[Rumour] Flames to move AHL affiliate to Utica NY. UPD: Canucks move affiliate to Utica

[The Original FFIV]

the article from Aug in case anyone interested:

http://www.canada.com/entertainment/...801/story.html

[The Original FFIV]

Originally Posted by Zulu29

I live in Surrey...

I'm just upset because I won't get to watch the kids on the farm anymore, in reality it's probably best for the team to move for the health of the organization.

Me too unfortunately just can't seem to get to any games. The 7PM start time sucks and not enough afternoon games on weekends to take kids to.

Will get to see them a couple of times a year when they make the road swing to Abby if they do move to Utica - might increase motivation to go.

[Zulu29]

Originally Posted by The Original FFIV

Me too unfortunately just can't seem to get to any games. The 7PM start time sucks and not enough afternoon games on weekends to take kids to.

Will get to see them a couple of times a year when they make the road swing to Abby if they do move to Utica - might increase motivation to go.

I'm on the border of Langley so the drive out is pretty quick. If I lived deeper in Surrey I could definitely see it being a hassle to get out for games.

[The Original FFIV]

Originally Posted by Zulu29

I'm on the border of Langley so the drive out is pretty quick. If I lived deeper in Surrey I could definitely see it being a hassle to get out for games.

25 min for me taking 0 ave, not really an excuse but having young kids doesn't help either. Tough to make it work but earlier start time on weekends would definitely help.

[Resolute 14]

I think when moving to Abbotsford, the Flames thought it would begin a push westward by the AHL, but as a lone outpost, Abbotsford makes little sense. The team would have a much better chance at surviving on its own as a Canucks affiliate.

There's going to be a domino effect out of this as the AHL is at 30 teams. If Vancouver takes over the Abbotsford market, where is the new Utica franchise coming from? Does Chicago just drop out of the AHL? Or do the Hawks put their farm team in their back yard and Rockford loses? Or perhaps the Oilers give up in OKC (dead last in AHL attendance) and go to Chicago?

[Zulu29]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

I think when moving to Abbotsford, the Flames thought it would begin a push westward by the AHL, but as a lone outpost, Abbotsford makes little sense. The team would have a much better chance at surviving on its own as a Canucks affiliate.

There's going to be a domino effect out of this as the AHL is at 30 teams. If Vancouver takes over the Abbotsford market, where is the new Utica franchise coming from? Does Chicago just drop out of the AHL? Or do the Hawks put their farm team in their back yard and Rockford loses? Or perhaps the Oilers give up in OKC (dead last in AHL attendance) and go to Chicago?

NHL needs to expand to 32 teams eventually anyway, then they'll need another AHL franchise.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

I think when moving to Abbotsford, the Flames thought it would begin a push westward by the AHL, but as a lone outpost, Abbotsford makes little sense. The team would have a much better chance at surviving on its own as a Canucks affiliate.

There's going to be a domino effect out of this as the AHL is at 30 teams. If Vancouver takes over the Abbotsford market, where is the new Utica franchise coming from? Does Chicago just drop out of the AHL? Or do the Hawks put their farm team in their back yard and Rockford loses? Or perhaps the Oilers give up in OKC (dead last in AHL attendance) and go to Chicago?

There's no domino effect. As vulcan mentioned on the last page that the Canucks don't own the Wolves, they don't have the ability to move them. If they want Abbotsford after the Heat move, they'll need to buy a team.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by nik-

There's no domino effect. As vulcan mentioned on the last page that the Canucks don't own the Wolves, they don't have the ability to move them. If they want Abbotsford after the Heat move, they'll need to buy a team.

Yeah the only domino effect could be the Wolves owner selling to the Canucks and buying the Coyotes and moving them to Seattle.

[Canada 02]

The Flames learned their lesson in Omaha, having a 50-50 partnership. It likely cost them a lot of money.

In Quad cities, the Flames owned 100% of the franchise, but QCSV paid for everything, except player salary; they also covered all losses - it didn't cost the Flames a cent to play in Quad Cities, and QCSV had to buy them out to break the partnership.

Something similar in Abbotsford. The City of Abbotsford covers all losses or revenue shortfalls below $5.7M annually. It was a sweatheart deal for the Flames, and they have no financial reason to leave before the 10 year deal is up. The City of Abbotsford will have to pay them to leave

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Canada 02

The Flames learned their lesson in Omaha, having a 50-50 partnership. It likely cost them a lot of money.

In Quad cities, the Flames owned 100% of the franchise, but QCSV paid for everything, except player salary; they also covered all losses - it didn't cost the Flames a cent to play in Quad Cities, and QCSV had to buy them out to break the partnership.

Something similar in Abbotsford. The City of Abbotsford covers all losses or revenue shortfalls below $5.7M annually. It was a sweatheart deal for the Flames, and they have no financial reason to leave before the 10 year deal is up. The City of Abbotsford will have to pay them to leave

Yeah, the Flames on the surface don't have much reason to move but every year it seems we get these rumours of the Canucks taking over that franchise. Could be just the Canucks getting their nose out of joint and creating rumours. If we move the team, next time I want it in St. Albert, just to hear the Oilers get bent.

[Oil Stain]

Originally Posted by getbak

Funny that the Flames purchased the old Utica franchise and moved them to Saint John 20 years ago.


Also, parts of Slapshot were filmed in the Utica arena.

The girl who wrote the screenplay took many stories from her brother who played semi-pro. He played for the Mohawk Valley Comets based out of Utica.


The more you know!

[Freeway]

More details:

http://www.wktv.com/news/top-stories...192899141.html

[Gugstanley]

Wouldn't mind seeing them move back to Salt Lake City

[Machiavelli]

nm

[Freeway]

Whether there's something to this or not, all parties are saying exactly what they should be expected to say at this point. Flames, Heat, Utica's mayor and the prospective new ownership/management group all won't say squat officially until things are all firmed up.

[DiracSpike]

Lethbridge, Saskatoon, or Regina could definitely support an AHL franchise I think. I realize that all those places have dub teams but still they're all reasonably close and the fan support would be there if some people feel an attachment to the big league team. Pretty sure there's no more than 3 Flames fans in upstate NY.

[Ned Braden]

Well, I can pledge to be CP's eyes on the farm team if this happens...

[getbak]

Originally Posted by DiracSpike

Pretty sure there's no more than 3 Flames fans in upstate NY.

Depends on how many relatives Conroy has.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by DiracSpike

Lethbridge, Saskatoon, or Regina could definitely support an AHL franchise I think. I realize that all those places have dub teams but still they're all reasonably close and the fan support would be there if some people feel an attachment to the big league team. Pretty sure there's no more than 3 Flames fans in upstate NY.

I think the Flames should brand their farm team with their own identity. I think they should stay away from anything Flames related.

Utica is known as the Renaissance City, so a name could be derived from that, they also have a "rich" organized crime history as well, so that is another well to draw from.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by nik-

There's no domino effect. As vulcan mentioned on the last page that the Canucks don't own the Wolves, they don't have the ability to move them. If they want Abbotsford after the Heat move, they'll need to buy a team.

Yes, there is a domino effect. There are 30 NHL teams, and there are 30 AHL teams. To put a new team in Utica, some other team has to go. The question is where. Such a move would also lead to a flurry of affiliation changes, as the Wolves would need a new affiliation.