Ottawa Senators considering moving AHL affiliate to Belleville, Ontario for 17-18

[Woo Hockey]

http://www.intelligencer.ca/2016/04/25/ottawa-senators-ahl-team-for-belleville

The Senators may be studying the possibility of bringing their American Hockey League affiliate closer to home.

While the Senators have an agreement to keep their AHL team in Binghamton through 2018-19 and they’d be happy to stay there, the talk in AHL circles is the club is investigating relocating the franchise to the Yardman Arena in Bellevile for the 2017-18 campaign.

If that happens, the belief is the Senators would try not to leave Binghamton empty-handed because the AHL considers it a strong market. It’s quite possible another NHL team could move its affiliate to Binghamton if the Senators are successful in negotiations with the city of Belleville and a potential buyer.

More info is in the article linked above.

Click to read more...

 

[210]

"The biggest stumbling block to get a deal in place would be Belleville city council’s approval of millions of dollars in renovations to the arena."

Right now the biggest stumbling block is Ottawa doesn't own an AHL franchise...

 

[digiblader]

Makes you wonder if the Sens want out of Binghamton ASAP--especially considering many NHL teams are working to move their affiliates closer to cut costs. Look what happened to Springfield!

 

[Agalloch]

Rangers AHL team can return to Binghamton.

 

[Pyrophorus]

Hmmm....1 hour to Toronto, 3 to Ottawa.

 

[CrazyEddie20]

If this were to actually happen, it would be roughly equivalent to lighting a pile of money on fire.

 

[jason2020]

Hmmm....1 hour to Toronto, 3 to Ottawa.

Its really 2 and a half hours to Ottawa.

 

[jason2020]

"The biggest stumbling block to get a deal in place would be Belleville city council’s approval of millions of dollars in renovations to the arena."

Right now the biggest stumbling block is Ottawa doesn't own an AHL franchise...

I could see a deal where Ottawa buys the rink from the city for a $1.

 

[210]

I could see a deal where Ottawa buys the rink from the city for a $1.

How does that get them an AHL franchise?

 

[GKJ]

"The biggest stumbling block to get a deal in place would be Belleville city council’s approval of millions of dollars in renovations to the arena."

Right now the biggest stumbling block is Ottawa doesn't own an AHL franchise...

Isn't this why the Bulls moved? Would they turn around and do this for the AHL?

Definitely hope Bingo doesn't lose the team. Between them, Manchester, Worecester, and Springfield, three markets that should have AHL hockey. But times change.

 

[Agalloch]

Isn't this why the Bulls moved? Would they turn around and do this for the AHL?

Definitely hope Bingo doesn't lose the team. Between them, Manchester, Worecester, and Springfield, three markets that should have AHL hockey. But times change.

My guess is all will be in the ECHL.

 

[210]

Isn't this why the Bulls moved? Would they turn around and do this for the AHL?

Definitely hope Bingo doesn't lose the team. Between them, Manchester, Worecester, and Springfield, three markets that should have AHL hockey. But times change.

Who are/were the Bulls?

 

[New User Name]

Who are/were the Bulls?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belleville_Bulls

 

[Major4Boarding]

http://www.bellevillebulls.com/page/the-birth-of-the-bulls

March 12, 2015

http://www.bellevillebulls.com/article/statement-from-the-belleville-bulls-hockey-club

 

[jason2020]

How does that get them an AHL franchise?

That is one step buying the team its self might be abit harder but it could be done.

 

[210]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belleville_Bulls

http://www.bellevillebulls.com/page/the-birth-of-the-bulls

March 12, 2015

http://www.bellevillebulls.com/article/statement-from-the-belleville-bulls-hockey-club

So what does that have to do with buying an AHL franchise?

 

[Sports Enthusiast]

My guess is all will be in the ECHL.

I agree. I find it bizarre the league says strong market. Its a 4,000 and some change arena. The team isn't good that often and when it's not it doesn't draw amazingly. They are heading towards bigger arenas and markets. I'm not sure the move would be so bad if there were some former foes joining them.

Aren't they locally owned though? So I guess they'd have to force a sale.

 

[Disengage]

I don't think having your AHL team playing on Olympic sized ice is a great idea.

 

[MM658]

I find it bizarre the league says strong market. Its a 4,000 and some change arena. The team isn't good that often and when it's not it doesn't draw amazingly. They are heading towards bigger arenas and markets.

Doesn't draw amazingly? They're close to capacity most of the time.
Heading towards bigger markets? How does moving from Binghamton (metro pop. 250,000, arena cap. 4000 ) to Belleville (metro pop. 90,000, arena cap. 3,200) fit that model?

 

[SemireliableSource]

SE's thought process probably went this far: It's in Canada therefore bigger hockey market!

 

[Canadian Game]

I don't think having your AHL team playing on Olympic sized ice is a great idea.

Part of the renovation plans is to reduce the size of the ice from international to NHL size.

http://www.quintenews.com/2016/04/yardmen-ice-pad-shrink/114220/

 

[tenpinsplit]

I agree. I find it bizarre the league says strong market. Its a 4,000 and some change arena. The team isn't good that often and when it's not it doesn't draw amazingly. They are heading towards bigger arenas and markets. I'm not sure the move would be so bad if there were some former foes joining them.

Aren't they locally owned though? So I guess they'd have to force a sale.

the team isn't good because Ottawa sucks. it has nothing to do with the location.

 

[Major4Boarding]

So what does that have to do with buying an AHL franchise?

Haven't thought that all the way through yet. But, primarily, my post was only in response to yours asking who the Belleville Bulls were

 

[210]

Haven't thought that all the way through yet. But, primarily, my post was only in response to yours asking who the Belleville Bulls were

Sorry for the confusion...my question was actually for GKJ but I was typing and talking on the phone at the same time and missed including his original post in my post. My bad.

 

[Sports Enthusiast]

Doesn't draw amazingly? They're close to capacity most of the time.
Heading towards bigger markets? How does moving from Binghamton (metro pop. 250,000, arena cap. 4000 ) to Belleville (metro pop. 90,000, arena cap. 3,200) fit that model?

I wasn't talking that move because it hasn't happened. I'm talking about all of the recent moves that have occurred. Like in California for example. Left smaller markets for bigger ones.