[News] AHL new Pacific Divison announced. Flames will move affiliate to Stockton

[Itse]

I'd prefer they don't call the affiliates Flames. It's inconvenient to have to specify.

[Buff]

Stockton Flames?

[sureLoss]

@JSportsnet: In addition to being closer to their NHL teams, new AHL division will stress development.That means less games. No more 3 games in 3 days.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Itse

I'd prefer they don't call the affiliates Flames. It's inconvenient to have to specify.

Can confirm. Source: Wikipedia editor.

Anyway, it is doubly dumb because "Stockton Thunder" already has brand value for the local market. "Stockton Flames" or something else is trying to tie in a team that, frankly, the locals just won't care about.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Can confirm. Source: Wikipedia editor.

Anyway, it is doubly dumb because "Stockton Thunder" already has brand value for the local market. "Stockton Flames" or something else is trying to tie in a team that, frankly, the locals just won't care about.

Even the Oilers are keeping it the Bakersfield Condors. They are just changing the Condors colours to match the Oilers

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

John Shannon @JSportsnet
Over the next year, we will hear that potential cities for AHL teams in the new division will include Prescott,Arizona and Boise,Idaho.

Boise? If the Avs move their AHL affiliate in-state as expected, that really makes Vancouver the logical landing spot for Boise. Interesting.

Originally Posted by sureLoss

@JSportsnet: In addition to being closer to their NHL teams, new AHL division will stress development.That means less games. No more 3 games in 3 days.

Speaking of interesting... Does this imply the AHL Pacific would operate on a completely separate schedule, or that the entire AHL will reduce its schedule?

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Speaking of interesting... Does this imply the AHL Pacific would operate on a completely separate schedule, or that the entire AHL will reduce its schedule?

It has been rumored that the entire AHL will be reducing the number of games played, but a few of the more profitable teams were pushing back, so it is possible the game reduction is only for the new division.

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/...rink/21650405/

But besides seeing at least four NHL teams pulling up stakes from the east and relocating development operations closer to home, the AHL schedule could end up dramatically shorter.

Like 10 games shorter, to 66 total. That's by no means official, but it has been bandied about. So, too, has 72 games.

AHL president Dave Andrews said in October that many NHL teams were pushing for a reduction in games played, and that some AHL owners also had suggested it. Few teams can sell mid-week games before Christmas.

The league currently uses a 28-week template for the 76-game schedule. Slicing the season to 72 games would quite likely be an easier compromise for independent AHL owners to accept, though the Hershey Bears, Chicago Wolves and Grand Rapids Griffins very likely won't be in favor of any cutback.

The NHL, however, continues to push development, and some teams believe a reduction to 66 would provide optimum time for practice as well as recovery.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

@JSportsnet: In addition to being closer to their NHL teams, new AHL division will stress development.That means less games. No more 3 games in 3 days.

That is great news.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

It has been rumored that the entire AHL will be reducing the number of games played, but a few of the more profitable teams were pushing back, so it is possible the game reduction is only for the new division.

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/...rink/21650405/

Well that's easily handled. The NHL writes a cheque and tells them to STFU.

[Enoch Root]

I never understood why the AHL played so many games. Hardly any of the games are sold out, so it's not like they are taking advantage of demand.

With fewer games, they could probably attract more fans per game, and possibly even at a higher average ticket price. In al likelihood, they could generate just as much revenue. Or at least enough that, combined with the lesser expense of less travel costs, they would end up with the same bottom line.

And the lesser toll on all the players would have its own benefits.

[devo22]

too bad that it's going to be the Stockton Flames or something like that. Keeping the Stockton Thunder with a red bearded viking would have been pretty badass.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

I never understood why the AHL played so many games. Hardly any of the games are sold out, so it's not like they are taking advantage of demand.

Probably largely a carryover from olden days of yore when "development" meant "play play play play play". It is also part of the reason why Major Junior leagues play 66-72 games and Junior A usually int he 55-60 range.

At the same time though, having the development league reasonably in step with the NHL could be considered good too. You want guys to be conditioned so that they can handle an 82-game season. But for the AHL, I think the same 66-72 range of the WHL would be a decent balance.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by devo22

too bad that it's going to be the Stockton Flames or something like that. Keeping the Stockton Thunder with a red bearded viking would have been pretty badass.

I can almost see the Flames going with the California Flames and just recycling the big clubs uniforms.

[Joborule]

Bring back Scorch.

[Resolute 14]

Found this out just now on Reddit...

From the US Trademark office:

Word Mark STOCKTON GRIZZLIES
Goods and Services IC 041. US 100 101 107. G & S: Entertainment in the nature of hockey games
Standard Characters Claimed
Mark Drawing Code (4) STANDARD CHARACTER MARK
Serial Number 86510180
Filing Date January 21, 2015
Current Basis 1B
Original Filing Basis 1B
Owner (APPLICANT) Calgary Flames Limited Partnership Calgary Flames, Inc., its general partner, a Canadian corporation LIMITED PARTNERSHIP CANADA 555 Saddledome Rise SE Calgary CANADA T2P3B9
Attorney of Record Alicia Morris Groos
Type of Mark SERVICE MARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Live/Dead Indicator LIVE

[sureLoss]

I guess that makes sense if they are going to have a bear on the shoulder patch anyways?

[devo22]

sorry, but I don't get this at all. You have a brand that's obviously worked well since moving the team there 10 years ago, and as far as I know, the Thunder are the only pro hockey team that Stockton has ever had. Changing the team colors is easy and something that other AHL teams have done in the past (for example, the Syracuse Crunch have changed their colours twice over the last few years to represent their NHL affiliation), and that would still have left the identity of the team somewhat intact. But they change that to name the team Grizzlies, something that, as far as I know, has nothing to do with the Flames? Okay then.

Of course, they've bought that team and they can name it whatever they want, but I still don't get this at all. This will be even more stupid if they indeed form the Adirondack Thunder now.

[shogged]

Shame our team won't be in Boise, that's real close!

[N-E-B]

Originally Posted by devo22

sorry, but I don't get this at all. You have a brand that's obviously worked well since moving the team there 10 years ago, and as far as I know, the Thunder are the only pro hockey team that Stockton has ever had. Changing the team colors is easy and something that other AHL teams have done in the past (for example, the Syracuse Crunch have changed their colours twice over the last few years to represent their NHL affiliation), and that would still have left the identity of the team somewhat intact. But they change that to name the team Grizzlies, something that, as far as I know, has nothing to do with the Flames? Okay then.

Of course, they've bought that team and they can name it whatever they want, but I still don't get this at all. This will be even more stupid if they indeed form the Adirondack Thunder now.

I kind of like that they're not going with a fire related name... Lots of AHL teams do that. I'm also glad they're establishing their own identity as the new team. Keeping the Thunder brand would be boring and wouldn't excite anyone. Sure some people will be disappointed the Thunder are gone, but they'll get over it.

[Madman]

Officials of the Flames and Thunder have declined to discuss the sale, league changes or whether there would be a name change before the news conference.

A search of public records shows Calgary trademarked “Stockton Grizzlies” on Jan. 21, but sources indicate a final decision has not been reached on what to name the city’s incoming AHL franchise.

http://www.recordnet.com/article/201.../101088/A_NEWS