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

[getbak]

The Chicago Wolves and Toronto Marlies were both top 10 in AHL attendance last season. The Wolves have consistently been a top draw since joining the AHL. The Philadelphia Phantoms had strong attendance throughout their 13 years of existence.

The only difference between those teams and what the Sharks are doing is that those teams don't/didn't play in the same building as the NHL team in their city (the Wolves aren't affiliated with the Blackhawks, but the Marlies and Phantoms are/were the AHL affiliate of their city's NHL team).

The Phantoms played in the Spectrum, which shared a parking lot with the new building of many names. The Marlies' arena is only a few kilometres from the ACC.


San Jose doesn't have a second tenant for the SAP Center like an NBA or WHL team, so the arena will be available for scheduling AHL dates (that would be the biggest challenge with putting an AHL team in the Saddledome).

The AHL team will have a lower price point and likely target their marketing towards people who can't get Sharks tickets on a regular basis. There's really no reason to think it won't work.

[sureLoss]

Diana C. Nearhos @dianacnearhos
Brian Burke, Calgary prez of hockey operations, just walked out of the AHL Board of Gov meeting but had no comment on future of GF hockey.

The AHL is supposedly voting on the California AHL teams today.

[Athntk]

Originally Posted by getbak

The Chicago Wolves and Toronto Marlies were both top 10 in AHL attendance last season. The Wolves have consistently been a top draw since joining the AHL. The Philadelphia Phantoms had strong attendance throughout their 13 years of existence.

The only difference between those teams and what the Sharks are doing is that those teams don't/didn't play in the same building as the NHL team in their city (the Wolves aren't affiliated with the Blackhawks, but the Marlies and Phantoms are/were the AHL affiliate of their city's NHL team).

The Phantoms played in the Spectrum, which shared a parking lot with the new building of many names. The Marlies' arena is only a few kilometres from the ACC.


San Jose doesn't have a second tenant for the SAP Center like an NBA or WHL team, so the arena will be available for scheduling AHL dates (that would be the biggest challenge with putting an AHL team in the Saddledome).

The AHL team will have a lower price point and likely target their marketing towards people who can't get Sharks tickets on a regular basis. There's really no reason to think it won't work.

A dead right on everything else story from Rochester AHL's newspaper is saying SJ is a temp home. They are probably waiting for the NBA Golden State(oakland) or Sacramento to complete new arenas in the next few years.

[Goodlad]

Originally Posted by Athntk

A dead right on everything else story from Rochester AHL's newspaper is saying SJ is a temp home. They are probably waiting for the NBA Golden State(oakland) or Sacramento to complete new arenas in the next few years.

I'm still hoping that the Shark's affiliate ends up in Fresno. We had their ECHL affiliate here for a number of years. There's already an arena in place that lacks a permanent tenant, and attendance numbers were decent in the past. It would be great to see the Flames' affiliate live a few times a year.

[sureLoss]

per this report, the AHL west cost division was approved

http://hamptonroads.com/2015/01/ahl-...-move-admirals

[Finger Cookin]

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by getbak

The Chicago Wolves and Toronto Marlies were both top 10 in AHL attendance last season. The Wolves have consistently been a top draw since joining the AHL. The Philadelphia Phantoms had strong attendance throughout their 13 years of existence.

The only difference between those teams and what the Sharks are doing is that those teams don't/didn't play in the same building as the NHL team in their city (the Wolves aren't affiliated with the Blackhawks, but the Marlies and Phantoms are/were the AHL affiliate of their city's NHL team).

The Phantoms played in the Spectrum, which shared a parking lot with the new building of many names. The Marlies' arena is only a few kilometres from the ACC.


San Jose doesn't have a second tenant for the SAP Center like an NBA or WHL team, so the arena will be available for scheduling AHL dates (that would be the biggest challenge with putting an AHL team in the Saddledome).

The AHL team will have a lower price point and likely target their marketing towards people who can't get Sharks tickets on a regular basis. There's really no reason to think it won't work.

Marlies play in a much smaller arena. Wolves are a different story and got popular in a lot of ways thanks to the Blackhawks old terrible owner. The Blackhawks games weren't shown on TV locally due to the owner so the Wolves got a full TV deal (and still do) and became a popular alternative to the Blackhawks. They also close off the upper half of the arena so it doesn't look super empty.

San Jose I assume will close off the upper deck. But its still going to be empty.. and empty seats lead to more empty seats. They won't last long.

[Resolute 14]

Diana C Nearhos (Addy Flames beat writer) asked how people would feel about dropping to the ECHL:

https://twitter.com/dianacnearhos/st...74105041580032

Comments were pretty uniformly positive, in a "any hockey is better than no hockey" way.

Personally, I hope we move the ECHL franchise we're about to buy to Glens Falls, but chances are these AHL Pacific teams are going to want to align all three levels.

[Ducay]

Just another notch on the belt. Wonder where will be our next affiliate in 4 years.

Everything I know of Stockton, I learned from Sons of Anarchy.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by Ducay

Just another notch on the belt. Wonder where will be our next affiliate in 4 years.

Everything I know of Stockton, I learned from Sons of Anarchy.

I would guess that Glen Falls knew

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Diana C Nearhos (Addy Flames beat writer) asked how people would feel about dropping to the ECHL:

https://twitter.com/dianacnearhos/st...74105041580032

Comments were pretty uniformly positive, in a "any hockey is better than no hockey" way.

Personally, I hope we move the ECHL franchise we're about to buy to Glens Falls, but chances are these AHL Pacific teams are going to want to align all three levels.

Not sure they would care that much. For the 1-3 guys teams send down to the ECHL I can't see it being a big deal. Plus not sure how many markets would be left that would support a team. There aren't really many markets left in the West.

[Hockey Fan #751]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

Not sure they would care that much. For the 1-3 guys teams send down to the ECHL I can't see it being a big deal. Plus not sure how many markets would be left that would support a team. There aren't really many markets left in the West.

Sounds like Manchester is going to the ECHL as well as Norfolk and maybe even Worcester. Western ECHL teams might soon be a thing of the past.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

Not sure they would care that much. For the 1-3 guys teams send down to the ECHL I can't see it being a big deal. Plus not sure how many markets would be left that would support a team. There aren't really many markets left in the West.

The problem western AHL of and eastern ECHL affiliates is basically the existing NHL/AHL problem downloaded by a level. The AHL teams need to fill roster openings from somewhere and cross continent trips are burdensome. But you are right that there won't be too many good markets left out west after this - and other moves - are completed. That will have a serious impact on whether an ECHL west remains viable. Which could be really bad news for Alaska, though I think their attendance could sustain a series of nothing but long flights.

[PeteMoss]

I looked at the lower pro leagues, but really the only one left is the SPHL and they are mainly in the southeast. Even if you want to go down lower.. the Federal League doesn't have any markets in the West.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

I looked at the lower pro leagues, but really the only one left is the SPHL and they are mainly in the southeast. Even if you want to go down lower.. the Federal League doesn't have any markets in the West.

That isn't a surprise, really. The west lacks the close proximity of population centres to make lower level leagues work easily. Baseball's lower bus leagues play in tiny cities that just wouldn't work for hockey.

But off the top of my head, Alaska, Salt Lake, somewhere in Montana? I'd suggest Spokane if it didn't already have the WHL. Quad Cities would be part of this ECHL west... oy. Still a lot of flying.

[Jordan!]

Stockton is a whole lot of "On the surface, nice place" but there are some DEEP social issues that impact that place.

I can't really explain it, imagine coach hill or richmond hill in Calgary but with graffiti and shootings at night.

But that's just my GF's old hood. I know that's not everywhere.

AHL west coast expansion looks pretty sweet though!

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

That isn't a surprise, really. The west lacks the close proximity of population centres to make lower level leagues work easily. Baseball's lower bus leagues play in tiny cities that just wouldn't work for hockey.

But off the top of my head, Alaska, Salt Lake, somewhere in Montana? I'd suggest Spokane if it didn't already have the WHL. Quad Cities would be part of this ECHL west... oy. Still a lot of flying.

There are probably some spots out there that would have an arena with the capacity for it, but I don't know if they have ice in them and that would be a big investment if they weren't built to fit an ice surface - Fresno, Sacramento, Oakland, San Francisco, Reno, Tuscon.

[Knalus]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

There are probably some spots out there that would have an arena with the capacity for it, but I don't know if they have ice in them and that would be a big investment if they weren't built to fit an ice surface - Fresno, Sacramento, Oakland, San Francisco, Reno, Tuscon.

...San Diego, Santa Barbara, Bakersfield, Las Vegas, Napa. Lots of places to fit both an AHL, and a ECHL or equivalent league

[sureLoss]

Post star reporting that they are hearing the Flames will be moving their ECHL affiliate to Glenn's falls

[trublmaker]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Post star reporting that they are hearing the Flames will be moving their ECHL affiliate to Glenn's falls

nice to hear the flames will keep a presence there, they seem to like their hockey and did embrace the flames. scorch 2.0?

[Thunder Fan]

I am a season ticket holder to the new Stockton Heat, Flame, etc... They narrowed the new name down to 5. http://www.stocktonthunder.com/2015/...-for-stockton/

I can't wait for the new season with the new team!