[sureLoss]

Adirondack Flames days are numbered

http://www.recordnet.com/article/201...NEWS/150109721

The next step in the impending sale of the Stockton Thunder to the Calgary Flames of the NHL is awaiting the approval of city officials.

City staff documents were released Thursday recommending City Council consent to the transfer the team lease at Stockton Arena to Adirondack Flames Canada, an affiliate of the Flames. If the motion is approved and the sale is completed, it could clear the way for the Thunder, which has been an ECHL franchise for 10 seasons, to move up a level to the American Hockey League.

The original 10-year lease runs through this season and current owner Brad Rowbotham picked up the first of two five-year options held by the franchise when he put the team up for sale four months ago.

Mayor Anthony Silva said he hopes the proposal will be approved.
“All I can say is that I anticipate a smooth ride,” Silva said. “I think it’s a win-win for the city of Stockton.”

Rowbotham said he also is confident the City Council will approve the lease transfer and admits he’ll miss owning the team.

“So far, everything is going smoothly. We’re waiting for various approvals from the city and the league, but we don’t foresee any major issues," he said. “As the possibility gets more real, it’s definitely mixed emotions. I’ll miss it. But it’s important that we found a potential buyer who could make it even better than what it’s ever been.”

The Flames would be the third owner of the franchise since it moved to Stockton in 2005. Michael Reinsdorf purchased the team that year when it was called the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies and moved it to Stockton. Rowbotham is the general manager of Roll’n Oilfield Industries Ltd. in Red Deer, Alberta.

There has been speculation that Stockton and other West Coast ECHL teams would not stay in the league for long. Most western NHL franchises have expressed a desire to move their top minor league teams into the region to cut down on travel and other expenses. Recent moves suggest such a change could happen as soon as next season.