AHL To Expand?

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AHL To Expand?; 30 Teams and Full Affiliation
Topic Started: Sunday Jan 20 2008, 03:34 PM (383 Views)
WeatherManNX01	Sunday Jan 20 2008, 03:34 PM Post #1
The Emperor Posts: 12,166 Group: Commissioner Member #4 Joined: December 9, 2005 NFL Team New England Patriots NBA Team Boston Celtics NHL Team Boston Bruins MLS Team New England Revolution NCAA Team Penn State Nittany Lions	From the Lebanon Daily News: Quote: It may have never been his ultimate, all-consuming goal, but it’s no secret that since becoming president of the American Hockey League, Dave Andrews has always been interested in seeing each team in the National Hockey League have a corresponding developmental team in the AHL. The AHL is one team off this season — the Buffalo Sabres and Florida Panthers share an affiliation in Rochester, the only shared affiliation in the AHL — and could wind up being a fully-affiliated 30 team league next season if the reports of Buffalo leaving Rochester next season are true. Now another problem seems to be cropping up. News out of Philadelphia this week has indicated that the Spectrum might be facing the wrecker’s ball if plans for development in the area, which could include a hotel and a parking garage, become reality. Since the Phantoms would not be moved across the parking lot to Wachovia Center, the only option would be finding a new home. The question is where. Full article. Intriguing that the Sabres are the ones terminating the affiliation with the Americans...I'd have thought they'd place a new team for Florida, instead.



PSUSyr5	Sunday Jan 20 2008, 07:00 PM Post #2
The Board Idiot Posts: 11,400 Group: Referee Member #6 Joined: December 11, 2005 NFL Team Philadelphia Eagles NBA Team Denver Nuggets NHL Team Buffalo Sabres MLS Team D.C. United NCAA Team Penn State Nittany Lions, Syracuse Orange	15 teams are in the northeast, with 3 more in Toronto, Hamilton and Cleveland and the farthest west the AHL goes is San Antonio. So there are a lot of NHL teams that don't have affiliates nearby. I'm not sure how much of an advantage it would be to have affiliates close because they don't play so many consecutive games like baseball does, so a longer plane ride shouldn't be too much of a problem. With the Phantoms also looking to move, there would have to be 2 cities the AHL has to look to, unless they end up having more shared affiliations. There is a dormant Edmonton Roadrunners team, which I believe the Oilers still own, but considering they have their own team now, it probably wouldn't be too hard for them to give up the Roadrunners. The article mentioned Baltimore having many tries, with each lasting a shorter time than the one before it, so I doubt that would be where the league wants to go. I don't know what cities have lower level hockey teams, but seems like they could put a team in Louisville, Indianapolis, Cincinnati or somewhere in Minnesota. Here are the locations of the AHL teams, courtesy of Wikipedia:



WeatherManNX01	Sunday Jan 20 2008, 07:10 PM Post #3
The Emperor Posts: 12,166 Group: Commissioner Member #4 Joined: December 9, 2005 NFL Team New England Patriots NBA Team Boston Celtics NHL Team Boston Bruins MLS Team New England Revolution NCAA Team Penn State Nittany Lions	I think Indy might be a good spot...they mentioned Flint...Louisville, Atlantic City, Newark... I don't know...maybe Erie? They've got an arena... Raleigh/Durham?



PSUSyr5	Sunday Jan 20 2008, 07:18 PM Post #4
The Board Idiot Posts: 11,400 Group: Referee Member #6 Joined: December 11, 2005 NFL Team Philadelphia Eagles NBA Team Denver Nuggets NHL Team Buffalo Sabres MLS Team D.C. United NCAA Team Penn State Nittany Lions, Syracuse Orange	I would try to avoid moving teams that close to NHL teams, especially the NYC area which already has 3 NHL teams, and depending on how picky you want to be, the Bridgeport team. I believe Erie has a lower level hockey team, so unless that team moves, I doubt they'd put an AHL team there.



WeatherManNX01	Sunday Jan 20 2008, 07:49 PM Post #5
The Emperor Posts: 12,166 Group: Commissioner Member #4 Joined: December 9, 2005 NFL Team New England Patriots NBA Team Boston Celtics NHL Team Boston Bruins MLS Team New England Revolution NCAA Team Penn State Nittany Lions	I think at some point they're going to have to consider Baltimore. For that size city, you'd think they'd have some sort of indoor sports team. Yes, the three previous teams failed. But for a city of that size, something has got to work, right? And with a new arena in the planning stages, it might be worthwhile to consider the city for a team. Since the expansion would likely be affiliated with Buffalo, the potential exists for the affiliate to be a good team...not that major league success translates to minor league success or vice versa (see the Hershey Bears and Caps). But to put a team in Baltimore, a team that would have future Sabres stars and maybe rehabbing Sabres stars...that would not be a bad thing. Now, if the Phantoms move...well, they're not a bad team. Baltimore might be more willing to support a proven team. On the other hand, I would try to keep the Phantoms close to home. Reading has an ECHL team, but there is an arena in Bethlehem that does not have a hockey team. Too far out or two small? I don't know. But it's a possibility. Now, I would point out that while the Wachovia Spectrum is to be demolished, the next-door Wachovia Arena would not be unavailable, though it might pose scheduling issues. Both arenas and the Phantoms are owned by Comcast-Spectacor, so I would think that there is a possibility of working something out to keep the Phantoms in Philly.



PSUSyr5	Sunday Jan 20 2008, 07:55 PM Post #6
The Board Idiot Posts: 11,400 Group: Referee Member #6 Joined: December 11, 2005 NFL Team Philadelphia Eagles NBA Team Denver Nuggets NHL Team Buffalo Sabres MLS Team D.C. United NCAA Team Penn State Nittany Lions, Syracuse Orange	So there's the Wachovia Spectrum, Center and Arena all in Philly? That's just messed up...but that's Philadelphia for ya.



WeatherManNX01	Sunday Jan 20 2008, 08:18 PM Post #7
The Emperor Posts: 12,166 Group: Commissioner Member #4 Joined: December 9, 2005 NFL Team New England Patriots NBA Team Boston Celtics NHL Team Boston Bruins MLS Team New England Revolution NCAA Team Penn State Nittany Lions	Erm...Wachovia Arena is in Wilkes-Barre. My mistake. All those Wachovia names. But yes, the Spectrum and Center are in Philly and owned by Comcast-Spectacor. And the, Flyers, Phantoms, and 76ers are all also owned by Comcast-Spectacor. They pretty much own Philadelphia major indoor sports (except AFL's Soul).



PSUSyr5	Sunday Jan 20 2008, 08:35 PM Post #8
The Board Idiot Posts: 11,400 Group: Referee Member #6 Joined: December 11, 2005 NFL Team Philadelphia Eagles NBA Team Denver Nuggets NHL Team Buffalo Sabres MLS Team D.C. United NCAA Team Penn State Nittany Lions, Syracuse Orange	Ah no problem...either way, all those same sponsor arenas in the same state just a few hours from each other is going to bring up confusion. Quote: Since the Phantoms would not be moved across the parking lot to Wachovia Center, the only option would be finding a new home. I'm guessing that has to do with the schedule conflicts you spoke of before. It could work out, but with all those teams already in the arena, it would make more sense for them to go elsewhere. I forget where the Villanova Wildcats basketball team plays when it's not in the Wachovia Center, but that seems like another possible arena anyway. Plus those Philly area schools I'm sure have a decent arena that could be shared too.



WeatherManNX01	Sunday Jan 20 2008, 08:46 PM Post #9
The Emperor Posts: 12,166 Group: Commissioner Member #4 Joined: December 9, 2005 NFL Team New England Patriots NBA Team Boston Celtics NHL Team Boston Bruins MLS Team New England Revolution NCAA Team Penn State Nittany Lions	sre141 Jan 20 2008, 08:35 PM Ah no problem...either way, all those same sponsor arenas in the same state just a few hours from each other is going to bring up confusion. Quote: Since the Phantoms would not be moved across the parking lot to Wachovia Center, the only option would be finding a new home. I'm guessing that has to do with the schedule conflicts you spoke of before. It could work out, but with all those teams already in the arena, it would make more sense for them to go elsewhere. I forget where the Villanova Wildcats basketball team plays when it's not in the Wachovia Center, but that seems like another possible arena anyway. Plus those Philly area schools I'm sure have a decent arena that could be shared too. Yeah, that's not too far outside of Philly. The MLL's Barrage played at Villanova the last year or two. So if they've got an arena, then I'm sure they'd be happy to rent it out to pro and minor league teams.



PSUSyr5	Monday Jan 21 2008, 12:28 AM Post #10
The Board Idiot Posts: 11,400 Group: Referee Member #6 Joined: December 11, 2005 NFL Team Philadelphia Eagles NBA Team Denver Nuggets NHL Team Buffalo Sabres MLS Team D.C. United NCAA Team Penn State Nittany Lions, Syracuse Orange	The Pavilion! Anyway...yeah, that holds about 6,500 for basketball games, and I'd imagine that number would be about the same for hockey. Doesn't seem like a lot, but Syracuse's War Memorial holds about the same, and the average league attendance is around 5,500, based on last season's stats, so The Pavilion could work in theory.



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