#1 Guard Fan wrote:Like I said it was a rumor. Hopefully they will still be around next year. I have heard Daytona Beach might be coming to the SPHL next year too. That would be great to have 3 Fl teams maybe that would help better with a fan base having three teams to compete interstate
I have it on good authority that Richmond will be in, as long as the UTL moves out.
Unfortunetely, the Arena rental rate is not that good in Richmond. Until these guys (new owners) realize that they won't make a go of it unless they are paying .50 cents a head to the arena for attendence, and get a kick back for big crowds (ie: free rent for sell outs and big crowds) and free practise ice - they aren't going to make it. If you don't have a business plan that allows you to break even with 1,500 average attendence, your pissing in the wind.
Daytona is in for sure in 2008-2009; but possibly next year. The owner may run the team out of the Ice Palace, as the Daytona Beach Convention Center hasn't built the areana yet, or is presently overbooked and they need to do renovations in order to accomadate the team.
As best as I understand it: you would have to pack fans in to the Ice Palace like sardines, and it would be, "mostly standing room" only, to get 600-1000 fans in.
Playing in the Ice Palace, in my view, is a bad idea: it will give prospective players, and fans a "mickey mouse perception" of the team and league.
I wish the new owners luck though!
With the salary cap, and reduced travel in the SPHL, I think it will eventually rival the other AA leagues both in stability, and level of play.
GO SPHL!