Allen Americans For Sale

JMCx4

Censorship is the Sincerest Form of Flattery
Sep 3, 2017
13,451
8,319
St. Louis, MO
Per this piece from local Allen blogger Barry Janssen, the original ownership group, Top Shelf LLC, held the team from October 2009 through May 2014. That ownership group eventually included 4 former Dallas Stars players (Modano, Belfour, Ludwig & Matvichuk). Doesn't seem very likely to me that a local ownership group would step forward this time around, but maybe the economics are more favorable in 2019 than in the past. Wild thought: Maybe the owners of the Seattle Kraken(?) & their Palm Springs AHL affiliate would be looking to support an ECHL affiliate in a metro area with a strong national airport hub network. :popcorn:
 

Hurricane Ron

Registered User
Jul 23, 2015
132
15
Tulsa
My initial thought was the prior owner of the Evansville/Jacksonville Icemen might be a possibility, since he'll have some cash burning a whole in his pocket.

It's possible that Steven Bros. Entertainment could also come back into the picture; but I'm not sure they'd be interested in coming to the rescue of the franchise again, as they were in 2014.

I have no idea regarding the profitability of any ECHL franchise, much less one located in a Dallas suburb. I do know that there are far more opportunities for people to spend their entertainment dollar in this area, than in any of the other the cities making up the ECHL.
 

royals119

Registered User
Jun 12, 2006
1,457
1,139
West Lawn, PA
I have no idea regarding the profitability of any ECHL franchise, much less one located in a Dallas suburb. I do know that there are far more opportunities for people to spend their entertainment dollar in this area, than in any of the other the cities making up the ECHL.
I don't know about that. Orlando seems to have a few things to do other than Solar Bears games. Even lowly Reading PA is only an hour from Philadelphia -home of the Flyers, 76ers, Eagles, Phillies, South Street nightlife, museums, etc. Also about an hour from Hershey and Allentown who both have AHL teams, and there are minor league baseball teams in all three cities. We also have our share of restaurants, movie theaters, concerts, an orchestra, one of the top drag racing tracks in the country. It is only a short trip to NYC. Lots of local folks will take a day trip to see a Broadway play or go to a Yankees, Giants, Devils, Rangers, Nets, Knicks, etc game, or just go sightseeing. Also, PA has legalized casino gambling now, so plenty of options around without having to make the 2 1/2 hour trek to Atlantic City that was necessary a few years ago. There are also bowling leagues, darts, axe throwing, high school and college sports and other stuff I'm not aware of or thinking of right now.
Many other ECHL cities are the same. Downtown Wheeling isn't too exciting, but most of their fans aren't from Wheeling. They live in western PA or eastern Ohio, and are close enough to Pittsburgh or another city that they have entertainment options.
 
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JMCx4

Censorship is the Sincerest Form of Flattery
Sep 3, 2017
13,451
8,319
St. Louis, MO
... I have no idea regarding the profitability of any ECHL franchise, much less one located in a Dallas suburb. I do know that there are far more opportunities for people to spend their entertainment dollar in this area, than in any of the other the cities making up the ECHL.
Atlanta & Brampton must be considered on par with Allen in that aspect.
 

Hurricane Ron

Registered User
Jul 23, 2015
132
15
Tulsa
Ron Geary ... For the love of God, NO!
I just think it would be funny if that happened. The blogger had no love for the Stevens Bros., and was so smitten with Gulati, in all the articles he's written over the years.

It will be interesting to see what happens when the team is sold.

And, my apologies for offending anyone with my statement regarding the DFW Metroplex having more opportunities for families to spend their entertainment dollars than any other city in the ECHL. I don't know what I was thinking...….
 

PCSPounder

Stadium Groupie
Apr 12, 2012
2,852
564
The Outskirts of Nutria Nanny
Since the Stars have an ECHL link with the Idaho Steelheads and this is happening, I can see an affiliation "trade" coming with a certain not-quite-born-yet NHL expansion franchise.

So I wouldn't be surprised if the Stars are participating in the owner courtship process here (if not interested themselves... but for some reason I can't even really explain, I'm skeptical that they'd want ownership).
 

Hurricane Ron

Registered User
Jul 23, 2015
132
15
Tulsa
Since the Stars have an ECHL link with the Idaho Steelheads and this is happening, I can see an affiliation "trade" coming with a certain not-quite-born-yet NHL expansion franchise.

So I wouldn't be surprised if the Stars are participating in the owner courtship process here (if not interested themselves... but for some reason I can't even really explain, I'm skeptical that they'd want ownership).

I'd be completely shocked to see that happen.
 

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