As far as I have heard, Ottawa and Binghamton have renewed for three years. The lack of announcement is likely due to ongoing lease negotiations between the franchise owners and the County. There is a new County Executive, and she is putting the County finances under scrutiny. This is what is delaying the process. There may be major changes to the lease agreements on both sides.
Take it for what it is worth.
Unfortunately, there has been little documented information on this subject to back up anything, whether it be what I have heard from people close to the situation, or what was posted on Facebook.
Frankly, I think it would be stupid for the Binghamton owners not to be at least in communication with their old partners at MSG, but I am not sure if a) MSG is willing to sell their franchise (to Baldwin investors or others) and affiliate with independent owners or if b) Baldwin is ready to throw in the towel and give back MSG the reins to the franchise. So I think Ottawa is the low-hanging fruit.
Just was going to post that I got that same info in a text from a 20+ year STH. Says the announcement will be made soon.
why would they? WHAT OTHER Franchise other than the Islanders would want Bridgeport, CT is going absolutely nowhere until 2014 at the earliest, and IF MSG assumes control of the club as they did until Baldwin showed up w/ that grandiose plan to bring the Whale back, how's that working..... basically all the Hartford fans, and AHL Insiders basically knew this would backfire especialy after the rebrand mid-season, it's a wonder the franchise itself hasn't collapsed under Whalers Sports & Entertainment despite MSG owning it...
Bridgeport would've bben long gone had the Islanders not bought them from the estate of Roy Boe, who, as you recall had to sell Worcester to begin with, and remember what hapened there....
ABSOLUTELY you will not see the B-Sens leave, I think some of you are confusing the B-Sens w/ the rumored Binghamton Mets move to Ottawa.
You're right about that, had the Isles not bought the BST they would have left years ago. No support from local government and center plate. The Sound Tigers weren't even considered the main tenant. That's not the case anymore.
This all came out when some reported made up the story of the Sound Tigers moving to Albany. The only way the Sound Tigers leave is if the Isles sell and relocate off the island.
It was very well known around the arena that if the Isles left, the then Wolf Pack would move in and assume the lease, since it was a better venue and closer to Manhattan.
Isn't MSG the owners but they are basically out of the operation now? I know Balodwin is doing it now but don't you think theres more to the story if they gave it up to a guy who wants NHL Hockey back in that city living a pipedream? Could it be they no longer want anything to do going forward with managing any AHL franchise the Rangers are associated with?
My understanding is that this has been the case since 2007 when MSG lost the contract to run the then-HCC. I represented a shift in the City of Hartford's position on the arena from being 'MSG Connecticut' to being the eventual home of the reborn Whalers. In the days of the AEG/Northland operation of the team from 2007 to 2010, I was told that the operation was quite minimalist and there were only a handful of staff in the front office.
Baldwin's idea fits in with MSG's plan I think because a) he is responsible for the financial aspects of the team operation, b) MSG probably does not have much confidence in the return of the NHL to Hartford and c) if the NHL returns (or if Baldwin stops paying the franchise lease to MSG), there are several good options for NYR to place their affiliate, whether they move the franchise they own or affiliate with an independently-owned franchise.
I don't think that the ECHL woud succeed in Glens Falls, a bad AHL team has out drawn a decent/good UHL team. I know there's the debate on if ECHL or UHL was better, they're close enough for this. A big enough portion of the fan base is willing to drive X miles for AHL, but not for UHL basically. The area is growing however, so it could wind up ok.
I don't see NYR moving their team to an arena MSG doesn't manage. MSG is in the money making business, and if they can get their paws into another pot, no matter the size, I think that they would.
I don't see why NYR would move to Bridgeport. It would be closer to Manhattan, but I don't think that they see it as a big difference until it's over about a 3 hour drive.
I don't see NYR moving their team to an arena MSG doesn't manage. MSG is in the money making business, and if they can get their paws into another pot, no matter the size, I think that they would.
Does MSG manage any other hockey arenas other than Madison Square Garden? Are you aware of any others that they are going to manage?
Right now, it just seems their only priority regarding their AHL team is not to pay for it.
I don't think that the ECHL woud succeed in Glens Falls, a bad AHL team has out drawn a decent/good UHL team. I know there's the debate on if ECHL or UHL was better, they're close enough for this. A big enough portion of the fan base is willing to drive X miles for AHL, but not for UHL basically. The area is growing however, so it could wind up ok.
I don't see NYR moving their team to an arena MSG doesn't manage. MSG is in the money making business, and if they can get their paws into another pot, no matter the size, I think that they would.
I don't see why NYR would move to Bridgeport. It would be closer to Manhattan, but I don't think that they see it as a big difference until it's over about a 3 hour drive.
You'd be surprised how long it would take to get from Bridgeport to Hartford in rush hour traffic. Let alone going from Hartford to NYC.
Does MSG manage any other hockey arenas other than Madison Square Garden? Are you aware of any others that they are going to manage?
Right now, it just seems their only priority regarding their AHL team is not to pay for it.
That was my point.
MSG reportedly wanted to run the building in Glens Falls in 2006 and put the AHL team there. The city wouldn't give up day to day control. Three dark years from pro hockey (the only three since it was built) changed the city's mind. Spectacor taking over was part of the deal to bring in the Phantoms.
They also ran Hartford, that's why that team was moved there.
I'd assume if they are sure they can make their shareholders money, they move.
