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

[Matty81]

Too bad the AHL is so clustered in the eastern half of north america, tough for call ups and fan interest.

I think the best affiliate Calgary ever had were the Salt Lake City Golden Eagles (although I know a strong case could be made for the Saint John Flames as well) and I think that city would still be a much smarter choice than Abbotsford, Utica or Peoria with 2.5 million people and no hockey team.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

I was in a way surprised that Abbotsford wasn't last on the average attendance - being that they are in Canucks land and all. I agree that Peoria would probably be a better destination at the moment, but I guess it will have a lot to do with what kind of contract the Heat are able to sign.

Feel bad for you PMM... looks like the move is becoming more likely.

I believe Abbotsford's attendance has been slowly getting better. Ryan Walter has been doing some good promotions but I guess it's not enough. I don't think the local lower mainland media gives them decent coverage. I think they'd like to see them fail.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

It would seem to be a better market than Utica... although perhaps there are reasons why St.Louis is pulling out.

The Blues owner got the Rivermen in the purchase of the Blues, reports indicate it is nothing more than a cost cutting move.

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

I was in a way surprised that Abbotsford wasn't last on the average attendance - being that they are in Canucks land and all. I agree that Peoria would probably be a better destination at the moment, but I guess it will have a lot to do with what kind of contract the Heat are able to sign.

Feel bad for you PMM... looks like the move is becoming more likely.

The Heat are in a bad situation in Abbotsford and not just because they are in Abbotsford. There are people that are avoiding the arena at all costs as a large portion of the population didn't want it and it barely passed and from what I understand it and the Heat contract were the biggest issues that cost the mayor at the time his job. For the disdain that building gets I am not sure any team will have great attendance there.

[Goodlad]

I know this probably seems off the wall, and entirely biased, but after seeing the AHL league map I feel that there is a huge market in the western-American states that is untapped right now. I know that during the lockout myself and many of my friends were desperate for live hockey. The best we could do was ECHL, and we ate it up like candy, even traveling several hundred kilometers (you guys do km, right?) to go see a competitive hockey game. If we could establish a few teams out here I feel they would be successful. I mean, c'mon.....what's their competition?

[PIMking]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

How has Peoria been doing in terms of fanbase support? I know the rumor is Utica, but could Peoria be a possible destination for the Heat if they are indeed moving?

Nvm:

Their attendance seemed to be a bit on the rise lately:
http://www.hockeydb.com/nhl-attendan...h.php?tmi=7405

20th in the league this season:
http://theahl.com/stats/schedule.php?view=attendance

They play in an older arena (1982) and has a capacity of 10,129
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peoria_Civic_Center

Not even close to those numbers, when the flames were in QC I went to most of the games in Peoria. Never were there anymore than 2k fans at any of those games that they claimed 4k.

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by Goodlad

I know this probably seems off the wall, and entirely biased, but after seeing the AHL league map I feel that there is a huge market in the western-American states that is untapped right now. I know that during the lockout myself and many of my friends were desperate for live hockey. The best we could do was ECHL, and we ate it up like candy, even traveling several hundred kilometers (you guys do km, right?) to go see a competitive hockey game. If we could establish a few teams out here I feel they would be successful. I mean, c'mon.....what's their competition?

Problem is rhat the ECHL is quite well established in a lot of those markets, and most of them want nothing to do with the AHL. Costs in the ECHL are significantly less, but revenues are very similar.

[RtotheK]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

Problem is rhat the ECHL is quite well established in a lot of those markets, and most of them want nothing to do with the AHL. Costs in the ECHL are significantly less, but revenues are very similar.

I would love the AHL to come to Fort Wayne. Especially the Flames, but for this reason that will never happen. Fort Wayne was number 1 in attendance this year. 3,500 season ticket holders. I paid $57 for three tickets to the game tonight.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by RtotheK

I would love the AHL to come to Fort Wayne. Especially the Flames, but for this reason that will never happen. Fort Wayne was number 1 in attendance this year. 3,500 season ticket holders. I paid $57 for three tickets to the game tonight.

I think Fort Wayne would be a great AHL spot. They have had solid attendance in the old IHL days, so its not like its the ECHL that is engrained in the fans, it's the Comets.

And the Comets would make a great name for the Flames farm team IMO. Would love to see something like that happen and let Utica get an ECHL team.

[Enoch Root]

Someone (timbit?) jokingly suggested moving the Heat to Phx if the Yotes leave. I love the idea.

[Julio]

Originally Posted by Matty81

Too bad the AHL is so clustered in the eastern half of north america, tough for call ups and fan interest.

I think the best affiliate Calgary ever had were the Salt Lake City Golden Eagles (although I know a strong case could be made for the Saint John Flames as well) and I think that city would still be a much smarter choice than Abbotsford, Utica or Peoria with 2.5 million people and no hockey team.

Salt Lake City (Well West Valley) has an ECHL team. The Utah Grizzlies...who are the Heat's AHL affiliate.

[RtotheK]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

I think Fort Wayne would be a great AHL spot. They have had solid attendance in the old IHL days, so its not like its the ECHL that is engrained in the fans, it's the Comets.

And the Comets would make a great name for the Flames farm team IMO. Would love to see something like that happen and let Utica get an ECHL team.

Exactly, we show up for the Komets not the quality of hockey. They averaged over 7k fans per game when they were in the UHL. Only 5 other teams in that league. We don't care, we love hockey and especially our Komets.

I don't mean to troll this thread or whatever, I just think we can easily handle an AHL team and I think we are already paying those prices.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by RtotheK

Exactly, we show up for the Komets not the quality of hockey. They averaged over 7k fans per game when they were in the UHL. Only 5 other teams in that league. We don't care, we love hockey and especially our Komets.

I don't mean to troll this thread or whatever, I just think we can easily handle an AHL team and I think we are already paying those prices.

I don't think this counts as trolling, I love hearing about the love of the game and in a thread of the moving of our AHL affiliate it seems like the perfect place to talk about it.

[RtotheK]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

I don't think this counts as trolling, I love hearing about the love of the game and in a thread of the moving of our AHL affiliate it seems like the perfect place to talk about it.

You can tell by my sig that I am deathly afraid of posting on this forum. I'm a bit drunk and I always get excited when I hear that the Flames are moving their AHL team. We would be a perfect fit here I think, I see Flames jerseys here all the time. Probably third most behind Chicago and Detroit.

[Vulcan]

CTV Vancouver is reporting it and the Mayor seems agreeable.

http://bc.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=895209

[tleve]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

The Blues owner got the Rivermen in the purchase of the Blues, reports indicate it is nothing more than a cost cutting move.

The Heat are in a bad situation in Abbotsford and not just because they are in Abbotsford. There are people that are avoiding the arena at all costs as a large portion of the population didn't want it and it barely passed and from what I understand it and the Heat contract were the biggest issues that cost the mayor at the time his job. For the disdain that building gets I am not sure any team will have great attendance there.

Lots of people in Abbotsford like having the AESC but avoid the Heat games because the Heat are Calgary's farm team and the majority of people around here support the Canucks. I can't bring myself to cheer for the baby Flames but if it was a Canucks' affiliate here, I would definitely go to lots of games. Most people I know feel the same way.

[PeteMoss]

^^^ I suspect a lot of people think that... but once they see the guys on the team and that its 90% guys who've got little chance of going to the NHL the idea changes.

[PIMking]

Originally Posted by RtotheK

I would love the AHL to come to Fort Wayne. Especially the Flames, but for this reason that will never happen. Fort Wayne was number 1 in attendance this year. 3,500 season ticket holders. I paid $57 for three tickets to the game tonight.

the Franke's will not allow another team to tell them what to do. If they want AHL they will have to find an NHL club that will allow them to be the Wolves and only have a few NHL prospects on their team.

[The Swedish Flame]

I would love for the Flames to place their AHL affiliate in Peoria (I'm relocating to Urbana-Champaign in the fall) from enemy territory down here in OK.

[MissTeeks]

Vancouver Canucks‏@VanCanucks3m

It's official. Canucks Sports & Entertainment agrees to purchase the Peoria Rivermen franchise from St. Louis Blues.

[sureLoss]

Ben Kuzma @benkuzma
#Canucks clear AHL affiliate relocation hurdle. Purchase Peoria Rivermen from Blues. Expect Heat move to Utica and hello Abby.