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JasonDK_
(Rookie)
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danc
(The Next Level!)
114 Posts |
 Posted - 11/24/2013 : 2:12:23 PM
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Great news!!
With the addition of Indy, the midwestern presence of the ECHL is now rock solid. Toledo, Fort Wayne, Evansville and the Cyclones are all doing well. Kalamazoo lags in attendance and is a long term concern, but their owner supposedly has very deep pockets.
With regard to how this may affect divisional alignments next season, it's way too early to tell. The CHL limps along. Two of their teams-Allen and Rapid City- wanted to bolt to the ECHL last season but were legally restrained from doing so. The CHL has a new ownership structure, so it's possible that some sort of merger/expansion with the ECHL could be in the cards. If not this off season, then sooner rather than later. Any movement into the ECHL by CHL teams would impact divisional alighnments.
On a not so positive note, all three of the Atlantic Division teams appear to be faltering. Wheeling almost folded 2 years ago and they continue to struggle at the gate. Elmira's ownership got booted from running First Arena and the Jackals attendance has fallen considerably over the past few seasons. These markets are very small and probably can't support a AA hockey budget of $2.5-3 million per year and might be best suited to junior or SPHL business models.
Reading is for sale. The city owns part of the team and they want out. A new AHL team begins play next season in Allentown which is only 35 miles away from Reading. Reading's attendance has been falling for years.
After all is said and done, there is a good chance that there may not be an Atlantic Division at all in the very near future.
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BP2011
(Been Here Awhile)
USA
531 Posts |
Posted - 11/24/2013 : 3:17:08 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by danc
Great news!!
With the addition of Indy, the midwestern presence of the ECHL is now rock solid. Toledo, Fort Wayne, Evansville and the Cyclones are all doing well. Kalamazoo lags in attendance and is a long term concern, but their owner supposedly has very deep pockets.
With regard to how this may affect divisional alignments next season, it's way too early to tell. The CHL limps along. Two of their teams-Allen and Rapid City- wanted to bolt to the ECHL last season but were legally restrained from doing so. The CHL has a new ownership structure, so it's possible that some sort of merger/expansion with the ECHL could be in the cards. If not this off season, then sooner rather than later. Any movement into the ECHL by CHL teams would impact divisional alighnments.
On a not so positive note, all three of the Atlantic Division teams appear to be faltering. Wheeling almost folded 2 years ago and they continue to struggle at the gate. Elmira's ownership got booted from running First Arena and the Jackals attendance has fallen considerably over the past few seasons. These markets are very small and probably can't support a AA hockey budget of $2.5-3 million per year and might be best suited to junior or SPHL business models.
Reading is for sale. The city owns part of the team and they want out. A new AHL team begins play next season in Allentown which is only 35 miles away from Reading. Reading's attendance has been falling for years.
After all is said and done, there is a good chance that there may not be an Atlantic Division at all in the very near future.
Elmira's arena is only 3,700 capacity so its no surprise they are one of the weakest in attendance. Up until last year they avg'd almost a sell out a game, 08/09 3,332, 09/10 3,661, 10/11 3,494, 11/12 3,320, I wouldnt call that a drastic decrease, fans fill that small barn over the years, and yes last year they avg'd 66% capacity even with a good drop in attendance, but in comparison the Cyclones had about 67% capacity since they say a sell out is about 6600-6900 with the lower bowl so what would somebody say about the Clones for that number? This year attendance is up for Elmira. Attendance wont have any issue if they survive or not. Management and Arena Management will.
Wheeling has been rocky indeed, and that market is extremely small compared to the other markets in the ECHL now, Orlando, Cincinnati, Toledo, Fort Wayne, Charleston, Gwinnett (Atlanta), All the California towns, Salt Lake City, Vegas, Estero (Miami), these are all big markets with many of them having Major League presence, the ECHL has outgrown the small markets of its beginnings (Johnstown, PA Erie, PA, Vinton, Virginia etc.)
Reading I think has the best of chances to survive.
Also it would not surprise me that if those teams cease, they will try and move the franchise to another city, |
08, 10 Kelly Cup Champions
08, 10, 14 American Conference Champions
08, 09, 13 North Division Champions
08 Brabham Cup Champions |
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Donnie Hockey
(Loves To Post!)
USA
1514 Posts |
Posted - 11/24/2013 : 8:53:42 PM
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The Indianapolis Fuel will be a great addition for the ECHL. Indianapolis has a good core group of hockey fans already in place to build from.
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www.twitter.com/donhelbig |
Edited by - Donnie Hockey on 11/25/2013 09:56:32 AM |
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bags
(Person With Nothing Better To Do!)
USA
2224 Posts |
Posted - 11/25/2013 : 6:05:46 PM
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Now if we could add some eastern teams to keep us out of there  !
Looking forward to the parade back and forth I-74 to the games like the
old days. Next wish would be Louisville or even Dayton..... |
Edited by - bags on 11/25/2013 6:06:47 PM |
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Donnie Hockey
(Loves To Post!)
USA
1514 Posts |
Posted - 11/26/2013 : 4:56:22 PM
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| While I was hoping they'd call the team Racers, I do like the name and logo. The Fuel website already has some good content and the people involved want to do it right. I'm looking forward to seeing a game there next season. |
www.twitter.com/donhelbig |
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dbc
(Been Here Awhile)
865 Posts |
Posted - 11/26/2013 : 4:56:53 PM
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| Nice picture on the ECHL website and Fuel website of the refurbished building. Hard to recognize it and it looks great. Makes two nice weekend loops: Indy and Evansville on one loop and Ft Wayne and Toledo on the other. |
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Reggie Dunlop
(The Next Level!)
USA
399 Posts |
Posted - 11/27/2013 : 10:12:26 AM
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| I'm happy that another nice hockey market is coming into the ECHL and creating another regional rivalry. However, the indoor soccer team name is a big miss. |
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