Why do the AHL teams move so often?

[Elimanator]

I was looking at some Wikipedia stuff for AHL teams after the Calder Cup and I noticed a pattern that most AHL franchises have moved very often. Why is this?

Click to read more...

 

[TychoFan]

I have been wondering this for a while too, any inputs?

 

[LadyStanley]

8 or so moves in the past couple of years are related to the NHL teams moving their affiliates west.

Since the Sharks bought their AHL franchise (circa 1995), it's moved three times: Lexington KY to Cleveland to Worcester to SJ.

 

[GarbageGoal]

Parent club wants to be closer, market dries up, ticket sales drop after "honeymoon period", owner loses money/interest.....

Minor league sports are not as steady as sports in larger markets in major leagues.

 

[HansH]

Parent club wants to be closer, market dries up, ticket sales drop after "honeymoon period", owner loses money/interest.....

Minor league sports are not as steady as sports in larger markets in major leagues.

This. So much this. The economics of the minor leagues are SO much closer to the razor's edge of survival in many markets, so seemingly small combinations of things can force a team to move, or just make it more appealing for the owner to sell to someone who wants to move. You want REAL chaos, look at the mid-minors and low-minors (ECHL and SPHL and the leagues that have come and gone at those levels over the last 20 years).

 

[Elimanator]

Thanks for the input guys. It was very helpful

 

[adsfan]

Parent club wants to be closer, market dries up, ticket sales drop after "honeymoon period", owner loses money/interest.....

Minor league sports are not as steady as sports in larger markets in major leagues.

Milwaukee has been with Nashville since they started in 1998. That makes 18 years and counting. One ownership change. Jane Bradley Pettit died in 2001. Harris Turer purchased the team in 2004.

 

[flooredaccord]

Milwaukee has been with Nashville since they started in 1998. That makes 18 years and counting. One ownership change. Jane Bradley Pettit died in 2001. Harris Turer purchased the team in 2004.

Who owned it in between those years?

 

[210]

Who owned it in between those years?

The estate of Jane Pettit...

 

[flooredaccord]

The estate of Jane Pettit...

Figured something like that, thanks for the info.

 

[BigMac1212]

Minor leagues are much more fluid in team locations that professional leagues.

 

[axecrew]

Minor leagues are much more fluid in team locations that professional leagues.

Uhhh....they are professional leagues... Anytime you are paid you are considered a professional.

 

[BigMac1212]

Uhhh....they are professional leagues... Anytime you are paid you are considered a professional.

I should of phrased that better. I should of meant that the minors move more often than the major leagues.

 

[adsfan]

Figured something like that, thanks for the info.

The money allotted for the team nearly ran out, according to what I heard third hand. If not for Harris Turer, the team would have moved or folded. I don't think they could have made another year. The team cut way back on give aways and staffing.

 

[axecrew]

The money allotted for the team nearly ran out, according to what I heard third hand. If not for Harris Turer, the team would have moved or folded. I don't think they could have made another year. The team cut way back on give aways and staffing.

I remember hearing the same thing here in Chicago...hearing that the admirals might be moving unless some financial backing was found.

 

[DonskoiDonscored]

This. So much this. The economics of the minor leagues are SO much closer to the razor's edge of survival in many markets, so seemingly small combinations of things can force a team to move, or just make it more appealing for the owner to sell to someone who wants to move. You want REAL chaos, look at the mid-minors and low-minors (ECHL and SPHL and the leagues that have come and gone at those levels over the last 20 years).

Or take a look at the FHL. Now THAT is an interesting league right there...

 

[210]

The money allotted for the team nearly ran out, according to what I heard third hand. If not for Harris Turer, the team would have moved or folded. I don't think they could have made another year. The team cut way back on give aways and staffing.

Teams don't pay for giveaways, sponsors do...but, when you cut staff you inevitably cut the very people that get those sponsors, so you get fewer of them to pay for stuff to give away.