Fans follow development of players @ minor league; become fans of NHL team

[LadyStanley]

http://sharks.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=566180

Nice story of a Sharks fan, MLB Oakland A's Ziegler, who started following the organization through their IHL affiliate (IHL Kansas City Blades), and now follows the NHL team, about an hour from where he plays on the diamond.

Click to read more...

 

[Finlandia WOAT]

This was the idea around the Hurricanes moving their affiliate from Albany to Charlotte (NC's biggest population center).

Currently, people in Charlotte couldn't care less about sports in Raleigh (Hurricanes, Big Three College's, etc.), and the converse is true as well (Bobcats, NASCAR) save for the Panthers.

The Hurricanes have little influence outside of Raleigh (though it is growing, standing room only "away parties" were held in Wilmington and Clayton).