Another quote from Ft.Wayne's Franke

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mrsummitcitypigskin
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Another quote from Ft.Wayne's Franke

Post by mrsummitcitypigskin » Mon Feb 15, 2010 10:44 pm

On Sat. Feb. 13 on a local radio sports callin show,
Fort Wayne Komets president and IHL Board of Govs.,
Michael Franke stated the following:
"If for some reason the IHL fails to become profitable
either now or in the foreseeable future, I'll promise the
fans of Fort Wayne that we will have a team that is
either equal to or better then the caliber we have now".
IMO What he's saying is, if the IHL tanks, the Komets
will move to the (AA) ECHL or CHL or could move up to
(AAA) AHL, if they'll have them. I'm sure they'll do this
all the while, swallowing their pride. He says, "it now be-
comes important to properly align the stongest (AA)
franchises across the U.S., with now 30 team AHL, all
in the best interest of minor league hockey".
Last edited by mrsummitcitypigskin on Mon Feb 15, 2010 10:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.

robster2001
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Post by robster2001 » Tue Feb 16, 2010 12:55 am

Sounds like he's finally tired of subsidizing the trainwreck.

He can forget the AHL right now, though... they have 31 franchises (including the defunct Iowa team) and only 30 affiliations. Something's gotta give this summer...

After all the time he's spent avoiding the PHPA, you have to wonder if a union league would deal with him... or at what cost.

It'll be interesting.

mrsummitcitypigskin
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Post by mrsummitcitypigskin » Tue Feb 16, 2010 3:55 am

If he sticks to his word to the people of Ft.Wayne, he'll have to
consider dealing with them. As far as the AHL goes, we in this city
know we can compete on the (AAA) level with attendance, building, etc.
Ticket pricing would go up and so would travel costs.
? would be, getting an NHL affiliation.

nksports
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Post by nksports » Tue Feb 16, 2010 9:22 am

Why would the CHL take Fort Wayne. They've already failed in Indy and Youngstown basically because of travel costs. I like the IHL's geographic footprint. The problem is it lies in ground zero of the economic meltdown

chdahs
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Fort Wayne

Post by chdahs » Tue Feb 16, 2010 5:12 pm

[quote=""mrsummitcitypigskin""]If he sticks to his word to the people of Ft.Wayne, he'll have to
consider dealing with them. As far as the AHL goes, we in this city
know we can compete on the (AAA) level with attendance, building, etc.
Ticket pricing would go up and so would travel costs.
? would be, getting an NHL affiliation.[/quote]

THEY HAD their opportunity in 2001, they blew it

mrsummitcitypigskin
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Post by mrsummitcitypigskin » Wed Feb 17, 2010 5:30 am

Opportunity in 2001? Oh, you mean to get backed into a corner?
The UHL/IHL were doing fine until the economy tanked. This union
deal has always been a sticking point with the Franke's too. They
are gonna have to man up to go ECHL, CHL or move up to AHL.

chdahs
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Post by chdahs » Wed Feb 17, 2010 7:11 pm

[quote=""mrsummitcitypigskin""]Opportunity in 2001? Oh, you mean to get backed into a corner?
The UHL/IHL were doing fine until the economy tanked. This union
deal has always been a sticking point with the Franke's too. They
are gonna have to man up to go ECHL, CHL or move up to AHL.[/quote]
the agreement between the AHL/IHL would've given the Komets a fair shot, not now, they want to strike out against the PHPA, THIS IS THEIR issue, prepare for the Komets to disappear when this version of the IHL collapses just as the original did in 2001....

mrsummitcitypigskin
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Post by mrsummitcitypigskin » Thu Feb 18, 2010 6:54 am

No sir, Don't think that'll ever happen. To much history, tradition, and fan appeal
to just $hi# roll this franchise. Franke would sell it if he had to, to make the peace,
and keep hockey going in Fort Wayne. 8000 fans per game say the league may be
circling the drain, but not the team.

HockeyRulez
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Post by HockeyRulez » Thu Mar 04, 2010 9:27 am

[quote=""mrsummitcitypigskin""]No sir, Don't think that'll ever happen. To much history, tradition, and fan appeal
to just $hi# roll this franchise. Franke would sell it if he had to, to make the peace,
and keep hockey going in Fort Wayne. 8000 fans per game say the league may be
circling the drain, but not the team.[/quote]

If Muskegon can FOLD, SO can the old dumpsterfire city of Fort Wayne.

HockeyRulez
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Post by HockeyRulez » Thu Mar 04, 2010 9:29 am

The Frankes don't want to be where they can't run the league.

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