Idaho Steelheads
- Thread starter Neill99
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Tommy Hawk
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- May 27, 2006
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PCSPounder
Stadium Groupie
I've been saying that this is a possibility... IF and only if a resolution to the CHL class actions suits (or lack thereof) cause a serious problem for the Winterhawks.
It doesn't seem like the Oregon Legislature has revised their stance on the Winterhawks and minimum wage laws. Otherwise there's a waiting game to see which shoe drops next. It almost seems like Canadian courts are waiting for an agreement between parties.
wildcat48
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I'm pretty sure it will be Idaho. Seattle have said they do not want to mess with the hockey landscape in the region
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Tommy Hawk
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- May 27, 2006
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Barclay Donaldson
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Portland, ME has the ECHL. They’re not an AHL market either, even during their best years.
Generally teams want to have their AHL teams fairly close to the NHL teams while having good regional travel partners. There’s markets available that have better travel and wouldn’t require a coast-to-coast flight for callups.
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wildcat48
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Stadium Groupie
Seattle has said they'd be regional... and with Boise, they'd be attempting to leverage Root Sports to expand the TV market where Vegas thinks they have a foothold. Portland, just as much.
I'm saying follow the money. I'm saying the reasons people want to believe old Eastern markets should be in play are not... in... play.
(It's too bad "no, YOU'RE the wrong Portland" wouldn't really have been any sort of logical flow here. I was better off playing this straight regardless.)
PCSPounder
Stadium Groupie
Some advice: weather, schmeather. If you have the right crowd looking for the right entertainment... well, hello Vegas!
My basic issue with Palm Springs is that the theoretical arena proposal looks more like a scam than anything.
wildcat48
Registered User
I think its all but a done deal that it will be Idaho. Nothing to back it up, but my gut feeling.
DudeWhereIsMakar
Bergevin sent me an offer sheet
I think the LA Kings will TRY and move the Reign to Palm Springs, that, San Jose, Calgary, maybe even Vancouver will try to get in on it. But I think San Jose should be the ones getting in on Palm Springs. Vegas could but there's no better fit for them than the Chicago Wolves as not only do the same things work out, but they see many things eye-to-eye.
Seattle and Idaho have to be partners if anything.
Seattle and Idaho have to be partners if anything.
Barclay Donaldson
Registered User
LA can call up prospects and have them there in an hour with car with traffic, they have attendance far over 8,000, their prospects are treated very well, and they have great road travel arrangements the way things are. Why the heck would they want to trade that for Palm Springs? They might have one of the best affiliation agreements in the league.
San José's owner Hasso Plattner has made it clear he is subsidizing their AHL team and wants them in the same building, practicing and playing on same ice sheets as the big boys. When you have net worth of $13 billion you can do whatever you want. And the general idea of relocation was to put the teams to get the AHL teams closer, not further away. I don't see them changing anytime soon.
Spot on with Chicago and Vegas though, Wolves are across the street from O'Hare, which has multiple non-stop 3 hour flights to Vegas daily. VGK prospects are probably as accessible there as they would be in Reno or anywhere else instate.
mk80
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- Jul 30, 2012
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Why would they move their prospects further away? The Ontario Reign are located in Ontario California, which is within the LA area, an hour to the Staples Center in traffic. Similarly the San Jose Barracuda are situated in their parent club arena, with shared offices, training areas, etc. The Sharks and Barracuda are the only two tenants of SAP Center, again why move their prospects further away?
DudeWhereIsMakar
Bergevin sent me an offer sheet
I think they'd make more money there, but I could be wrong, plus no team other than the southern teams are a good fit for Palm Springs, maybe Calgary or Vancouver if they want to go closer.
The bigger issue with Palm Springs is can arena be done and open by 21-22 season. If people thought Seattle was crazy for attempt to get the their arena done by 20-21 NHL season with zero margin of error. Then trying to get an arena done and ready (land bought, govermental approval, environmental review and built) in 28 months foe AHL 21-22 season when no work has even started is insane and in my opinion not even do able.
Barclay Donaldson
Registered User
How could they make more money in Palm Springs? Ontario has one of the best league attendances at 8,000 people per game and great corporate support. That’s about as good as it gets in AHL. Every NHL Pacific division team is fine with at where they are right now. Calgary moving AHL. team from Stockton to Palm Springs puts the team further away, Vancouver has better option like Abottsford or Chiliwack, not some place in the desert very far away.
DudeWhereIsMakar
Bergevin sent me an offer sheet
I mean if Palm Springs IS looking for an affiliate... those might be the best options, plus Palm Springs has tons of tourists so why not spark it up with something local where fans could attend.
Seattle and Idaho I think are the only good match here. Not Seattle and Palm Springs, I can't really name which team is best suited for Palm Springs other than the California teams.
PCSPounder
Stadium Groupie
Ontario is the reachout by ANY LA team to the Inland Empire that few others seem to dare replicate.
I say that knowing what the Clippers are doing... but let's face it, Agua Caliente Clippers? Named after a tribe and their casino? That's sponsorship, not outreach. The Reign are doing smart business.
I say that knowing what the Clippers are doing... but let's face it, Agua Caliente Clippers? Named after a tribe and their casino? That's sponsorship, not outreach. The Reign are doing smart business.
