Quote:
Originally Posted by Frank Booth
Well that certainly didn't stop them in 2004 and 2005 when Jamison and Lehr tried to move the team to: Quad Cities, Tulsa, Kansas City, and Oklahoma City. All cities they negotiated with while having time left on their lease at Gund Arena/Quicken Loans Arena.
I guess that's a good way to get your prospects ready for the NHL by having them play in front of abysmal "crowds" like they do in Worcester. If we spin the excuse wheel, where will it land? Bad team? Oh, yeah, they won their division this year, yet finished 27th out of 29 teams in attendance. Bad market? Bad marketing? Perhaps a combination of both. What ever the case, it isn't a good situation, and it will probably end sooner rather than later.
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http://www.telegram.com/article/2010...13/1009/SPORTS
Please read the live chat from this morning by the Worcester beat writer on attendance, competition, etc.
WRT the Sharks looking in the midwest to move their AHL affiliate out of Cleveland, there was also the issue of the arena being sold. (There may have been an "out" clause in their lease after sale of arena, but not sure.)
The NHL Sharks like their arrangement and have no plans to break their lease. (Now, when it comes near expiration, there's a number of possibilities that could happen for the future.)