Rumor: Coyotes to purchase AHL franchise, move team to Prescott Valley

[Mosby]

Adrian Dater @adater · 3h
Report: AHL franchise coming to Denver next fall http://www.howlings.net/2014/08/21/cantlons-corner-how-the-west-was-built/ …

A big development in the creation of the AHL Pacific Division.

The CHL (Central Hockey League) Denver Cutthroats formally suspended operations for the 2014-15 season yesterday. The team which went to the CHL President Cup finals is coached by former Wolf Pack Brad Smyth and the President/GM Derek Armstrong.

Then this morning the Arizona Sundogs followed suit because Denver was their closest rival by 13 hours and 23,490 miles in the Central Hockey League. Cantlon’s Corner first reported this direction last month.

Two sources have indicated AHL franchises have now been purchased by the Colorado Avalanche and Arizona Coyotes that will allow both teams to play in the AHL next fall as their top farms in Denver and Prescott Valley, AZ. The Denver portion of this new AHL arrangement will be a year earlier than previous sources have indicated. So now it looks like six teams will migrate West next fall.

The original five would be LA (from Manchester to Ontario, CA), San Jose (Worcester to Fresno, CA), Winnipeg (St. John’s to Thunder Bay), Phoenix and Anaheim.

Anaheim who will go to San Diego and play out of the Valley View Casino Center (12.920) is said to be the last team that needs to buy an AHL franchise and then apply to relocate as per AHL standard franchise rules.

In their respective team press releases both Denver and Arizona said they would return to play next season, but not stating which league.

http://www.howlings.net/2014/08/21/cantlons-corner-how-the-west-was-built/

Click to read more...

 

[jacobhockey13]

Wow... this is interesting and unexpected. Hopefully, we will hear more.

 

[hbk]

Not a move of a ownership looking to exercise an out clause. This is positive.

 

[BlazingBlueAnt]

If this were to happen, I think it would go a LOOOONG way into showing that the new owners are actually committed to AZ and not just looking to sell high four years from now.

 

[TheLegend]

There's been a thread on the Business board about west coast NHL teams looking to move or have their AHL affiliates out west.

So a lot rumors like this have been running around.

 

[jacobhockey13]

And this way, if Smith gets hurt, Vis is nice and close

 

[Howler Scores]

Thats a big upgrade

 

[Howler Scores]

I do have to say, Tucson would have been a better market to support a major minor system. PV is more of a retirement community*in terms of income (lived there for 10 years).

 

[Desert Ice 11]

There's been a thread on the Business board about west coast NHL teams looking to move or have their AHL affiliates out west.

So a lot rumors like this have been running around.

Well its strange that the team in Colorado suspended their season .. and the Sundogs.

I do have to say, Tucson would have been a better market to support a major minor system. PV is more of a retirement community*in terms of income (lived there for 10 years).

I agree Tucson would be a much better. Much Much better.

 

[wildcat48]

How do I put this nicely... The article is pure bunk. Fantasy.

No franchise has been sold or transferred. The Coyotes have not purchase an AHL franchise. If one had been purchased we would have known publicly because not only does any sale need AHL Board of Governor approval, it likely would have needed some sort of municipality approval because it’s a transfer of a lease from one entity to another even if only for one season, which means it would be public record.

This article like past articles from this particular blog has continually attempted to tie what’s going on in the CHL with what is going to eventually happen in the AHL and its simply not true. All this misinformation serves no one other than to send fans into a frenzy for unwarranted reasons. It’s unprofessional. When there is news of an AHL Pacific Division you’ll hear from the NHL markets first, AHL teams that have been sold second and the AHL third.

When the Coyotes are ready to purchase a franchise its likely to go to Tucson.

 

[Summer Rose]

Someone may know better than me, but isn't the problem with Tucson as a minor league hockey city that they have no venue? I mean, what would they use? They wouldn't try to use the McKale Center would they?

Prescott has the Tim's Toyota Center already.

 

[Howler Scores]

Tucson has the....TCC! First ever hockey game was witnessed by me there.

 

[Summer Rose]

Tucson has the....TCC! First ever hockey game was witnessed by me there.

Yeah, I just went to the Wiki after making that post. Seems it's really old and outdated. Do you think it could house an AHL team temporarily while they built a new arena? According to the Wiki article on the TCC, the city council approved $130 million for an arena construction in 2007, but they haven't even broken ground yet after 7 years.

 

[Howler Scores]

You imply that I am old

I am sure it would need updating but its were the Icecats have played in the past.

 

[Summer Rose]

You imply that I am old

I said nothing of the sort

 

[Mosby]

Going by the Wiki page, the TCC hasn't had a team since 1999. Does it still have proper ice making equipment, or would the arena require a major investment in this regard? Compare that to Prescott's relatively new, ready-to-go arena. Hell, it's newer than the Job.

Keep in mind that the team that Coyotes would be purchasing isn't necessarily the Portland franchise. It could be, but we don't know yet. Any idea of the value of AHL franchises? Some quick Googling shows between $3 million and $5 million, though that seemed low to me.

 

[Howler Scores]

TCC has the...Icecats...

 

[XX]

Not a move of a ownership looking to exercise an out clause. This is positive.

If this were to happen, I think it would go a LOOOONG way into showing that the new owners are actually committed to AZ and not just looking to sell high four years from now.

Not buying it. AHL franchises are more portable than NHL teams, and any of the various western cities in line for an NHL team would buy it up, or keep it in AZ somewhere. It's also worth noting that this move (if it happens) will be in conjunction with other AHL teams moving west, so it would be a little disingenuous to give IA full credit for the idea or initiative. It's a neutral move for ownership at best.

Increasing revenue is a good, tangible thing. Bank on that. Not this. Fans still need to do their part and monetarily support the team.

 

[rt]

Seems far-fetched to believe Prescott could support an AHL franchise. Still, I don't know much about how that works. It'd be cool to have the AHL team up there, though. It'd be really fun to keep a closer eye on the farm, from a fan stand-point. Travel would be hell for that team, though. Seems like a ton of cost(travel) with very little revenue (gate+advertising+merchandise+concessions,etc). So in that regard it seems like a tough sell from a development and business standpoint. I could be wrong, though.

Fast forward four years. If the AHL team in Prescott is failing and the NHL team in Glendale is failing, I could see the Arizona Coyotes of the NHL becoming the NHL Quebec Nordiques and the Arizona Sundogs of the AHL becoming the AHL Arizona Coyotes in Glendale. Even then, I don't think an AHL team in Glendale would be very successful. Low stakes league in a crowded, big market. Don't think it'd do great. I could be wrong, though. I don't know much about how these things work.

 

[Summer Rose]

Seems far-fetched to believe Prescott could support an AHL franchise. Still, I don't know much about how that works. It'd be cool to have the AHL team up there, though. It'd be really fun to keep a closer eye on the farm, from a fan stand-point. Travel would be hell for that team, though. Seems like a ton of cost(travel) with very little revenue (gate+advertising+merchandise+concessions,etc). So in that regard it seems like a tough sell from a development and business standpoint. I could be wrong, though.

Fast forward four years. If the AHL team in Prescott is failing and the NHL team in Glendale is failing, I could see the Arizona Coyotes of the NHL becoming the NHL Quebec Nordiques and the Arizona Sundogs of the AHL becoming the AHL Arizona Coyotes in Glendale. Even then, I don't think an AHL team in Glendale would be very successful. Low stakes league in a crowded, big market. Don't think it'd do great. I could be wrong, though. I don't know much about how these things work.

I'd probably buy season tickets to an AHL franchise here in the Phoenix area, but understand that most people who regularly attend Coyotes games are probably not as hockey mad as me.

 

[rt]

I don't know. How's Charlotte doing? I guess an AHL team in Glendale (in the absence of an NHL team) might be able to do as well as the Charlotte Checkers. I guess they'd probably do as well as the Houston Aeros, too. What happened to the Houston AHL franchise? Would they have done better with a brand new NHL arena?

 

[Jakey53]

Not a move of a ownership looking to exercise an out clause. This is positive.

This is great news. Now we can take a quick trip to Prescott and see first hand how the kids are doing. Much easier and less expensive for management to watch,call up and send down the kids.

 

[The Feckless Puck]

Even then, I don't think an AHL team in Glendale would be very successful. Low stakes league in a crowded, big market. Don't think it'd do great. I could be wrong, though. I don't know much about how these things work.

Well, if that scenario did come to pass, I'd have season tix for the AHL team right up until the point that they folded; but one of the wonderful (sarcasm) traits of this market is that if it's not top-level sports, nobody bothers with it.

 

[wildcat48]

I don't know. How's Charlotte doing? I guess an AHL team in Glendale (in the absence of an NHL team) might be able to do as well as the Charlotte Checkers. I guess they'd probably do as well as the Houston Aeros, too. What happened to the Houston AHL franchise? Would they have done better with a brand new NHL arena?

Houston relocated to Des Moines, Iowa and became the Iowa Wild.

 

[wildcat48]

Going by the Wiki page, the TCC hasn't had a team since 1999. Does it still have proper ice making equipment, or would the arena require a major investment in this regard? Compare that to Prescott's relatively new, ready-to-go arena. Hell, it's newer than the Job.

Keep in mind that the team that Coyotes would be purchasing isn't necessarily the Portland franchise. It could be, but we don't know yet. Any idea of the value of AHL franchises? Some quick Googling shows between $3 million and $5 million, though that seemed low to me.

People seem to be missing an important fact so I'll repeat myself.... The Coyotes did not purchase an AHL franchise.

To answer the question. Portland is not for sale. Team was purchased by local businessman Ron Cain who has many hockey business ventures in Maine and the team is moving into a newly renovated arena with a new long term lease to play in Portland.

AHL franchise values range from as low a $3M for a bargain to right now teams that are even considering to sell going to $5M-plus. Currently, there are no franchise for sale however at the moment because either the groups that were considering to sell have pulled the off the market or the teams that are willing to listen to offers are asking big $$. On top of purchasing the franchise it cost an owner about $3.5 to $4M to operate the business side of the team not including players operations. i.e. coaching, medical staff, equipment staff and player salaries.

Do not take this as the Coyotes "are not moving at all".... That's not what I am saying. They signed a one-year affiliation extension with Portland to explore their options. I do believe the Coyotes will eventually land out west, but only if its cost effective.