Phantoms moving to Glens Falls, NY - now official

[Flame19,289]

Philadelphia is moving it's AHL franchise to Glens Falls, NY (former home of the Adirondack Red Wings from several years ago).

The Phantoms current home (the Spectrum) is being demolished this summer, which is requiring the team to move somewhere for next year. This could be a temporary move, as Allentown, PA is currently building a new arena in hopes of luring the Phantoms there. That arena, however, won't be ready in time for the 2009-10 season.

Here are some links to the local papers:

Glens Falls Post-Star: Mayor, Phantoms' owner sign lease
Albany Times-Union: Phantoms likely headed to Glens Falls

[Yeah_Baby]

There are advantages to having your farm team in same city. Like when you have cap problems you don't have to send Boyd half way across the continent.

[Canada 02]

they need AHL BoG approval just like the Flames (i would assume); some mutual back scratching?

[Flame19,289]

Originally Posted by Canada 02

they need AHL BoG approval just like the Flames (i would assume); some mutual back scratching?

Yes, they need BoG approval. The meeting is next week.

As for mutual backscratching... It's possible that's going on, although moving an AHL team to Upstate NY in a city that previously had a franchise for 20+ years is bound to be much less controversial than placing a team in B.C.

[Flamesguy_SJ]

From what I can remember, Adirondak was doing pretty brutal attendance-wise their last...5 years in the league? Are the River Rats still in Albany?

Man, taking a look at the AHL standings, I hardly recognize the league anymore.

[Drunk Skunk]

I love the Glens Falls/Adirondack area. It would be awesome if there was an AHL team here next year and they played out east.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

Originally Posted by Flamesguy_SJ

From what I can remember, Adirondak was doing pretty brutal attendance-wise their last...5 years in the league? Are the River Rats still in Albany?

Man, taking a look at the AHL standings, I hardly recognize the league anymore.

You hardly recognize the league anymore? Imagine how I feel. What ever happened to the good ole days of the Atlantic Division? Cape Breton Oilers, Halifax Citadels, Moncton Hawks, Saint John Flames, St. John's Maple Leafs, and PEI Senators?

[Flamesguy_SJ]

Originally Posted by Maritime Q-Scout

You hardly recognize the league anymore? Imagine how I feel. What ever happened to the good ole days of the Atlantic Division? Cape Breton Oilers, Halifax Citadels, Moncton Hawks, Saint John Flames, St. John's Maple Leafs, and PEI Senators?

Ah yes, and who could forget the Chrysler Cup?

The real kicker for me in regards to the type of league the AHL is, was when they had the IHL/AHL merger, and the end result was two practically brand new teams both named the Admirals. Really, you couldn't ask one of Milwaukee or Norfolk to change their team name?

And what's with all the affiliation changing? The Hershey Bears were Colorado's, Albany was New Jersey's, Rochester was Buffalo's. The only ones that have stayed the same are Hartford-NYR and Providence-BOS!

[Drunk Skunk]

Originally Posted by Flamesguy_SJ

Ah yes, and who could forget the Chrysler Cup?

The real kicker for me in regards to the type of league the AHL is, was when they had the IHL/AHL merger, and the end result was two practically brand new teams both named the Admirals. Really, you couldn't ask one of Milwaukee or Norfolk to change their team name?

And what's with all the affiliation changing? The Hershey Bears were Colorado's, Albany was New Jersey's, Rochester was Buffalo's. The only ones that have stayed the same are Hartford-NYR and Providence-BOS!

Practically brand new? Milwaukee has had a team named the Admirals since 1970.

[Flamesguy_SJ]

Originally Posted by Drunk Skunk

Practically brand new? Milwaukee has had a team named the Admirals since 1970.

I meant new to the AHL itself, sorry

[EN FUEGO]

Good building and cheap beer. I spent 10 years 15 min. away in Saratoga Springs. The attendance in Glens Falls wasn't consistent, but those River Rat-Red Wing games were awesome! Manny Legace was tearing it up in those days. They brought in UHL and ECHL teams after, but man that was terrible hockey. Great rowdy fans always though.

[Canada 02]

approved

The Board approved the transfer of ownership of the Philadelphia Phantoms franchise from Philadelphia Phantoms, LP, to a newly formed entity known as Phantoms Hockey LLC, owned by the Brooks Group. Subsequently, the Brooks Group was granted approval to relocate its AHL franchise from Philadelphia to Glens Falls, N.Y., beginning with the 2009-10 season.

http://www.theahl.com/news/league/in...rticle_id=9993

[Flame19,289]

Originally Posted by Flamesguy_SJ

And what's with all the affiliation changing? The Hershey Bears were Colorado's, Albany was New Jersey's, Rochester was Buffalo's. The only ones that have stayed the same are Hartford-NYR and Providence-BOS!

I still think of Hershey as being the Flyers farm team.

And I remember rooting for the Binghamton Whalers (they also played Brass Bonanza) and then the Binghamton Rangers. That was when Hartford still had an NHL team.

[Flamesguy_SJ]

For all you trivia buffs, the Saint John Flames played their first home game against the Adirondak Red Wings on October 19, 1993. The game resulted in a 1-1 tie, the Flames goal scored by Mark Freer. Andrei Trefilov was the goalie.