Maybe I've just misunderstood your posts over the last few months pertaining to anything the Chill or the CHL does or doesn't do.You've been critical of everything and seemingly exude a hope that they just fall flat on their faces. Is that what you meant by what you like to see as best for hockey?
Is it possible that your business model is somewhat unrealistic expecting an expansion team to have immediate sellout crowds, a +.550 winning percentage, flawless player signings with no player movement or defections, and a marketing strategy that would marvel the NHL's finest. BTW, the Chill is an expansion team that brought nothing from Laredo (players, coaches, owners, uniforms, name, or equipment) to St. Charles except a CHL franchise license.
Remember this the 'Sports Town' of St.Louis were only the Cardinals can draw. The Blues are one of the best teams in the NHL and are ranked 21st out of 30 in NHL attendance, and the Rams are 31st out of 32 in the NFL. There is a reason that over the years the Hawks (NBA), Browns (MLB),and Cardinals (NFL) have left that area. Geez, even Budweiser sold out to the Euros.
Time will tell if the Chill folds, or leaves for another town, but as Cyclones Rock stated in the "CHL: The Slow Spin Down the Bowl..." thread there are nearly 10-14 ECHL teams that have major issues. However, those you don't fixate on like you do the Chill and CHL.
Yes I am critical of the CHL and the Chill. Let me give you my reasons why:
1) The league is on major life support, they have lost a countless number of franchises the past few years and have gained very few. The ones they have gained have been thrown into very poor markets where either there isn't enough demand or hockey hasn't worked before. Look at recent expansion Denver, Brampton, St. Charles. All have poor attendance, all are in markets where there is little to pick off the bone. I realize every league has their ailing teams from the NHL down, but about half the league is not sustainable long term.
2) The Chill were thrown together in a market where baseball is king, you said it yourself the Cardinals are the top draw in town. Also minor league hockey has failed at the Family Arena in the past, sometimes a market can do well on a second run at it but the Chill actually have LESS support than the Otters did in their final year(s).
3) Like I said all leagues have their poor markets. The ECHL is clinging onto Wheeling and others and has a lot of franchises in the Northeast. But fact is I don't focus on pointing that out because overall the league is fairly healthy, and they have had a lot of success with recent expansion. Orlando being one example. Of course they've had a few flops too (i.e. Chicago). But when they expand they try to place franchises that will succeed off the bat, again I point to Orlando and (although they aren't drawing well this year) San Francisco last year.
4) YES the Chill are in fact the transplanted Laredo Bucks franchise. No they did retain any history, players, or anything related to the Bucks. But let me point you to an article when the league first announced they were placing a franchise in town.
http://www.stltoday.com/suburban-journals/stcharles/news/st-charles-chill-hopes-to-heat-up-winters/article_6b666fda-2f02-565d-9f0e-38465ca11908.html
Care to read a direct quote from that article?
Instead of rushing a new team onto the ice for the 2012-13 season, Chill owners Gustavo Hernandez, Alfonso Arguindegui and Glenn Hart wanted to plant their flag in St. Charles a year in advance to reach out to the community. The trio owned the Laredo Bucks, who competed in the CHL until the end of last season. The Bucks' franchise rights were transferred to the Chill.
So no they are not actually expansion, the only real expansion franchise this year is Brampton.
Believe what you want sir. Be ignorant for all I care, but the signs of long term success for the Chill and the entire league are just not there! Yes I realize it takes time to build a fan base and no not every new team succeeds on the ice. But usually new teams have a hell of a lot more of a fan base in the beginning than the Chill have now!
Do I want them to fail? No, I would love nothing more than for them to succeed, and even make a go in the ECHL. Fact is that isn't what will happen most likely. The best thing for the St. Charles hockey community is Lindenwood's hockey program using the arena and moving its men's program to D1.
Like I said believe what you want about all of this. You don't have to agree with anything I've said but you have my reasons.