ECHL Columbia Inferno suspended until fall 2010

[LadyStanley]

http://www.oursportscentral.com/serv...es/?id=3774691

Appears there are a number of issues holding things up, so they'll keep the franchise inactive for another season. Estimate return to ice in fall 2010 (for 10-11 season).

[HansH]

Frankly, I can't say I'm surprised -- construction hasn't begun as far as I know, so it would have been a huge surprise to hear they were somehow going to get things done by November 2009. With the current climate, I would be mildly surprised if it's open by November 2010, unless it's somehow part of the stimulus package as a "shovel-ready" project.

[blokeyhighlander]

bump - any updates on this situation?

[HansH]

Originally Posted by blokeyhighlander

bump - any updates on this situation?

I'd have to delve a little deeper, but something makes me think I saw the league make a quiet announcement that the franchise had finally been returned to the league -- but don't quote me on that just yet.

[sbkbghockey]

Did a little detective work:
1) Wikipedia says 2011-12
2) They're still listed on the ECHL's future teams list and not on the links of current teams at the top of the ECHL website http://www.echl.com/fteams.shtml
3) The team's website doesn't look like it has been updated in a little over a year.

I'd say it looks like they're taking this year off as well.

[HisIceness]

It's too bad they can't use the Colonial Life Arena. Haven't heard anything regarding the team coming back for 2011-12. I had thought they were coming back last October, then this October and still nothing. From what I've heard the land that is supposed to be the new arena is still grass.

[garnetpalmetto]

Originally Posted by HisIceness

It's too bad they can't use the Colonial Life Arena. Haven't heard anything regarding the team coming back for 2011-12. I had thought they were coming back last October, then this October and still nothing. From what I've heard the land that is supposed to be the new arena is still grass.

Especially since one of the major selling points of it that USC pointed out was that it could host the Inferno and perhaps an arena football team. I had hoped that when Eric Hyman took over as AD at Carolina he'd be a little friendlier to co-tenancy with minor league teams than Mike McGee had been, but to quote The Who "Meet the new boss, same as the old boss." Columbia's still stuck with a summer wooden bat league team instead of affiliated minor league baseball and an ECHL team in limbo.

[Ricci]

That sucks, I was hoping to see them back this season.