If the Coliseum is available for hockey, I would play "make a deal" with the Islanders, and seek to broker a deal whereby the Islanders' AHL team is moved to the Coliseum and the Rangers then take over the Islanders' lease at Webster Bank Arena. The MSG Training Center is 1 hour away by car from both Webster Bank Arena and Madison Square Garden. The Rangers could easily have the relocated Wolf Pack practice at the MSG Training Center for better monitoring of prospects, and the Islanders would also gain by having their AHL team based across the Meadowbrook from their practice facility on Merrick Avenue (where the NHL team also practices). It would be a win for both teams.
I wonder if the Rangers just keep sticking it out in Hartford because they hope to set up shop in the long-delayed 5,000 seat hockey arena that's part of the old armory redevelopment in the Bronx. Messier is the frontman of that project, so there's a relationship there.
I'll bet a lot of money that's never built.
Great. Rangers can afford to buy out Girardi at 2.16m for six ? years, but can't pony up 3m to the city (let the taxpayers pay)
I wonder if the Rangers just keep sticking it out in Hartford because they hope to set up shop in the long-delayed 5,000 seat hockey arena that's part of the old armory redevelopment in the Bronx. Messier is the frontman of that project, so there's a relationship there.
Unfortunately that project has been scrapped. Would have done wonders for NYC youth and school hockey but sadly its a no go.
The first step in the Rangers blaming Hartford for their affiliate move to Albany...
uh, this is Connecticut... want to see recent example, the fracas over Dunkin' Donuts Park being half-finished to keep affiliated baseball in CT....
I hope no organization is DUMB enough to place another AHL team in Albany. Huge arena that the local fans refuse to attend games in. For that matter, Albany itself is nothing more than the capital of New York. Not much more than that to draw folks there, let alone enough to support an AHL franchise these days. The glory days of the River Rats are long gone and no one in their right mind wants to spend weekends in Albany. Heck, even the elected state officials cant wait to get out of there on Friday.
good riddance. The Rangers have been sucking Hartford dry for years. No more.
I can't wait to see the Whalers back, even if it's the AHL/ECHL.
As an Islander fan I have nothing against moving the Soundtigers into Hartford and letting them wear blue and green. I'm sure the response would be more than pleasant.
I would still like to keep Bridgeport as our ECHL spot though.
The Rangers are probably the only team right now that could make it work at this point. Albany is Ranger territory.
Unfortunately that project has been scrapped. Would have done wonders for NYC youth and school hockey but sadly its a no go.
Given the frequency with which you say incorrect things, I'll take that as a guarantee on ground being broken soon.
who's owning the Whalers, and please not the fool who tried turning the WP into the Whale for 2+ seasons, and thankfully MSG terminated that deal
I don't see the Islanders allowing Bridgeport to drop a level either, now, with the ECHL affiliation in Worcester to start, Cacciaguida, or did you miss that tidbit
I hope no organization is DUMB enough to place another AHL team in Albany. Huge arena that the local fans refuse to attend games in. For that matter, Albany itself is nothing more than the capital of New York. Not much more than that to draw folks there, let alone enough to support an AHL franchise these days. The glory days of the River Rats are long gone and no one in their right mind wants to spend weekends in Albany. Heck, even the elected state officials cant wait to get out of there on Friday.
Yes the Rats era is long gone, helped ended by the Devils organization. Made no sense how the Devils operated in Albany and they are the reason nobody supported them. IF Utica and Springfield can come back definitely Albany can. Albany as compared to Utica? Really lol....I don't know anyone who is eager to stay in Utica, even our airbase bounced out of Utica-Rome lol, they don't call it Shootica for nothing.