[News] Flames buying ECHL Stockton Thunder to move AHL affiliate

[sureLoss]

Could be some interesting California road trips for Flames fans in the future.

Depending if the schedules line up, could follow the Flames against the Kings, Ducks and Sharks and the AHL affiliate against Ontario, Bakersfield, San Diego and San Jose.

[sureLoss]

interesting this article says the Flames have committed to finding Glens Falls another hockey team be it an AHL or ECHL team.

http://poststar.com/news/local/calga...6336ffb22.html


perhaps Flames move their ECHL affiliate to Glens Falls

[lazypucker]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

interesting this article says the Flames have committed to finding Glens Falls another hockey team be it an AHL or ECHL team.

http://poststar.com/news/local/calga...6336ffb22.html


perhaps Flames move their ECHL affiliate to Glens Falls

Do the Flames own the Colorado ECHL team? Or are they just loaning players there

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by lazypucker

Do the Flames own the Colorado ECHL team? Or are they just loaning players there

they don't own Colorado, but once they buy Stockton and move an AHL team there, they will have an ECHL team without a home.

[JJ1532]

Many interesting points to ponder here. Obviously we look to be the first to move our AHL franchise back West and if the article in the OP is to be believed, the other Western teams will follow suit in the near future. But I wonder what the Sharks think of us popping our AHL team on their doorstep?

Anyway, good to see that there is an airport there, wonder if we could charter flights from there straight to Calgary and around the league? Or would it just be easier to get our lads to drive to and from Stockton from San Francisco?

Also be interesting to see what sort of fan base our team could expect? On the one hand there doesn't seem to be a strong sports market in the city, with only the Thunder and a minor league baseball team as professional sports teams. But then the city is still recovering from bankruptcy, so that might take a hit on numbers.

[Locke]

We'll need McGrattan down there just to keep drugs away from the team.

[Finger Cookin]

Originally Posted by JJ1532

Many interesting points to ponder here. Obviously we look to be the first to move our AHL franchise back West and if the article in the OP is to be believed, the other Western teams will follow suit in the near future.

All the other Western Conference teams have been making similar arrangements, as detailed in the thread about AHL realignment on the Back Burner forum. This has been in the works by WC teams for almost a year.

[JJ1532]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

they don't own Colorado, but once they buy Stockton and move an AHL team there, they will have an ECHL team without a home.

I wonder also what the Islanders will do now? Because with us buying the Thunder, they will now be without an ECHL affiliate won't they?

[Senator Clay Davis]

Stockton is consistently ranked as one of the most miserable cities in America, so calling it America's Edmonton seems pretty spot on.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by JJ1532

Many interesting points to ponder here. Obviously we look to be the first to move our AHL franchise back West and if the article in the OP is to be believed, the other Western teams will follow suit in the near future. But I wonder what the Sharks think of us popping our AHL team on their doorstep?

The Sharks are rumored to be running their own AHL affiliate out of the SAP arena in San Jose with the NHL team. Don't think they will mind as the Ducks, Flames, Oilers, Kings and Sharks have been colluding together to get this AHL division in the works for a few years by the sounds of it.

Also be interesting to see what sort of fan base our team could expect? On the one hand there doesn't seem to be a strong sports market in the city, with only the Thunder and a minor league baseball team as professional sports teams. But then the city is still recovering from bankruptcy, so that might take a hit on numbers.

Stockton Thunder's average attendance numbers
2014-2015 4,131
2013-2014 4,786
2012-2013 5,485
2011-2012 5,916

So yeah attendance is dropping, but it should be a pretty decent fan base size.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by JJ1532

I wonder also what the Islanders will do now? Because with us buying the Thunder, they will now be without an ECHL affiliate won't they?

not really a big deal... ECHL affiliates change pretty regularly. ECHL also expanded by 8 teams this season by absorbing the leftovers of the Central Hockey League

[JJ1532]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

not really a big deal... ECHL affiliates change pretty regularly. ECHL also expanded by 8 teams this season by absorbing the leftovers of the Central Hockey League

I was thinking there might be a mutual way of us buying the Thunder that benefits both us and the Islanders.

So we buy the Thunder, kick them out and relocate Adironack(under a new name obviously) to Stockton. Well, why not see if the Islanders are interested in supporting a move for the Thunder to go to Glen Falls as an ECHL team?

Do any NHL teams directly own or financially support an ECHL team, or are they all self sufficient/owned independently?

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by JJ1532

Do any NHL teams directly own or financially support an ECHL team, or are they all self sufficient/owned independently?

The Oilers have owned the Bakersfield Condors for several years now. But likely in preparation for this move.

Personally, I would be quite happy to keep Adirondack as our ECHL affiliate.

[Drury18]

Originally Posted by JJ1532

Do any NHL teams directly own or financially support an ECHL team, or are they all self sufficient/owned independently?

The Oilers own the Bakersfield Condors.

If an NHL team is affiliated with an ECHL team, they do pay them a small amount weekly for that.

http://www.echl.com/faq-s-s12377

What is the NHL/AHL affiliate payment?

The NHL/AHL affiliate payment for 2014-15 is $525 per week. Any affiliate amount other than $525 per week agreed upon with any NHL/AHL club will be considered a salary cap violation. This includes excess payments for equipment, travel, etc.

[JonDuke]

Who can we Tweet to start the #BringScorchToStockton campaign?

[corporatejay]

So they will actually own their affiliate as opposed to Abbotsford and Adirondack which were "arrangements". Is that correct?

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by JJ1532

I was thinking there might be a mutual way of us buying the Thunder that benefits both us and the Islanders.

So we buy the Thunder, kick them out and relocate Adironack(under a new name obviously) to Stockton. Well, why not see if the Islanders are interested in supporting a move for the Thunder to go to Glen Falls as an ECHL team?

Do any NHL teams directly own or financially support an ECHL team, or are they all self sufficient/owned independently?

You are over thinking this. Why should the Isles pay for an ECHL team that maybe at most has 3 of their prospects on it?

There are currently 6 ECHL teams without an NHL affiliate, they could just as easily switch to one of them.

As far as I know there are only 2 NHL teams that own an ECHL franchise, Edmonton and LA. And I believe the only reasons they own them is to facilitate the move of their AHL affiliates.

[LanceUppercut]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Stockton is consistently ranked as one of the most miserable cities in America, so calling it America's Edmonton seems pretty spot on.

Thus giving our AHL guys even more motivation to play themselves onto the big club!

[Locke]

Originally Posted by JonDuke

Who can we Tweet to start the #BringScorchToStockton campaign?

I can imagine Stockton Scorchy's promotional video already:

Wandering around the streets of Stockton lighting joints and smoking bowls and setting oildrums ablaze to keep the local hobos warm at night.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by corporatejay

So they will actually own their affiliate as opposed to Abbotsford and Adirondack which were "arrangements". Is that correct?

The Flames own the AHL franchise. The arrangements in both cities were for locals to operate the team. I suspect the same will be true in Stockton.