I would think you wouldn't want an affiliate quite that close. Folks who might otherwise come up for preds games may stay and watch the farm club instead.
None. I say Memphis gets an AHL expansion team when the NHL expands.
Highly unlikely. The RiverKings dropped from the ECHL to the SPHL and the AHL is having a hard enough time keeping its current franchises stable. Last season was the first in a while when all AHL 30 franchises were active.
Any rush to expansion is counterproductive and there are better options for the AHL than Memphis.
Highly unlikely. The RiverKings dropped from the ECHL to the SPHL and the AHL is having a hard enough time keeping its current franchises stable. Last season was the first in a while when all AHL 30 franchises were active.
Any rush to expansion is counterproductive and there are better options for the AHL than Memphis.
Could you name three for me? Just curious. I thought of Atlanta, but that may not work.
Could you name three for me? Just curious. I thought of Atlanta, but that may not work.
Atlanta probably does work ... they only have to draw 5-6k per night to survive, not 15k+ like the NHL.
Seattle works ... add another team in addition to Seattle in the north west (possibly Portland, Ore) and Abbotsford is no longer out there all alone ... a nice little far west division that goes along with the Texas/Oklahoma cluster of teams.
If they look east, Baltimore and the return of the Skipjacks. Let's not forget that the AHL used to have a Lexington and Louisville presence.
Being in Milwaukee, it kind of sucks that no one really has said they want the their affiliate to stay in Wisconsin. But oh well.
I don't think the improbable hypothetical team from an unforeseen AHL expansion is about to usurp Milwaukee's spot as the Preds affiliate any time soon.
Atlanta probably does work ... they only have to draw 5-6k per night to survive, not 15k+ like the NHL.
Seattle works ... add another team in addition to Seattle in the north west (possibly Portland, Ore) and Abbotsford is no longer out there all alone ... a nice little far west division that goes along with the Texas/Oklahoma cluster of teams.
If they look east, Baltimore and the return of the Skipjacks. Let's not forget that the AHL used to have a Lexington and Louisville presence.
The HABS are looking at moving the dogs closer to home. Talk is they may relocate them to Verdun
Being in Milwaukee, it kind of sucks that no one really has said they want the their affiliate to stay in Wisconsin. But oh well.
Ehh, I like being affiliated with the Preds but fact is teams change affiliates all the time for a number of reasons. Just using the Brewers as an example. They've gone from West Virginia to Wisconsin, from High Desert to Brevard County, from Indianapolis to Nashville and they've been trying to get out of Huntsville.
If the Preds think it makes business sense to have a team closer to Nashville, more power to them.
I have no problem with putting our AHL team in Memphis, but you're going to have to come up with a good reason as to why we should end our developmental relationship with the Admirals first. I would encourage you to take your time, but don't bother, because you won't find one.
Atlanta probably does work ... they only have to draw 5-6k per night to survive, not 15k+ like the NHL.
Seattle works ... add another team in addition to Seattle in the north west (possibly Portland, Ore) and Abbotsford is no longer out there all alone ... a nice little far west division that goes along with the Texas/Oklahoma cluster of teams.
If they look east, Baltimore and the return of the Skipjacks. Let's not forget that the AHL used to have a Lexington and Louisville presence.
As long as the Atlanta Spirit Group own Phillips Arena, there will be no hockey played there. If there was a change of heart by ASG, no self respecting hockey fan in the greater Atlanta area would set foot in the place even if the tickets cost $1 and the drinks were free.
As long as the Atlanta Spirit Group own Phillips Arena, there will be no hockey played there. If there was a change of heart by ASG, no self respecting hockey fan in the greater Atlanta area would set foot in the place even if the tickets cost $1 and the drinks were free.
Has the sale of the Hawks to Meruelo fallen through? It was supposed to include operating rights to the arena which eliminates ASG.
Has the sale of the Hawks to Meruelo fallen through? It was supposed to include operating rights to the arena which eliminates ASG.
Fell through a couple of months ago when the NBA learned ASG was putting up half of his money. The paranoid cynic inside me wants to believe it was all part of their elaborate ruse to get out of the hockey business.
