Quote:
Originally Posted by RT14
I'm just curious, but would it be more profitable to have an AHL team or a WHL team? I only ask because I would love if the Flames had their AHL affiliate in Red Deer as I'd much rather pay to see the baby Flames play than the Rebels. I've never heard of a WHL team folding to make room for an AHL team and maybe Red Deer isn't big enough yet to support it but think it's getting close.
|
I think the only flaw in the Red Deer plan is that the team is owned by the Sutter family, or parts of it, and I imagine the only way they fold for an AHL team will involve the term "over my dead body". I don't see them making way for a Flames affiliate.
Red Deer is about the same size as Abbotsford in terms of population and that's not including all the little towns within a reasonable drive (Sylvan Lake, Innisfail, Lacombe), so I think they would have a population to support them.
On the financial side, I think it is more expensive and more likely for financial losses in the AHL as they are not primarily for making money but developing players, hence why many of the big club affiliates either subsidize or look for subsidies to operate the team. The WHL is for making money and tends to be a more profitable league since they aren't paying out nearly the same expenses for a team to travel and operate.