California teams to stay at 68 games, for now

[CHRDANHUTCH]

Fresno has two arenas and I'm sure fans would prefer the AHL to NAHL. I see no record of Fresno in the NAHL this year, in any event.

after a while, certain markets get completely disenfranchised w/ pro hockey, even at the ECHL Level.... Roanoke is the Eastern version of Fresno, despite the history/success of the Express. Even Richmond has had issues despite the Renegades success/rivalry w/ HR/Norfolk and ancillary fallout from the Braves transitioning their AAA club to Gwinnett, despite the Squirrels arrival from CT.

Richmond does have a fan group trying to bring pro hockey back there, you may have the fanbase but you need a fan/owner like Worcester is doing now aka the Kraft model.

 

[Sports Enthusiast]

Can't see all of the sudden college teams rising. Its costly. Maybe a couple of schools like USC or UCLA but I'd highly doubt all of them. I mean I could see lacrosse before hockey.

 

[Seattle Totems]

you were told tht SJ has no interest in splitting the Sharks and Barracuda, I don't see Arizona (which is perilous until the Coyotes are stable enough legally to even entertain running an affiliate), you're forgetting where does Colorado or Arizona, and I don't foresee the Spurs ownership (who own/operate the Rampage) being bullied the way Anaheim did to Norfolk.

Abbotsford and Fresno are no go's, why? Vancouver tried tht w/ wht is now Stockton's owners,the Flames, and the city wants nothing to do w/ any pro franchise after the buyout was excersized.... VAN then bought wht had been SPR/WOR/PEO/UTI, and Esche operates the Comets.

Fresno went the NAHL ROUTE (the Monsters) after THE Falcons collapsed mid-season.

Abbotsford would do a deal with Vancouver in a heartbeat. The only reason they are not there now is because of bad timing and the Flames greediness.

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

Abbotsford would do a deal with Vancouver in a heartbeat. The only reason they are not there now is because of bad timing and the Flames greediness.

a junior team might be the better option,as was speculated when Calgary got bought out, silvercanuck, you forget Vancouver had no affiliate or an O/O Agreement then.

 

[Big Z Man 1990]

Can't see all of the sudden college teams rising. Its costly. Maybe a couple of schools like USC or UCLA but I'd highly doubt all of them. I mean I could see lacrosse before hockey.

Well if existing arenas in the areas are utilized, the start-up costs are brought down quite a lot. I had envisioned the following arenas being used by the seven FBS schools in the state for their NCAA hockey teams:

California: Oracle Arena (especially since the Warriors are due to vacate it)
Fresno State: Save Mart Center
San Diego State: Valley View Casino Center
San Jose State: HP Pavilion (especially if the Barracuda end up in the new Warriors arena, which would open up dates in the HP Pavilion for the Spartans hockey team to use)
Stanford: Cow Palace
UCLA: The Forum
USC: Long Beach Arena

And the schools might even form their own conference for NCAA hockey, which would be only the second D1 ice hockey conference consisting solely of FBS schools, the other being the Big Ten, which is an all-sports conference that happens to sponsor the sport.

Because the Kings have made hockey very popular in Cali, these seven schools really should look hard at playing NCAA ice hockey especially if they were to use the arenas I mentioned above.

 

[LadyStanley]

Stanford would find alumni to pay to build their own rink before they would play in the Cow Palace. And...a lot closer to SJ (SAP Center) than SSF (Cow Palace), even with traffic, from Palo Alto.

http://web.stanford.edu/group/hockey/directions.html

Don't know if the club is currently active. The above site hasn't been updated since 2014. They played in Redwood City.


Sharks Ice has (long term) plans to add two more sheets of ice, including 5K arena. Could be a "perfect" size for Barracuda and SJSU club hockey to play.

 

[Crosstraffic]

Forum doesn't have an ice plant, is used mostly as a concert venue. Plus I don't think USC or UCLA is interested in adding any more D1 sports at this time.

 

[Yog S'loth]

It is a bit ridiculous that right now Ontario is three points behind division-leading Texas.

With ten games in hand.

 

[BTV]

It is a bit ridiculous that right now Ontario is three points behind division-leading Texas.

With ten games in hand.

They aren't behind them. Ontario leads the division at .694, followed by Texas at .609. Also, it isn't really a game in hand if it doesn't exist - Ontario will not be playing all 10 of those games in hand.

These standings are a mess.

 

[MM658]

These standings are a mess.

If by "these standing" you meant "this league," and by a "mess" you meant a "joke," then you are absolutely correct!

 

[Sports Enthusiast]

Well if existing arenas in the areas are utilized, the start-up costs are brought down quite a lot. I had envisioned the following arenas being used by the seven FBS schools in the state for their NCAA hockey teams:

California: Oracle Arena (especially since the Warriors are due to vacate it)
Fresno State: Save Mart Center
San Diego State: Valley View Casino Center
San Jose State: HP Pavilion (especially if the Barracuda end up in the new Warriors arena, which would open up dates in the HP Pavilion for the Spartans hockey team to use)
Stanford: Cow Palace
UCLA: The Forum
USC: Long Beach Arena

And the schools might even form their own conference for NCAA hockey, which would be only the second D1 ice hockey conference consisting solely of FBS schools, the other being the Big Ten, which is an all-sports conference that happens to sponsor the sport.

Because the Kings have made hockey very popular in Cali, these seven schools really should look hard at playing NCAA ice hockey especially if they were to use the arenas I mentioned above.

You run into a problem though. Not all arenas are designed for it. They can house it but that's different. Barclay's Center is a good example.

 

[LadyStanley]

FWIW, was talking to Barracuda (and Sharks) beatwriter Paul Gackle who interviewed Andrews when he was in town.

Sounds like "in a few years" the league will go to like 72 games for everyone.

 

[axecrew]

FWIW, was talking to Barracuda (and Sharks) beatwriter Paul Gackle who interviewed Andrews when he was in town.

Sounds like "in a few years" the league will go to like 72 games for everyone.

Lady Stanley....I saw Andrews here in chicago about a month ago and asked him about that and then threw out that rumor. He said to me that was the hopeful ending point was 72 for all teams. And he added that they really had to negotiate this past summer/fall to get the pacific teams to agree on 68 while the league wanted 72 the west coast teams only wanted 60 and they had to negotiate them up to the 68 they are currently playing.
Also asked him about the rumored "plan" for Montreal to move their affiliate to Laval when the building and everything is ready...He said "That's the plan as of now." so unless something goes wrong that should come to fruitation sometime soon as well.

 

[beenhereandthere]

I thought 68 was a joke when I first heard about it. 72 is an ok compromise. The WHL plays a 72 game schedule so don't see why the AHL can't.
Less games would be beneficial for players out of US colleges, since they play 35 to 45 max.
If the non California teams are that worried about lost revenue, raising the ticket prices by a few dollars, like 2 or 3, would recoup most of that.

 

[wildcat48]

Lady Stanley....I saw Andrews here in chicago about a month ago and asked him about that and then threw out that rumor. He said to me that was the hopeful ending point was 72 for all teams. And he added that they really had to negotiate this past summer/fall to get the pacific teams to agree on 68 while the league wanted 72 the west coast teams only wanted 60 and they had to negotiate them up to the 68 they are currently playing.
Also asked him about the rumored "plan" for Montreal to move their affiliate to Laval when the building and everything is ready...He said "That's the plan as of now." so unless something goes wrong that should come to fruitation sometime soon as well.

That's a fairly accurate assessment on how it all went down.... Calgary led by Brian Burke and Brad Treliving pushed hard for a 60-game schedule that would start in early October and end by late March. Playoffs would be done by the end of April, early May allowing for players to be recalled to the NHL clubs in the playoffs. Obviously, that got little to no traction from independent owners. Western NHL teams have refused to go any higher than 68 games. Maybe they'll get to 70 games at some point I think its going to be 68 games or nothing.

 

[axecrew]

That's a fairly accurate assessment on how it all went down.... Calgary led by Brian Burke and Brad Treliving pushed hard for a 60-game schedule that would start in early October and end by late March. Playoffs would be done by the end of April, early May allowing for players to be recalled to the NHL clubs in the playoffs. Obviously, that got little to no traction from independent owners. Western NHL teams have refused to go any higher than 68 games. Maybe they'll get to 70 games at some point I think its going to be 68 games or nothing.

You know I still think that 72 is going to be the benchmark...With Andrews now not retiring for a number of years from now(Something else he talked about)...I really believe that a couple of seasons from now we'll see 72 for everyone, especially if most of those teams out west a) miss the playoffs consistently and b) they see what the additional 4 games can bring revenue wise. Not too mention they have very fickle fanbases out there in a couple of cities in regards to making the playoffs...Bakersfield comes to mind along with Ontario.

 

[Sports Enthusiast]

The season is too long as is. Yes you'd like all on even ground but let's not act like they are all going to leave their little island often either. This is the minor leagues and finances are a factor.

 

[Quack Shot]

You know I still think that 72 is going to be the benchmark...With Andrews now not retiring for a number of years from now(Something else he talked about)...I really believe that a couple of seasons from now we'll see 72 for everyone, especially if most of those teams out west a) miss the playoffs consistently and b) they see what the additional 4 games can bring revenue wise. Not too mention they have very fickle fanbases out there in a couple of cities in regards to making the playoffs...Bakersfield comes to mind along with Ontario.

Ontario? They've been in the tops of attendance in all of minor league hockey since its existence.

 

[axecrew]

Ontario? They've been in the tops of attendance in all of minor league hockey since its existence.

Yes they have and my point is really quite simple...let them start losing and not making the playoffs and their fans...JUST LIKE ANY OTHER TEAMS will start to get restless. Let them miss the playoffs due to playing a shorter schedule and I'll bet that teams fans will be pissed and want them to have the same chance as any other team is all I'm saying.

 

[Hoodaha]

Ontario? They've been in the tops of attendance in all of minor league hockey since its existence.

And Bakersfield has consistently drawn 4500-5500/game, despite never having a particularly dominant team

 

[LadyStanley]

Stockton was leading ECHL in attendance as well.

Solid fan bases liking their hockey.

 

[210]

Stockton was leading ECHL in attendance as well.

Solid fan bases liking their hockey.

Stockton was 14th last season, 11th the season before...

 

[royals119]

Not too mention they have very fickle fanbases out there in a couple of cities in regards to making the playoffs...Bakersfield comes to mind along with Ontario.

Ontario? They've been in the tops of attendance in all of minor league hockey since its existence.

Yes they have and my point is really quite simple...let them start losing and not making the playoffs and their fans...JUST LIKE ANY OTHER TEAMS will start to get restless. Let them miss the playoffs due to playing a shorter schedule and I'll bet that teams fans will be pissed and want them to have the same chance as any other team is all I'm saying.

Glad you clarified what you meant, because it sounded like you said Bakersfield and Ontario have especially fickle fan bases, and they actually have been exactly the opposite. Ontario was first or second in attendance every year in the ECHL for eight years, even with some not so great teams, and Bakersfield has been consistently solid (4500-5000+ per game) for even longer, despite not winning a championship, and not even qualifying for the playoffs a couple times, while playing in a conference where every team but one makes the playoffs.

Of course any fan is going to be upset by not making the playoffs, but I really doubt either of those two teams would see a big drop off in attendance as a result. You could also argue that playing less games gives those teams an advantage in terms of making the playoffs, since their players get more rest, have less travel, and get more practice time to work on systems and incorporate new players.

 

[Sports Enthusiast]

Meh. Cal-i-forn-i-a is full of bored people with money to burn.