Hadn't checked the Dayton papers for a while and just stumbled across this unfortunate news. The owners of the Gems have publicly stated that they need additional investors to continue. Here are three articles:
quote:They held a news conference Thursday at Hara Arena requesting additional investors. Without more investment, the Dayton Gems probably won’t be around next season, they said.......The franchise has been looking to add 10 to 12 investors since Rupp, Dr. Nitz and Garfield took over. There has been interest but to date no one has jumped aboard, which led to Thursday’s public plea.
quote:Of course, the Gems have been seeking fresh financial blood for several years and have come up dry, so the situation would seem somewhat bleak.
A popular theory is that hockey simply has run its course in Dayton, that the fan base has dwindled to a degree once unimaginable. But here’s another theory: Maybe Hara Arena, that intimate old barn north of town, isn’t the greatest incubator for the sport.