You read it correctly but missed the point.
The entire thrust of the piece is that the author thinks it's time for Petrovek and the Pirates to hit the road.
To summarize:
Basically, the relationship between the Pirates and the CCCC is so toxic that it's time for a change. One asset, the Pirates, is movable - the other, the CCCC, is not.
The entertainment value of Pirates hockey has been drastically diminished as Petrovek has cut and cut and cut from the budget to make the team's finances fit in the modern AHL. It's not entertaining to casual fans.
I’m going to agree with the story’s premise that it’s become personal between both Neal Pratt and Brian Petrovek. These guys are as much about ego as anything else.
I disagree, however, about sending the team on its way and acquire another AHL franchise. That’s a dangerous point of view for the Civic Center to take because it’s not like there many franchises out there to begin with, and its assuming that Petrovek and Co. will sell, which I’m not so sure they’ll do.
Should the Pirates lose this case – which I think they will after reading the complaint – I believe this will play out one of two ways. The judge will throw out the case and tell them to work it out. They’ll have a cooling off period and get a deal done by Jan. In the meantime, the Pirates will play in Lewiston for this season. The alternative is the team will suck it up, play in Lewiston for two years and ownership will dust off plans to build a new arena in Saco off I-95 near its practice facility.
Playing in Lewiston is not the financial disaster that everyone is making it out to be… Those who say it’s a money loser do not understand the relationship between ownership and the Colisee and do not understand the business model the Pirates operate under, which relies on an average crowd of 3,250 per game. Also, should the Pirates have to play in Lewiston for any period of time we’ll see renovations to make the team’s stay at the Colisee more pleasant.
This is playing into Petro’s ego because he’ll move the team to Lewiston, and build a new facility – with Ron Cain’s financial backing – out of spite toward the CCCC. He’ll essentially control the entire hockey market in the state with the exception of the Black Bears two games per year.
As long as the Pirates are in Lewiston or Saco, the CCCC won’t be able to get another AHL franchise because of the 50 mile radius. An ECHL won’t work because of the cost of overhead to run the team i.e. paying hockey staff including players. Also, the ECHL & AHL have had an unwritten gentlemen’s agreement about not invading each other’s territory. Note: Elmira is outside of Binghamton’s territory.
SPHL & CHL are not options… FHL? Are they still around? Junior hockey… Ron Cain owns the territory for USA Hockey so that’s not happening. QMJHL? Ask Lewiston how that went.
Indoor Football won’t work because the ceiling is too low. That leaves indoor lacrosse or indoor football.
None of those options would attract the business/fan support that an AHL team will bring.
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