dmband
Registered User
If Colorado in the ECHL can make 2 or 3 5 hour flights to Alaska a year, I don't see why a few East coast AHL teams couldn't fly West on occasion. Toronto to San Diego by air is only 10 minutes farther than CO to AK.
I believe 2 or 3 years ago in the E Florida traveled to Alaska.
Not to mention the West teams could reciprocate every other year if they wanted to.
If independent ECHL teams can do it, there is no reason Eastern AHL teams (independent or otherwise) can't.
Except for stubbornness.
Cost structure for remaining east teams have already increased via elimination of the east teams. Those 10 or 15 road games were cheap. Salary cost structure will also increase. How does a eastern team compete for a decent ahl Ufa who is offered cost of living premium, and lesser schedule from a west coast team? If I were a remaining east owner, I wouldn't travel anywhere new unless 100 percent reimbursed.
Effectively this will be two separate leagues like AAA baseball