CHRDANHUTCH said:
the Blues selected Worcester Halfway through the Ice Cats inaugural season but kept Peoria in the ECHL once that franchise left the then struggling IHL, WHO KNOWS IF Peoria had stayed in the I, WOULD there be a team in Peoria not due to a move or a sale since the Blues basically killed the Worcester market---at least San Jose knows how to operate a franchise or sees fit how to run one.
In the first place, Peoria would not have stayed in the IHL because the IHL itself took the big dirt nap. Peoria stayed in the IHL, and the Blues kept Peoria as their top affiliate, right up to the day that the IHL folded. Only then did the Blues have to look for another "AAA" affiliate, because Peoria's owners -- who were, and always were until recently, independent from the Blues -- made the decision to move their franchise to the ECHL instead of seeking AHL membership at the time, due to geographic consderations.
It wasn't until the AHL started taking in Midwestern cities like Grand Rapids, Chicago, Des Moines, Omaha, etc., that it made sense for Peoria to get into the AHL.
The statement about the Blues "killing" the Worcester market, and the implication that they don't know how to run a franchise, is just ridiculous, and doesn't warrant a reply.
CHRDANHUTCH said:
I don't believe Rockford will survive the transition from UHL to AHL Since ALL references to the Hawks were removed from the Metrocentre---Chicago needs to buy an existing franchise to move there----their current affiliate is not for sale & isn't going anywhere.
There is at least one dormant AHL franchise that I'm aware of that could be purchased and planted in Rockford, so that's not an issue
What, exactly, are you talking about that all references to the Hawks were removed from the Metro Center? There were never any references to the Hawks at the Big Orange Box to begin with, since the IceHogs have never been affiliated with the Blackhawks in any way.
Rockford is a good hockey market; they consistently drew in the high threes for what was, until two seasons ago, a decidedly inferior brand of hockey with a pretty lousy team. The Steve Martinson era in Rockford has coincided with the team having their best success on the ice, and the crowds are up to the low fours on average because of it... which would put a Rockford club solidly in the middle of AHL attendance figues despite having a smaller population base (approximately 250,000 in the Rockford SMSA) to draw from than most AHL franchises.
P_B