Confirmed with Link: Albany Devils moving to Binghamton, NY

[Bleedred]

Atlantic City would be pretty cool, but they're really struggling down there right now. Seems like the casino's there are closing all the time. Even Albany was doing 3 home games or so a year there, which they haven't had one there for the last two years. The arena is pretty ancient too. My friend used to live there years ago. I bet he would have went to every game, that didn't coincide with a Devils game happening. He'd watch all the NHL Devils games on TV and probably attend any AHL Devils games that were not going on during NHL Devils games.

Boardwalk Hall is a really old building.

 

[Devils Dominion]

I love AC but ahl hockey won't work there unless its a flyers affiliate.

And I'm not even sure that would work.
AC midweek is empty Oct through April.

The local & surrounding area isn't populous nor wealthy enough to support a team for 40 or so games.

 

[thecoffeecake]

Atlantic City would be pretty cool, but they're really struggling down there right now. Seems like the casino's there are closing all the time. Even Albany was doing 3 home games or so a year there, which they haven't had one there for the last two years. The arena is pretty ancient too. My friend used to live there years ago. I bet he would have went to every game, that didn't coincide with a Devils game happening. He'd watch all the NHL Devils games on TV and probably attend any AHL Devils games that were not going on during NHL Devils games.

Boardwalk Hall is a really old building.

Boardwalk Hall is a really beautiful building. I don't know in terms of amenities or facilities AHL requires or anything like that.

I love AC but ahl hockey won't work there unless its a flyers affiliate.

And I'm not even sure that would work.
AC midweek is empty Oct through April.

The local & surrounding area isn't populous nor wealthy enough to support a team for 40 or so games.

Atlantic County has almost the same population as Broome County, NY, and Broome County doesn't have the tourists AC does. If it'd work in Binghamton, it'd work in AC.

 

[DatBoyJPP]

Broome County is a hockey community, AC isn't

 

[schoenfeld]

bingos just as much of a hole as albany is, could be worse, could be syracuse.

 

[NJDevs26]

Terrific. As I explained already, they are an A-ball team that plays a different, far more popular, sport.

It's also extremely unlikely more than two or three players from any A-ball team ever sniff the majors, if that (and sometimes get traded before that). I went to a Brooklyn Cyclones game in 2009 and as far as I can tell the only guys who made the majors from that team are Colin McHugh, Jordany Valdespin and Juan Centeno lol.

If it was AAA different story, that's more comparable to the AHL. The more apt A-ball comparison is for an ECHL team.

 

[Wingman77]

If they were looking to move them really close, South Mountain Arena (holds 2500) could have been an interesting thought

In all seriousness, I'd imagine much, much easier said than done and not sure about other logistics of the actual arena/facility itself are suitable enough.

 

[CHIP72]

RE: Minor league baseball vs minor league (AHL) hockey

As a few other people have noted, there are a few big differences between the minor leagues for the two sports. Most of these factors have already been noted, but this post is meant to identify all/most of them in one place.

1) Baseball is significantly more popular than hockey in the U.S.

2) Minor league baseball is significantly cheaper on a per game basis than minor league hockey, making it more family-friendly and financially-friendly to casual fans.

3) Minor league baseball is played in the summer time outside, which attracts families, groups, and casual fans looking for an outing that happens to be at a baseball game. By contrast, minor league hockey is played in the winter inside, which means fewer people treat the games as merely an outing.

4) Because minor league baseball is played during the summer when school is out of session for most kids, there are usually fewer schedule conflicts for most fans, especially fans with kids, than there are for minor league hockey.

5) Minor league baseball places greater emphasis on non-game related entertainment than minor league hockey, which attracts more casual or even non-fans.

6) Baseball is a more relaxed game to watch in most cases than hockey, which makes it easier for the casual fan to follow and understand (important factors when you're talking about the minor league versions of the two sports).

7) In most cases at least IMO, rivalries are more heated in hockey than baseball, and minor league baseball fans are more likely to root for a local team that has a parent club they dislike than minor league hockey fans are (though if fans truly hate a parent team, they aren't overly likely to root for the local minor league team in either sport).

If the above factors could be generally summed up, it would be that it is easier for minor league baseball to attract casual fans than it is for minor league hockey, and that due to the nature of the two games style and schedule-wise, it is more likely baseball fans will follow a MiLB team not affiliated with their favorite MLB team than hockey fans will follow an AHL team not affiliated with their favorite NHL team.

Speaking as someone who has attended literally hundreds of minor league baseball games and at one time lived in a minor league baseball city and would attend about 20 games per year for that team, I can tell you that I personally would have no problem rooting for a minor league baseball team not affiliated with my MLB team and actually root for my local minor league team against an affiliate of my MLB team. (In fact, I actually did that when I lived in the aforementioned minor league baseball city, Harrisburg, and they would play Reading, affiliated with my MLB team, the Phillies. More specifically, I'd root for Harrisburg to beat Reading and for the Phillies' prospects in Reading to do well.) By contrast, I still have had some trouble warming up to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (located in the area where I grew up) when I've seen them play during family visits. I can't say this for sure, but if I had the opportunity to attend an Albany/Lehigh Valley game (or in future seasons, a Binghamton/Lehigh Valley game) in Allentown, I'd probably root for the Devils affiliate over my home region team (or perhaps wear mixed apparel, like a Devils jersey and LV Phantoms hat).

 

[Devils Dominion]

bingos just as much of a hole as albany is, could be worse, could be syracuse.

I like the dig at Syracuse.

But I have found Albany to be a good place to make a weekend trip and catch a game.

I look forward to helping the Binghamton economy next season.
Ive actually heard good things about the city.

 

[TheUnseenHand]

I live about 10 minutes from the Phantoms arena. I always root against them when I go there. The only rooting interest I have is rooting against them because they are the flyers affiliate.

 

[Camille the Eel]

I feel sorry about the fans in Albany losing their team. I think that's the biggest down side. They have a following there, small but consistent and loyal. It's a good town in a kind of rust belt, old mill and Government town sort of way. Albany has an identity, a history, and a peculiar local culture and AHL hockey fits in very well there.

 

[Cupcheck]

Regarding the Minor League Baseball vs. Hockey:
Here in Binghamton we have BOTH. We have the AA Mets affiliate. And despite all the advantages that baseball has over hockey with weather, prices, etc. On a per game basis our hockey team outdraws baseball. Binghamton is a hockey town like i've stated before.

 

[Classic Devil]

Regarding the Minor League Baseball vs. Hockey:
Here in Binghamton we have BOTH. We have the AA Mets affiliate. And despite all the advantages that baseball has over hockey with weather, prices, etc. On a per game basis our hockey team outdraws baseball. Binghamton is a hockey town like i've stated before.

Do you think having the "Devils" name on the team will hurt its draw?

 

[Devils Dominion]

Do you think having the "Devils" name on the team will hurt its draw?

A unique nickname would get everyone in the Binghamton region on board.

A Devils name may keep some Rags fans away, like it did in Albany (And look how it turned out for Albany).

"Devils" name may create a few new Devils fans in Bingo but IMO it's not a good idea to force the iconic Devils NHL name on the AHL club.

Let the Binghamton fans have their own team name.
Put the NJD logo on shoulder patches if you must.

 

[thecoffeecake]

Broome County is a hockey community, AC isn't

With millions of Atlantic City visitors every year, that more than offsets that advantage.

RE: Minor league baseball vs minor league (AHL) hockey

As a few other people have noted, there are a few big differences between the minor leagues for the two sports. Most of these factors have already been noted, but this post is meant to identify all/most of them in one place.

1) Baseball is significantly more popular than hockey in the U.S.

2) Minor league baseball is significantly cheaper on a per game basis than minor league hockey, making it more family-friendly and financially-friendly to casual fans.

3) Minor league baseball is played in the summer time outside, which attracts families, groups, and casual fans looking for an outing that happens to be at a baseball game. By contrast, minor league hockey is played in the winter inside, which means fewer people treat the games as merely an outing.

4) Because minor league baseball is played during the summer when school is out of session for most kids, there are usually fewer schedule conflicts for most fans, especially fans with kids, than there are for minor league hockey.

5) Minor league baseball places greater emphasis on non-game related entertainment than minor league hockey, which attracts more casual or even non-fans.

6) Baseball is a more relaxed game to watch in most cases than hockey, which makes it easier for the casual fan to follow and understand (important factors when you're talking about the minor league versions of the two sports).

7) In most cases at least IMO, rivalries are more heated in hockey than baseball, and minor league baseball fans are more likely to root for a local team that has a parent club they dislike than minor league hockey fans are (though if fans truly hate a parent team, they aren't overly likely to root for the local minor league team in either sport).

If the above factors could be generally summed up, it would be that it is easier for minor league baseball to attract casual fans than it is for minor league hockey, and that due to the nature of the two games style and schedule-wise, it is more likely baseball fans will follow a MiLB team not affiliated with their favorite MLB team than hockey fans will follow an AHL team not affiliated with their favorite NHL team.

Speaking as someone who has attended literally hundreds of minor league baseball games and at one time lived in a minor league baseball city and would attend about 20 games per year for that team, I can tell you that I personally would have no problem rooting for a minor league baseball team not affiliated with my MLB team and actually root for my local minor league team against an affiliate of my MLB team. (In fact, I actually did that when I lived in the aforementioned minor league baseball city, Harrisburg, and they would play Reading, affiliated with my MLB team, the Phillies. More specifically, I'd root for Harrisburg to beat Reading and for the Phillies' prospects in Reading to do well.) By contrast, I still have had some trouble warming up to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (located in the area where I grew up) when I've seen them play during family visits. I can't say this for sure, but if I had the opportunity to attend an Albany/Lehigh Valley game (or in future seasons, a Binghamton/Lehigh Valley game) in Allentown, I'd probably root for the Devils affiliate over my home region team (or perhaps wear mixed apparel, like a Devils jersey and LV Phantoms hat).

Just like others have done, you've managed to summarize that baseball is more popular in the US than baseball is, save for a select few regions. What's the point, should we export all of our minor league hockey to Canada?

Minor league hockey and minor league baseball both existed in recent history in Atlantic City, and while the baseball team lasted longer, the hockey team did better attendance wise. AC is a tourist town like no other really in the country (in terms of per capita tourists, not total), so all of the things we know about what brings people out to games really doesn't matter when you talk about Atlantic City. Boardwalk Hall is right on the Boardwalk adjacent to most of the casinos in the city, which gives it a major advantage. Broome County might be a better hockey region, but Bingo doesn't attract over 150 tourists per resident.

All that aside, again, I'm not saying the Devils should have their American affiliate in New Jersey because it would be vastly more successful than Albany or Binghamton, they should have their affiliate here as long as it isn't a total financial disaster. They should be investing in our state the way this state invests in them. They're trying to push the NJ identity more into the club, but how can they be a true New Jersey brand if they're willingly leaving assets outside of the state when there are viable options here? Like I said, it's good for hockey in the state, and it's good for the Devils brand in the long term.

 

[Classic Devil]

A unique nickname would get everyone in the Binghamton region on board.

A Devils name may keep some Rags fans away, like it did in Albany (And look how it turned out for Albany).

"Devils" name may create a few new Devils fans in Bingo but IMO it's not a good idea to force the iconic Devils NHL name on the AHL club.

Let the Binghamton fans have their own team name.
Put the NJD logo on shoulder patches if you must.

I tend to agree with this, but I think this is a battle already lost. Still...

Anyone got any good names?

 

[Devils Dominion]

I tend to agree with this, but I think this is a battle already lost. Still...

Anyone got any good names?

They once had a hockey team called the Dusters.

Zippy had suggested Devil Dusters, pretty catchy IMO.

 

[DatBoyJPP]

You can't say Devils is a bad name for the brand and then suggest a different name that also has Devil in it

 

[DatBoyJPP]

With millions of Atlantic City visitors every year, that more than offsets that advantage.

Just like others have done, you've managed to summarize that baseball is more popular in the US than baseball is, save for a select few regions. What's the point, should we export all of our minor league hockey to Canada?

Minor league hockey and minor league baseball both existed in recent history in Atlantic City, and while the baseball team lasted longer, the hockey team did better attendance wise. AC is a tourist town like no other really in the country (in terms of per capita tourists, not total), so all of the things we know about what brings people out to games really doesn't matter when you talk about Atlantic City. Boardwalk Hall is right on the Boardwalk adjacent to most of the casinos in the city, which gives it a major advantage. Broome County might be a better hockey region, but Bingo doesn't attract over 150 tourists per resident.

All that aside, again, I'm not saying the Devils should have their American affiliate in New Jersey because it would be vastly more successful than Albany or Binghamton, they should have their affiliate here as long as it isn't a total financial disaster. They should be investing in our state the way this state invests in them. They're trying to push the NJ identity more into the club, but how can they be a true New Jersey brand if they're willingly leaving assets outside of the state when there are viable options here? Like I said, it's good for hockey in the state, and it's good for the Devils brand in the long term.

AC will never host an AHL team again. The city is going down, casinos are closing up and people are choosing to go to the Eastern PA casinos instead of making a mini vacation to the city.

I went to two of the Albany games down there. The arena was half empty for both and those were special one off events. That city can not support 40 home games, especially if your idea is that it will be filled with out of state visitors who have no vested interest in the team, be it the AC Devils or their affiliate

 

[thecoffeecake]

AC will never host an AHL team again. The city is going down, casinos are closing up and people are choosing to go to the Eastern PA casinos instead of making a mini vacation to the city.

I went to two of the Albany games down there. The arena was half empty for both and those were special one off events. That city can not support 40 home games, especially if your idea is that it will be filled with out of state visitors who have no vested interest in the team, be it the AC Devils or their affiliate

I'm not suggesting it will be "filled" with out of state visitors, but millions of tourists give AC an advantage over Binghamton which has pretty much the same regional population as AC does. The team did plenty well supporting an ECHL team for a full schedule, there's no reason an AHL team wouldn't do better. The ADevils games in AC didn't go that poorly, about half full is better than they did in Albany last year (from raw attendance numbers), and you'd expect they would do even better with a regular team. If it isn't a regular AC team, locals largely wouldn't go at all, aside from the handful of Devils fans in the area. Why would Flyers fans go out to see an Albany based team branded after a rival? No one outside of Devils fans probably knew much about it.

 

[Devils Dominion]

They are moving to Bingo.
Not AC, I could not see AC ever getting an AHL team.

 

[DatBoyJPP]

I'm not suggesting it will be "filled" with out of state visitors, but millions of tourists give AC an advantage over Binghamton which has pretty much the same regional population as AC does. The team did plenty well supporting an ECHL team for a full schedule, there's no reason an AHL team wouldn't do better. The ADevils games in AC didn't go that poorly, about half full is better than they did in Albany last year (from raw attendance numbers), and you'd expect they would do even better with a regular team. If it isn't a regular AC team, locals largely wouldn't go at all, aside from the handful of Devils fans in the area. Why would Flyers fans go out to see an Albany based team branded after a rival? No one outside of Devils fans probably knew much about it.

Just a few last points because you have no idea what you're talking about.

High per capita tourists only means the base population is low, which is bad because the team would have no season ticket holders to fall back on

New Jersey gamblers are flocking to Sands and Parx and are not going to AC in numbers like they used to. Trying to rely on out of state tourists that don't care about the Devils in any way shape of form would fail and fail spectacularly.

AC's busiest months are the summer, aka not in hockey season

AC relies a lot of Asian tourists and gamblers, which in a way will sound terrible, but are not hockey's target audience

Doing better than Albany's poor attendance numbers is a very low bar for metrics and doing it for one game a season is a very poor sample size

 

[Billdo]

Atlantic County has almost the same population as Broome County, NY, and Broome County doesn't have the tourists AC does. If it'd work in Binghamton, it'd work in AC.

No shot.

 

[Cupcheck]

Do you think having the "Devils" name on the team will hurt its draw?

I doubt it. Yes there are more Rangers fans here than anything else, but we're used to rooting for minor league teams with affiliates that we may not like. It's the way of a minor league town. I can only speak for myself and a few others that I've talked to and we're just happy to have a team and will absolutely still renew our season tickets.

With that being said, if they do as we all expect and retain the Devils name I feel they are missing a golden opportunity to energize our fan base, drastically increase attendance and sell exponentially more merchandise by calling the team The Dusters.

 

[Japam]

Just name the team the Rangers.