Rumor: AHL Pacific division as soon as 2015?

[Muta]

The Regional Municipality is begging for a pro sports team. The arena isn't just an arena, it'll be an entertainment district too. As for it being a party atmosphere, that type of thinking doesn't matter nearly as you may think it does on a corporate level. It's 100% about logistics, money, and available disposable income for fans to buy tickets. Fort Mac has all of that. It doesn't hurt that they have a brand new international airport now, too.

[Red Menace]

I'd rather we just keep the team out east until the pacific division is firmly established...still better for travel to be out east.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by Red Menace

I'd rather we just keep the team out east until the pacific division is firmly established...still better for travel to be out east.

Which will likely be the case. The agreement in Glenns Falls is for 3 years anyways.

[sureLoss]

Very good update from Mayors Manor.

According to him the Flames were "highly interested" with the idea of putting an AHL affiliate in Las Vegas, but the NHL exploring expansion there has put a halt to it.

http://mayorsmanor.com/2014/12/updat...rsManor.com%29

He also mentions that Salt Lake City is an option for part of the Pacific division, but according to his sources no NHL team is working it right now.

[PeteMoss]

Honestly unless they get a team in Montana or Boise (or Portland I suppose), I'd rather just keep the team out east. Unless the players are within a very quick jaunt of Calgary there's really no difference for the team between being 3 or 6 hours away.

Its not like having the team in California is going to be much different than having them in NY and I'd rather them spending less time traveling and more time on the ice practicing.

[vennegoor of hesselink]

No way the AHL works in Billings. It would be one of the smallest AHL cities and people don't care about hockey there. Plus you would have to fly to Salt Lake or Denver first to get players out as there are no direct flights from Calgary to Montana.

[sureLoss]

Looks like this is happening next season

John Shannon @JSportsnet
Hearing that the Oilers are not renewing their agreement in OKC in the AHL.

edit: confirmed:
http://okcbarons.com/index.cfm?fa=pr...6-23FCA73CA4C9

[sureLoss]

woah dreger says the Flames are moving affiliate west next season

Darren Dreger @DarrenDreger
AHL sources won't divulge details, however, a west division comprised of LA, Ana, SJ, Cal and Edm is expected to launch for 2015.

not sure I believe it

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Looks like this is happening next season

John Shannon @JSportsnet
Hearing that the Oilers are not renewing their agreement in OKC in the AHL.

edit: confirmed:
http://okcbarons.com/index.cfm?fa=pr...6-23FCA73CA4C9

That's only because the AHL team will merge with their current nhl club

[sureLoss]

DefendingBigD @DefendingBigD
At exact moment OKC Barons announce they will cease operations, Jim Lites is saying how there is interest in bringing AHL back to Houston.

DefendingBigD @DefendingBigD
Lites specifically mentioned Calgary and Edmonton as teams that have shown interest in having AHL franchise in Houston.

Lots of flights between Houston and Calgary.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

DefendingBigD @DefendingBigD
At exact moment OKC Barons announce they will cease operations, Jim Lites is saying how there is interest in bringing AHL back to Houston.

DefendingBigD @DefendingBigD
Lites specifically mentioned Calgary and Edmonton as teams that have shown interest in having AHL franchise in Houston.

Lots of flights between Houston and Calgary.

Houston won't work unless it is somewhere other than the Toyota Center, the owners made a point to push the Wild out by jacking up the amount of the lease so high they moved because they arena can make more on concerts and other events more than they can on AHL games.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

Houston won't work unless it is somewhere other than the Toyota Center, the owners made a point to push the Wild out by jacking up the amount of the lease so high they moved because they arena can make more on concerts and other events more than they can on AHL games.

Yeah, from what I understand the talk is that when or if a new arena is built, there will be interest from the NHL for an AHL team. The Cedar Park Center (Texas Stars arena) outside of Austin is used as an example.

[Drury18]

The rumour is that the Flames have purchased the Stockton Thunder and will move the team there next year. Edmonton will go to Bakersfield.

http://www.edmontonsun.com/2014/12/1...to-bakersfield

The Los Angeles Kings (Manchester, N.H) already own the ECHL Ontario Reign. Ther Calgary Flames (Adirondack, N.Y.) are expected to announce the purchase of Stockton Thunder, currently owned by Brad Rowbotham of Red Deer. Anaheim (Norfolk, Virginia) is looking at either San Diego or Long Beach. That would leave only San Jose (Worchester, Mass.) in search of a spot.

[sureLoss]

I believe I read somewhere that December 22nd is the deadline to inform the ECHL of changes for next season.

If it is going to happen we will know soon.

[Freeway]

FWIW, Richard Kromm is the current head coach/GM of the Stockton Thunder. He's a former Flame.

[Vulcan]

So if it's going to happen next season we have a contract with Glens Falls to get out of. Perhaps we can move the Stockton franchise there to placate them.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Freeway

FWIW, Richard Kromm is the current head coach/GM of the Stockton Thunder. He's a former Flame.

His dad, Bobby Kromm won the 1961 World Championship with the Trail SmokeEaters and later went on to coach in the WHA and the NHL.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

This is the trouble Canadian teams are going to run into, most of the sites in the north are already taken by the WHL and they'll cry foul if an AHL team tries to move in. It could even upset the fans in that city.

Maybe entice the Saskatoon Blades to move to Abbotsford and put our AHL team in Saskatoon. This would also block the Canucks.

It is more than just crying foul. Pro hockey below the NHL level has continually failed in most areas of the country. Junior hockey is absolutely entrenched here. Speaking for myself, if you told me I could have the the AHL Flames in town for the exact same cost as the Hitmen, I would say no thanks.

As far as Stockton and Glens Falls goes, flipping the Adirondack Flames to the ECHL makes too much sense not to happen. The market wants hockey, but its arena is not AHL calibre. So we save hockey in the city, give them one more year at the AHL level, then hopefully build a solid long term relationship at the ECHL level? That would be a good thing, I think.

[Ozy_Flame]

Good lord. Stockton is one of the most miserable cities in the Western U.S. Bankrupt, dirty, and with a high crime rate. Then, the taint of the Edmonton Oilers has been all over the Thunder as an affiliate for years (this year they're with the Islanders thankfully). No wonder Robowtham wants to sell.

Would much rather they go to Sacramento instead.

[Julio]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Good lord. Stockton is one of the most miserable cities in the Western U.S. Bankrupt, dirty, and with a high crime rate. Then, the taint of the Edmonton Oilers has been all over the Thunder as an affiliate for years (this year they're with the Islanders thankfully). No wonder Robowtham wants to sell.

Would much rather they go to Sacramento instead.

There isn't really any place to place in Sacramento. Stockton being only 50 km or so away is about the closest spot to Sacramento to play.