauer Hockey. It was the same organization when Nike owned it. It is still the same organization since Nike sold it.

[djchuckc]

From reading the report on Dodge City it doesn't look like the CHL plans on going in there, monster trucks, pro-wrestling and arena football look to be tops on the list.

[rams80]

Ownership can change with out the organization changing. Bauer Hockey was Bauer Hockey when it was Bauer Hockey. It was the same organization when Nike owned it. It is still the same organization since Nike sold it.

I'm tempted to say apples and oranges here. How much of the front office is being retained?

[nksports]

From reading the report on Dodge City it doesn't look like the CHL plans on going in there, monster trucks, pro-wrestling and arena football look to be tops on the list.

Global-ICC is building it, but I think everyone knows Dodge City is too small and has no history for hockey.

The main tenant will be Dodge City CC. (Maybe they should start hockey. Of course their only nearby JUCO opponents would be Central Lakes (Minn.) CC and Minot State-Boteneau.) They will probably move the Dodge City TOC and Class 1A sub-state high school basketball tournaments over there from the old Civic Center. Those are the biggest draws at the Civic Center as it is. If the Legend is revived, they would probably move there too.

[djchuckc]

What's the Legend?

[nksports]

What's the Legend?

They played in the US Basketball League. The USBL is in serious trouble and an attempt to form a new league with the surviving members — Kansas (Salina) and Oklahoma (Enid) couldn't be put together in time, so the Legend are in limbo.

[Geoff]

Global-ICC is building it, but I think everyone knows Dodge City is too small and has no history for hockey.

The main tenant will be Dodge City CC. (Maybe they should start hockey. Of course their only nearby JUCO opponents would be Central Lakes (Minn.) CC and Minot State-Boteneau.) They will probably move the Dodge City TOC and Class 1A sub-state high school basketball tournaments over there from the old Civic Center. Those are the biggest draws at the Civic Center as it is. If the Legend is revived, they would probably move there too.

Join ACHA D-3? lol

[nksports]

I think KU's team is ACHA II or III

Well we're off topic enough already, but I've always envisioned the KCAC picking up hockey. Bethel, Tabor and Friends could play at the Kansas Coliseum, the Wichita Ice Center, the new downtown arena and the Wink Hartman Arena. Kansas Wesleyan, McPherson and Bethany could all play at the Bicentennial Center in Salina. Ottawa could play at the Expocenter in Topeka. Saint Mary could play at a number of rinks in the KC area.
If one of the proposed Sumner County casinos are built and include an arena or expo hall (which are in some of the proposals), Southwestern could play there. Sterling would need to build its own arena or maybe retro fit a building at the state fairgrounds in Hutchinson (Hutch CC could play there as well since you couldn't fit a rink at the Sports Arena, that would give Dodge City an opponent).

[Geoff]

Not either, but both. They have a D2 and D3 squad. Much like FGCU.

[LandRoverUT60]

...has the CHL ever considered putting a team in Nevada, Utah, Nebraska, or (Casper) Wyoming?

[nksports]

...has the CHL ever considered putting a team in Nevada, Utah, Nebraska, or (Casper) Wyoming?

Nebraska has been kind of closed to them (Omaha has NCAA I, USHL and AHL, Lincoln and Tri-City are both USHL). Grand Island would be about the sole arena without a tenant and they are so close to Kearney (Tri-City) that it would be a tough go in such a small market.

Can't say I've ever heard anything about Nevada, Utah or Wyoming. Wyoming would work well with Loveland and Broomfield. Nevada and Utah would both work well with Prescott Valley.

[LandRoverUT60]

Wasn't the CHL (Global) supposed to trying to get into Reno? There may be a possibility in Lehi, UT, where the owner of the Utah Flash is trying to put an arena. I also toy with the idea of a team in St. George. Wyoming could work out in Casper.

[nksports]

http://www.globalentertainment2000.com/

Click on the link for the Dodge City arena and check out the marketing study for the arena. It mentions the CHL several times, but it also shows Dodge City is about 1/10th as big as the smallest CHL market (but it is in the middle in per capita income of CHL markets).

[phydeaux72]

I still believe that Abilene and Waco would be good markets. I realize that they have had WPHL/CHL teams in the past. But I think with the right management in place, that they could both work very well for this league.

[Pounder]

BTW...

Yuma will not be an 08-09 team, no matter what Wikipedia says. Ground has yet to be broken on the arena. Yuma's city council voted 4-3 to approve the funding PROCESS and seek funding. Money is not moving yet.

Meanwhile, the CHL's parent company is on the skids. http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080308/NEWS04/146087848

[rams80]

BTW...

Yuma will not be an 08-09 team, no matter what Wikipedia says. Ground has yet to be broken on the arena. Yuma's city council voted 4-3 to approve the funding PROCESS and seek funding. Money is not moving yet.

Meanwhile, the CHL's parent company is on the skids. http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080308/NEWS04/146087848

Is that the "panic button" I hear being mashed in the AIFA offices?

[WacoTitan]

I still believe that Abilene and Waco would be good markets. I realize that they have had WPHL/CHL teams in the past. But I think with the right management in place, that they could both work very well for this league.

Waco is dying for a Hockey team...We've had a population burst to a 250,000 metro area and the CenTex area (Temple/Belton/Ft. Hood) has a population of 200,000...When the Waco Wizards played the CenTex Stampede they would sell out the games and the arena would be full of away fans at both sites. It was a great rivalry...plus Waco and CenTex have great Hockey venues

[davyd83]

Waco is dying for a Hockey team...We've had a population burst to a 250,000 metro area and the CenTex area (Temple/Belton/Ft. Hood) has a population of 200,000...When the Waco Wizards played the CenTex Stampede they would sell out the games and the arena would be full of away fans at both sites. It was a great rivalry...plus Waco and CenTex have great Hockey venues

CenTex a "great hockey venue???" It's brutal. The locker rooms are dumps. The ice was bad and the front row of seats is 30 feet from the boards. They are so far away that Alexandria's Roger Maxwell once threw his stick over the glass near the blue line and it still came up short of the front row of seats by a good 15 feet. There is the possibility that a new arena may be built near Belton. However, the only thing good about the old barn was that the Ox Bow Steakhouse was nearby! Waco's facility is average at best. But it also had bad ice.

[WacoTitan]

I hear that the IceBats could be moving to Belton (TX)....

[WacoTitan]

CenTex a "great hockey venue???" It's brutal. The locker rooms are dumps. The ice was bad and the front row of seats is 30 feet from the boards. They are so far away that Alexandria's Roger Maxwell once threw his stick over the glass near the blue line and it still came up short of the front row of seats by a good 15 feet. There is the possibility that a new arena may be built near Belton. However, the only thing good about the old barn was that the Ox Bow Steakhouse was nearby! Waco's facility is average at best. But it also had bad ice.

I enjoyed every game I went to at the Expo Center, but it was always the Waco/CenTex rivalry so the atmosphere was probably more than usual. The Waco Barn is nicer than it was when the Wizards played there and is great for the CHL in my opinion....

[djchuckc]

Is that rumor of the Ice Bats movin because the AHL is eyeing Austin?

[davyd83]

The AHL Texas Stars have recently finalized an agreement to move into, and partially own an arena about to be built in suburban Austin in either 2009 or 2010, depending upon completion.

[phydeaux72]

CenTex a "great hockey venue???" It's brutal. The locker rooms are dumps. The ice was bad and the front row of seats is 30 feet from the boards. They are so far away that Alexandria's Roger Maxwell once threw his stick over the glass near the blue line and it still came up short of the front row of seats by a good 15 feet. There is the possibility that a new arena may be built near Belton. However, the only thing good about the old barn was that the Ox Bow Steakhouse was nearby! Waco's facility is average at best. But it also had bad ice.

I must agree. The Bell County Expo is a dung heap. I went to an IFL game at the Expo last year. The lighting was horrible and the locker rooms are tiny and in piss poor shape. And as Davy pointed out, the floor is so huge that the first row of seats sit way far away from the rink, at least 20-25 feet.

They do have a killer sound system though.

[FartKnocker]

Anybody who thinks that Waco or let alone Belton could support the CHL is on crack. The only time I remember the Wizards ever "sold out" was when they gave away all the tickets for a game.

[Pounder]

The more credible rumors I hear about the fate of the Ice Bats involve Beaumont.

[djchuckc]

Makes sense to me, however it looks like the same company that runs the Beaumont arena also runs the one in Corpus Christi. They pushed them out in Corpus as well. Finances are finances though and arenas are not cheap to operate.

[LCK1]

Maybe Vail in the CHL? http://www.vaildaily.com/article/20080629/NEWS/689117623

I wish they would put a team back in Lubbock.

[nksports]

Vail looks like an awfully small market. Would the ski-season tourists attend?

[phydeaux72]

The town of Vail only has just over 4500 citizens and Eagle County just over 41,000. But who knows? Since they have nothing else to do there but snow ski, maybe hockey will actually draw well. I'm certain that they will get more than enough TV and newspaper coverage.

[nksports]

In winter, those numbers swell considerably, but will this keep people out of the restaurants, cafes and discos at night? Can it have someone choose Vail over Aspen or Breckinridge for a winter vacation. Would there be enough people left around town if the team makes the playoffs? The model might be the Traverse City baseball team, which is averaging 3,500 a game in the Frontier League. It's not a big town on its own, but it is a summer vacation spot.

[SeaToby]

The Texas Stars AHL franchise will operate out of the new Cedar Park Events Center next year. This year the Austin Ice Bats shut down. The Ice Bats owner bought the Amarillo Gorillas. Thus, there will be no hockey this year in Austin. Arenas that do not have suites, will eventually have their franchises fade away. Suites are just as important for the survival of minor league hockey as major league hockey.

[rams80]

The Texas Stars AHL franchise will operate out of the new Cedar Park Events Center next year. This year the Austin Ice Bats shut down. The Ice Bats owner bought the Amarillo Gorillas. Thus, there will be no hockey this year in Austin. Arenas that do not have suites, will eventually have their franchises fade away. Suites are just as important for the survival of minor league hockey as major league hockey.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/otl/columns/story?columnist=joyce_gare&id=3622898

[SeaToby]

Like the poor among us, the rich will be too. While arenas and stadiums are designed for the average fans, suites are designed to soak the rich. Opera houses have been around for centuries, soaking the rich to support the arts. Why can't sports do the same?

[rams80]

Like the poor among us, the rich will be too. While arenas and stadiums are designed for the average fans, suites are designed to soak the rich. Opera houses have been around for centuries, soaking the rich to support the arts. Why can't sports do the same?

Oh they can. Assuming there is a rich to soak. That's what's up in the air at the moment.

[SeaToby]

Oh they can. Assuming there is a rich to soak. That's what's up in the air at the moment.

The rich are there, and willing to buy suites, for multiple years. 90% of suites sell everywhere. In Tulsa, they sold out of suites in less than two weeks.

[Pounder]

I think pre-October economy is mighty different than the current economy.

Just saying...

[rams80]

The rich are there, and willing to buy suites, for multiple years. 90% of suites sell everywhere. In Tulsa, they sold out of suites in less than two weeks.

Was this before the bottom fell out in oil?

[preeths]

Seriously, there will always be wealthy people and corporations looking to entertain. Like any big ticket item, suites may get a bit more difficult to sell, but by and large they will sell.

[Hockey]

This is not a depression. This is a recession, but not a "great recession". People blow this up way more then it is.

The USA is a fairly wealthy nation, almost abusrdly wealthy. To the point that average citizens waste more in a week then most nations citizens spend on luxuries in a year.

While I am not denying that I know many who have lost jobs, there are still open positions all over the place for those who truely want to work. Yes, you may have to make some adjustments in your lifestyle, but you will still have plenty of room for luxuries.

At one my clients stores, a major wireless corporate store, they have 3 positions open that they have few candidates applying for. This is a decent paying job with a major company with full benefits and a nice opertunity to move up.

Why I say this on a hockey forum is that this all comes down to the salesman selling the hockey product. If I am selling suites right now, I don't see a major issue. You have a lot of reasons why now is the BEST time to get involved in owning a suite. Many of your clients have lost that extra entertainment budget, so the value of your tickets is worth more then in a time when they are profitable enough to splurge on quality season packages themselves.

Sales is all about the salesman. If you have one of these negative people who watch the news and are afraid of anything they talk about, then your never going to sell anything. The USA still has a surplus of extra wealth and that is not going to disappear overnight.