There are alot of possibilities in the Midwest for the IHL. The league meetings
are in a couple weeks. You may see Quad Cities, Madison, Wi., maybe even
Cincinnati and Youngstown. There is another Chicago group that has been
weighing an IHL franchise as well. I think after having time to summerize the
situation, K-zoo may re-think their move. Muskegon is staying put...
Where will the K-Wings go?
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Minor League Man
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1. I would LOVE to see a team in Madison! My favorite cousin lives over there, and we always enjoy visiting him...Maybe a game could be a good excuse to drop by!
2. Quad Cities sounds like a great idea too...Hopefully they'll have the good sense to be called the MALLARDS.
3. Cincinnati...How would an expansion IHL team at the Cincinnati Gardens do against a perennial ECHL contender (Cyclones) at the US Bank Arena?
4. Youngstown-No go. Covelli Centre already home to USHL Phantoms, and I doubt a UHL team could succeed at the Boardman Ice Zone.
5. Chicago-Hopefully the Sears Centre is willing to put together a good lease for them, because I don't see any other available arena being viable for an IHL team (I know the ice rink at the former Santa's Village theme park was discussed, but it would take some serious renovations to make it work)
And I hope K-Zoo decides to change their mind...it's not gonna feel right not having that rivalry with Muskegon anymore...
2. Quad Cities sounds like a great idea too...Hopefully they'll have the good sense to be called the MALLARDS.
3. Cincinnati...How would an expansion IHL team at the Cincinnati Gardens do against a perennial ECHL contender (Cyclones) at the US Bank Arena?
4. Youngstown-No go. Covelli Centre already home to USHL Phantoms, and I doubt a UHL team could succeed at the Boardman Ice Zone.
5. Chicago-Hopefully the Sears Centre is willing to put together a good lease for them, because I don't see any other available arena being viable for an IHL team (I know the ice rink at the former Santa's Village theme park was discussed, but it would take some serious renovations to make it work)
And I hope K-Zoo decides to change their mind...it's not gonna feel right not having that rivalry with Muskegon anymore...
Proud to be a veteran of these boards for the last 5 years...
[quote=""braddaman1""]I don't think the AHL is a good fit for the K-wings. Quad City tried it and died. I really want to know how Peoria and Rockford are surviving. All 3 of them have averaged under 4000 fans.[/quote]
http://www.ahlboards.com/forum/showthread.php?t=15278
http://www.ahlboards.com/forum/showthread.php?t=15278
Bacon & Eggs ..... A days work for a Chicken; a life sentence for a Hog!
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bluecatsguy
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[QUOTE=kwingshockey;117058]The CHL would be to costly on the team, as they would have to travel across country alot.QUOTE]
Not exactly. There is nothing to say that the existing IHL teams couldn't be a Northern Division of the CHL and that the league could fill in the gaps between the Southern division and the Northern.
Not exactly. There is nothing to say that the existing IHL teams couldn't be a Northern Division of the CHL and that the league could fill in the gaps between the Southern division and the Northern.
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nksports
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[quote=""Minor League Man""]3. Cincinnati...How would an expansion IHL team at the Cincinnati Gardens do against a perennial ECHL contender (Cyclones) at the US Bank Arena?[/quote]
The Ducks actually did better head-to-head against the Cyclones in the Cincy hockey wars. It was the Anaheim ownership group that killed the team by pulling their affiliation.
The Gardens is old, ugly and on a not-so-great side of town, but it reeks of history and old-timey atmosphere.
The US Bank Arena was built during a time when big, old concrete barns were de jure. And many of them have since been blown up. The place is best known for the ill-fated Who concert in 1979, where 11 people were killed. It never landed the NBA or NHL team hoped for. (The Cincinnati Stingers were paid to go away to the old CHL when the WHA and NHL came together.)
With good marketing, the Gardens could again win the war. On the other hand, the Ducks were the more successful franchise because it was perceived as a higher level of hockey. The town still aint big enough for the both of them, and it could hurt or kill both teams.
Now, for my marketing genius: If Cincy were to join the IHL fold, could the IHL introduce rules similar to what the WNBA now allows (and the NFL is allowing on its practice jerseys).
The team should be named the Chili Kings. If Skyline signs as the jersey sponsor, make the team colors blue and white. If Gold Star is picked as the sponsor, make the team colors gold and red. The team logo should be a hockey puck in team colors with a plate of Cincy-Style chili on top.
The Cyclones could be renamed the Suds (if anyone out there remembers an old pro softball team that played there). The colors could be the green and gold of Little Kings or the maroon and gold of Christian Moerlein. (I understand, Hudepohl and Burger may be making a comeback, so those colors could be used.)
The Ducks actually did better head-to-head against the Cyclones in the Cincy hockey wars. It was the Anaheim ownership group that killed the team by pulling their affiliation.
The Gardens is old, ugly and on a not-so-great side of town, but it reeks of history and old-timey atmosphere.
The US Bank Arena was built during a time when big, old concrete barns were de jure. And many of them have since been blown up. The place is best known for the ill-fated Who concert in 1979, where 11 people were killed. It never landed the NBA or NHL team hoped for. (The Cincinnati Stingers were paid to go away to the old CHL when the WHA and NHL came together.)
With good marketing, the Gardens could again win the war. On the other hand, the Ducks were the more successful franchise because it was perceived as a higher level of hockey. The town still aint big enough for the both of them, and it could hurt or kill both teams.
Now, for my marketing genius: If Cincy were to join the IHL fold, could the IHL introduce rules similar to what the WNBA now allows (and the NFL is allowing on its practice jerseys).
The team should be named the Chili Kings. If Skyline signs as the jersey sponsor, make the team colors blue and white. If Gold Star is picked as the sponsor, make the team colors gold and red. The team logo should be a hockey puck in team colors with a plate of Cincy-Style chili on top.
The Cyclones could be renamed the Suds (if anyone out there remembers an old pro softball team that played there). The colors could be the green and gold of Little Kings or the maroon and gold of Christian Moerlein. (I understand, Hudepohl and Burger may be making a comeback, so those colors could be used.)
The rest of the IHL is *not* moving to the ECHL. There was a chance Muskegon might follow Kalamazoo, but that's now out the window. Muskegon could move down the road to the ECHL I suppose, but Fort Wayne and the ECHL is not a marriage that will happen unless ownership changes in Fort Wayne.
The IHL will go with 5 or 6 teams this next season and it could be scary season for them. *IF* Flint plays it will likely be a poor product on the ice and there will likely be more financial problems and they might even fold midseason I suppose. Port Huron will likely continue to draw poorly and even with the new arena lease it sounds like the owners aren't thrilled with staying in Port Huron, which won't do them any favors with the fans. Nobody knows what the Dayton team will be like or how they'll actually draw at Hara (or how financially stable they will be with these Fort Wayne jokers as owners). Bloomington now lost one of the "closer" road trips for them in Kzoo and you have to wonder what their attendance will be like going forward anyways. Muskegon now has lost its closest rival and was drawing less fans than the KWings this last season. And Fort Wayne now has lost its closest road trip and some of their own fans are really starting to question the Frankes and the league.
Spin it all they want... but it's bad, bad news for the IHL, and it's going to be an ugly 09-10 campaign if they can even pull one off.
The IHL will go with 5 or 6 teams this next season and it could be scary season for them. *IF* Flint plays it will likely be a poor product on the ice and there will likely be more financial problems and they might even fold midseason I suppose. Port Huron will likely continue to draw poorly and even with the new arena lease it sounds like the owners aren't thrilled with staying in Port Huron, which won't do them any favors with the fans. Nobody knows what the Dayton team will be like or how they'll actually draw at Hara (or how financially stable they will be with these Fort Wayne jokers as owners). Bloomington now lost one of the "closer" road trips for them in Kzoo and you have to wonder what their attendance will be like going forward anyways. Muskegon now has lost its closest rival and was drawing less fans than the KWings this last season. And Fort Wayne now has lost its closest road trip and some of their own fans are really starting to question the Frankes and the league.
Spin it all they want... but it's bad, bad news for the IHL, and it's going to be an ugly 09-10 campaign if they can even pull one off.
