I was one of the fans making a 35 minute drive from PA to see the Jackals. After 8 seasons as a season ticket holder I have given it up this year for the reason in your response that I bolded. The ECHL is simply boring right now. There is no physical play at all, too much roster turnover (the Jackals average going through 50-60 players a year which equates to 3 full rosters), and no sense of the fact that on ice entertainment is important. They have taken the developmental approach too far and the ignored the fact that fans are there to see the players try to win and not just develop their skills. I could care less about the affiliation and which team is our parent club. I'm sitting on the sidelines for now. If they can ice a team that hits, hustles, chirps, drops the gloves when needed and has players that seem to actually want to be there I will return.
That sounds to me like a heartfelt statement. The ECHL, the Jackals and the Sabres as NHL affiliate need to do something to engage the fans. There must be a way to do both - provide and entertaining and competitive team on the ice and develop players.